Midfield Meat International’s grand champion lamb team, from left, Alastair Sharp, Hestia Hsieh, John Chandler, Cody Miller and Clinton Perry with winner of Australia’s best steak Marcus Doumany from Stockyard at the awards.

WARRNAMBOOL processor Midfield Meat International has led the Victorian domination of the lamb categories at the recent Royal Queensland Branded Beef and Lamb Awards at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Midfield was awarded the Grand Champion Branded Lamb Of Show (Australia’s best lamb) for its Union Station brand entry – the gold winner in the 20kg or more Meat Standards Australia and Non- MSA class.

Colac processor, Minerva Foods’ Australian Lamb Company, won gold in the Branded Lamb – 20 kg or less MSA and Non-MSA class with its Ambassador brand entry and in the Restaurant Trade Branded Lamb – 24kg or more MSA and Non MSA class with its Sovereign brand entry.

The Royal Queensland Awards crowned Australia’s best beef, lamb, cheese, dairy, ice cream, gelato and sorbet from a total of 592 entries on 1 May.

Stockyard Beef from the Darling Downs in Queensland won Grand Champion Branded Beef of Show for its Kiwami brand entry in the Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 7+ MSA and Non-MSA class.

Chief Judge of the Royal Queensland Branded Beef and Lamb Awards Elaine Millar said the 2026 competition’s beef and lamb scores were high and extremely close, with only one or two points differentiating them, confirming that all classes were worthy of accolades.

“Due to the extraordinary marbling in both the beef and lamb entries, plus the texture, colour and sheen the uncooked visual judging was overwhelmingly the best we have ever experienced,” she said.

“This then transitioned into outstanding commentary and tight scoring of the very important cooked component of the judging process.”

Ms Millar said each year in the Branded Lamb competition judges notice the refinement of the silken thread marbling in the cutlet eye which when cooked, finesses and brings elegance to the texture and flavour.

“The 2026 Champion Branded Lamb Union Station by Midfield Meat International delivered stunning complex flavours paired magnificently with the fine silken textures resulting in a harmonious mouthfeel and an ongoing lasting length on the palate,” she said.

Ms Millar said the new level of quality and sophistication set by this year’s beef and lamb entries was an incredible accomplishment to have achieved in a year of varied challenges such as catastrophic floods and drought.

The Royal Queensland Awards recognise and celebrate Australia’s finest food and beverage products and the producers behind them across seven categories – distilled spirits, beer, wine, beef, lamb, dairy and ice cream.

Some of today’s award-winning products will be showcased on the Royal Queensland Cooking Stage at the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) which is now just 99 days away.

Other lamb trophy winners

Branded Lamb – 20 kg or less MSA and Non MSA

Gold: Ambassador by Australian Lamb Company/Minerva Foods

Silver: Coles Finest Lamb by Coles

Bronze: Royal Trade by Royal Wholesale Meats

Branded Lamb – 20kg or more MSA and Non MSA

Gold: Union Station by Midfield Meat International Pty Ltd

Silver: Tasmanian Royal by Royal Wholesale Meats

Bronze: Royal Trade by Royal Wholesale Meats

Restaurant Trade Branded Lamb – 24kg or more MSA and Non MSA

Gold: Sovereign by Australian Lamb Company/Minerva Foods

Silver: Tasmanian Royal by Royal Wholesale Meats

Bronze: ‘246’ by Midfield Meat International Pty Ltd

Other beef trophy winners

Champion MSA Graded Branded Beef Of Show – Stockyard Gold by Stockyard Beef

Grain Fed Class 1 MSA Graded

Gold: Stockyard Gold by Stockyard Beef

Silver: Sir Thomas by Mort & Co Ltd

Bronze: Angus Reserve Black Angus Beef by NH Foods Australia

Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 6 or less MSA and Non MSA

Gold: Diamantina Wagyu – SB6 by Stanbroke

Silver: Tajima Australian Grainfed Wagyu by Andrews Meat Industries

Bronze: Carrara Wagyu by Kilcoy Global Foods

Wagyu Class AUS-MEAT Marble Score 7+ MSA and Non MSA

Gold: Stockyard Kiwami by Stockyard Beef

Silver: W. Black by Andrews Meat Industries

Bronze: The Phoenix by Mort & Co Ltd.

Open class

Gold: Diamantina Black Onyx – SB7 by Stanbroke

Silver: JBS Australia Yardstick MB2+ by JBS Australia

Bronze: JBS Australia Riverina Angus MB2+ by JBS Australia