Limousin genetics have dominated the Melbourne led steer and heifer competition on the hoof, featuring in all three of the champion exhibits.
But judge Jonathon Spence made it clear he wasn’t interested in knowing the breed makeup of the animals he was assessing, but rather was keen to promote the protein of beef.
“It amuses me how we all barrack for our breeds like a football team when we should all be supporting the one better cause which is the great protein of our beef,” Mr Spence said from the judging ring.
The Spence, Dix & Co livestock agency director from Keith, SA, adjudicated over nearly 300 animals on Monday, and selected a 499-kilogram Limousin steer as his heavy domestic and eventual grand champion exhibit.
Bred by Beckenham Limousins, Kyneton, and prepared and shown by Beckenham and Rigdale Limousins, the September 2017-drop steer was one of the heaviest in the heavy domestic category, 400.1kg to 500kg.
“Just super built, just tremendous to stand behind him here, beautiful in that hip and hind, tremendous over those primal cuts, just balanced, moderate – a lot to like about him,”Mr Spence said.
The grand champion got up over the domestic (300-400kg) winner, another pure Limousin weighing 384kg, exhibited by the Rutherglen High School and bred by Le Matres Limousin, Table Top, NSW.
The heavy export champion was a Limousin cross Simmental-Angus steer weighing 608kg, bred by Mark Lamborn and prepared by Lewis Bruggemann, Wilmington, SA.
“You couldn’t paint them any better, you get round behind him and he’s just tremendous in that hindquarter, I think he is soft enough, I think he is even enough in his fat distribution …filled in that brisket, deep in that flank, a really nice steer,” said Mr Spence of the heavy export winner.
Mr Spence also judged the Borthwick Trophy, a team of three purebred steers from any one breed, on Monday, and placed in no particular order the Limousin, Charolais, Angus and Hereford teams as his top four.
