An imposing young poll bull described as “one of the best produced” by NIOA Santa Gertrudis has been labelled a future stud sire star after clinching his first major show ribbon.
NIOA Texas T08 (AI) (P) won his class (Senior Bull - 22-24 months) at the Brisbane Ekka on Friday, capturing the judge’s attention with his “great underline”, “great tropical coat” and “true to breed character”.
The annual Royal Queensland Show’s stud beef competition, which began in 1876, is revered as the biggest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, but Texas handled the hype of his first major metropolitan outing like a seasoned showring pro under the expert handling of Sam Falls.
NIOA Santa Gertrudis general manager Shannon Gardner was quietly expecting “big” things from the aptly-named Texas after his clean sweep at the local Allora Show earlier this year, but he was blown away by the Ekka result.
The son of Rosevale Democrat G268 (P) was in impeccable shape, weighing 892kg with a raw eye muscle area of 144 square centimetres.
“Not bad for a bull out of a selective breeding program and in only his second show,” a beaming Mr Gardner said.
“We knew that he would be competitive in his class but to come away with a ribbon given the elite company he was in…we are over the moon.”
It was an emotional win for herdsman Sam Falls who has watched Texas develop over the past 12 months and has been steadfast in the bull’s star potential.
“The judge said he ticks all the boxes – an absolute stud sire prospect,” he said. “There was a great line-up today – five classes of bulls - and there was only a hair splitting him and the eventual Reserve Champion.”
Texas’s triumph capped the best metropolitan show outing for the Allora-based NIOA Santa Gertrudis stud since NIOA Qantas Q3 (ET) (AI) won Grand Champion at the 2021 Royal Sydney Easter Show.
NIOA came third for Best Pair of Bulls – Texas and NIOA Tulsa T02 (PS) – while the stud’s females NIOA Macey and NIOA Helena came third and fifth in the Junior Heifer 12-14 months class.
“It’s great to come to your home state’s major show and be competitive against a great line up of cattle,” Mr Gardner said. “This is where you come to gauge yourself in the industry.”
Texas and Tulsa will be among a 74-strong draft boasting world-class genetics at the NIOA RL Pastoral Sale at Talgai Homestead on Monday, September 18.
NIOA Santa Gertrudis general manager Shannon Gardner, left, with stud owners Rob and Eliza Nioa, and handler Sam Falls with winning Ekka show bull NIOA Texas.
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