WHITE Dorper carcases have come up trumps at the Royal Queensland Show being named both grand champion and reserve champion.
Exhibited by the Shelley Family Trust, Warwick, the winning carcases were from 11 month old animals which had been fed for about eight weeks on grain.
Brett Shelley said the lambs were selected with an eye for even body shape. The three grand champion carcases were 24kg, 24.2kg and 26.4kg. The heavier reserve champion carcases were 28.4kg, 32kg and 32.2kg. Both entries were from the heavy carcase class.
Alan Forrest, Warwick, placed first in the lightweight class with eight month old grain fed White Dorpers. A grass fed Poll Dorset-cross entry from the Hauff Family, Outback Lamb, Bell, was in second place. The top three sold for $5.50 and the second place getters for $5.30 to Pattemore Meats.
Warren Schelbach, Warwick, took out the medium weight class with six month old oats fed Dorpers. Alan Forest's White Dorper entry placed second. The winning entry sold for $6.40 and the second placegetters for $5.40 to Nolan Meats.
Sponsored by T&R Pastoral's Country Fresh, the competition attracted 66 lambs.
Judge Pat McMahon, McMahon Wholesale Meats, Killarney, said the winning carcasses demonstrated how far the Queensland lamb industry had come.
"These carcases represent a great improvement across the board," Mr McMahon said.
"They show better feeding systems and increased meat yield resulting in more retail returns."
Both the grand champion and reserve champion carcases were sold to Pattemore's Meats, Alexandra Hills, for $6.70/kg live.
The sale of the 66 carcases averaged $105.50.
Chief steward Kevin Hauff said he was issuing a challenge to NSW producers to exhibit at the Royal Queensland Show.
Results
Grand champ: Shelley Family Trust, Warwick. Res: Shelley Family Trust.
* Follow Mark Phelps on Twitter: @MarkQCL
