Australia’s best cattle, producers and youth talent gear up for iconic Melbourne Royal Show

The best of Australia’s beef cattle - from Shorthorns to Speckle Parks - will grace Melbourne Showgrounds from Thursday 3 October to Sunday 6 October in the 2024 Melbourne Royal Beef Cattle Competition. Bringing a dose of the primary production to the city, this spirited event steeped in over 150 years of tradition will see exhibitors benchmark the quality of their livestock over four days of competition and a focus on youth in agriculture, to help raise stars of the next generation.

Melbourne Royal is currently welcoming entries for Victoria’s most prestigious cattle competition. The competition includes 18 different Breeds from Australian Lowlines through to Belted Galloway cattle ranging from 9 months old through to the Supreme Champion of each breed.

For those on a quest for prizes, preparation is vital and starts early with strict feeding regimes. And with hard work comes glory as seen by last year’s major winners in the Melbourne Royal’s milestones 175th anniversary Show, both interstate competitors: South Australia’s Woonalle Simmentals who took out the titles for Supreme Breeders Group, Supreme Senior Champion Female, and Supreme Beef Breed Exhibit, and the Freckington family of Hollywood Angus from Peak Hill in New South Wales who won the Senior Champion Breed Bull with Hollywood Smokin’ S57.

David Bolton, Chair of the Beef Cattle and Carcase Committee said the competition is set to bring together the best cattle, producers and youth talent in the nation.

“The pinnacle of the competition is the final day when the best of each of the breeds compete for grand champion female and bull, supreme junior and senior heifer, female and bull, as well as the Matthew George Young Stockman Award which provides young beef cattle enthusiasts with an overseas study tour of beef cattle properties,” David explained.

Following the focus on youth in agriculture is the new Ausmectin Youth Feature Heifer Show scheduled for Friday 4 October.

“The exciting new Ausmectin Youth Feature Heifer Show is an event for young people aged 26 and under, giving them the opportunity to exhibit heifers that have either been borrowed, bought, or bred by young people enjoying the beef industry.”

Offering an up-close spectacle of bulls and cows weighing up to 1300kg, the competition is also an opportunity for exhibitors to network with peers and mentor the next generation of producers. Exposure to learn more about the great tradition of cattle showing and the latest innovations in technology will be available.

Melbourne Royal Beef Cattle entries will close on 1 August 2024. Visit the Melbourne Royal Beef Cattle page for more information.