Back-to-back victory for second-time contenders at South Coast steer spectacular
A central school in the Hilltops region has again displayed its capabilities of preparing cattle after winning the champion steer title for the second year in a row at the South Coast Beef School Steer Spectacular, in Nowra on May 6 and 7.
Taking a team of three steers down to the event, Boorowa Central School show team not only received placings for all three animals but walked away with the grand champion ribbon with their Speckle Park steer, Spike.
Originating from the heavyweight classes, the 465 kilogram steer was donated by JAD Speckle Park, Yeoval, and sired by JAD Quistacat Q48.
He recorded an average daily gain of 1.29kg while on feed for 60 days.
Associate judge Zeke Groom, Yass, said there wasn't much difference between the steers in the top line.
"I think the Speckle steer had a bit more overall completeness, depth, and spring of rib," he said.
"Not seeing the carcase results, I think the champion steer had a great muscle-to-fat ratio.
"I didn't find any holes I could fault him in, really."
Boorowa Central School agriculture teacher James McDonald said the school was thrilled with the results.
"It was really big, we took three steers down there and we got second in the light weights, first in the middle weights, and then first in the heavies with him [Spike], so we had a really competitive show," he said.
"The kids have taken on board what they learnt last year, and I think they've taken it to a higher level this year in terms of their ability to prepare the animals and to present them for judging."
Mr McDonald said the school's show team only started last year, but due to the event, it received great interest from up-and-coming students in agriculture.
"We've had increased interest in agriculture, particularly in our senior classes, and we have a really strong group of kids that have joined the show team as a result," he said.
"As a result of this, we are going to enter the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza later in the year for the first time."
All the work to prepare the cattle was carried out by students in their own time for the competition, with the steers also being shown at Boorowa and Yass shows.
"We'd only have the cattle for two or four weeks at school before we did those shows," Mr McDonald said.
"At the very start of the term, they worked like crazy to get them ready for the first shows and then slowed down and let them finish ready for Nowra."
Boorowa Central School also won the middleweight classes with a Square Meater steer, donated by Javid Farm, Orange.
The lightweight steer class was won by Narooma High School with a Limousin steer, donated by Darren Turner, Berry.
The central school continued their success into the report section of the competition, where students had to compile a report of the team's performance throughout their preparation for the show.
Narooma High School won the herdman competition over the two days.
