Preston Rise steer wins sash by a nose

Noggerup stud Preston Rise won the grand champion carcase award at the IGA Perth Royal Show with a pure-bred Square Meaters steer.

Exhibited by stud owners Doug and Erin Wilcock, the 399kg steer dressed out at 218kg and received a total point score of 94.29.

This score was only 0.2 points ahead of the reserve grand champion carcase, from a heavyweight Angus steer exhibited by WA College of Agriculture — Denmark.

The Wilcocks were shocked after hearing they won in only their second year of showing stud cattle and the first year of exhibiting two led steers for the carcase competition.

The couple also won the speciality breeds interbreed competition with their junior bull, Preston Rise Lycett Jax, sired by Malolo Gala Governor.

In the led steer and heifer auction, buyers bid to $2000 for Preston Rise’s steers, which worked out to be $5/kg. “The butchers were chasing the high marbling attribute of the Square Meaters breed,” Mr Wilcock said.

The pair’s grand champion carcase had the highest rating of Meat Standards Australia marbling of 63.07, with WACA, Denmark’s Angus, scoring 62.38.

There were a total of five Square Meaters in the carcase competition from three breeders.

Murdoch University was awarded the medium-weight champion carcase award with its pure Limousin steer entry. The university did well overall, winning most points in the led steer or heifer carcase competition.

Venturon Charolais stud exhibited a three-way cross steer — Murray Grey, Charolais and Angus — which gained the Thompson family the champion extra heavyweight carcase award.