Breeders` Bulletin Board

Transcription

QC1643132
2 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST February 2014
February 2014
CONTENTS
12
INSIDE
4
President’s message
4
Looking Ahead
6
Droughties hold on in Quilpie
drought
14
Mulga boost at Morven
15
National Female Sale Preview
20
Highland sale with a big heart
22
Pointer to breed’s future
25
Bull power project gets results
28
West Moreton’s top-class cattle
30
The A-Z of EBVs
34
Droughties backbone at Comet
37
Hay help plan gains momentum
41
Time for young to shine at Gatton
6
28
AUGUST
2014 DIGEST
DEADLINES
Advertising
bookings:
July 14
Advertising copy:
July 21
22
February 2014 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST 3
DROUGHTMASTER STUD BREEDERS’
SOCIETY
ACN 010 129 683
40 Thorn Street,
Ipswich, QLD 4305
Phone: (07) 3281 0056
Fax: (07) 3281 7957
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.droughtmaster.com.au
PATRON
Audrey Perry
BOARD
PRESIDENT
Greg Edwards (07) 4983 3187
VICE-PRESIDENT
Michael Flynn (07) 4654 5223
DIRECTORS
Far Northern Zone
Jeff Williams 0418 755 279
Northern Zone
Vacant
Central Zone
John Baccon (07) 4983 1827
South East Zone
Steve Pickering (07) 4168 6249
Southern Zone
Michael Flynn (07) 4654 5223
Far Southern Zone
Timothy Lloyd (02) 6724 8362
Western Zone
Vacant
National
Greg Edwards (07) 4983 3187
Brett Warne (07) 4626 7179
Douglas Miles (07) 4934 7645
SPECIAL SKILLS DIRECTOR
Daniel Green (02) 6663 3172
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Neil Donaldson 0428 796 330
OFFICE MANAGER Samantha Ryan
REGISTRAR Carmel Bell
ACCOUNTS Toni Franklin
ADMINISTRATION Leigh Eleison
TECHNICAL OFFICER Paul Williams
0427 018 982
DIGEST PRODUCTION
Editor: Brad Cooper
Editorial & Advertising
Fairfax Agricultural Media Queensland
PO Box 586, Cleveland 4163
Phone: (07) 3826 8200
Fax: (07) 3821 1236
OUR COVER
The opinions expressed in the Droughtmaster Digest are
not necessarily the opinions of the Droughtmaster Stud
Breeders Society Ltd, or of Fairfax Agricultural Media
Queensland. This publication is protected by copyright
and articles or photographs may not be used without
authorisation.
Your society is with
you in tough times
L
IKE most people in the cattle
industry at the moment, I’m
focused on keeping cattle in
the best condition possible.
Unfortunately rain seems a long
way away and it feels as if it never
wants to rain again.
Fortunately there has never been
a drought that hasn’t broken ... yet!
Hayden Walker is predicting
good rain for February, so fingers
crossed.
From the society’s perspective,
things were very quiet over the
festive period.
Fortunately there were some live
export orders floating about and
some producers were lucky enough
to benefit from them.
As we approach the early bull
selling season, there is indeed concern in the industry.
Rain fixes most things, so let’s
pray for a good general break in the
season, as soon as possible.
Late in 2013 I travelled to the far
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
Greg Edwards
Rain fixes most
things, so let’s
pray for a good
general break.
northern zone to attend the zone
meeting, which was well attended.
While there I had the honour of
presenting to the family of the late
Fred Gallo the life membership
which the board had awarded to
Fred posthumously.
Fred’s family were deeply moved
and proud to accept the award
bestowed on Fred.
I am of the opinion too many
members’ hard work goes unnoticed
and unrewarded.
The Droughtmaster breed of cattle wouldn’t be where it is today if
not for the dedication and hard slog
by our forefathers.
Despite the difficult seasons and
financial environment, we are reasonably optimistic that we remain
on track to meet our budget.
To ensure we take advantage of
the available genetics during these
tough economic times the board
offered members the opportunity to
reactivate females at no cost.
The response to this has been
quite heartening.
We are seeking the names of
people suitable for adding to our
judge’s panel.
Anyone who knows of any worthy
judges or associates, please send
their names into the society.
I would like to remind everyone
that Beef 2015 is fast approaching
and I hope, that as in the past,
Droughtmasters will be well
represented.
Prospects down to weather
T
HE pioneer breeders who
developed Droughtmasters
designed the breed to handle
Australia’s regular droughts, but I
doubt they could have imagined
anything like the current prolonged
drought conditions across such a
wide area.
Unfortunately our prayers for the
drought to break have, so far gone
unanswered for many people.
As we go to press there is some
monsoonal improvement in the
north of Australia and there is still
time for the rains to come and
generate feed.
I am very aware of the dire circumstances faced by many beef
producers and my heartfelt best
wishes go out to them all.
In some areas, this is the worst
drought in history and coupled with
prolonged spells of extreme temperatures, many people need all
the encouragement and support
we can give.
The emotional stress in these
situations is so often overlooked, so
I encourage everyone to make a
pledge to call at least one affected
beef producer and offer support and
encouragement or even just a
‘friendly ear’.
Most of us can do nothing to help
in a physical or financial way, but
LOOKING
AHEAD
Neil Donaldson CEO
As we go to
press ... there
is still time for
the rains to
come and
generate feed.
sometimes people just need to know
that other people care about them.
Please ring someone now – don’t
wait.
A notable example of encouragement and support is the Johnston
family from Craiglea Stud, who
organised and coordinated the charity drive Hay for Kids’ Ponies in
Drought Areas.
They have done two trips so far
and are about to set off on a third
delivery into the St George/
Cunnamulla area.
Stan, Wade and Jason along with
their families are the driving force,
with great support from many other
helpers and donors along the way.
4 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST FEBRUARY 2014
Donations to this worthy cause
can be made to ANZ BSB 014 669,
Account 286804759.
While these hay deliveries are
primarily for the benefit of the kids’
ponies, the emotional benefit to the
families receiving the hay is just as
important.
The prospects for everyone in
2014 are at the mercy of the season,
but stud breeders have to keep
breeding bulls for future sales, so
they continue to invest in quality
genetics knowing that eventually
the season will turn around.
When supply outweighs demand,
buyers are always going to select the
best quality genetics first, so we
encourage studmasters to continue
to breed from the best available
genetics.
We look forward with great
anticipation to a great 2014 with
live export markets continuing to
move ahead, beef sales to China
forecast to continue to grow and a
predicted low Australian dollar
helping us in many markets.
All are very positive signs, which
will help tremendously when it
finally rains. I wish everyone all
the very best for 2014 and pray the
good seasons return soon and we
get a solid, long run of good
seasons.
Keeping the herd in the best condition possible during a drought is paramount to Stewart Sargent,
who praises the Droughtmaster’s performance during tough times.
The Droughtmasters
are just good, hardy
cattle. They do well in
this country.
Droughtmaster-cross
cattle on Granville. The
Sargent family runs 1700
head of Droughtmasters,
including 750 breeders, and
4500 Merino sheep on
Granville.
By PENELOPE ARTHUR
I
T’S been a long time since substantial rain
fell on Stewart and Tracy Sargent’s 49,000hectare beef property, Granville, 65 kilometres north of Quilpie.
With just 150 millimetres of their 325mm
average annual recorded in 2013, the Sargents
are certainly living in one of the region’s hardest
hit by the current drought.
But the ability of their Droughtmaster and
Droughtmaster-cross herd to withstand the dry
conditions has, at least, been some comfort to
the Sargents.
“Dad and I just had a drive around this morning and they actually look okay,” Stewart said.
● To p8
Droughties hold
on in Quilpie
drought
QC1643126
Keys to surviving Granville’s big dry
● From p6
“The bulls are still fat and cows are all bulling
again which is amazing. It goes to show that if
you wean hard enough in this country and get
the calves off quick they will start joining again
straight away.”
The Sargent family runs 1700 head of
Droughtmasters, including 750 breeders, and
4500 Merino sheep on Granville.
The property features large tracts of mulga that
has again proved invaluable during this drought.
“After two big years in a row in 2011 and the
start of 2012 we have plenty of Mulga and a lot
of it is low so we haven’t pushed that much at
all yet,” Stewart said.
