Circular Head Show Hoof and Hook winners a cut above

The best line-up of 100 percent grass-finished cattle in Australia was judged at Circular Head Show at the end of November and now, following processing, the results of the 43rd annual hoof and hook competition have been revealed. 

After initial judging at Stanley the cattle were transported to the Greenhams abattoir at Smithton where they were held for a month to be finished under the same conditions.

From 63 entries, including a quality field of 24 yearling steers and heifers and 39 prime beef steers, the trade and export cattle results were announced at the Smithton Community Centre on January 16 as part of the Greenhams Beef Updates event, where more than $10,000 in prizes were awarded.

All 63 entries successfully met MSA grading requirements, a credit to the exhibitors and a reflection of a great season which resulted in 37 of the 63 entries (60 percent) with an MSA Index score over 62.

Organising committee member John Bruce said that the results were the best in many years of the prestigious competition.

“Not only were 60 percent above a 62 Index score, there were four or five at 66 – and that’s about as good as cattle can come in Tasmania,” he said.

“Greenhams looked after them well with grain-free pellets and the results speak for themselves.

“The top-quality graded meat will go into the Cape Grim brand products and find its way to restaurants and butchers in up to 25 countries.”

The Class Two winner (Yearling 280-360kg HSCW) was Western Plains Beef with three Angus steers, also winning the Rex Frankcombe Memorial Trophy.

Second was Michael and Wendy Berecheree and third was Andrew Marshall from Oldina.

Class Three (Prime Steer 300-420kg HSCW) was a reversal, with Michael and Wendy Berecheree winning the Greenham Tasmania Trophy, followed by Western Plains Beef in second, and third was Charlie Payne.

The Highest Scoring animal in the competition prize went to Western Plains Beef for entry number 10 with a body that scored an excellent 89.97 points winning the Perry’s Quality Meats prize.

The Greenham Junior Development Trophy for the best performer under 18 years of age was awarded to Charlie Payne for third place on hook in Class Three. He also won a Greenham Cape Grim knife set.

The live cattle were judged at the show by Thomas Febey, an experienced Elders livestock agent and cattle breeder and a product of the Sheffield junior handlers competitions.

Thomas is the number one assessor for Auctions Plus in Tasmania and he said that the great field of cattle presented made his judging job difficult.

Winners in the Yearling Class were the Charolais heifers entered by Milton and Gaylene De Jonge, winning the Rabobank trophy.

Brett McGlone from Alcomie was second, and third was Michael and Wendy Bercheree.

The Prime Beef Steer class and the Fergus Medwin Memorial Trophy was won by Helen Brock’s Bayswater Red Angus.

Second place went to local Stanley producers Western Plains Beef, with first-time entrant Bill Poke third.

The Champion Show Group was also won by Bayswater Red Angus which gained the Cyril Wells Memorial Trophy.

Those watching on were able to participate in the judging, and this year Mollie Elphinstone scored the chocolates sponsored by Roxene Kingston in the Yearling class, with locals (with next to no cattle experience) Kel Bryant and Brian Stokes picking all three placegetters in Class 3.

The winners are eligible to enter the Beef Australia National Carcase Competition in Rockhampton national competiton which is finalised on May 27.

Last year Tasmania won eight out of 10 of the grass-fed prizes.