Angus cattle rise to the top in the 2019 RAS Beef Challenge

Angus and Angus influenced cattle have outperformed the competition in the RAS of NSW 2019 Sydney Royal Beef Challenge, taking home almost all major awards. 

With more than 500 animals entered in both the domestic and export sections from across the country, judging was a two–phase process, with teams of six and individuals judged live at the Wilga Feedlot, Bellata NSW, before being judged in the second phase for: 

• Feedlot performance – assessing both Average Daily Gain, Feed Intake and Dressing Percentage 
• Market Grid Compliance – with each team assessed to meet a defined optimum target for domestic and export categories 

• Carcass Assessment – Fat specifications, Meat Yield, and Eating Quality 
• Eating Quality – MSA Index and for the Export teams taste testing 

In the domestic section, where cattle spent 70 days on feed, Branga Plains Pastoral Co, took out Champion Team with a pen of Angus influenced steers. 

An Angus heifer from Texas Angus was awarded Reserve Champion Individual. 

Texas Angus came close to a clean sweep of the major export section (100 days on feed) awards, winning Champion Team with a pen of Angus heifers, Reserve Champion team with a pen of Angus steers and Champion individual with an Angus steer. 

IG, EA & CI Brown won Reserve Champion individual with an Angus heifer. 

In addition to the major awards, Angus cattle were extremely successful in the taste test section of the competition. 

Of the 24 medals awarded for the taste test component, 19 of these (2 Gold, 4 Silver & 13 Bronze) went to either Angus or Angus influenced pens of cattle, with both Pine Creek Angus Stud and AV & LM Doolan taking home coveted Gold Medals. 

In the domestic section, two teams of heifers entered by Hobday Nixon placed 1st and 2nd for taste test, while individually, an Angus heifer from Texas Angus places 1st and an Angus heifer from Hobday Nixon placed 3rd. 

In the export judging, AV & LM Doolan won 1st with a team of Angus heifers and 1st  with an Angus heifer in the individual section, while Pine Creek Angus Stud placed 2nd in the teams and individually, also with Angus heifers. 

As the beef industry looks to focus on the end consumer and their wants and desires these awards are especially important. Angus beef is already synonymous for eating quality and when this claim is backed by commercial results, consumers will continue to identify Angus beef as a high-end product. 

Live Assessment:  

Daily Weight Gain: 

Dressing % 

Feedlot Total: 

Carcase Grid: 

Carcase Judge: 

Profitability:  

Taste Test: 

Domestic Champion Team: 

Branga Plains Pastoral Co, Angus Influenced steers 

Domestic Reserve Champion Individual: 

Texas Angus, Angus Heifer 

Export Champion Team: 

Texas Angus, Angus Heifers 

Export Reserve Champion Team: 

Texas Angus, Angus Steers 

Export Champion Individual: 

Texas Angus, Angus Steer 

Export Reserve Champion Individual: 

IG, EA  & CI Brown, Angus heifer 

Taste Test Awards: 

Top Image: Angus producer proudly showing off their awards. 

Images: Danni MacCue 

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Angus producers proudly showing off their awards

Greg Watson, Ben Mayne, Judy Mayne, Wendy Mayne & Mike MacCue

Doolan Family, Isla Angus

Guy & Suzi Lord