The Sargents were also supplementing their
sheep and cattle with a urea based dry lick but
switched to a Beachport liquid mineral supplement in November to cut costs.
“We have gone from spending $800 a week
on dry lick to $800 for the past six weeks,”
Stewart said. “It seems to be working really well.
“The cattle and sheep both seem to be holding
condition on it. I like that all the stock are getting
it, rather than lick where you can have a situation
where some animals are getting most of it. We’re
delighted to have found it.”
The liquid supplement is administered
through water troughs but doesn’t
require some of the expensive
dosing equipment necessary
for other water medication
systems.
“You buy the dosing
caps and they just screw
onto the drums which
you leave in the water
trough and the supplement drips out,” Stewart
said. “It makes the water
go a brown colour but the
stock don’t seem to mind that at all.”
Keeping the herd in the best condition possible during a drought is paramount to Stewart.
He leaves his bulls in all year round and usually does two musters a year to wean and brand
calves, aiming to turn the progeny off at about
18 months. “We like to sell locally but if we can’t
our steers and cull heifers are generally sold
through the Dalby Saleyards,” he said.
Stewart also has his own pregnancy scanning
equipment which he uses to cull empty cows at
mustering.
“Anything that doesn’t have a calf
we put on the scanner and if she is
empty she goes,” he said.
“We’ve been running Droughtmasters here for over 20 years
and have been happy with our
fertility during that time.
“The Droughtmasters are just
good, hardy cattle. They do well in
this country.”
Stewart and Tracy have been busy
trying to develop Granville in recent
years but say the drought has forced them to
delay plans to continue expanding their piped
water system across the property.
With the help of their three children, Harry,
Eliza and Elliott, the pair installed 30km of poly
pipe through the middle of their property after
the last drought, to improve their water security.
“That has helped a huge amount during this
drought,” Stewart said.
“We don’t have a lot of surface water that keeps
for very long, so the piped water is very important to us.”
Stewart has also started installing trap yards
across Granville to save on mustering costs.
“We usually muster with a plane and a chopper, but it’s getting too expensive,” he said.
“I have seen trap yards work well on other
properties and our place is well suited to the
idea.
“We have had to delay that too but we’ll get
it done gradually over the next few years.
“It will make it easier and cheaper to muster
and we will be able to do it more often if
we need to, like when it gets dry.”
Stewart Sargent
looks over his
Droughtmastercross herd on
Granville.
DROUGHTMASTERS
“HEART OF THE HERD” SALE
A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY
CQLX SELLING COMPLEX, GRACEMERE
MONDAY, 10TH & TUESDAY 11TH MARCH 2014
500 STUD COWS AND CALVES
350 SELECTED REGISTERED HEIFERS
150 TOP QUALITY REGISTERED YOUNG BULLS
20 POWERFUL REGISTERED SIRES
Highlights include:
BILLABONG ROCKAFELLAR
BILLABONG SOUTHERN COMFORT
T
CASTLETOWER JACKPOT
BILLABONG ARABELLA
BILLABONG MARISKA
BILLABONG MARIGOLD
Featured lines from
Billabong Matrons:
BILLABONG JOY‘N‘PEACE
BILLABONG KOOL‘N‘CALM
BILLABONG GABLE
BILLABONG FLIR
1643119
FOR MORE DETAILS & TO ORDER CATALOGUES
Check out: www.billabongbulls.com.au ▲ facebook billabongbulls
Cream
of the
Crop to
$3100
LEFT: Joshua Heck,
Bryvonlea,
Glastonbury,
purchased
Minlacowie Bettina
7884 for the top
price of $3100 on
behalf of PBR
Properties,
Wirraway,
Beaudesert.
A
NOTHER high-quality line-up of vendorbred females was offered at the final Cream
of the Crop registered Droughtmaster female sale at Coolabunia on November 30.
The 10th and final sale of its kind averaged
$1410, with heavy rain giving buyers an extra
incentive to add to their herds.
Topping the overall sale at $3100 was Minlacowie Bettina 7884 (P) from the Spann family,
Minlacowie, Goovigen, and was purchased by
Joshua Heck, Glastonbury, on behalf of PBR
Properties, Wirraway, Beaudesert.
Mr Heck said the young heifer was purchased
to add to the genetic base of the herd, which the
business started earlier in the year.
Doug Haigh and Jen Mercer, D&G Livestock,
were recognised by the Droughtmaster Breeders
Society for initiating the sale at Coolabunia in
2004.
“It was pleasing to have that recognition and
we were happy with our final sale,” Mr Haigh
said.
“It’s great to see a new sale committee taking
on the challenge of continuing the sale at Coolabunia, and we wish them success with
future sales.” – Story: KATE STARK.
“We’re really focusing more on quality rather
than quantity, and she’ll be grown out on improved pasture at Beaudesert and be joined next
year – possibly added into the AI program later
down the track,” he said.
“The showing of cattle was fantastic this year
and it was an exceptional sale.
“Some of the heifers we bought were among
the better types and we paid an average of $1500$1600, which isn’t so great for the vendors but
definitely good for the buyers.”
Lot 133
Phone 0404 725902
QC1642720
Parawanga Sells 4 Heifers at 2014 National Female Sale
QC1642724
Toogoolawah’s
Ian is
now
full-on for
Droughties
By KATE STARK
Ian Williams, Kweebani, Toogoolawah, crosses Droughtmaster bulls over Charbray and Friesian-cross breeders.
L
OCATED on 450 hectares in the picturesque hills of the Brisbane Valley, former
dairy farmer Ian Williams kicks his shoes
off and sits down for smoko.
“I just do half-days now – that’s enough for
me.” Still going strong, the cattleman celebrated
his 81st birthday last year.
“It’s home here – I was born here and have
been here all my life. It’s a lovely place to be,”
Mr Williams said.
“We used to run a Friesian herd of about 200
head and there just wasn’t any money in it, and
even though we’re not making a fortune out of
it now, we’re doing better and we work respectable hours.”
Mr Williams said he and wife Dorothy have
no regrets after moving away from their Friesian
herd to purchase Charbray heifers, along with
six Droughtmaster bulls.
“We’ll be selling off the remainder of our
crossed heifers in the next year or so as they
age, and then hopefully end up with a full
Droughtmaster herd.”
Looking at adding some fresh genetics, Mr
Williams purchased a Vale View bull at the 2013
Coolabunia sale.
“We really needed something with a bit of
Indicus in it that can handle the area, and
RIGHT: Ian will keep a
handful of weaners to
breed from.
12 DROUGHTMATERDIGEST February 2014
Ian will move towards a full Droughtmaster herd as his
breeders age.
Droughtmasters have that tick resistance and
they quiet down well when we wean them in the
yards.
“I think, when it comes down to basics, I
simply like the look of them.”
Mr Williams said the local sale at Toogoolawah
was usually very popular for Charbray, but hoped
there would be a move towards the full
Droughtmaster.
“The cross always get a good showing and
there’s quite a few breeders around this area.
“Prices have been down since they slowed the
live cattle trade and we’ve started to hurt – we
were averaging $500/head a year ago and now
we’re getting closer to $400.”
Finishing the weaners on a pellet ration before
sale, Mr Williams said he will be waiting until
next month to sell.
“We’ve now got 200 breeders and we’ll
keep a handful of the weaners to breed from, sell
on some older cows that have had their day
and move the remaining weaners on to the
market.”
Mr Williams said he had previously invested
in crops for his herd but found maintaining
improved pasture a more effective option for
feed.
“When we have water the country is so green.
Our pasture is mainly based on green panic and
blue grass, and we’ll put some legumes through
it to get that nitrogen into the soil.
“The property down to the creek is very steep
and rocky, with half of it being forest land mixed
with softwood scrub. The cattle can get among
it but we really struggle with controlling the
lantana.
“My son Michael helps me out on the property
with the bigger tasks like fencing and yarding
– it’s nice to think he’ll carry on this work when
I go.”
With an eye for red genetics, Mr Williams may
also consider mixing Gelbvieh with his Droughtmasters in the future.
“I want to keep them light red – the lighter
they are, the better they handle the hot weather
and the country.”
Like every beef producer, Mr Williams is hoping for a turnaround in market prices and said
the change all hinges on rain.
“We’re not the only ones in trouble if it doesn’t
rain, but we need it and we need more movement
in Indonesia.
“I just hope prices will come back closer to
what they were a couple of years ago.
