BIG WIN FOR SEWELLS
Steer takes out show’s grand champion title
IT WAS a case of getting square for South Burnett cattle producer Gary Sewell when his entry in the 2014 Toowoomba Ag Show led steer and heifer competition won the grand champion title.
His 12-month-old square meater steer, Oakvale Jessie James, tipped the scales at 352kg and was awarded the coveted title by Nolan’s Meats Gympie representative Brent Evans.
In explaining his decision, Mr Evans said the calibre of the Oakvale steer made judging relatively easy.
“He’s one hell of a calf,” he said.
“He has beautiful side profile and outstanding eye muscle area, good hind quarters and is a great credit to the breed.”
The yearling steer won the lightweight division of the square meater feature breed competition and took home the prized ribbon ahead of super lightweight class winner Vesco Julius Caesar.
Oakvale Jessie James was bred by Gary and Heather Sewell on their property at Wondai, north of Kingaroy and finished on corn silage.
The Sewells run a stud and commercial beef operation where size matters: they are specialist square meater breeders selling finished beef in a paddock to plate operation targeting buyers on the coast.
The couples’ preference for the compact breed is firmly based on their weight-for-age gain. They aim to turn off 400kg steers at 13–14 months with a yield of 170kg of saleable meat per carcass.
Meanwhile Vesco Julius Caesar, a nine-month-old steer entered by Jo Van Elten from Prenzlau in the Lockyer Valley, won the super lightweight class after weighing in at 324kg.
Ms Van Elten has been breeding square meaters for 18 years, but said preparing a steer for the Toowoomba Heritage Ag Show came with challenges this season.
“It’s been a tough year and we’ve reduced breeding numbers as a result,” she said.
“We have just 30 head and we’re feeding out a round bale a day and they’re $80 each so it adds up.”
She said Vesco Julius Caesar had been on the receiving end of some preferential treatment on a grain mix with grass access.
“I am really happy to win the reserve champion title. I’ve won the reserve champion carcass competition before, but other than that this is the best we’ve ever done.”