Steer wins two firsts

Press, 1 April 1980, Page 22

Steer wins two firsts

A 31-month-oid Charolais Angus cross steer . from Mrs A. I. Smith, of Kaiapoi, which won the on-hoof section of the Canterbury beef and beef cuts competition, was also placed first in the hooks and cuts class for cattle killing out at 300 kg and over and having not more than six permanent incissors. Killing out at 388 kg, it won the Thomas Borthwick cup. The other class — for cattle killing out at 220 kg or over and with not more than two permanent incissors — was won by a Maine Anjou cross from D. P. Graham and Sons, of Tai Tapu. It also won the Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd, cup. Aged 26 months, it killed out at 370 kg. One of the judges, Mr E. Bell, congratulated the Grahams on winning this class in both this competition and the recent M i d-Canterbury competition. In three competitions in the South Island this season, the Grahams have gained 10 placings with 13 entries of Maine Anjou cross cattle. The cattle were drawn

from similar owners in the two competitions, but the cattle in the Canterbury competition were not up to those in the MidCanterbury contest, Mr Bell said. He described them as a good average class. The ribeyes, however, were not up to the standard would have been expected. Four or five had graded G, showing too much fat cover. Today’s criteria for competitions, tended to bring out better cattle, whereas before so many points were given for weight that it was bringing in a big, ugly type of cattle. Placings in the hookcuts classes were:— 220 kg and oven D. P. Graham and Sons, Maine Anjou cross, 2792 points, 1; J. E. Austin (Oxford), Charolais Angus cross, 279 pts, 2; B. T. Fisher (Greenpark), Charolais Friesian cross, 274.7 pts, 3; G. W. Smith (Kaiapoi), Simmental Hereford cross, 265.3 pts, 4; and Graham Bros (Tai Tapu), Maine Anjou cross, 264.3 pts, 5. For 300 kg and over: Mrs A. L Smith, Charolais Angus cross, 277.9 points, 1; G. A. Pearce and Com-

pany, Ltd (Coutts Island), Simmental Hereford cross, 271.3 pts, 2; Mrs A. I. Smith, Charolais Angus cross, 261.2 pts, 3; G. A. Pearce and Company, Ltd, Murray Grey, 253. pts, 4; and Holestanes Farm, Ltd (Kaiapoi), Angus Hereford cross, 230.6 pts, 5. The South Island branch of the Hereford Breeders’ Association trophy for the Hereford or Hereford-cross steer sired by a Hereford bull or out of a Hereford cow gaining most points for cuts went to a Simmental Hereford cross from G. A. Pearce and Company, Ltd. The Canterbury-West-land Ward of the New Zealand Angus Cattle Breeders* Association special prizes for the top Angus or Angus cross steers in each class were won by Mrs Smith, and J. E. Austin. The New Zealand Maine Anjou Cattle Society’s prizes for beasts sired by Maine Anjou bulls gaining Society’s prizes for beasts sired by Maine Anjou first, second or third placings in the aggregate score of the hooks-cuts sections were awarded to D. P. Graham and Sons and Graham Brothers.