'I don't think you could paint one better': judge praises heavyweight steer

A steer described by the judge as 'picture perfect' has claimed the grand champion purebred steer title at Sydney Royal on Friday.

The heavyweight champion and eventual grand champion steer was exhibited by Calrossy Anglican School, Tamworth, and bred by Tyson and Courtney Will, TCW Livestock, Delungra.

The 17-month-old, 658-kilogram Limousin steer was by Oakvale Kenton, who also bred the champion steer at the Ekka in 2019, and out of a cow bred from industry stalwart Max Atkins' bloodlines.

He measured nine millimetres on the rib and 12mm on the rump, along with an eye muscle area of 121 square centimetres and intramuscular fat of 5.6 per cent.

"He has produced many champions around the country," Mr Will said.

"He has been a phenomenal bull; he's 11 years old and still going."

Calrossy purchased the steer from Mr Will in June 2014 and has been prepared for 200 days on Alexander Downs and Furneys Stock Feeds, fed ad-lib.

"He was undefeated heading into Sydney," Mr Will said.

Calrossy teacher Kathy Dejong said the steer was broken in and handled by the students before being exhibited at local shows prior to Sydney Royal.

"Tyson and Courtney spend a lot of time on their breeding program to produce these steers with natural thickness and softness - sometimes it is hard to get perfect fat cover, and their steers are really easy to finish on feed," she said.

"It was a thrill to have lightweight and heavyweight champions out there - it's very exciting."

Mr Travers said the steer possessed amazing carcase quality.

"He has length, width and depth through the middle and high value cuts, volume and amazing fat coverage for the amount of muscle he carries - it is even and adequate," he said.

"He's a beautiful animal - a perfect steer.

"I don't think you could paint one better."

The champion school steer was awarded to St Johns College Dubbo for their Limousin steer bred by Sarana Limousin stud, Crookwell.

The 634kg steer, by Calderwood Monstar P658 and out of Sarana Blessing S4, measured 7mm on the rib and 10mm on the rump, along with an EMA of 114sq cm and an IMF of 4.8pc.

St Johns agriculture teacher Ben Toll said the steer had a warm-up at Canberra Royal before coming to Sydney after having been on the school's infamous feed - nicknamed 'rocket fuel' - for 185 days.

"He's a really good, quiet steer with a lot of meat in him," he said.

Judge Mr Travers said he only just had enough fat cover, but it was his complexity of loin and rump that put him on top.

"He is the perfect combination," he said.

The steer rose from the heavyweight class to claim the title ahead of the reserve school steer exhibited by Scots All Saints College, Bathurst, and bred by Laura and Cody Kirk, Peak Hill.

The Limousin steer was by Wilworril Cookie Monster and out of a commercial steer.

Also coming from the heavyweight class, the steer weighed 620kg and measured 11mm on the rib and 13mm on the rump with an EMA of 117sq cm and an IMF of 4.6pc.

In the lightweight open class, Calrossy Anglican School had success claiming champion with their Limousin steer bred by Tyson and Courtney Will, Delungra.

The 437kg steer, by Oakvale Kenton and out of a Limousin cow, measured 7mm on the rib and 10mm on the rump, with an EMA of 93sq cm and an IMF of 6.2pc.

Judge Mr Travers said he was a "really complete package" with the ideal meat to fat to bone ratio.

Calrossy agriculture teacher Kathy DeJong said he had been on a mix of Alexander Downs and Furneys StockFeeds for a total of 120 days.

"We love his length, natural masculinity and softness in fat coverage," she said.

Ms DeJong said they had shown him at Tamworth and Barraba local shows before Sydney.

The lightweight reserve champion steer was awarded to a 416kg Limousin steer exhibited by Scots All Saints College, and bred by Laura and Cody Kirk.

The steer, sired by Summit Kung Fu and out of a commercial cow, measured 8mm on the rib and 12mm on the rump, along with an EMA of 91sq cm and an IMF of 4.6pc.

Scots All Saints College cattle program and agricultural department Libby Dawes said the steer had been broken in and was on a feed mix they use for all their steers.

"We've got some introductory mixes and then we go through to the full ration," she said.

Ms Dawes said he was easy-doing.

"Obviously, he's pretty phenomenal because he's a lightweight calf that's got the meat-eating quality and the cover at a young age, so commercially, he's very viable."

Scots All Saints had several successes throughout the steer judging, and have in previous years too, following a strong relationship between the school and the breeders.

"They provide the genetics and we provide the feed service, and that goes really well together," she said.

"For a number of years now, it's been a successful team effort."

Champion middle weight steer was bred, prepared and exhibited by Stuart Hobbs, Molong.

The Black Simmental/Fleckvieh was by Hobbs Livestock Shout The Bar S018 and out of Hobbs Livestock Keepsake T13.

The 13-month-old 472kg steer measured 7mm on the rib and 7mm on the rump, along with an EMA of 104sq cm and an IMF of 4.7pc.

He had been prepared for six months in the lead-up to Sydney Royal, fed Quayle milling pellets from Young ad-lib, then hand-fed for three weeks before the show four kilograms twice a day.

"To come here this year and win middleweight champion is awesome," he said.

"We've had success over the years. Last year, our steer was placed second in his class, and this year we knew we had a couple of really good steers."

Mr Hobbs said he wasn't afraid to cut a few bulls to turn them into show-winning steers.

"We are pretty hard on our bulls at home, everyone says you have to mark a good bull to get a good steer, which is probably right," he said.

Judge Cye Travers, Tamworth, described the middle weight steer as thick, deep and long for his size.

"He's stout; he's a bit shorter made in terms of height and frame," he said.

"Frame doesn't weigh, thickness and depth of body and the muscle in this guy from his shoulder right through his hind quarter, the width and depth of his hind quarter is what's going to weigh and yield.

"The steer in reserve is a really good muscle score steer, really good muscle pattern, nice and long, good even fat coverage on him.

"I think when you put them in the box, we will end up with more in the box from the steer in front of him, but only marginally.

"He's a very good steer, he's got plenty of depth in the hind quarter, but the other steer is just so much thicker."

The black Simmental claimed the champion title over reserve middleweight champion exhibited and bred by Scots All Saints College.

The Limousin steer was sired by Mandayen Jackaroo and out of Summit Temptress Q27.

The 499kg steer measured 7mm on the rib and 10mm on the rump with an EMA of 105sq cm and and IMF of 5.4pc.

Judge Mr Travers said the steer had a really good muscle pattern and depth through the hind quarter.

The reserve heavyweight steer was exhibited and bred by Keajura Park Limousins, Tarcutta.

The Limousin steer, 680kg, was sired by Keajura Park Rocky and out of Red Rock Siesta M79.

He measured 6mm on the rib and rump, along with an EMA of 126sq cm and an IMF of 3.0pc.

Hamish Maclure, Keajura Park, Tarcutta, said he had been on feed for 120 days, a mix they made and sold themselves.

Mr Maclure said he admired the steer for his long, deep body and plenty of muscle.