By Abbey Cannan
A local producer has once again claimed a first-place position in the first phase of the RNA’s prestigious Paddock to Palate Competition presented by Mort & Co at Grassdale Feedlot in Dalby on Tuesday 25 June.
Palgrove Pastoral Company’s Charolais from Dalveen took out first place in Class 37A for ‘Best Weight Gain – Pen of Six’, weighing in with an ADG of 3.095kg.
Paddock to Palate is three phased comprising best aggregate weight gain; a carcass competition and an MSA eating quality competition, while the 2018/19 Wagyu Challenge is four phased finishing in a beef taste off judged by some of Queensland’s top chefs.
The exhibitors who poll the highest aggregate scores across all phases of the four classes, will be awarded the overall prizes at an awards presentation dinner during the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka)’s Beef Week on Wednesday 7 August.
David Bondfield from Palgrove Pastoral Company said there was 25 per cent more cattle at the competition this year compared to the year before.
“On the back of the drought it was good to see a really strong nomination,” David said.
“We are really excited about the win in this category and we’ve been fortunate enough to have previously won the weight gain section overall in 2018.
“There are still two more phases of the competition but we are sitting in a good position, not necessarily to be the overall winner but at this stage we are leading on points.”
David said he has no expectations in regards to taking out the top prize again but he would be thrilled if they did.
“The competition is very close. To win it once was very exciting and to win it twice would be amazing,” he said.
“The competition has been running for nine years and we have been entering for the last five years.
“It’s a really good competition as it represents the quality of the product that comes from the beef supply chain from the farmer, the producer to the manufacturers and lastly to the consumer.
“Our steers will be featured at the Brisbane exhibition at the Regatta Boathouse Restaurant as part of the Ekka beef promotion.
“I don’t know how to put it nicely but they will be on the menu for the beef brand Royal 100.”
RNA Beef Cattle Committee Chair Gary Noller said it was pleasing to see 889 head of cattle entered in the competition this year, despite the drought.
“Our entry numbers are the highest they’ve been since 2015, which shows just how resilient and determined our beef cattle producers are and how valuable the data from this competition is for their breeding programs,” he said.
“We were thrilled to see more than 200 head of those cattle entered in our new HGP free export class, especially with consumer demand for HGP free beef rising.”
Both the Paddock to Palate Competition and Wagyu Challenge will now move onto the second phase – a carcass competition.
