Queensland cleans up in Paddock to Palate

BEEF producers from Queensland have dominated the first phase of the prestigious RNA Paddock to Palate Competition presented by Mort and Co and the 2016/17 Paddock to Palate Wagyu Challenge.

Atkinson Pastoral Company from Hughenden and Gyranda Pastoral Company from Theodore won Class 37 and Class 38 respectively while Stanbroke Beef from Gatton claimed the inaugural Class 39 Wagyu Challenge, to share in some of the almost $60,000 prize pool.

With almost 800 head of prime beef cattle entered in Paddock to Palate, Atkinson Pastoral Company’s pen of six angus droughtmaster cross won the 100-day Class 37 with an Average Daily Gain (ADG) of 3.117kg, while they also claimed second place with another one of their pens recording an ADG of 3.026kg.

Gyranda Pastoral Company from Theodore staked its claim in the 70-day Class 38, with their pen of santa gertrudis cross tipping the scales with an ADG of 3.07kg.

David Bassingthwaighte and family didn’t go home empty-handed, winning Class 37’s highest individual weight gain for the second year in a row with one of their santa gertrudis having an ADG of 3.62kg, while Atkinson Pastoral Company raked in another award, winning the highest individual weight gain for Class 38 with its angus droughtmaster cross which had an ADG of 3.94kg.

Meanwhile in the 330-day 2016/17 Paddock to Palate Wagyu Challenge, Stanbroke Beef from Gatton became the first winner of Class 39, sharing in the $10,000 prize pool, with their pen of six F1 Wagyu cattle recording an ADG of 1.370kg.

They also took out Class 39’s highest individual weight gain award with one of their F1 Wagyu weighing in with an ADG of 1.547kg.

RNA Beef Cattle Committee chairman Gary Noller said the Paddock to Palate Competition had succeeded in bringing together the nation’s top cattle producers for 20 years now.

“The competition provides an opportunity for producers to benchmark their genetics and property management practices against like-minded beef cattle producers,” he said.

“The high quality of genetics entered into the competition this year presented average daily gains higher than normal feedlot conditions, so we’re pleased with the results.

“While the Wagyu Challenge is the only breed-specific competition we run, wagyu is so unique with its characteristics for marbling that we’ve been able to create a whole competition for it,” Mr Noller said.