The Royal Queensland Show is shaping up to be a beef extravaganza with subtle changes to the prime cattle section set to yield noticeable positive effects.
Single exhibit entries have risen in 2016 with a revamped schedule rendering the classes more market specific.
RNA beef cattle committee chair Gary Noller said he expected competition to be of the highest calibre thanks to a number of external influences falling positively for the event.
“In light of the fact that seasonal conditions have changed a little we’re seeing confidence creeping back into the market, he said.
“The prices that are available to both commercial and stud cattle producers is adding a greater level of professionalism to the feeding of competition cattle such as those headed for the RNA prime cattle event.”
Mr Noller said alterations to the single exhibit classes had attracted an increased level of local interest, particularly enticing smaller scale breeders running more intensive operations.
The prime beef competition received 1255 entries with 221 head promised to be on the grounds for the Show.
With 14 classes in total, the organising committee were pleased to see numbers rise for classes inviting pens of three head along with single head classes.
Mr Noller said pens of six head were down two entries in comparison to normal years but attributed this to a regular exhibitor taking on judging responsibilities.
“The pens of six classes have always been a hotly sought after contest and we expect the quality to be equally as impressive if not better,” he said.
“Competition for the overall champion is also expected to heat up accordingly- people are increasingly interested in what goes on.”
Strict curfews apply for all prime beef cattle with stock to arrive by 3pm on August 3. Cattle must be unloaded and penned for a 12 hour wet curfew commencing at 5pm.
Prime beef weighing is due to kick off at 5am on August 4 with judging to follow at 11.30am.
The RNA prime beef young judges competition adds another dimension and Mr Noller said the competition had also been updated in the interest of fairness.
“Junior judging used to be held on the Friday morning at about 7am prior to the cattle sale making for a very tight program,” he said.
“Now the junior judging competition will run in the mid afternoon on Thursday after judging of the prime classes is complete.
“The young judges is an important section at the Royal Queensland Show so we changed the format to cater to the increasing number of exhibitors in cattle classes and allow these people more time to make their classes.”
An overall beef and dairy judging trophy will be introduced, amalgamating points of competitors who participated in prime beef cattle junior judging, stud beef judging and dairy judging for a champion award.
For the first year the RNA beef cattle committee is excited to be working with Elite Livestock Auctions who will be providing the Led Steer Sale and Prime Beef Auction with a live online bidding and streaming platform.
The prime cattle auction will follow the young auctioneers state final at 9am on August 5.
The sale and auction will broadcast live via the internet, with full video, imagery and sound.