A Limousin steer, judged to have "terrific muscling" has taken out this year's Hoof to Hook grand champion steer or heifer ribbon.
The Les Matres bloodline steer was prepared by Billabong High School, Culcairn, NSW.
Billabong High School Agriculture teacher Donna Parker said the steer was donated by Margaret Pierce, Belanagalo Park, Gerogery, NSW.
"We helped select the animal, with her, in April," Ms Parker said.
"We chose him because of his muscling and temperament, the temperament was beautiful - he wasn't a skittish animal, and he was well built for his age."
Ms Parker said while the students were not able to lead the steer, at Yea,, he impressed judge Geordie Elliott.
"He said it had filled out really well, had terrific muscling around the rump and loin, the fat coverage was perfect and he just assessed it as very well presented animal," she said.
The steer was 544kilograms liveweight and dressed out at 62.41 per cent.
He said it had filled out really well, had terrific muscling around the rump and loin, the fat coverage was perfect and he just assessed it as very well presented animal.
- Donna Parker, Billabong High School
He had measurements of a 17 millimetre P8 fat and scored three out of five, for meat colour.
The steer had a rib fat of seven mm, an eye muscle area of 74 square centimetres and a yield total of 21.95 out of 35.
Ms Parker said the school received the steer when it was about eight months old and weighing about 330kg.
"We have cattle yards at the school, so it goes into a feedlot and we gradually get it onto feed, which is Coprice pellets."
The steer remained on feed for 130 days.
Ms Parker said the students weren't able to go to Yea, to lead the steer, but had done all the preparation work, prior to the event.
"We watched a Zoom presentation of the cattle on the hoof," she said.
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Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
