Newspaper Article – ‘Chargrey’ breeding plan pays off for father, son

‘Chargrey’ breeding plan pays off for father, son

By Rose Brier
Staff Reporter, Hastings

Roger and his son, Geoffrey Alexander, Puketapu, won the Richmond supreme champion on-the-hooks competition at the Pacific beef plant yesterday.

Their winning entry, in the lightweight section of the competition, was just 18 months old. It is believed to be the first time an entry in this section has been awarded the overall prize.

The steer was a “Chargrey”, the result of the Alexanders’ own breeding programme started 20 years ago between Charolais and Murray Grey cattle.

Both the steer’s parents were the same Chargrey cross. The steer had a carcass weight of 308.4kg.

One of the three Meat Board judges, Stan Sutherland, said the carcass had an exceptional rib-eye for its age – 98 square centimetres. It won by a big margin.

Roger Alexander, a previous winner of the competition, said his entries received no special treatment on the farm.

The same steer won the S. T. Belcher special prize for the best on-the-hoof entry bred by the exhibitor.

The Alexanders’ entries in the new heifer class of the competition were placed first and third on the hoof and second on the hooks.

The winner of the heavyweight on-the-hoof section was the Mangatarata Station partnership of Donald Macdonald and Charlie Anderton.

A different entry from the Waipukurau pair was second on the hooks. Both entries were Chianina crosses.

Maisie Grant, Dannevirke, won the on-hooks heavyweight section, with a Limousin-cross steer.

The first appearance of the Saler breed of cattle at the beef cuts competition drew a prize for Otaumauri [Otamauri] farmer, Simon Beamish.

His Saler Angus Hereford cross 20-month steer won the D. C. Lomas cup for the most profitable animal.

The prize is calculated on the schedule price, divided by the number of days taken to grow the animal.

The Saler, a French breed used both for milking and beef production, was introduced into New Zealand a few years ago.

The two Saler animals were the two heaviest in the lightweight class, weighing 354 and 337kg on the hooks.

A 14-month-old Belgian Blue entry of Peter and Warwick Butler, Waipawa, failed to grade because of its lack of fat cover.

Mr Sutherland said 20 of the 85 entries did not qualify, 11 because they did not grade P or K.

There were fewer exceptionally large animals compared with last year. The number of entries was back by almost half.

Supreme champion on hoof: Mangatarata Station Partnership, Chianina Simmental-Angus cross.

Kelly Cup: Rangiora Trust, Angus.

Guardian Trust Cup: On-hook supreme champion: G. A. Alexander, Chargrey.

Reserve champion: R. J. Anderson – South Devon-Charolais cross.

Richmond Pacific Perpetual Cup (highest points on hooks): G. A. Alexander – Chargrey.

D. C. Lomas Cup (assessed as most profitable to winner): S. N. Beamish – Saler-Angus-Hereford cross.

S. T. Belcher Special Prize (champion on hooks bred by exhibitor): G. A. Alexander – Chargrey.

Central Hawke’s Bay Stock Buyers Ltd: R. J. Anderson – South Devon-Charolais cross.

On hoof results.-
Class 1-2 years and under: Awapai Trust, Gelbvich, Angus-Hereford, 1; P. O. Alexander, Chargrey, 2; S. N. Beamish, Saler-Angus-Hereford, 3; P. 0. Alexander, Chargrey, 4; F. W. Percy F/Co, Santa Gertrudis, 5.

Class 2 – 2 years but not over 3 years: Mangatarata Stn P/S, Chianina, Simmental-Angus, 1; N. W. White, Simmental-Angus-Simmental, 2; N. W. White, Simmental-Angus-Simmental, 3; D. Butler and Sons, Charolais-Simmental, 4; M. D. N. Campbell, Charolais-Angus-Hereford, 5.

Class 3 – heifer: R. A. Alexander, Chargrey, 1; R. J. Anderson, South Devon, Charolais, 2; R. A. Alexander, Chargrey, 3.

On hook results.-
Class 1 – lightweights: G. A. Alexander, Chargrey-Chargrey cross, 1; R. J. Anderson, South Devon-Charolais cross, 2; B. Worsnop, Chianina Hereford cross, 3; Rangiora Trust, Angus, 4; Awapai Trust, Gelbvich, Angus-Hereford cross, 5; P. Wilkinson, Angus cross, 6.

Class 2 – heavyweights: M. Grant, Limousin-Angus cross, 1; Mangatarata Station, Chianina, South Devon-Angus cross, 2; R. Q. Haldane, Charolais cross, 3; Peter Gray, Simmental-Hereford cross, 4; N. W. White, Simmental-Angus-Simmental cross, 5.

Class 3 – heifers: R. J. Anderson, South Devon; Charolais cross, 1; P. O. Alexander, Chargrey cross, 2; R. J. Anderson, South Devon, Angus-Hereford cross, 3; M. N. D. Campbell, Charolais-Angus-Hereford cross, 4; H. S. Logan and Co, Simmental-Charolais-Murray Gray cross, 5.