Spence family offers proven steer genetics in new online sale

Breeding and showing steers is a passion that has brought Jono Spence and his children Thomas and Zanna a great deal of success and satisfaction.

Over the past eight years exhibiting at the Royal Adelaide Show, Spence's Show Steers have dominated the ring and the chiller with at least 20 broad ribbons, including a remarkable four grand champion on hoof and two grand champion on hook titles.

Now the Keith cattle breeders hope to share this winning feeling with others by offering up all of their 2024 drop steers, including a potential champion or two.

Later this month they will hold their inaugural steer sale which will feature 13 crossbred steers and 11 purebred Limousin steers.

The crossbred steers are all sired by Mandayen Jackaroo Q209, which Brentvale stud has had great deal of success with . They are out of British Breed or European breed females.

"For us as a family, it was a dream to ever be able to breed our own cattle, we never imagined the success we would have let alone now having cattle to offer for sale for other people to show quite competitively," Jono said.

"We never thought it would happen but is very satisfying to know it (the led steer competition ) is a place where young ones can learn great life skills and meet lifelong friends."

The show preparation has been started on the sale animals with all of the lots broken in to tie up and have experienced a wash, clip and blow dry.

They have had their Bovilis MH+IBR vaccinations and have also been started on a Hills Farm Supplies ration.

Spence's Show Steers made its debut at the Royal Adelaide Show in 2017 with instant success, Thomas winning grand champion with a Mandayen-bred steer.

The following year it was Zanna's turn to claim the same feat with her steer going on to be heavy domestic champion carcase.

Over the years there have been many more accolades including most successful steer exhibitor in the feature showing in 2023.

But it was last year when seven of eight steers won their class or champion ribbons that was the catalyst for this year's sale.

"The highlight for me was that Naracoorte High School who have been buying our steers for a while had the champion and reserve champion heavy domestic steer on hoof with two of our steers and one went on to be reserve champion export carcase," Jono said.

Spence's also exhibited at the 2024 Royal Melbourne Show taking out grand champion steer with their single entry.

Jono- who is a successful agent and director of Spence Dix & Co- says he has always had a "soft spot" for the steer competition as it was his pathway into agriculture as a city kid.

He says the led steer competition has continued to grow too, while the stud cattle section has diminished.

"It is a real challenge to be able to fatten a steer and get him right so he is going to meet the market specifications as well as look pretty," he said.

"We have got a great group of friends so it is a lot of fun and comradery and it has been a great learning experience for the kids along the way."

Spence's Show Steers have put up their very best steers- not holding any back for themselves and Jono says season permitting they hope to make it an annual sale.

"We have a good group of steers, no doubt there is a number in there that should be very competitive but having said that the competition is getting hotter each year," Jono said.

"We have four pick of the pair lots where buyers can pick out of the pair and we will show the other ones."

Zanna - who has been busy helping prepare the steers- says it is terrific to reflect on how far they had come from agisting a few cattle at the Gommers family's nearby Mandayen property to having their own farm to run the steers and now holding their first sale.

She says it has been fantastic to see interest from as far afield as NSW and Qld.

"To see juniors and other school people getting involved in this and hopefully purchasing our steers like previous years is great," she said.

"I think it is awesome that they can get opportunities to be able to purchase such nice steers from other people."

Spence's Show Steers are offering a $500 incentive for schools and juniors (those eligible to attend the Heifer Expo) if they can win grand champion on hoof or hook at the Royal Adelaide Show with one of the steers they buy.

Those exhibiting a division champion on hoof or hook will receive a 15 per cent discount voucher to spend at the 2026 sale.

The steers will be available for inspection on Friday, March 28 from 3pm ahead of the sale on AuctionsPlus on Monday, March 31 at 5pm,