The exhibitors of a Simmental-Angus steer were "euphoric" after it was named grand champion steer on hook in the Royal Adelaide Show led steers competition.
LCS Timmy T055, a crossbred export weight steer, shown by Lancaster Simmentals, Field, was announced the winner at an evening awards ceremony.
Prue Cartledge, Lancaster, said the family, made up of Henry, Tim, Lise, Lizzy, Harry and Duncan, had been entering the competition for the past eight years, including winning an eating quality competition in 2021, but this was their biggest prize.
"Our kids love entering the steers in the competition, and they take them to the (SA Junior) Heifer Competition in July," she said.
"We figured, we'd done all that work so we might as well go on to enter the steer competition."
She said the steers were a passion project for the family.
"It's what they love, it's what gets them out of bed in the morning," she said.
The Black Simmental-Angus steer, which had a liveweight of 614 kilograms, and scanned an eye muscle area of 117 centimetres squared, P8 fat of 13 millimetres and rib fat of 12mm, scored 88.01 points - out of a possible 100 - in the carcase component.
It had a hot carcase weight of 345.4kg, a lean meat yield of 16.95 out of 20, a marbling score of 590, a Meat Standards Australia index of 65.70 and MSA score of 41.06 out of 50, as well as a marketing specifications score of 30 out of 30.
Ms Cartledge said they use genomic testing for all their cattle, using that information, along with Expected Progeny Differences, to select good quality cattle, before using visual assessments to select their team.
This year, they entered three steers of their own, as well as supplying one to Unity College, all in the crossbred export 593kg to 706kg class, picking up a fifth place on-hoof.
Champion purebred steer on hook went to Glental Simmentals, Mallala, which was also the grand champion on-hook winner - with a different steer.
The on-hook winner, St Paul T483, a Simmental, was also the reserve champion lightweight domestic steer on-hoof, but won champion heavy domestic steer on-hook.
The steer had a liveweight of 437kg, 100EMA, and 9mm rib and P8 fat, and a hot carcaseweight of 259kh.
It had a MSA index of 63.06, an MSA score of 39.41 out of 50, a marketing specifications score of 27 out of 30, a lean meat yield of 20 out of 20 and a total score of 86.41 out of 100.
Champion purebred light domestic steer on hook went to Urrbrae Agricultural High School for Murray Grey steer Arki Timon, supplied by Arki Murray Greys.
It had a hot carcaseweight of 245.6kg, an MSA index of 64.19, an MSA score of 40.12, a market specification score of 30, a lean meat yield total of 14.36 and an overall score of 84.48.
Reserve champion purebred light domestic steer on hook was L&M Llewellyn & Co, Keith, with an overall score of 82.48.
Champion purebred heavy domestic on hook was St Paul T483, with reserve going to Venturon Tommy, a Charolais from Venturon Livestock, Boyup Brook, WA, which had a total score of 86.30.
Champion purebred export steer on hook was Glental Brentvale Im Thunderstuck, a Limousin from Glental Partnership.
It had a hot carcaseweight of 309.4kg, an MSA Index of 62.56, an MSA total of 39.1, a market specification totla of 10, and lean meat yield of 15.98 and a total score of 85.08.
Reserve went to Simmental Woonallee Trick or Treat, from Tom and Lizzy Baker, Furner, with 83.76 points.
In the crossbred competition, champion light domestic steer on-hook went to L&M Llewellyn for Red Angus-Simmental Jillangolo Thunderstruck, with a hot carcaseweight of 230.3, a 63.39 MSA index, a 40.24 MSA total, a marketing score of 20, a lean meat yield of 14.17 and a totla socre of 84.42.
Reserve went to Redwood Range Capellini, bred by Redwood Range and exhibited by Balaklava High School, with a 65.73 score.
Champion crossbred heavy domestic steer on-hook was Mount Compass Area School with Arabar Kenny, an Angus-Limousin from Duane Wilson.
It had a HSCW of 283.8, MSA index of 64.49, MSA total of 40.31, market specification score of 29, LMY of 13.54 and total score of 82.85.
Reserve champion was also from Urrbrae, an Angus-Simmental from Cliff Farm Cherry Macklin, named Tanner, which scored 79.17.
Champion crossbred steer on hook was LCS Timmy T055, with the reserve going to LA Train Wreck, LA Livestock, Keith
The Simmental-Angus, which had a total score of 79.19, was also the reserve champion crossbred heavy domestic steer on-hoof.
The most successful steer exhibitor was Spence's Show Steers, Keith.
Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