“It’s fairly tough out here, but compared to
the western parts of the state, it’s bloody
marvellous.”
QC1642819
Carmel and Bill Whatmore share a joke despite the trying times on Boatman, south of Morven.
By PENELOPE ARTHUR
D
EEP in the heart of south-west Queensland’s mulga belt, Bill and Carmel Whatmore are doing all they can to keep their
Droughtmaster herd alive.
The Whatmore family runs about 800
Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster-cross breeders on their 35,000-hectare property Boatman,
100km south of Morven.
They have been pushing mulga on Boatman
since February last year, and say the current
drought is among the worst they have seen since
moving to the property in the mid-1970s.
Boatman received just 183mm of its 425mm
average annual rain during 2013 – making it the
second driest year since rainfall records began
on the historic property in 1909.
“This is the worst drought for water that I have
seen and it has been compounded by the fact
that we are getting low on mulga,” Mr Whatmore
said.
“We have over 40 dams on this property – we
used a bore drain system to partially fill three of
them the other day, but we still have areas where
we have mulga but no water.”
The Whatmores were thankful to receive
25mm of rain in January, and say that little bit
of relief had helped to “freshen up” their precious
mulga supply.
Mr Whatmore said their entire herd of 800
Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster-cross cows
are feeding on the mulga while also receiving a
homemade urea-based dry lick.
He said the cows were holding up well considering the season.
“We pulled the calves off the cows which was
a big thing – you can keep a cow going easy
enough on mulga, but if you keep the calf on
her you really have to feed them.”
With cattle markets depressed by seasonal
conditions, the Whatmores decided to keep a
mob of 200 weaners they pulled from the cows
three months ago.
They spent just over $30,000 feeding the
weaners hay and a Top Country ration, Early
Wean 100, for six weeks.
“They just poked along for about four weeks
Mulga keeps
Morven
Droughties
hanging on
You get really crucified
at Roma if the weaners
don’t look good.
and then they really took off,” Mr Whatmore
said.
“We drafted them up and kept those weighing
70kg-140kg in the yards on the Early Wean 100,
and the others over 140kg went out onto mulga
with another dry lick that has a bit of urea in it.
“We have finished feeding them now and are
just holding them on mulga now with some lick,
and hoping like hell we get a break in the season
or the market improves.
“If it does, the whole exercise might just pay
off.”
The Whatmores have been EU accredited since
2001, but have changed their selling program in
recent years, and now largely target the non-EU
weaner market through Roma.
Mr Whatmore said experience had taught him
that it paid to present weaners in forward condition when selling through the Roma Saleyards.
“We were getting about 700 weaners a year
up until this drought, and we have been toying
with a few ideas about how to put some more
weight into them,” he said.
“You get really crucified at Roma if the weaners don’t look good.
“We had thought about getting some agistment
for the weaners to put some more weight into
them, but after seeing how they performed on
this feeding program, it might pay in some years
to do that instead.
“We will get through this drought first, though,
and then look at options like that.”
Mr Whatmore said he had been breeding
Droughtmaster cattle for about 12 years after
starting off with a Santa Gertrudis herd.
He has also used Red Brangus genetics in the
herd, but said Droughtmasters continued to
perform well in the mulga.
“We weren’t getting enough calves so we
moved to Droughtmasters and it has worked out
well for us,” he said.
“The bulls stay in all year round. We used to
control mate but we haven’t for about 10 years.
“We muster once every six months and
wean and brand then.”
Gympie’s female diversity lure
LEFT: Carl Young,
manager of
Wirraway,
Beaudesert, paid
the $18,000
Droughtmaster
National Female
Sale record money
for Bryvonlea
Jemma 2 (P)
offered by Brian
and Josh Heck of
Bryvonlea
Droughtmasters,
Glastonbury, at the
2013 sale.
G
ENETIC diversity will be the name of
the game for the upcoming National
Droughtmaster Female Sale at Gympie
Saleyards on Saturday, March 8.
“There are a few dispersal and reduction sales
happening at the same time, but the unique selling point is we have 38 vendors, so there are
heaps of different bloodlines,” said National
Female Sale Committee chairman Brian Heck.
The 33rd annual sale, which kicks off at 9am,
will feature 239 females that are all vendor bred
and veterinary certified for pregnancy status. It
will consist of 11 cows and calves, 68 joined and
160 unjoined females.
Sale committee chairman Brian Heck of
Bryvonlea Droughtmasters said that only vendorbred females were catalogued to ensure quality
females were offered.“
You are also getting genetics from different
studs, and this is an excellent opportunity to
acquire a diversity of genetics,” he said. “The
astute breeder is always on the lookout to improve
his herd in traits such as fertility, femininity and
marketability and the National Droughtmaster
Female Sale offers a broad genetic base on which
to improve. It’s good to bring in other genetics.
Sometimes we might be breeding horned cattle,
but want to breed poll cattle, or you might want
to get muscling or more femininity.”
It will all be there at the National Female Sale.
There has been good interest at previous sales,
with buyers travelling from NSW to northern
Australia including far north Queensland, and
even some from Western Australia.
“We’re catering for a wide range of buyers,”
Mr Heck said.
“It has certainly been a very popular breed
over the years because of its diversity – the end
product can be exported or it can go into the
local trade. We sent some down to NSW, where
it’s very cold, but they can adapt to all climates.
“They excel in the west – but that’s the
Droughtmaster for you.”
Mr Heck said there would be some new vendors at this sale because Droughtmaster Australia
was constantly growing its membership and it
allowed new members, as they bred up, to have
an outlet for their heifers. “Buyers are a bit of a
mixed bunch – we do have commercial buyers
who want to breed some quality Droughtmaster
cattle and then we do have stud buyers. It’s a
great opportunity for studs to buy new cattle.”
The females will be at the saleyards to view
on Friday afternoon and a barbecue sponsored
by Landmark will start at 6.30pm.
There will also be free drinks sponsored
by Sullivan Livestock.
STUDS ON SHOW: NEXT PAGE
QC1643199
By INGA STÜNZNER
National Droughtmaster
Female Sale vendors
BRYVONLEA
ELEVEN attractive, stylish females showing
breed and beef character line up from Brian
and Yvonne Heck’s Bryvonlea Stud. Lots 41
and 42 are joined to Billabong Vermouth,
and the open mating heifers selling as lots
184 to 192 present a real opportunity for
astute studmasters to advance their genetic
pool in the breed.
Sires represented are Billabong Riley. In
2013 his sons topped the February All
Breeds and the South Burnett bull sales.
Also represented is Vale View Ripper, the
sire of the record-priced National Female
Sale heifer Bryvonlea Jemma.
The wonderful dam line complements the
genetic strength of the heifers on offer.
Bryvonlea females have topped and recorded
the top average at the past two National
Female Sales.
CEDAR VIEW
Long-established Cedar View stud at Gympie
run by Stan and Lynn Tompkins will offer
six outstanding polled heifers, three joined
and three unjoined. The joined females,
selling as lots 43 to 45, have been mated
with new stud sire Angle Zed Famagusta,
purchased in 2012 for $10,000.
Lynn and Stan are extremely impressed with
his first drop of calves. Billabong Oakey,
who has done a tremendous job in the stud,
is sire of lots 44 and 45.
Lots 199 to 201 are the first of Bryvonlea
Lincoln’s progeny to be offered for sale.
This sire has delighted the Tompkins with
the growth, softness and temperament of
his calves, ensuring these lots are worth the
wait.
CRAIGLEA
CRAIGLEA Droughtmasters will offer six
quality unjoined heifers that will include
a 100 percent polled team that is full of style,
class and evenness with huge futures within
the industry. Catalogued as lots 206 to 211,
the heifers are aged from 15 to 18 months
and have been left open for the purchaser’s
choice of mating.
The sale team is from the heart of Craiglea’s
proven female lines with a mix of the breed’s
top pedigrees and female lines, and being
sired by the stud’s top sires. The team will
also include show heifers that will be exhib-
ited at the Gatton Futurity the week before
the sale. That will be the start of their show
careers for the successful purchases.
tics and structure” Allan said. “If our cattle
are not within our standards then it’s off to
the cull paddock.”
MINLACOWIE
TRUVALLE
MINLACOWIE has catalogued 11 heifers,
seven joined and four unjoined. The joined
heifers are running with Craiglea Trump,
their top-selling sire for 2013.
