The Royal Agricultural Society’s annual feedlot challenge run on ‘Wilga’, west of Bellata, has grown dramatically since its inception in 2012.
The competition was established in conjunction with the McCue family, owners of Wilga, and tests how well cattle gain weight over a 70 or 100 day period.
This year for the first time the Beef Challenge will also include a Taste Test component to be judged by a panel of Sydney Royal Fine Food officials in September.
Producers from across the country are invited to enter to see how their stock compare to cattle from other properties.
The competition aims to help producers identify and overcome weaknesses in their operation.
It also promotes exellence in agriculture by showcasing top producers and providing comprehensive feedback to educate entrants on feedlot performance.
Each pen is assessed live, and then carcases and individual export strip loins are judged after slaughter.
The Taste Test features one strip loin from the highest scoring carcase in each pen, which is scored on colour, texture, aroma, tenderness, juiciness and flavour.
This gives the competition a unique ‘paddock to plate’ experience.
Exhibitors are also given feedback on the profitability of each animal to ensure commercially relevant information is provided.
This year the challenge has attracted 30 exhibitors and 500 head of cattle from the local area, Northern Rivers, New England, as far south as Orange and north to the Queensland border.
Michael McCue says the competition is gaining momentum.
“Over the last three years its grown quite dramatically in popularity, last year we had to knock back entries due to lack of space,” he said.
“It’s a lot of work, there’s a lot more involved than just feeding cattle, but we continue because of the results we get out of it.
“We use it to try and educate new clients about what’s important to us and it also helps identify new suppliers.
“The producers benefit too, everyone likes to think they have the best cattle in the district but this is a way of benchmarking and checking on performance.”
Winners of the competition gain recognition from the wider beef industry, as well a share in the prizemoney of $10 000.
It’s one of the few competitions that runs off-site from the Sydney Royal Show, which Mr McCue says can be a bonus for exhibitors in northern NSW.
“For those local producers that wouldn’t normally get a chance to exhibit in the Sydney Royal Show this is a way they can get promotion through the Royal Agricultural Society for what they do.”
The McCue family started feedlotting on Wilga in 1993 after becoming frustrated with selling options.
“Originally it started as a method of finishing our own cattle and grew from there into a commercial feedlot pretty quickly,” Mr McCue explains.
“It has paid off we wouldn’t still be doing it if it hadn’t worked, its become an intergral part and a very worthwhile part of the business.
“I think because margins are so tight these days people are looking for an advantage.”
The McCue’s also grow cereal crops and operate a Santa Gertrudis stud on the 5000 acre property.
Cattle entered in the 70 day domestic class are arriving on Wilga this week. Live assesments will occur on June 29.
