The grand champion bull and female of every breed took centre stage at Beef 2009 yesterday but it was the Hereford bull and Brangus cow that came out on top.
The Nixon family's Wallan Creek Hereford Stud, at Drillham in Southern Queensland, and Brad and Jane Saunder's Charlevue Brangus stud, at Dingo in Central Queensland, earned the accolades.
After providing a critically honest assessment of the fields, United States judge Dr Jim Sanders, of Texas, gave his seal of approval to Charlevue Bella, a 28-month-old cow with a heifer calf at foot, and Wallan Creek Dimbulah C261, a 19-month-old Hereford bull.
Toby Nixon said his family knew they had "a good article" with Dimbulah – the youngest of the bulls they exhibited but with the best weight for age.
It was only the second time Charlevue Bella had been shown – the first was at the Baralaba show – and Mrs Saunders was shaking after the announcement.
"Beef Australia is the ultimate competition for us so this is as good as it gets," she said.
* A special report from Beef 09 will appear in Queensland Country Life May 14 edition.
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