Backed by 50 years of stud breeding, the
success and consistency in the breeding of
Minlacowie genetics is clearly evident. Many
of the top prices at all of the Droughtmaster
sales over many years have had Minlacowie
genetics in their short-listed pedigree.
TRUVALLE Droughtmaster Stud (No.22)
has been selling quality females at the
National Droughtmaster Female Sale for at
least 29 years, topping the sale in 1985, 1989
(twice with the top-price cow and calf for
$6000, and later with an unjoined heifer for
$10,000), in 1990, 1991, and again in 2004.
Truvalle females have been the basis of many
successful Droughtmaster studs, including
Sunny View, who purchased Truvalle Fancy,
the beginning of the well-known Sunny
View Fancy line.
The females offered for sale come from regular breeding females with top-quality bloodlines. Three of the five joined females have
been depastured with Minlacowie Montego
5964, a bull with a mostly polled genetic
base. Two others have been depastured with
Lorendale Halo, a polled sire by Glenlands
D Harrison.
The three unjoined females are by show
champion Truvalle Quarry, Talgai Apache,
son of Talgai Impact 951, and Minlacowie
Montego 5964.
OAKMORE
OAKMORE Droughtmasters is offering four
females by Sunny View Yeoman. Lot 33,
Oakmore Lucy, is PTIC to Aldinga Charmer
who was purchased in 2011 for his correctness, length, sirey appeal and temperament.
Lucy is out of a Billabong female purchased
at the 2009 Billabong Female Sale.
Lot 34, Oakmore Leisel, is also PTIC to
Aldinga Charmer and out of one of our top
performing females, Grande-Orr Granda 12.
She is a consistent performer and can be
relied on to produce a top calf every year.
Lots 152 and 153 are both unjoined and
out of two more of Oakmore’s fertile and
feminine females. These two young heifers
are showing fertility, maternal quality and
excellent temperament that Oakmore prides
its name on.
SCRUBBY MOUNTAIN
WITH a successful first-time offering, Allan
and Nadia Gillies from Scrubby Mountain
Droughtmasters are looking forward to
another successful outcome with the females
and bulls on offer for this year’s sales.
Being out of the selling circuit for some time
due to the premature birth of their twins,
they are getting back on track and have
selected some females and bulls ready to do
the job.
Their breeding herd is based on their property at Gin Gin and they take great pride in
their cattle. Achieving a balance of traits is
essential for viability in the ever-changing
marketplace.
“We set breeding objectives in our herd and
always look at key factors of temperament,
mothering ability, fertility, beef characteris-
VALE VIEW
DAVE, Colleen and Mac Smith of Vale
View Droughtmasters are proud to offer two
joined females and five unjoined females.
Dave says the heifers are an exceptional line
of females backed with strong/proven bloodlines to put buyers at ease.
“Due to our property size we are able to offer
you our ‘standard replacement female article’ as we can only retain so many females,”
Dave said.
“Buyers have a unique opportunity to purchase two joined heifers PTIC to our show
bull VV Van Damme.
“He is a full brother to show champion
female Smarty Pants, which also makes
him a maternal brother to our lead sire VV
Playboy.
“Van Damme has our most successful and
consistent bloodlines on both sides of the
family, these being the mighty VV Maresmo
VV Kandy.
“We are also offering five unjoined females.
Four of these are by the proven sire Rondel
Korageous and one by Hamadra Rusty. Both
of these sires have proven themselves
in our herd.”
QC1643136
Haigslea dispersal
sad day for Doug
I
T WILL be a sad day for Doug Haigh and
Jen Mercer as they disperse their herd of
Droughtmasters at the Gympie Saleyards on
Saturday, February 15.
“We are also livestock agents (D&G Livestock)
and it will be a sad and surreal day having to do
our own dispersal in Gympie,” Jen said.
“It probably won’t hit us until the next day
when we look out onto our paddocks and don't
see our lovely herd.”
A farewell for Doug and Jen, however, will be
an opportunity for potential buyers who want a
long line of quality breeding.
Doug’s association with the breed began a long
time ago when he bred Droughtmasters in the
Papua New Guinea Highlands for 20 years and
ran a smallgoods factory using his own beef.
When he returned to Australia in 1990 he
established his own herd with the initial purchase
of a top line of females at the Alcheringa dispersal sale at Eudlo.
Other worthy lines include the full purchase
of Cherrod Stud from Rod and Cheryl O’Rourke,
including Swan Raesen – the top-priced bull at
the Swan’s annual bull sale.
Other notable sires are Glenlands 593 (ET),
purchased at Rockhampton in the early 1990s
at $14,000, and Wingfield Nicodemus by
Greenacres Julien.
Billabong Ramses was the top-priced bull at
the Billabong sale in 1994.
HAIGSLEA DROUGHTMASTER
COMPLETE DISPERSAL
●
●
●
●
125 head
WHEN: February 15
TIME: 9.30am
WHERE: Gympie Saleyards
During the late 1990s and the 2000s, Haigslea
Stud was the most successful exhibitor at the
Gatton Futurity for three years in a row and for
five years topped the National Female Sale for
averages in Gympie.
Haigslea Gladiator, son of Billabong Ramses,
came a very close second to Swan Horsham in
the open class at the Brisbane RNA.
In recent years, Wedgwood 1161 was bought
for $14,000.
Billabong Sydney was bought at the Hicks sale
with a further sire, Billabong Wallace, purchased
the following year.
“Haigslea has always had a reputation for
breeding cattle with good temperament, good
fertility and fleshing ability,” Jen said.
“Doug has always deliberately maintained a
strong belief that he needed to have a good
percentage of content in his herd, and so has
always done well with his Billabong sires.”
The sale, starting at 9.30am, will consist of:
Doug Haigh with his beloved Droughtmasters before the
Haigslea dispersal on February 15.
58 cows and calves.
18 joined cows.
10 joined heifers.
23 unjoined heifers.
2 sires.
14 yearling bulls.
“We are also in the process of putting our
property up for sale here in the beautiful Mary
Valley,” Jen said.
She and Doug plan to retire to their
beach house in Burrum Heads.
●
●
●
●
●
●
Cash prizes offered at Biggenden’s sale
SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
DROUGHTMASTER SHOW & SALE
● WHEN: Thursday, April 10
● TIME: 9am
● WHERE: Biggenden
By INGA STÜNZNER
L
OYAL supporters of the Droughtmaster
breed are being rewarded with the chance
to win more than $10,000 in cash and
prizes at the Southern Queensland Store Cattle
Show and Sale.
At Biggenden on Thursday, April 10, from
9am, breeders have the chance to win in four
categories, and each class will take home an
Egel fridge/freezer.
The categories are Droughtmaster steers over
400kg, steers from 300kg to 400kg, females
over 300kg, and females under 300kg.
Droughtmaster Australia and Queensland
Country Life are supporting the event, and similar sales are sponsored around Australia.
“We appreciate the loyal support shown
for our breed, and to show our appreciation
we stage shows and sales giving those loyal
supporters a chance to compete for prizemoney,” Droughtmaster Australia chief exe-
John and Tracey Tincknell, Penolva, Mundubbera, with
their champion pen of males at the 2013 Southern
Queensland Droughtmaster Store Show and Sale. The No.3
steers sold for 201c/kg or $647/head.
cutive Neil Donaldson said.
The sale in Biggenden, 100km south-west
of Bundaberg, began a few years ago when
Droughtmaster Australia approached Burnett
Livestock & Realty.
“We said sure, we’ll do whatever we can to
get clients on board and get as many Droughtmaster growers on board,” said Lance Whitaker,
Burnett Livestock & Realty director.
“It’s a breed that keeps growing in popularity.
“I think because they are an easy breed to
handle – they have a good temperament, they
are good mothers, they calve out without any
trouble, they milk well, they do well in hardy
areas – they tick a lot of boxes.”
Mr Whitaker said the store show and sale was
an opportunity for producers to display their
commercial cattle and compare how they were
travelling with everyone else in the industry.
“It’s also a good opportunity for buyers to get
top-quality cattle, and it’s a good day out.
“The show and sale has always been well supported, attracting a large crowd of buyers and
vendors, and this year should be no different.
“It is a sought-after breed in the area and they
are lucky too because they have a society that
does a lot of work promoting the breed.”
Producers will come from Wide Bay, further
afield out west and even from NSW.
