CARCASE

Mr Meikle enjoys the networking opportunities and cross pollination of ideas with producers of other breeds fostered by the competition.

Finishing fifth overall, Stan and Denise Walker, Charellan Poll Herefords, Pearsondale, had few steers to choose from this year as the drop was mostly heifers but have entered calves sired by Ravensdale Trooper L179 and Ravensdale Spark M016.

It was the second time the couple had entered the trial and this year their carcases scored 88.15 and 93.16 points to win the carcase component. The steers had a carcase weight of 278 and 297kg and eye muscle areas of 77 and 88 sqcm respectively.

“We entered them to get a guide on how they kill out – generally our steers are sold direct to the Greenham Never Ever program at 450-500kg liveweight,” Mr Walker said.

“The Lardner Park Trial is a good educational trial with all the steers on the same pasture and normally the Herefords perform well.

“We were running seventh on weight gain and the MSA Index scores (60.87 and 62.18) helped push up our overall result.”

Mr Walker said the key was to have steers at the June entry of 300-350kg liveweight to meet the end specifications of 220-330kg carcase weight.

“David (Meikle) and I have been selecting sires with above average IMF and in the top 30 per cent of the Hereford breed for the Southern Self Replacing Index.”

Finishing eighth overall and winning the MSA Index component, the Tarcombe team had a carcase score of 86.34 and 88.87 points. The carcase weights of the winning steers for eating quality were 254 and 253kg, eye muscle area 78 and 65sqcm, and MSA Index of 63.79 and 62.9.

The winning steers were sired by NJW Historic and Tarcombe Trust Q299.

Mr Hayes said the eating quality win reaffirmed the stud’s breeding focus on increasing muscle, marbling, carcase quality and finishing ability.

Tarcombe has been a regular entrant in the steer trial with both purebred and Hereford infused steers, achieving consistent results.

“To have Herefords represented among the winners in the weight gain, carcase and eating quality says a lot – it is not an easy competition to win as there are some large commercial operations supplying the supermarket trade competing with teams,” Mr Hayes said.

“I encourage more Hereford breeders to get behind this trial – next year I will have a team of Hereford and Hereford/Charolais steers.”