FIRST-time exhibitors Doug and Erin Wilcock, Preston Rise Square Meater stud, Noggerup, claimed the grand champion carcase award at this year's IGA Perth Royal Show with a Square Meater steer.
The Wilcocks claimed the award with a purebred Square Meater exhibit, which they had bred themselves, when the carcase finished on 94.29 points.
With a live weight of 399kg, the steer dressed at 54.8 per cent with a hot standard carcase weight (HSCW) of 218.8kg.
It also recorded a 71cm2 for EMA, 9mm for P8 fat, 5mm for rib fat and a MSA index of 63.07.
It scored perfect marks for P8 fat, rib fat, meat colour and 43.07 out of 45 for eating quality.
The steer had been on feed for 87 days on Milne Feed pellets.
The carcase was also sashed the champion lightweight carcase and the highest scoring owner-bred animal.
The Wilcocks entered two steers in the competition and Ms Wilcocks said the win was totally unexpected given they had never entered before.
The reserve grand champion carcase and champion heavyweight carcase was exhibited by the WA College of Agriculture Denmark.
The Angus steer finished on 94.09, to be just 0.2 points behind the grand champion carcase.
The steer had a live weight of 514kg and dressed at 59.1pc to give a HSCW of 303.8kg.
It recorded a 82cm2 for EMA, 10mm for P8 fat, 8mm for rib fat and a MSA index of 62.38.
It scored 42.38 for eating quality.
On the hoof the steer was sashed the reserve champion heavyweight steer or heifer.
A Murray Grey-Charolais-Angus cross steer exhibited by Andrew, Anne and Harris Thompson, Venturon Charolais and Mighty Murray Grey studs, Boyup Brook, which was a standout on the hoof in its class and was sashed the champion extra heavyweight steer or heifer, also shone through in the carcase judging when it was awarded the champion extra heavyweight carcase, when it finished on 88.83 points.
The steer had a live weight of 576kg and dressed at 55.9pc to give a HSCW of 321.8kg.
It recorded a 84cm2 for EMA, 11mm for P8 fat, 9mm for rib fat, a MSA index of 59.62 and scored 39.62 for eating quality.
The steer was sired by a Mighty Murray Grey bull and out of a homebred Charolais-Angus cow.
The Thompsons took home a second champion ribbon when they exhibited the reserve champion heavyweight carcase which scored 93.67 points.
The Charolais-Angus cross steer had a liveweight of 499kg and dressed at 58.1pc to give a HSCW of 289.8kg.
It recorded a 96cm2 for EMA, 8mm for P8 fat, 5mm for rib fat and a MSA index of 59.67, while it scored 39.67 for eating quality.
The steers was sired by a Venturon Charolais sire and out of an Angus cow.
Both steers had been on feed for 130 days on a home prepared mix.
Murdoch University exhibited the champion mediumweight carcase ribbon with a Limousin steer.
The steer had a liveweight of 459kg and dressed at 58.8pc to give a HSCW of 269.8kg.
It recorded a 80cm2 for EMA, 9mm for P8 fat, 6mm for rib fat and a MSA index of 58.2, while it scored 38.2 for eating quality.
The steer had been on feed for 100 days on a Semini Custom Feeds mix.
The win helped Murdoch University claim the award for the most successful exhibitor on the hoof and hook competition.
In the hoof judging it claimed both the grand champion and reserve grand champion steer or heifer ribbons.
The reserve champion lightweight carcase was exhibited by the Ballantyne Group. The steer, which was prepared by G & J Dimasi, Donnybrook and was sashed the champion lightweight exhibit on the hoof, finished on 88.39 points.
The steer had a liveweight of 400kg and dressed at 58.7pc to give a HSCW of 234.8kg, while it recorded a 71cm2 for EMA, 9mm for P8 fat, 5mm for rib fat and a MSA index of 56.8.
Kelmscott Senior High School claimed the reserve champion mediumweight carcase ribbon when an Angus steer it exhibited scored 90.66 points.
The steer had a liveweight of 413kg and dressed at 51.8pc to give a HSCW of 213.8kg, while it recorded a 77cm2 for EMA, 7mm for P8 fat, 4mm for rib fat and a MSA index of 57.66.
An Angus steer exhibited by Ivan Rogers was sashed the reserve champion extra heavyweight carcase, when it finished on 86.03 points.
The steer had a liveweight of 618kg and dressed at 53.5pc to give a HSCW of 330.8kg, while it recorded a 116cm2 for EMA, 17mm for P8 fat, 8mm for rib fat and a MSA index of 59.03.
The Millner trophy for a group of three purebred steers (hoof and hook) went to the Limousin breed ahead of the Square Meater breed in second and the Angus breed in third.
Overall the judges were impressed with the quality and consistency of the carcases exhibited and said they showed a good balance of muscling and yield and graded well for MSA.
"They are the type of carcases consumers and processors are chasing as they were high yielding and had good eating qualities," they said.
Jodie Rintoul
Farm Weekly's livestock manager.
Farm Weekly's livestock manager.