Mr Whitaker said he was proud to be involved
with the event.
“I think sometimes, too, with the season
being tough like this, it’s a good reason to get
out and have a look around.
“We copped those big floods and have [had]
drought ever since, so it’s been a very tough 14
months for cattle.
“They mightn’t have had the same weight per
age as previous years, but everyone understands
that.”
The minimum entry is 10 head a pen.
The cattle must be Droughtmaster or first
cross.
● For more information, go to www.burnettlr.com.au or phone
Lance Whitaker on 0407 139 901.
1642722
The
Highland
sale with
a big
heart
By INGA STÜNZNER
O
NE bull from each vendor’s draft at
this year’s Highlands Droughtmaster Sale
will help support victims of cancer, with
10 per cent of its sale price donated to the Kim
Walters Foundation.
Vendors will choose one bull from their draft
and decorate him with a pink ear tag, in support
LEFT: The top-priced
Highlands Droughtmaster
bull at the 2013 sale,
Medway Shirt Front, was
purchased by Peter
(right) and Deleece
Carrington and family,
Rondel Droughtmasters,
Winton, from the
Donaldson family,
Medway Droughtmasters,
Bogantungan.
Hamilton Donaldson
(left) thanked Mr
Carrington immediately
after the sale.
HIGHLANDS
DROUGHTMASTER SALE
● WHEN: Friday, March 14
● TIME: 10am
● WHERE: Clermont Saleyards
of Julie Veivers from Talgai Stud. The Kim
Walters Choices Program offers those diagnosed
with breast cancer, their family and friends, access
to a network of professionals, volunteers
and others affected by breast or gynaecological
cancer.
Vendors are Huntly, Kenlogan, Medway, Mt
Oscar, Redskin, Strathfield, Toronellah, Warriner
and Wolfang.
Up for sale are 51 registered bulls, 25 herd
bulls and six registered heifers. Catalogues are
available at www.droughtmaster.com.au.
“For the first time, we will be holding a meet
and greet the night before the sale at the
Commercial Hotel in Clermont,” said Alex
Donaldson, one of the sale organisers.
The event, sponsored by Suncorp, on Thursday,
March 13, 6.30pm, will follow the bull inspections. A breakfast will be held on the morning
of the sale from 8am at the saleyards, and this is
sponsored by Central Highlands Auto.
“Vendors will love to see people there,” Mrs
Donaldson said. “This sale has built a reputation
for consistently producing top-quality, locally
bred, commercially orientated cattle.”
The cattle that come through the sale are quiet,
cost-effective, productive and perform well in
the field. Every year the Highlands Sale vendors
strive to host a sale that produces good beefy
bullock bulls for the commercial cattle grower
as well as the higher profile sires for the
stud buyer.
QC1625451
Vitwood reduction sale
offers opportunity
A
HUGE array of polled genetics will be on
offer with the major reduction sale of the
Vitwood Droughtmaster Stud, Gympie
Saleyards, on Saturday, March 1, at 9am.
Ninety-four per cent of the nearly 200 lots are
of polled status with most the other either polled
or scurred animals.
Vendors David and Anita Torrisi, Maryborough,
have decided to divest a large number of their
core breeding assets in this sale involving some
200 head.
The catalogue consists of some 120 cow
and calf units, 40 joined and maiden heifers,|
30 yearling bulls and 10 resident sires. The Torrisi
family has decided that this reduction sale will
be the last auction the prefix will conduct. The
owners have retained a numbers of females and
sires for their pleasure and plan to remain within
the breed but with a lesser presence.
All female breeding units are running with
sires and pregnancy status information will be
available on sale day. Calves at foot include the
progeny of 13 sires sourced from leading operations including Glenlands, Clonlara, Yackatoon,
Bryvonlea, Talgai, Rondel, Redskin and
Strathfield. These top quality females have been
One of the many leading sires represented in the Vitwood sale
is the $37,500 former RNA champion, Glenlands Immense.
Purchased at the 2006 Glenlands sale, Immense is pictured
with Vitwood principals Anita and David Torrisi, Susan River,
and Jason Childs, Glenlands Stud, Bouldercombe.
joined to a battery of leading males including
the retained Vitwood sires, Liberty and Nooroo,
Rondel Kernell, Clonlara Balboa, Redskin Wise
Guy and Glenlands Lincoln. In all some 17
prefixes are represented in the females on offer
from many of the breeds leading addresses.
The young bulls are the sons of the Glenlands
introductions, Oliver, Megabyte, Immense, Kyle,
Kilby, Strathfield X-Terminator, Rondel Kernell,
Talgai Cooper, Minlacowie Luther, Vitwood
Judus, Bryvonlea Emperor and Redskin Wise
Guy.
Outside sires on offer in the sale are the
Glenlands bulls, Lincoln and Incite, along with
Billabong Norris, Bryvonlea Emperor, Strathfield
X-Appeal, Yackatoon 4163, Redskin Wise Guy
and Imbil Adriane. Bolstering the sire gallery
destined for sale are the retained Vitwood males,
Matrix (Wolfang Fred-O) and Judus (Calioran
Nelson).
The Vitwood herd has steadily grown in size
over the years with the private acquisition of the
Tapiola herd, Biloela, and purchases from many
of the leading Droughtmaster herds and prefixes.
Resident and foundation sires have been a
huge part of the Vitwood prefix. Many highselling and outstanding bulls have seen service
with the herd including the former breed record
holders, the $95,000 Glenlands Hilton and the
$150,000 Wolfang Fred-O. Other notable bulls
include the former RNA champion, $37,500
Glenlands Immense, $30,000 Vale View
Lawman and $26,000 Bryvonlea Emperor.
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ABOVE: Commercial
Droughtmaster cattle at
Meadowbrook, Dysart.
MAIN: Aleisha Finger judging
at Beef 2012.
▲
At 27 years old, Dysart district
cattle producer Aleisha Finger
reckons the Droughtmaster breed
has served her very well.
These days Aleisha runs 500
commercial Droughtmaster
breeders plus 20 stud cows
under her stud prefix Almafi,
on her parents’ properties. She
spoke with HELEN WALKER for
this special Digest profile.
POINTER TO
BREED’S FUTURE
QC1642608
Success in Droughtie country
A
LEISHA Finger is one of five children of
John and Donna Finger, and they all run
their own cattle on the family properties,
paying agistment to their parents each quarter.
However, at the rate that Aleisha’s cattle numbers
are growing, she is certainly looking to buy more
country to call her own in the near future.
“That is really my goal, and I will be looking
for a brigalow property grassed with buffel in
central Queensland, and I believe the Droughtmaster breed will help me achieve this,” Aleisha
said.
Her grandfather, the late Keith Flohr, of Wotonga, Nebo, gifted each of his grandchildren with
six heifers when they were born and ear-tagged
it ‘the future investment fund’ that got Aleisha
under way.
When she was 12, she opted for the Droughtmaster breed from a mix of breeds her family
was using and crossing including Droughtmaster,
Brahman, Limousin and Charbray.
In her commercial breeding operation, Aleisha
joins one bull to 30 to 40 cows on a 12-month
mating program. She selects her sires from the
annual Droughtmaster National at Gracemere,
paying up to $10,000 for a quality sire.
Aleisha targets her turn-off on the Japanese
market, selling to JBS Rockhampton, where she
receives an average of $3.25/kg dressed for bullocks averaging 320kg dressed weight.
The family operates three rounds of mustering,
LEFT:
Donna and
John Finger,
Meadowbrook,
Dysart, with
their
daughter
Larissa.
with the first getting under way in March/April,
and that is when the calves are weaned, and all
breeders pregnancy tested and plunge-dipped
for tick control.
During the second round in June/July, the
same process is applied; however, this time cattle are vaccinated for lepto and botulism, while
the third round is along the lines of the first.
Aleisha carries out all her own pregnancy testing, a skill she gained at the Emerald Pastoral
College, Emerald.
She has followed up on refresher courses while
working for the Australian Agricultural Company
on Meteor Downs in Springsure district.
“I was looking to gain more experience away
from home, so I worked on Meteor Downs for
six months, particularly to gain more artificial
insemination and preg-testing experience.”
It was in 2011 that Aleisha decided to invest
further into Droughtmaster genetics and registered the Almafi stud prefix, derived from the
first two initials in her given and surname.
