An impressive young Murray Grey steer from Bordertown High School with a "striking profile" has taken out the light domestic champion sash in Stock Journal's Steer Showdown.
Judge and Iranda Beef feedlot manager Tom Green, Tintinara, was impressed by the natural presence, length of body and balance of 431kg steer, Quantas, who was also the blue ribbon winner of class 1.
During the event which aired last week, Mr Green said it was a credit to the breeder and exhibitors that the September 2019 drop had such a balance of fat cover and muscle at just 11 months of age.
"What a striking profile this steer has with a great depth of hind and real spring of rib- this steer certainly has some presence about him," he said.
"As you see him walking away he is very square in all his angles and pulls up square. That is a really good sign of good structure."
Breeders Geoff and Kate Buick, Arki stud, Western Flat, have been donating steers to the school since the early 1990s and while they have had plenty of success with their steers at the school, including the highest scoring Murray Grey steer in 2019's Royal Adelaide Show led steer competition, this was their first broad ribbon.
The Buicks see the led steer program as important to giving students from non-ag backgrounds an insight into agriculture and chance for them to gain skills working with livestock.
"It is easy for us to get a steer at the show if a school prepares it, but it is also very beneficial for the school in generating income for the ag centre to keep it at the school, and gives students an opportunity to work with animals," Mr Buick said.
Quantas was among the first drop of calves by Arki's new homebred sire Metalwork.
"He (Quantas) would easily have made a stud bull but he was a bit on the darker (coat) side to what we are able to sell so he was one we decided to cut," Mr Buick said.
Bordertown High School agriculture teachers Kate McCarthy and Helen Altus said they were appreciative of having an event to showcase their steers this year and noted that it gave parents and other students at the school an opportunity to be more involved.
Year 12 student Shania Cornish said it was a "bit of a disappointment" that the 2020 Royal Adelaide Show was cancelled but Steer Showdown was a fantastic alternative.
"It was good to still be able to work with them (the steers) during lessons and get them ready as a show experience," she said.
Quantas and the other 50 entries in Stock Journal's Steer Showdown were also entered in the Royal Adelaide Show's beef carcase competition and processed at Teys Naracoorte abattoir last Friday.
The results of this competition will be announced on Sunday, September 13.
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