THE Harvey Agricultural Society auction and competition of grainfed cattle was a great success again this year with a near capacity quality yarding of 60 cattle presented to a record number of 10 butchers at the Harvey Show last weekend.
Each class was well supported with 42 calves entered in class two (230-285kg) and an increase in numbers in the lightweight section (class one, 180-230kg), with 18 calves.
Chief steward David Lofthouse thanked the major sponsors Ketteridge Stockfeeds and M & J Mitchell for their continued support of the show and commended the exhibitors for an outstanding quality yarding of cattle for presentation to the buying public.
This year’s guest judge Landmark Boyup Brook agent Jamie Abbs commented how difficult his task was with so many quality calves presented.
In most cases it was only a point or two separating placings.
Harvey local Rusty Miller came out of retirement for the day to be the guest auctioneer and drew a final bid of $3000 on the champion Angus-Belgian Blue cross heifer exhibited by Jen Roberts, Benger and purchased by Harvey Beef.
Jen Roberts also took honours in class two with a pair of Angus-Belgian Blue cross heifers with 190 points.
Second place went to EJ & AR Howard, Gingin, with a pair of Speckle Park steers that weighed 440.5kg and made 330c/kg, purchased by Sebastian Butchers for $1480.
Third in this class went to WA College of Agriculture, Harvey, with two Angus steers weighing 498kg. They made 338c/kg, purchased by Avon Valley Beef for $1683.
Class one was dominated by Dom Pinzone, Dardanup, who took out first, second and third with his line-up of Limousin-Murray Grey and Limousin-Angus cross calves.
The first placed pair weighed 384.5kg, made 344c/kg and were purchased by Sebastian Butchers for $1322.
The second pair weighed 391kg, made 350c/kg and cost Sebastian Butchers $1368 while third in the class weighed 377kg, made 342c/kg, and sold to Sebastian Butchers for $1289.
The number of buyers travelling to support the sale increased with new comers Avon Valley Beef and Ryans Quality Meats competing against regular supporters Johnson Meats, Gem Grazing, Harvey Beef, Swansea St Meat Market, Borrello Beef, V&V Walsh, Sebastian Butchers and Goodchild Meats.
Overall the yarding of 60 calves averaged 438kg liveweight and sold at an average price 341.6c/kg and $1496.26 to be a pleasing result for the exhibitors.
Carcase judging took place on Monday, May 1, at the abattoir of the buyers’ choice and results will be published in the next edition of Farm Weekly.