Aleisha bought 12 to 24-month-old heifers,
some unjoined, while others were joined from
Vitwood, Glenlands, Rondel, Huntly, Kenlogan
and Jembrae studs as the foundation females for
her stud. She plans to breed up her numbers to
50 stud breeders, by retaining all quality heifer
calves, and will have paddock bulls for sale in
the next 12 months.
“There is no way I would breed anything but
Droughtmasters as they handle the environment
they are in and give a return, and I have seen
this first hand.”
So far Aleisha has already bought the 2430-hectare property Elonerra in the Capella district,
which is used in conjunction with the family
properties Meadowbrook, and Farlane Park near
Middlemount.
“But the ultimate is to eventually own my own
property, and with the help of my Droughtmasters,
hopefully that will be in the next couple of years,”
she said.
Aleisha has just returned from a 12-month
working trip to the US where she worked on
ranches to gain more experience and bring home
some ideas.
● At the time of the Digest’s visit to Meadowbrook, Aleisha was
still in the US. Her cattle were being managed by parents
John and Donna, and sister Larissa.
CEDAR VIEW
Selling: 3 joined & 3 unjoined Females
Stud # 1107 Brand 4DI
Droughtmaster Stud
Selling 2 unjoined heifers and two joined heifers –
Droughtmaster National Female Sale March 8, 2014
Lot
43
2014 National Female Sale
LOT 33
1642893
OAKMORE LUCY • Sire: Sunny View Yeoman
Dam: Billabong Shannae • PTIC: Aldinga Charmer
Joined: Lot 33 Oakmore Lucy, Lot 34 Oakmore Leisel.
Unjoined: Lot 152 Oakmore Nikki, Lot 153 Oakmore Neve
Lot
44
QC1642397
Lot 8, 4 Hodgson Street, Greenmount, Q 4359
Ph: (07) 4697 1007; Mobile 0413 583 084
[email protected]
www.oakmoreparkdroughtmasters.com.au
Contact: Stan & Lynn Tompkins Ph: (07) 5486 6213
Mobile: 0417 647 558 Email: [email protected]
New scrotal
circumference
standards – do they
measure up?
Why measure scrotal circumference?
Measuring scrotal circumference can indicate
the likelihood that a bull has reached puberty,
and whether testicular development is within the
normal range. Scrotal circumference assessment
is an important part of a VBBSE, which is used
to assess whether bulls have normal reproductive
function prior to making selection and management decisions.
Scrotal circumference is:
● A good indicator of daily sperm production,
especially in young bulls, which is fairly constant
per gram of testis.
● A highly repeatable measure (with appropriate
technique) and highly heritable (30-45 per cent).
● Correlated with sperm motility and morphology. However, these are independently assessed
as part of a routine VBBSE.
Genetically correlated with earlier age at
puberty in female relatives.
● Genetically correlated with earlier return to
cyclicity after calving in female relatives within
tropically adapted cattle, and especially Bos Indicus cattle.
●
VBBSE standards for scrotal circumference
Previous VBBSE standards listed simple minimum cut-off points for scrotal circumference
based on breed and age.
Historically, bulls with a scrotal circumference
greater than the cut-off were scored with a tick
for the scrotal circumference component of the
VBBSE, and those below with a cross.
● To p26
QC1643188
T
HE Australian Cattle Veterinarians (ACV)
has released revised standards for minimum scrotal circumference to pass a Veterinary Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation
(VBBSE).
The revised standards have resulted from recent advances in understanding as to what constitutes normal scrotal size in the Australian herd
based on the ‘Bull Power’ project.
This project involved analysis of more than
260,000 scrotal circumference measurements
that had been recorded with Breedplan in 2000
to 2012 across 13 common breeds of Australian
beef bulls, including Droughtmaster.
Scrotal circumference measurements were
mostly taken when bulls were within 250kg750kg live weight and 300 to 750 days of age.
Bull
Power
project
gets
results
Bulls with a
scrotal
circumference
that is not within
‘normal limits’
should be
viewed
with suspicion.
● From p25
In recent times, the VBBSE have moved from
a pass/fail model to a description of risk with a
T (tick), Q (qualified) and X (cross) system being
used to acknowledge that there are shades of
grey and that assessment of risk is not always
absolute.
Findings from Bull Power project
The main findings from the recent analyses
include:
● Live weight appears to be a superior reference
point in comparison to age as a measure for
assessing acceptable scrotal circumference in
young bulls. Age can also be used, but the variation at any age is higher because of nutrition
effects on weight per day of age.
● Scrotal circumference x weight relationships
have the same pattern in most breeds. The range
across breeds of average scrotal circumference at
any weight from 250kg-750kg is 5cm-7cm.
Temperate breeds tend to have larger scrotal
circumference at the same weight than tropically
adapted breeds. Some of this is related to the
lower width to length ratio of Bos Indicus testes.
● Across the 13 breeds included in the study,
Australian beef bulls have been categorised into
five groups that, at the same live weight, have
similar average scrotal circumference. Droughtmaster bulls have been grouped as having very
similar live weight x scrotal size relationships to
Limousin, Belmont Red and Santa Gertrudis.
Recommendations
There is no clear point at which a scrotal
circumference indicates an increased risk to
fertility.
Thus, scrotal circumference needs to be inter-
preted along with other elements of the physical
examination, and with crush-side semen and
morphology results if available.
Bulls with a scrotal circumference that is not
within ‘normal limits’ should be viewed with
suspicion, unless it can be shown by other means
that this does not pose a risk.
Details of normal scrotal circumference in the
Australian Droughtmaster bull population are
provided in Figure 1.
As a general principle, it is recommended that
the minimum acceptable scrotal circumference
is the bottom 5pc value at any weight.
It should be noted that the minimum recommended is ‘bare minimum’.
For example, bulls close to the minimum
threshold are more likely to suffer from some of
the problems associated with small scrotal circumference than bulls well above the threshold.
Bull breeders may consider setting a higher
scrotal circumference minimum for sale bulls
than what is indicated by normal range.
Table 1 shows the data from Figure 1 in tabular form and provides a ready reckoner to the
minimum acceptable scrotal circumference at a
given live weight in Droughtmaster bulls.
Acknowledging that it is not always possible
to obtain live weights for bulls, Table 2 provides
recommended minimum scrotal circumference
thresholds for Droughtmaster bulls in situations
where live weight is not available.
Again, these are the ‘bare minimum’.
The above standards do not indicate that either
puberty or sexual maturity has been reached –
rather, they indicate normal minimum levels of
testicular development as reflected in scrotal
circumference.
Separate evaluation of crush-side semen and/
or sperm morphology are required to confirm
attainment of puberty and sexual maturity, with
most bulls reaching puberty in a narrow range
of 27cm-30cm.
● Reference: Australian Cattle Veterinarians, Veterinary
Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation, 2013.
QC1625446
West Moreton’s top-clas
West Moreton Anglican College cattle show team members
Rebekkah Quinn, Mt Walker (holding Cebella Perez), Jack
Brosnan, Mt Walker (holding Cebella Latoya), Mitchell
Jackwitz, Glarmorganvale, Stephanie Laycock, Eskdale
(holding Cebella Cruize), and Belynda Henry, Fernvale
(holding Cebella Oliver). – Pictures: SARAH COULTON.
By INGA STÜNZNER
H
UGGING the semi-rural outskirts of
Ipswich, West Moreton Anglican College
(WestMAC) may be one of the state’s
younger schools, but its cattle program packs a
punch.
Last year, the students took out the grand
championship at the RNA Schools Competition
at the Brisbane show – beating 39 other schools
from Queensland and NSW.
“That’s the biggest highlight of our careers,”
said agricultural science teacher Shannon Lynes,
who is one of three staff running the college’s
cattle program. “That is what we train for, and
it’s like the Olympic Games for the students.
“We trained really hard for that and this time
RIGHT: West Moreton
Anglican College
cattle show team
member Stephanie
Laycock, Eskdale, with
Cebella Cruize, and in
the background is
Rebekkah Quinn, Mt
Walker, with Cebella
Perez.
we came out on top.”
The cattle program has been going since WestMAC’s inception 20 years ago, and has become
so popular the college now has 50 to 55 cattle.
“We need to have that many to supply the
students, because we have so many,” Ms Lynes
said.
In fact, in the first week of college the cattle
school was inundated with phone calls and emails
from parents wanting a place for their child.
