Winners of a veal carcase competition run by Northern Cooperative Meat Company were announced on Tuesday, the last day of Casino Beef Week, with entered calves analysed as if they were MSA capable yearlings.
Jennie and Kerry Handford, Shannonbrook, were awarded overall champions out of 211 entries from 14 vendors for their pen of Angus and Hereford, bought out of the Casino saleyards and finished on grain with a carcase score of 84.16 out of 100.
This figure included the top eating score of 34.49 - nearly three points greater than the next highest.
Second place went to the Page family, Heifer Station on the Clarence, for Charolais and Angus over first cross Brahman/Hereford finished on their mothers in the paddock, claiming 82.71pts, including top lean meat yield percentage prediction and fourth for eating quality, with 31.12pts. Mark and Leanne Ivanusa, Edenville, with Charolais and Charolais/Angus calves, were awarded third place on 82.47pts.
Second and third in eating quality went to Diamond Hill Pastoral with Speckle Park/Charolais on 31.2 out of 40 pts and Dr Robert Munro, Rappville with Angus and Angus cross on 31.18pts.
Best weight for maturity calves, measured on ossification, were Brafords from Little Valley Grazing at Stratheden, but too many went over the 150kg hot standard carcase weight and lost points.
