Blondes dominated the recently held carcass competition at Perth Royal Show 2001 taking out 4 of the 10 carcase broad ribbons. Blonde sired carcasses won: Champion and Reserve Champion Lightweight Carcases, Reserve Champion Extra Heavyweight Carcase and Reserve Grand Champion Carcase.

With only 8 of the 146 entries being Blonde sired animals, these wins are remarkable showing the superiority of the Blonde crosses. The breed is renown for producing high yielding carcasses, and this fact was underlined when these bodies of beef had average dressing percentages of 61% with an average estimated meat yield of 62%.

Blonde d’Aquitaine WA Region secretary Brian Schneider said, “These results show that Blondes really have a place as a terminal sire in the WA beef industry. They can be used to produce calves that finish to market specifications across a wide range of carcase weight categories.  The dressing percentages and meat yields of these animals show the profitability of using a Blonde as a terminal sire.”

As well as improving muscularity and yield Blondes can also improve profitability through feed efficiency. This was demonstrated at the 2001 Vasse Feed Efficiency Trial in WA. As a group the Blonde breed was 1^st for feed conversion consuming only 5.1 kgs of feed for each kg of weight gain.

Blondes have likewise performed well in the Gympie Carcase Classic, a major carcase competition in Queensland.  Blondes have won the most profitable animal and highest meat yield in this competition for the past two years. The Gympie Carcase Classic’s Most Profitable Animal category takes into account the feed used in the feedlot to finish the entry.

Blondes can also contribute to a more profitable beef enterprise by increasing the muscularity of the crossbred calves.  A NSW Agriculture analysis of saleyard prices in 2000-01 found that muscle score was the most significant in determining price premiums in the liveweight market.  The study found there was a premium of $0.14 for each increase in muscle score.  On a 500kg animal, this equated to $70 for each increase in muscle score.

When combining high carcass performances, top feed efficiency, and improved saleyard prices, Blondes will certainly improve the profitability of graziers and feed lotters.