Sunset Park is the first ever Square Meaters breeder to win Grand Champion carcase at the Royal Brisbane Show.
Owned by Julie Gillies, Sunset Park Square Meaters at Crows Nest, Queensland and exhibited and fed by 11-year-old Ella Cannon and her mum Karla, Chelna Square Meaters, Marburg.
Sunset Park steer entry number 219 lightweight led steer carcase winner also placed third on the hoof in the lightweight steer 351-375kg in a huge class of 22 steers.
They also went on to be named the led steer Grand Champion carcase winner from more than 285 entries.
In the 1990s, legendary cattleman Rick Pisaturo developed the Square Meaters breed to address a gap in the market for smaller cut, tender quality, butcher beef.
Specifically bred for the Australian local butcher shop market, it takes just 12 months to produce a dressed body at 200 to 220kg off grass live equals 400 to 450kgs.
Over the years, Square Meaters have done well in carcase competitions Australia-wide.
DeeJay U37 was finished on grain for 60 days, had a live weight of 366kg and dressed at 206.4kg, which equals 56.4 per cent.
His rib and fat at eight and seven and 79sqm eye muscle area.
It’s a fast turn around on investment, according to Lachlan Howland of Golden Pastoral Square Meaters and the vice chairperson of Square Meaters Cattle Association.
Steer stats for DeeJay U37, DOB 06/09/2023, sired by Vesco Quizmaster dam P22, with Vesco Jack of Diamonds on the dams side. He was bred to meet the Square Meaters strict specifications, with conformation and structure at the top of Julie’s list.
“To say I’m stunned, stoked and speechless is well and truly an understatement,” said Julie Gillies Sunset Park Square Meaters.
“I was literally in the cattle yards at home drafting off steers when I got the phone call. I went from ‘good ol yard language’ to being too stunned to say anything.
“There was no way in a million years I could’ve predicted this outcome.
“A huge thanks goes to Vesco Square Meaters and Chelna Square Meaters for annoying me to ‘go find a steer for Ekka’.
“There was no formula. It was a case of wandering up the paddock pointing and going ‘you’ll do’ as steers were ‘light on’ in terms of numbers. You’re bred to do the job.
“Johanna van Elten for her dedication with the feeding, Karla Cannon for prepping and transporting our entries to get them ‘show seasoned’ Ella Cannon for having the tenacity but also the patience with her animals in the show ring.”
Previous wins for Sunset Park Square Meaters are 2023 first Eating Quality and seconod in class third on hook and third in the Ken McDonald Shield.
In 2022 they won the Ken McDonald Shield.
