On The Land
29 November, 2025
The best beef in the business
THE best beef in the region has been judged at one of the most prestigious competitions for the industry, with producers putting forward their top meat in a bid to win the 2025 North Queensland Best Beef Carcase Competition.
The competition, which attracted 105 entries this year in three pasture-fed and unrestricted feeling classes, aims to promote the region’s butchers who support local producers and showcase our best beef.
The Byrnes family, who own the Rocky Creek Abattoir, launched the competition in 2001, but it ceased in 2005, before being re-introduced in 2022.
All butcher shops from Ingham to Cairns and across the Tablelands, who are customers of the abattoir, are invited to put their best producers’ cattle forward.
In addition, the event included an open day at the abattoir which attracted 11 stallholders associated with the industry and 150 attendees who participated in chiller tours and witnessed a boning demonstration.
The event culminated in the Awards Dinner and Industry Panel held at the Rocky Creek Igloo, attended by 133 guests and featuring speakers, Ethan Mooney (Teys Australia), Angus Gidley-Baird (Rabobank Australia), and Jonathan Condon (Beef Central), with discussion focused on market signals, supply chain trends and the outlook for northern beef.
Event coordinator Shannon Byrnes said the competition continued to grow each year.
“It’s been fantastic to see the community get behind the event. This competition really showcases the quality of cattle we produce in North Queensland and the producers and butchers who drive that standard every day,” she said.
Breeds represented in the competition included Brangus, Ultrablack, Droughtmaster, Santa × Brahman and tropical composites.
Most cattle were milk or two tooth, processed at 20-24 months. Grading was completed by MLA MSA research grader Matt Scott.
Ms Byrnes said the Lean Meat Yield (LMY) was the major driver of results, carrying 35 points in the scoring system.
Class 1 cattle recorded the highest LMY percentage (averaging 59.4%), with most cattle above 60%.
Class 3 averaged 55.2% and none exceeded 60%, limiting their total points.
Eating-quality scores between classes were very close, meaning yield had a stronger influence than usual.
Winners excelled in the rare combination of high lean meat yield, good fat coverage and strong MSA Index scores, along with excellent consistency across the pen.
Ms Byrnes said this combination made the champions stand out.
“Lean meat yield had a big impact this year, and the top cattle managed to hit that sweet spot of high yield without compromising eating quality,” she said.
“That balance is rare, and it’s exactly why the winning pen and individual rose to the top.”
PEN OF THREE RESULTS
Class 1 – Lightweight Pasturefed
(240-290 kg)
Winner – Red Bend Farming Co & Byrnes Meats
Brangus cross heifers finished on lush Atherton Tablelands pastures, weighing 242–259 kg and achieving MSA Index scores up to 59.8.
Runner Up – J.P. Donaghy & Narelle Robins & Byrnes Meats
Droughtmaster cross heifers.
Class 2 – Heavy Pasturefed (290-340 kg)
Winner – Tony & Ivanka McDonald & Fresh St IGA
Droughtmaster steers grown on tropical pastures including brachiaria, setaria and glycine.
Runner Up – J.D. & D.S. Nasser & Byrnes Meats
Droughtmaster steers.
Class 3 – Unrestricted Feeding (260–380 kg)
Winner & Runner Up – Dirran Creek Farming & The Beef Joint Butchery
Brangus steers, including the carcase with the highest MSA Index (62.15).
CHAMPION AWARDS
Overall Champion Pen of Three: Red Bend Farming & Byrnes Meats
Overall Champion Individual Carcase: Red Bend Farming & Byrnes Meats – Brangus heifer scoring 85.95/100, with: 242 kg carcase, 74 cm² EMA, Oss 140, Marbling 1, Rib/P8 fat 4/13 mm, 61.14% Lean Meat Yield, 59.81 MSA Index.
