Graeme Dodd’s 18-month-old Charolais and Belgian blue cross heifer won the Doug Lindsay Memorial Trophy in the hoof section, judged at Charlton Saleyards, near Gore, last week.
Mr Dodd runs and trades about 30 cattle and 230 sheep on his 30ha farm in Invercargill.
The heifer was bought as a weaner calf. He had bought a dozen similar calves at the same time. The rest of the mob reached 320kg at 16 months old and were sent to the works in March.
"She was the runt out of the lot. That’s the only reason she is still here, because she was too small to kill."
He was keeping his calf vendor a secret to protect his future weaner supply. "I can’t tell you that because then everyone wants to buy them."
When anyone asked him where he bought his weaners, he told them Chatham Islands to discourage them.
His cattle had performed well on a diet of grass in summer and baleage in winter. "They are a good cross." His family had a long history in the competition. His late father Alan Dodd helped to launch it.
Graeme had never won the trophy before and was pleased to be judged the "best on hoof" from the 28 top-quality cattle entered in the competition. "There’s not a poor beast here."
OTAGO-SOUTHLAND HOOF AND HOOK BEEF COMPETITION
Hoof section: Class 1 (220kg to 270kg): C.B. & C.J. McIntosh (Ōtautau) Murray Grey heifer, 1; B.T. & E.J. Gray (Owaka) Maine-Anjou heifer, 2; S.W. Howard (Lawrence) Limousin heifer, 3.
Class 2 (271kg to 320kg): Graeme Dodd (Invercargill) Charolais and Belgian Blue cross heifer, 1; C.B. & C.J. McIntosh (Ōtautau) Murray Grey and Simmental cross heifer, 2; C.B. & C.J. McIntosh (Ōtautau) Murray Grey, Simmental and Murray Grey cross heifer, 3.
Class 3 (321kg and heavier): Geoff Edgar (Outram) Angus steer, 1; Max Nichol (Outram) Shorthorn, Charolais and shorthorn cross steer, 2; Mike Thompson (Gore) Angus and Simmental cross steer 3.
Reserve hoof champion: Geoff Edgar (Outram) Angus steer.
Supreme hoof champion and Doug Lindsay Memorial Trophy winner: Graeme Dodd (Invercargill) Charolais and Belgian Blue cross heifer.
Hook section: Class 1 (220kg to 270kg): Brian Thomson (Allanton) South Devon heifer, 1; B.T. & E.J. Gray (Owaka) Maine-Anjou heifer, 2; C.B. & C.J. McIntosh (Ōtautau) Murray Grey heifer, 3.
Class 2 (271kg to 320kg): Graeme Dodd (Invercargill) Charolais and Belgian Blue cross heifer, 1; Clark Scott (Tapanui) Limousin heifer, 2; B.T. & E.J. Gray (Owaka) Maine-Anjou heifer, 3.
Class 3 (321kg and heavier): Max Nichol (Outram) Shorthorn and Charolais and shorthorn cross steer, 1; Max Nichol (Outram) Shorthorn and Charolais and shorthorn cross steer, 2; Max Nichol (Outram) Shorthorn and Charolais and shorthorn cross steer, 3.
Best of British: Brian Thomson (Allanton) South Devon heifer, 1; C.B. & C.J. McIntosh (Ōtautau) Murray Grey heifer, 2; SW Howard (Lawrence) Angus steer, 3. Best new entrant: Max Nichol (Outram). Best owner bred animal: Clark Scott (Tapanui). Most valuable animal on the day: Max Nichol (Outram). Best marbled carcass: Geoff Edgar (Outram). Best on the fork with milk teeth: Brian Thomson (Allanton). Reserve hook champion: Max Nichol (Outram) Shorthorn and Charolais shorthorn cross steer. Supreme hook champion and AH Dodd and Family Trophy winner: Max Nichol (Outram) Shorthorn and Charolais shorthorn cross steer.
