Delungra Droughtmaster stud farmer Tim Lloyd cleaned up at this National Beef Exposition at Rockhampton.

On Tuesday, May 5, Tim’s prize Droughtmaster female Heitiki Grettle was named senior female champion and went on to take out the female grand champion, while Heitiki Jenny claimed reserve champion in the female calf division.

He said the key to success was the commercial adaptability of the breed.

“They are every commercially focused,” he said.

“They are not the biggest, flashiest breeds. It is not the breed that is going to win a lot of interbreeds, but they are very commercially focused with efficient beef production.

“That’s what the name of the game is. It is not about breeding the biggest animal in the world, or the smallest animal in the world. It is breeding a functional, thrifty animal and that is what the Droughtmaster does so well.” 

In the end, the local stud collected six ribbons from the internationally renowned event. It was a result that Tim said highlighted the local area for prominent beef cattle production.

“Where Inverell is situated, we have that option of getting rain the year round,” he said.

“We can’t guarantee exactly when it is going to come, but we have that option of getting it all year round.

“(And) we have Bindaree in Inverell. You cannot walk around the fact that we have significant buyers for finished animals here in the district. That is highly significant.”

Former local lady Alison McCabe also collected accolades, taking out the Under 15 month heifer class and champion female calf for Sapphire Kool Fantasy.

The local are was well-represented at the exposition that dates back to 1988 in Rockhampton and has since blown out to international recognition.