Phoenix Meat Company Beef Competition 2001 held at the Koriri Works north of Greymouth attracted 81 entrants this year from Canterbury, South Westland, Nelson and Marlborough. Slightly down on last year due to the drought, most entrants were from north and south Westland. It was well attended and was an opportunity for shareholders and suppliers to view all aspects of the operations from the slaughter floor, boning room, beef and microbiological displays to the new Techno System calf rearing on the nearby farm.
Coinciding with the last day for seasonal workers, the Beef competition prize giving was combined with an end of year BBQ, providing an occasion to feast on some of the finest finished products.
Jim Findlay, from Wrightsons livestock division Greymouth was the on-hoof judge again this year, saying all the entrants need to be congratulated on presenting stock in extremely good order. "It's a good representation, the classes are all very even. The main part of the competition is done when they go up onto the slaughter floor, but its good to get your picks against what the judges think and how they pan out. At the end of the day its dollars and cents that count, we try to judge on the hoof to meet that criteria too." Jim confirmed that it is all about meat. "The animals that are well covered down the hind quarter and over the loin and up the back, that's what we are looking for."
There were four classes judged for both the on-hoof and the on-hooks competitions with the results as follows.
On Hoof: Bull Beef Competition 1st prize, HBF Chinn (SimmentalX); 2nd prize, Don Mirfin (Simmental); 3rd prize, Bannock Brae (LimousinX). Domestic Prime 195/245 1st prize, L.J & B.R Manera (LimousinX); 2nd prize & 3rd prize, Hill Brothers (Angus/Hereford). Premium Export 270/320 1st prize & 2nd prize, Ferguson Farms (Limousin/Angus); 3rd prize, R Vincent (Limousin/Sth Devon). Premium Export Open 0/245 1st prize, Vessa Holdings (CharolaisX); 2nd prize, R Vincent (Charolais/Sth Devon); 3rd prize Hill Brothers (CharolaisX).
On Hook: Class 1 Westmeat Domestic Prime 195/245, 1st prize B & B Menzies (Short Horn Hereford); 2nd prize Hill Brothers (Angus/Hereford); 3rd prize Mrs V Chinn (CharolaisX). Class 2 West Coast Special Premium Export 270/320, 1st prize Dot Fraser (Charolais/Hereford); 2nd prize JJ Havill & Sons (Limousin); 3rd prize Hill Top Farm (AngusX). Class 3 Federated Farmers Free For All, 1st prize Vessa Holdings (CharolaisX); 2nd prize Hill Brothers (CharolaisX); 3rd prize W Begg & Son (Limousin). Class 4 For The Boys Bull Beef Section, 1st prize HBF Chinn (SimmentalX); 2nd prize Evan Birchfield (SimmentalX); 3rd prize R Vincent (Charolais/Sth Devon).
