Salers number one in carcase judging

French cattle breed Salers took out the grand champion beef carcase judging in what is believed to be a first for the breed at the Perth Royal Show.

"This is what I am talking about," Alan Penfold said in accepting the award and referring to the marketing ability of the Salers eating quality.

"Salers have been supplying gourmet meat into many eateries around the world."

The shining light for the Salers breed was from the Penfold family's 450kg live weight 15-month-old steer Gomez, which earlier did not place on the hoof.

"The steer was on feed 100 days fed ad lib with no worries about any fat issues," Mr Penfold said.

The beef carcase of the Salers was ranked number one in the medium weight class with a score of 88.70, or 0.50 above the second place finisher in the same class.

The carcase that narrowly missed out on top bragging rights was a Charolais/Angus-cross entry from a steer bred by the Thompson family, of Venturon Charolais stud, Collie.

"We are just in the beginnings of entering led steers at the Show," Anne Thompson said in accepting the reserve grand champion carcase award.

Mr Penfold said he guessed the Salers carcase would have pipped the Thompson's entry because it had ideal fat which measured an 8mm P8, plus good marbling and meat colour with an excellent eye muscle area of 98sqcm.

"The carcase represents the consistency we have been aiming for since first breeding Salers in 1985," he said.

Mr Penfold said they were worthy cross breeders as well as having the ability to not go over-fat.

This was evident when the Penfolds' Salers/Brahman-cross carcase in the light weight class placed third.

"While Brahman offer good marbling and softness, crossed with a Salers will provide a check on any fat issues," Mr Penfold said.

Mr Penfold, his wife, Sharon, and their children, Baydn and Jodi-Lee and her partner Clinton Gartrell, share the management of the 70 female breeding herd.

Champion light weight carcase was won by Murdoch University with a pure Limousin entry while WA College of Agriculture, Harvey, had the winning heavy weight carcase with an Angus cross.

In the extra heavy weight, WA College of Agriculture, Denmark, had the best entry with a Blonde d'Aquitaine/Angus-cross.

At the awards presentation, Bruce Campbell, of Cooara, Keysbrook, was announced as the most successful exhibitor over both hoof and hook.

"We have been exhibiting since 1959 and still the grand champion carcase eludes us," Mr Campbell said.