Historical information

Improving meat production
In 1905, the English firm Thomas Borthwick & Son set up operations in Australia. Borthwick was a major meat exporter and ran freezing works as well as having its own cattle stations in Australia.

From the early 19th century, Borthwick encouraged the production of quality beef by awarding prizes at agricultural shows throughout Australia.

In the early 1950s the Australian Meat Board and The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) also took steps to encourage beef producers.

Perpetual Trophy
For the Coronation Show in 1953, Borthwick introduced a perpetual trophy.

The Borthwick Trophy was awarded to the Fat Cattle Champion with the winner being judged from the best team of three steers under three years old. The winning team was the one that gained the highest aggregate score from both the live and carcase judging.

Initially, the relevant winning Breed Society retained the trophy for a year and returned it for the following Royal Melbourne Show but the Borthwick Trophy is now displayed at the Melbourne Royal offices on the Melbourne Showgrounds. (Mandy Bede)

The competition is now known as the competition between teams of three purebred steers in the Beef Carcase competition. There can be one team per beef cattle breed in the competition.

Physical description

Large silver cup with three handles, each flat at the top and then curving around the outside of the cup and rejoining before the cup's stem.

Inscriptions & markings

THE BORTHWICK TROPHY. /
PRESENTED TO /
THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA /
BY /
THOMAS BORTHWICK & SONS (A/ASIA) LTD, /
FOR /
ANNUAL COMPETITION BETWEEN TEAMS OF /
FAT STEERS, /
REPRESETNING BEEF CATTLE BREEDS /
AT /
THE MELBOURNE ROYAL SHOW /
[various winning breeds]