Young cattle enthusiasts shine at Northern Schools Prime Steer Competition

A total of 250 students from 15 schools and 62 steers from northern NSW made their way to Tenterfield Showground over November 5 and 6 for the Northern Schools Prime Steer Competition.

Throughout the two days, competitors undertook a range of activities including steers classes, paraders and junior judging.

Gunnedah High School claimed the top spot in the steer classes, with their Angus/Limousin steer winning overall champion on the hoof after being sashed champion heavy weight steer earlier in the day.

The steer was bred by Garry and Roz Gosombe, Gunnedah, and weighed 575 kilograms.

Manilla High School was awarded reserve champion heavy weight steer.

In the medium weight classes, Maclean High School celebrated as their Simmental cross steer, Big Red, bred by Basil and Chris Moran, Bushgrove, was named champion.

MacIntyre High School won reserve champion middle weight steer with their Angus/Murray Grey steer, Mildred, which they purchased from the Inverell weaners sale earlier this year.

Judge Ben Toll, Dubbo, selected steers with a high degree of muscle, optimum fat coverage and distribution, and an acceptable degree of structural integrity.

"Compliance to optimum market specifications combined with animal conformation was the key to success in the led steer competition this week," he said.

Mr Toll said the events allowed students to gain valuable hands-on experiences and skills in the beef industry, resulting in students being more employable.

The winners in the paraders classes were Macey Cabot, New England Girls School, and Isla McIndoe, Glen Innes High School.

The hook section of the competition will be carried out this week with the carcases to be processed and judged at Bindaree Beef, Inverell.