“We get about 70 students, and each year we
get a heap of new students in grade 7 who will
continue the whole way through to grade 12.”
The program is a ‘fitting service’, where local
breeders provide their cattle on loan and the
students will fit them out for the shows.
Half of the cattle are led steers, so the students
also use them in their assignments for weight
gain trials. However, the shows are the main part
of the extracurricular program.
“We have Charolais, Black Angus, Limousin,
Poll Herefords and Droughtmasters, so we try to
get an animal in all the show categories.
“That keeps us busy at show time as cattle go
into the ring all the time.”
The owners provide the feed and the students
spend their afternoons after school learning the
intricacies of showing: shampooing, grooming,
blow-drying and walking.
“At the moment we have about 20 animals
that we are breaking in, so we have the older
students coming in every afternoon doing that.
“Then we get the younger students after school
on a Tuesday and Thursday working on showing,
and we get ready for a show on a Saturday.”
The college participates in all the shows in the
West Moreton and Brisbane region – taking 25
to 35 cattle to each and staying overnight.
“We’ll take three or four camping tents and
the students find a spot to sleep on the ground
with their swags – they absolutely love it,” Ms
Lynes said. “We get there on a Friday morning
and we will have some students who will come
then and do the washing and preparation, and
then we have the little students who come on
the Saturday.”
Although last year’s championship at the Ekka
was the highlight, WestMAC has slowly been
accumulating the awards. For two years in a row,
the college has taken out the supreme tropical
breed female with their Droughtmasters at the
West Moreton and Brisbane Valley Sub-chamber.
They also won the led steer category there last
year.
The Droughtmaster breed is a relatively new
addition to the cattle program – and this is due
to Ms Lynes.
“I’ve been with the school for the past three
One absolute drawcard
to the Droughtmaster is
their uniqueness and their
personality. The students
love their character.
ss cattle
years, and when I came our led steers were
primarily Charolais.
“I had Droughtmaster cattle and I thought we
should expand the number of breeds.”
The students, used to blow-drying hairy
European breeds, are now learning how to prepare and run tropical breeds.
Ms Lynes said she fell in love with the breed
as a school student at Beenleigh, where her school
had Droughtmasters.
Although she went on to study agricultural
science at Gatton and then become a teacher,
she has also set up her own small Droughtmaster
stud. “I had always had good experiences with
them. I am happy with their temperament, how
they perform and their resistance to parasites,
and thought, ‘Why would I bother going anywhere else?’”
Now WestMAC students are also seeing their
appeal.
“One absolute drawcard to the Droughtmaster
is their uniqueness and their personality. The
students love their character.
“I have a calf that was on my cow last year, so
the students have had her since she was born
here and she thinks she’s one of the students.”
Having a variety of European and tropical
breeds at the college’s cattle program has widened
the students’ experience.
“The students do different activities each week,
and there are a few who are prepared to fight for
West Moreton Anglican College cattle show team member Rebekkah Quinn, Mt Walker, with Cebella Perez.
their time with the Droughtmasters – and there
are also some who are a bit intimidated by the
extra character.”
Either way, the agricultural program offers
what most students are not exposed to in ordinary
life.
“We get some students who come and just do
show cattle and that’s it. But there are others who
go on and do their certificates.
“Quite a few go out and work on properties,
and we have some students who will go and
work on studs and show cattle for other people.
“That’s the uniqueness of what we do. We
have students who come to us who have never
touched a cow before in their life.”
Meanwhile, it is full steam ahead for another
year of shows and working to keep the
championship title.
1642894
A
The A to Z of EBVs
N important step when making selection
decisions using BREEDPLAN Estimated
Breeding Values (EBV) is the consideration
of EBV accuracy. The following information
provides a guide to understanding and utilising
EBV accuracy in selection decisions.
What is EBV accuracy?
By definition, an EBV is an estimate of an
animal’s true breeding value. The ‘accuracy’
figure produced with each EBV provides an
indication of the amount of information that has
been used in the calculation of that EBV.
The higher the accuracy, the more likely the
EBV is to predict the animal’s true breeding value
and the lower the likelihood of change in the
animal’s EBV as more information is analysed
for that animal, its progeny or its relatives.
How accuracy is reported
Accuracy figures are reported as a percentage
(%) between 0-99. In most cases where an EBV
is presented, the accuracy of the EBV will be
reported in either the column immediately following the EBV or the row beneath the EBV
(Figure 1).
Interpreting EBV accuracy
The following guide is recommended when
interpreting accuracy:
● Less than 50% accuracy – the EBVs are preliminary. In this accuracy range the EBVs could
change substantially as more direct performance
information becomes available on the animal.
● 50-74% accuracy – the EBVs are of medium
accuracy. EBVs in this range will usually have
been calculated based on the animal’s own performance and some pedigree information.
● 75-90% accuracy – the EBVs are of mediumhigh accuracy. EBVs in this range will usually
have been calculated based on the animal’s own
performance coupled with the performance for
a small number of the animal’s progeny.
More than 90% accuracy – the EBVs are a
high accuracy estimate of the animal’s true breeding value. It is unlikely that EBVs with this
accuracy will change considerably with addition
of more progeny data.
●
EBV accuracy confidence ranges
The maximum likely change to EBVs at different accuracy levels is described by the confi-
QC1643294
Figure 1: EBV accuracy figures are reported as a percentage (%) between O and 99.
A guide to understanding
and utilising EBV
accuracy.
dence range (also
known in statistical
circles as the standard error of estimate). The size of
this value decreases as
the accuracies increase. Statistically,
there is a 67% chance that
an animal’s true breeding
value will be within 1 standard error of its EBV, and a
96% chance that it will be
within 2 standard errors of
its EBV. As an example, Table
1 shows the Trans-Tasman Angus BREEDPLAN
confidence ranges associated with different
accuracy levels for various traits. For example, a
600 Day Wt EBV with an accuracy of 90% will
have a confidence range of ± 8.5 kg. If an animal’s
EBV is +100 then, with the addition of further
information (e.g. progeny or sibling records), the
EBV would be expected to still fall within the
range of +91.5 kg to +108.5 kg (i.e. 100 ± 8.5kg)
67% of the time; and, within the range of +83
kg to +117 kg (i.e. 100 ± (2 X 8.5)kg) 96% of
the time.
To assist with the understanding of confidence
ranges, a graph has been developed when viewing animals within the EBV enquiry facility on
Internet Solutions. This is available for implementation by breed societies that have upgraded
to ABRI’s new generation of breed registry software known as ILR2.
Known as the EBV standard error graph, it
depicts in graphical form the possible change in
an animal’s EBVs for each trait. The horizontal
bar for each trait displays one standard error
either side of the current EBV value, meaning
that statistically, there is a 67% chance that the
true breeding value for this trait will be within
this range. Figure 2 shows an example standard
error graph for a young animal of lower accuracy,
compared to a proven sire of higher accuracy,
EBV accuracy for a group of animals
While many beef producers look at EBV accuracy in relation to an individual animal, it is also
worthwhile considering how accurate the EBVs
are in describing the genetics of groups of animals
within a breeding program.
In conducting a breeding program, it is normal
practice for multiple animals to influence the
genetics of the breeding herd rather than just an
individual. It is important to understand accuracy
of the EBVs describing the breeding value for a
group or team of animals. For example, the EBV
accuracy for the team of females being flushed
in an embryo transfer program, or the team of
bulls being joined.
This may be a group of bulls used in a specific
joining (e.g. spring/summer 2013) or a group of
bulls used over subsequent joinings (e.g. all bulls
used over past three years).
Figure 3 illustrates the EBV accuracy for a
group (or team) of animals with an average EBV
accuracy of 30% for a trait. While individual
bulls within the team may have ‘low’ EBV accuracy, the accuracy of the EBVs describing the
breeding value for the entire team of animals will
be considerably higher. Put in practical terms,
while individually some bulls within the team
will perform above expectation, some will perform below expectation and some will perform
exactly as expected, across the entire team, the
EBVs will describe the breeding value of the team
of bulls with considerably higher accuracy.
For example, an individual bull with an EBV
of relatively low accuracy of 30% has some level
of risk attached, as the EBV could change significantly as more information is analysed. If
there is a bull team of two, averaging 30% accuracy
for the EBV, the EBV accuracy for the bull team is
considerably higher at 58% for a team of full sibs,
68% for half sibs and 74% for unrelated bulls.
