The 10th annual Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic was the biggest and the best yet, with 1269 cattle processed over five months at Teys Australia’s Naracoorte abattoir.
At the presentation dinner, last Friday night at the Lucindale Football Club, David Smith, Howard Nominees, Kalangadoo, blitzed the field winning both grand champion and reserve grand champion carcase.
Mr Smith claimed the top silverware with an Angus steer which was the winner of Class 2- Single steer or heifer, 0-4 teeth 240-320kg.
The 292.4 kg carcase which had an eye muscle area of 87 square centimetres and 6mm of rib fat was among the last to be processed in late February.
It scored 87.77 points out of a possible 100, including full points for saleable meat yield.
Howard Nominees also took out the best team of three and best team of 10 animals.
Ian and Louise Johnson, Amherst Livestock Trust, Willalooka, received the highest eating quality award and the new Alan Kranz Memorial Perpetual Trophy, in honour of one of the founding committee members.
Their steer had an exceptional MSA index of 67.14.
The carcase competition has confirmed the top quality of grassfed beef produced in the region with the Meat Standards Australia compliant cattle having an average MSA index of in the top 14 per cent of the nation.
Guest speakers during the evening included Meat & Livestock Australia managing director Richard Norton and Teys Australia executive director of livestock Geoff Teys.
The dinner was attended by more than 100 producers from the Mid North to western Vic.
SGCC chairman Allan Kain handed over a cheque for $21,696 to the Royal Flying Doctor Service from one per cent of the proceeds of all the cattle entered.
The event has been a major fundraiser for the worthy cause with more than $65,000 donated to the RFDS in the past decade.