OBEEF Claims Double Commercial Beef Honours on Royal Show Debut
Obaid Mulla of OBEEF secured both the Champion and Reserve Champion Commercial Animal on the Hoof titles in his debut appearance at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show.
OBEEF, owned by Obaid Mulla, made a remarkable debut at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show, claiming both the Champion and Reserve Champion Commercial Animal on the Hoof titles in his first year of participation. The double victory crowned a competitive day of cattle judging at the new Royal Showgrounds in Tweedie, Howick.
Held on Wednesday, 7 October, the Royal Steers Competition brought together commercial beef producers and agricultural colleges, with cattle judged in separate halter-trained and unhalter-trained weight classes.
Halter-trained judging
Weston Agricultural College delivered an impressive performance in the halter-trained section, winning three of the four main weight classes.
The college claimed first and second places in the 450–500 kg category and swept the top three positions in both the 500–530 kg and over-530 kg classes.
Cedara College of Agriculture also performed strongly, securing first and second places in the under-450 kg class, along with third place in the 450–500 kg category.
George Kent won the separate halter-trained two-tooth class with a steer weighing 642 kg.
The results reflected the preparation and stockmanship required to present cattle in the show ring, particularly among the students of Weston and Cedara, whose participation remains an important part of the Royal Show's agricultural education programme.
Unhalter-trained judging
The unhalter-trained section attracted strong competition among commercial beef producers, with Ferrero Bonsmara, Five Star Santa Gertrudis and OBEEF featuring prominently.
Ferrero Bonsmara dominated the under-450 kg class, claiming all three podium positions. The exhibitor also secured first and third places in the 500–530 kg category, as well as third place in the 450–500 kg class.
Justin Fyvie's Five Star Santa Gertrudis achieved a clean sweep in the heavier cattle division, taking the first three places in the over-530 kg Super Ox class. The winning steer weighed 594 kg, followed by animals weighing 595 kg and 640 kg.
In the separate unhalter-trained two-tooth class, Baszohn secured both first and second places, with animals weighing 616 kg and 505 kg respectively.
The General Arnott Memorial Trophy, awarded to the Champion Commercial Animal on the Hoof at the Royal Show.
Judge Dave Shewan presents Obaid Mulla of OBEEF with the General Arnott Memorial Trophy after his cattle claimed Champion and Reserve Champion of the Yard in the commercial steers competition at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show. The trophy honours Shewan’s great-great-grandfather. Pictured from left are Paul Shewan, his son Dave Shewan, Obaid Mulla and Andrew Adams.
Obaid Mulla of OBEEF (left) with judges Dave Shewan and Douglas Fletcher, after claiming both top honours in the commercial steers competition at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show.
OBEEF claims the overall championship
The day's highest honours went to OBEEF, with Obaid Mulla claiming both the Champion and Reserve Champion Commercial Animal on the Hoof titles.
Both winning steers competed in the unhalter-trained 450–500 kg class, where OBEEF secured first and second places.
The Champion Commercial Animal on the Hoof earned Mulla the prestigious General Arnott Memorial Trophy, together with the Royal Agricultural Society's cash prize, medallion, rosette and sash.
OBEEF's second-placed steer was subsequently named Reserve Champion Commercial Animal on the Hoof, earning a further Royal Agricultural Society cash prize, rosette and sash.
The Royal Agricultural Society congratulates Mulla and OBEEF on their double championship and extends its appreciation to all the participating farmers, agricultural colleges, judges and sponsors who contributed to the success of the 2026 Royal Steers Competition.
The Royal Fat Stock section was supported by the Red Meat Producers' Organisation (RPO), Voermol Feeds, ADM Animal Nutrition, HIPRA and the Royal Agricultural Society of Natal.
OBEEF’s Champion (left) and Reserve Champion of the Yard (right) in the commercial steers competition at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show.
OBEEF’s Reserve Champion of the Yard at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show.
OBEEF’s Champion of the Yard at the 2026 Royal Agricultural Show.
