Far North Queensland bull wins Senepol judging on quick spell at Ekka 2025

A bull from the Atherton Tablelands on a quick spell from serving females has won grand champion Senepol at Ekka 2025.

The Spies family's three-year-old bull, Pinnacle Pocket 141, won the top prize for Senepol males at the RNA Showgrounds on Saturday, August 9.

The Spies family, based at Glen Allyn, were the sole exhibitors in the Senepol judging, showing five head in total including three males and two females.

Their top bull weighed 1018 kilograms, with an eye muscle area of 144 square centimetres, P8 and rib fat measurements of 10 and six millimetres.

He won champion interbreed bull at the Yeppoon show and supreme champion at Mackay show, both in June, during a layover in central Queensland on his way down to Brisbane.

Peter Spies said Pinnacle Pocket 141 had served females from August 2024 until February 2025, and would go back into a herd of about 50 cows after the show.

"We are happy with how he presented today," Mr Spies said.

"His sire [Five Star Tarzan] was from Geoff Maynard's stud, who has been a reliable source of bulls for our herd.

"We took him down to Rockhampton to get dressed up and fitted in February; Craig Dolinsky and his family have done a fantastic job too."

The grand champion was out of Pinnacle Pocket Kpg 02.

Judge and Tycolah Poll Herefords and Brafords principal Ben Crowley said the carcase quality and natural thickness in Pinnacle Pocket 141 were incredible.

"I've gone for the more powerful bull here," Mr Crowley said.

"I really love the head and eye; then he has such a big neck frame and so much width across that chest floor.

"You need that extra weight and length that he has when you're turning off cattle."

One of the Spies family's two senior cow entries, Pinnacle Pocket 323, won grand champion female.

She was two years and nine months old, by Five Star 952, out of Pinnacle Pocket Kpg 13, and had weaned a calf in the months before the show.

Pinnacle Pocket 323 was functional and had good maternal attributes, according to Mr Crowley.

"I just love the front end in this female," he said.

"Then it's that little bit of extra strength in her spine and extra width that has given her the win."

Mr Spies said his family's breeding program targeted fertility and a tight calving window.

"We try to calve from September to December, to make sure the first months of their life are in the ideal conditions for growth," Mr Spies said.

"We breed for the Cape and the Gulf, so hardiness in their genetics makes a difference too."

KEY RESULTS

Judge: Ben Crowley, Tycolah Poll Herefords and Brafords, Cobbadah, NSW

No. of exhibits: five exhibited, seven nominated

Senior champion female: Pinnacle Pocket 323

Reserve senior champion female: Pinnacle Pocket 75

Junior champion male: Pinnackle Pocket 4-08

Senior champion male: Pinnacle Pocket 141

Reserve senior champion male: Pinnacle Pocket 62

Grand champion female: Pinnacle Pocket 323

Grand champion male: Pinnacle Pocket 141

Breeders Group: Peter Spies.