Tom Nixon, Devon Court Herefords steer acclaimed at national level with RNA win

A Drillham cattle breeder cleaned up at the RNA Paddock to Palate competition after producing the first purebred Hereford steer to win Champion Carcass in over a decade.

WINNER: Western Downs seed stock operation, Devon Court Herefords, has made history at the iconic RNA Paddock to Palate competition by producing the first purebred Hereford steer to win Champion Carcass in at least a decade. Pic Lachie Millard

Western Downs seed stock operation Devon Court Herefords made history at the iconic RNA Paddock to Palate competition by producing the first purebred Hereford steer to win Champion Carcass in at least a decade.

WINNER: Once the dust has settled on his RNA carcass win, Mr Nixon’s main focus will shift to the upcoming Devon Court Herefords on-property bull sale, on Tuesday, 7 September. Pic: Supplied

It was the first time in years the Nixon family, who operate a mixed enterprise cropping, cattle, and stud business across 8500ha northwest of Drillham, has entered on a large scale.

Devon Court Herefords co-principal Tom Nixon said the win highlighted the strength of Hereford genetics in producing high-performing cattle with efficient weight gain and exceptional eating quality.

“Our breeding program here is all about creating consistency across our cattle, and we felt the best way to prove that would be by entering a few runs in this competition,” Mr Nixon said.

“We are humbled by the win, and to be honest, I had to read the results twice before what we had achieved sunk in.”

As well as entering the purebred Hereford steer Devon Court Herefords also presented five pens of home-bred Black Baldies, one of which won Reserve Champion Carcass in the 38B Class.

The full line-up of cattle excelled in the feedlot weight-gain element of the competition with the six pens of steers entered placing in the top 10 of their respective classes.

THIRD GENERATION: Cattle Farmer Tom Nixon with his dogs on Devon Court Stud on the Western Downs, is constantly looking at ways to diversify his farming practices, including potentially putting Wind Turbines on his property, to combat the ongoing troubles arising with Queensland's horrific drought. Pic: Lachie Millard

Herefords Australia CEO Lisa Sharp congratulated the Nixon family on their success in the one of the most high-profile carcass competitions in the country.

“The commercial sector is long familiar with the power of crossing Hereford genetics to achieve superior weight gain for herds that are destined for grain or grass,” Ms Sharp said.

“The results of the Nixon family at the RNA have highlighted the strength of Herefords and how clear breeding objectives support carcass and eating quality goals.”

Mr Nixon said his steers typically tended to be past feedlot weight at the time of the RNA, but this year time frames aligned to allow him to present a premium run.

“Our main operation is in the commercial sector and we have had great success with our Black Baldy cattle, particularly this year, as a southern lotfeeder has taken a large run and is now looking for more of them – they don’t want us to sell to anyone else.”

The third generation Drillham breeders will celebrate their 90th year of operation next year.