Droughtmasters serving top scores and growth in 2025 feedlot competition
4 Nov 2025A purebred Droughtmaster steer has won the 2025 Nolan Meats Droughtmaster Feedlot Trial and Carcase Competition with a standout Meat Standards Australia (MSA) index score of 65.14, ranking in the nation’s top five per cent for eating quality.
From the Fisher and Codd family at Esk in the Brisbane Valley, Warigul Pastoral’s steer showcased the growth potential of the Droughtmaster, averaging 1.68 kilograms a day over 90 days on feed at Waterfall Feedlot, Boonara.
Droughtmaster quality also shone through in the heifer section, with Ian and Donna Atthow’s Sevenangle Stud at Millmerran producing the top scorer on 65.07. Their team of 16 head averaged an MSA index of 61.59, including one top-shelf heifer with a fantastic 107 square centimetre eye muscle area.
The 158 head entered by 12 producers delivered an average Meat Standards Australia index of 60.29, comfortably above the national benchmark of 58 and firmly in what Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) recognises as “top-tier performance.”
Across the trial, cattle recorded an average daily weight gain of 1.57 kilograms, with the best performer reaching an impressive 2.30 kilograms a day.
Sustainable and market ready
Droughtmaster Australia chief executive officer Simon Gleeson said the standout eating quality revealed in the trial reaffirms why chefs are turning to Droughtmaster beef as the centrepiece of their menus.
“That beef is already in Blackbird restaurant which is one of Brisbane’s top tier steakhouses,” Simon said. “It will also be enjoyed at an annual business lunch at the Allenstown Hotel in Rockhampton, and at an exciting event hosted by the Warra Hotel which will be filmed to showcase the diversity and eating quality of Droughtmaster Beef.”
The results showcase the Droughtmaster’s exceptional consistency in eating quality while reinforcing its reputation as a sustainable and environmentally resilient breed.
“Feeding for only 90 days compared to 150 days, you still get a very good eating quality and a very high index that compares to a lot of the European and British breeds which economically makes a lot of sense,” Simon said.
“Trials like this reveal a big future because it shows that we can have a short-fed animal that’s sustainable, economical but still gives you a high eating quality and that’s what the market is looking for. Consumers are very aware of their own footprint now and I think this is a huge avenue that a lot of breeds will start looking towards because that’s certainly where the market is going.”
From feedlot trials to show success
The Droughtmaster breed is gaining recognition for its versatility in feedlots. Earlier this year, Droughtmaster Australia partnered with Mort & Co Feedlot, JBS and the Toowoomba Royal Show to run a carcase competition, producing outstanding results. For the 2025 Nolan Meats Droughtmaster Feedlot Trial and Carcass Competition, cattle were fed at Grassdale Feedlot, leaving lot feeders impressed with the results.
The breed has been turning heads across the board recently, with Droughtmaster breeders Jim and Margaret Harvey recently taking out the prestigious Paddock to Palate Competition at the Brisbane Ekka, showcasing the breed’s excellence across all cattle breeds.
“What trials, competitions and results like these are showing us is that the Droughtmaster breed is very high on the MSA index and they’re achieving excellent average daily weight gains in a feedlot environment, and information like this underpins the incredible bull sale results we’ve seen recently,” Simon says.
Key results from the 2025 Nolan Meats Droughtmaster Feedlot Trial and Carcase Competition
- Grand champion: Warigul Pastoral’s steer (Tag G37) topped the trial with an MSA score of 65.14 and an eye muscle area of 71, claiming the overall title.
- Steer highlights: Warigul Pastoral dominated growth performance with daily gains up to 2.30 kg/day, while also taking two of the top three MSA scores. KJ & GE Wheeler featured strongly with the second-highest MSA.
- Heifer highlights: IM & D Atthow’s heifer scored the highest MSA at 65.07, with RJ & MJ Harvey and Mt Brisbane Pastoral rounding out the top three. C & K Christensen led in daily gain at 2.19 kg/day.
- Composite standouts: IM & D Atthow excelled across both growth and eating quality, securing all top three positions for composite weight gain and MSA scores.
- Across 158 head, cattle averaged a strong MSA index of 60.29 and daily gain of 1.57 kg, proving the Droughtmaster breed’s consistency, quality, and performance in feedlot conditions.
