ONE of Rockhampton’s bulls, which are located around the city. Richmond Valley Council has approached Rockhampton’s council to buy one of its statues.

ONE of Rockhampton’s bulls, which are located around the city. Richmond Valley Council has approached Rockhampton’s council to buy one of its statues. Chris Ison Digital Mischief By Isobel Rodgers

THERE was no bull in Richmond Valley Council's request to take Rockhampton's iconic cattle statues off the rival beef capital's streets and station them on Casino's.

It may have seemed like an on the hoof move, but Richmond Valley mayor Ernie Bennett said an article indicated the Queensland town may have been considering moo-ving away from their beefy reputation.

The council letter said it was considering beefing up its Casino street art with sculptures to represent breeds that make up the local herds.

"Casino prides itself in its cattle growers, saleyards, meat works and especially our annual Beef Week Festival," the letter said.

"For many years, however, our local people have been envious of Rockhampton's bull structures that mark the entrance to your city.

ROUGH RIDERS: Rockhampton Regional Councillors Rose Swadling, Greg Belz, Cherie Rutherford and Tony Williams say hands off our bulls after hearing Richmond Valley Council has offered to buy them. Chris Ison

"It has been suggested by some people that Rockhampton may in fact be thinking of selling their structures... If you are, we would have an interest in buying them."

Rockhampton Regional Council responded with a stern no, locking horns over which town rightfully is Australia's Beef Capital.

Cr Rose Swadling said the city should not "kowtow to their demands".

Cr Ellen Smith said the bulls were "not for sale at any price".

It was suggested Rockhampton extend a formal invitation to its southern counterparts to attend Beef Australia 2015.

Cr Fisher agreed, saying it would be a good opportunity for them to come and see how a real beef capital worked.

Cr Bennett said Rockhampton needed to be schooled in how to run a real beef week.

"They have a function every three years and they're saying it's a big thing, but ours is run annually and completely by the community," Cr Bennett said.

"We have competitors go from our region up and take out major prizes on a regular basis but they don't seem to be able to compete here.

"Whether they're too frightened to come and contest against us or not I'm not too sure but I lay the challenge to them."

He said Casino had more producers, higher cattle density, more variety in breeds and the same number of cattle through the saleyards.

He said the council was looking for expressions of interest from local breeders who would like to install cattle sculptures at the entrance to the "real beef capital".