For the fourth year in a row, a steer from Spence's Show Steers, Keith, has claimed the champion purebred heavy domestic steer on hoof - while also picking up the overall grand champion purebred steer on hoof.
October-drop Limousin steer Spence's Endeavour, led by Zanna Spence, weighed in at 493 kilograms with a 106 square centimetre eye muscle area and rib fat of 10 millimetres and rump fat of 11mm.
Judge Matthew Spry, Sprys Angus and Shorthorn, Wagga Wagga, NSW, said the "exceptional" steer caught his eye as it walked into the ring.
"The weight for age, depth of body and carcase shape - he's an extremely good animal," he said.
Spence's Show Steers had previously won the grand champion with a heavy domestic steer in 2017 and 2018, and was the heavy domestic winner again in 2019.
Jono Spence said the steer was bred in conjunction with Mandayen, out of a mob of pregnant cows he had bought.
He said the win was "very rewarding", with the steer standing out to them for its thickness, squareness and "exceptional EMA".
"It was a very competitive class and we were lucky enough to be chosen as the winner," he said.
Standing reserve to the Spence's steer in the purebred heavy domestic class was Glental Super Impose S16, exhibited by Glental Partnership, Mallala.
The September-drop Simmental weighed 534kg, with 96EMA, 8mm rib and 11mm rump fat.
In the light domestic class, the champion was Glental Brentvale Sin to Win S24, a 441kg late September-drop Limousin, from Glental Partnership, with 95EMA, 8mm rump and 6mm rib fat.
Mr Spry said said it was a "magnificent" steer with good overall balance, cover, yield and shape.
Reserve champion light domestic steer went to Spence's Bubba Gump, Spence's Show Steers.
The late September-drop Limousin was 431kg with 89EMA, 7mm rump and 6mm rib fat.
In the purebred heavy export division, both grand champion and reserve grand champion went to TR&EA Baker, Furner, with two entries from the same class.
The tricolour ribbon went to 714kg Simmental Woonallee Snoopy, a May 2021-drop with measurements of 109EMA, 11mm rib and 11mm rump fat.
Woonallee Spud was in reserve, with the April 2021-drop Simmental steer weighing 716kg, with 108mm, 8mm rib and 14mm rump fat.
Mr Spry said the champion steer had "beautifully even coverage".
"He's very long-bodied steer with good weight for age," he said.
Mr Spry said the three champion purebred steers were great examples of what the industry needed.
"Those things I'm looking for, I found in all three animals - yield, softness and fat distribution," he said.
This year also had the introduction of a new competition, with classes for crossbred steers.
Mr Spry praised the committee for the inclusion of the "industry relevant" competition, saying it was a "fantastic concept".
While saying judging the lineup was extremely tough, due to the high quality "steer spectacle", he selected his winner as a September-drop Speckle Park-Angus steer from Mount Compass Area School.
Redwood Range Astro weighed 568kg with 117EMA, 12mm rib and 16mm rump fat.
Mr Spry called it a "sound and safe calf", with an impressive EMA, good fat coverage and body type.
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Mount Compass Area School agriculture teacher Kiara Edwards said the steer was sourced by Redwood Range steers and donated to the school by ProStock.
She said it was great to be inaugural winners of the new competition.
"The kids are very excited as (the competition) gives the flexibility to look at different breeds and types, and give some variety to a carcase competition by bringing two breeds together," she said.
Ms Edwards said the students had worked to break in and prepare their animals fully, with the work to continue after, as they put together carcase analysis for the breeders.
"They've worked very hard and it's nice when hard work is rewarded," she said.
Reserve champion crossbred steer went to Glental Brentvale Masked Crusader, from Glental Partnership.
The Limousin-Angus-cross was 448kg with a 90EMA and 8mm rib and rump fat.
Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