Similarly, if there is a bull team of ten, averaging
30% accuracy for the EBV, the EBV accuracy for
the bull team is 74% for a team of full sibs, 88%
for half sibs and 95% for unrelated bulls.
For the same situation, but all with 60% accuracy
for the EBV, the EBV accuracy for the bull team
is 90% for a team of full sibs, 93% for half sibs
● To p32
Y MOUNTAIN
SCRUBB
GRAZING
Thank you to all our bull & female buyers
& bidders for your valued support in 2013
Table 1: Confidence ranges for EBVs at different levels of accuracy.
What influences the accuracy of an EBV?
progeny records. EBV accuracies of
90% and greater are generally only
observed on animals that have had
progeny with performance recorded
for the specific trait.
● Effectiveness of performance
information: Animals that are in
large contemporary groups will generally have higher EBV accuracy
compared to those in small or single
animal contemporary groups.
● Genetic correlation with other
measured traits: As BREEDPLAN
uses a multi-trait model, genetic
correlations between traits are utilised to calculate EBVs and associated
accuracies, e.g. recording 200 day
weight will also add information to
the generation of the 400 day weight
EBV. Therefore herds that are recording a range of traits (calving ease,
weight, fertility, carcase) will have
higher EBV accuracies than a herd
that is undertaking limited recording
(e.g. 200 day weights only).
Offering 5 unjoined females at the 2014
National Female Sale Gympie
Also offering 8 bulls at the February All
Breeds Sale Gracemere
Wishing all producers a Successful, Wet
& Happy New Year!
Scrubby Mountain Droughtmasters
Allan & Nadia Gillies
0427 066 982
[email protected]
1642892
● Heritability of a trait: Heritability
is defined as the proportion of observable differences in a trait between
individuals within a population that
is due to genetics. The higher the
heritability of a trait the higher the
EBV accuracy, all other variables
being equal. For example, this is one
reason why we generally see higher
accuracies for Weight EBVs (e.g. 400
day weight) compared to the Days
to Calving EBV.
● The accuracy of the parents: An
animal that has sire and/or dam with
high EBV accuracy will generally
have higher accuracy EBVs compared
to an animal with parents of lower
accuracy as more information is
known about the relatives of the ●
The amount of performance information available: EBV accuracies will
increase as more performance information is analysed for a specific trait.
This includes performance information on the animal itself, as well as
Figure 2: Examples of EBV standard error graphs for a young animal, left, and proven sire, right.
● From p31
considered, animals should generally be compared
and 97pc for unrelated bulls. The reason higher
bull team EBV accuracy is observed for unrelated
bulls, compared to half sib or full sibs, is due to
there being less chance of a bias affecting the EBVs
for all bulls in the team.
This shows that the risk of using bulls with
relatively low individual EBV accuracy (e.g. yearlings) can be overcome by considering them is a
bull team context, rather than individuals. This is
a result of “spreading-the-risk” across the team,
rather than “putting-all-your-eggs-one-basket”
approach. This also suggests that a team of younger
“unproven” bulls can be competitive, in terms of
EBV accuracy, to an individual “proven” sire.
Consider accuracy in selection
Figure 3: Accuracy of a bull team when EBV accuracy of
individuals is 30pc.
Spreading the risk of using younger, lower
accuracy animals by utilising the bull “team”
approach.
●
References: Lohuis, M.M and Smith, C. (1994). Risk associated
with teams of bulls. Proceedings of the 5th World Congress of
Genetics Applied to Livestock Production 18:298-301
QC1643208
Although the accuracy of an EBV should be
on EBVs regardless of accuracy as they are still the
best estimate of an animal’s breeding value.
In the case where animals have similar EBVs, the
animal with the higher accuracy would be preferable because results can be predicted with more
confidence. If seedstock producers prefer to minimise risk through use of animals with higher accuracy EBVs, consideration could be given to:
● Undertaking a higher level of performance
recording across a range of traits and managing
their seedstock herd to maximise contemporary
group size.
● Sourcing bulls, females and genetics (e.g.
semen, embryos) from herds with a history of
performance recording.
● Using high accuracy proven sires (e.g. AI sires)
or dams.
QC1643270
Pictured in November last year, Steve and Vicki Bottomley, Zara, Comet, where Droughtmaster genetics are the backbone of their grassfed operation.
Droughtmasters backbone
of Comet operation
By HELEN WALKER
C
OMET district beef producers Steve and
Vicki Bottomley maintain 650 to 700
Droughtmaster breeders on their breeding
property Monash, joining at a ratio of 50/50 to
Droughtmaster and Limousin bulls to target the
MSA grass-finished market.
More recently they have focused on also supplying to the premium EU market and the newly
created domestic Pasturefed Certified Assurance
Scheme (PCAS) segment.
However, the couple feel the real backbone
to their operation is in the strength of their
Droughtmaster breeders.
According to Steve, the Droughtmaster cow is
the most suitable animal type for their operation
and land type.
“They are essentially a hybrid animal with a
medium frame, docility, and have good carcase
characteristics, few calving difficulties and are
tick resistance,” he said.
Steve and Vicki manage their operation over
two properties in the Comet district.
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QC1644160
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Marketers of the PFSA range of soluble and liquid nitrogen, phosphate, sulphur, trace elements and A D & E. Technical advice of stock water profile tests and general water quality.
Steve with the nutrient-rich water medication containing a
blend of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur that is
maintaining condition and health in his herd.
All breeders are run on Monash, which is
fondly referred to as the ‘breeder engine of their
operation’, while steers and heifers are finished
on Zara.
Both properties are located south of Comet,
and are in easy access to each other.
“The Limousin-cross progeny are nearly all
terminal, with only a few of the heifers returning to Monash as breeders,” Steve said.
“The choice of the Limousin as opposed to
other Euro/British breeds again comes down to
ease of operation and market suitability.
“With grass-finishing options, the
Droughtmaster/Limousin does the job for us
and fits well with the Droughtmaster herd.
“We are intent on breeding an ‘easy care’
beast, as we operate here with just the two of
us – my wife Vicki, and me – with mustering
support from our valued neighbours, the Barlow
family.
“What we are sincerely hoping is the PCAS
system can gain enough traction to become a
force in red-meat retailing, as it ticks the customer boxes of ‘free range non-factory farming’,
plus the essential underpinning of MSA eating
quality.
The Bottomleys relocate all weaners onto Zara
from Monash after the Comet Campdraft, in
September.
With grass
finishing options,
the Droughtmaster/
Limousin does the job
for us and fits well with
the Droughtmaster
herd.
They are walked for two days into Comet
then trucked to Zara after the event.
The steer portion is grown out and sold direct
to the processors at 600kg to 650kg liveweight.
The heifer portion can be handled in different
ways depending on the season and markets, but
usually 70 Droughtmasters, once grown out,
are returned to Monash as replacement breeders.
“We then market half of the remainder
as we see fit,” Steve said.
Water medication for Monash cattle
T
HE Bottomleys are great believers in water
medication and have been using this
method for the past 15 years.
“We have now got to the stage where we have
an effective and inexpensive livestock supplementary feeding program in place across both
properties,” Steve said.
“The benefits are more than obvious in times
like at present, with a difficult season rolling
on.
“Stock on the water injected mixture are
significantly better off than those not, and at a
daily cost well below any alternative.
“The methodology is now mature and researched, and should be more widely accepted.”
Every trough has the pipework set up to
plug on one of these assemblies, with the unit
being moved to the next paddock as stock get
moved.
“Our water medication focuses on the three
main nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus and
sulphur,” he said.
“The basic theory here is we are feeding the
rumen microbes with protein (urea) that in turn
is consumed by the bovine.
“The phosphorus is an essential animal nutrient, as is the sulphur.
“With water medication, every animal receives its portion, and is often self-regulating
with pasture condition determining water usage.
“We get this from a mixture of urea, urea
phosphate and sulphate of ammonia.
“Until last year we have simply purchased
this pre-mixed from Pasture and Feedlot Systems, but are now mixing our own.
“This costs 9 to 10 cents a day for a lactating
cow when it’s dry.
“We monitor the water PH and have different
mixtures for different water points with different water, often from bores, and the PH is
driven down further with hydrochloric acid if
needed.
“When it gets dry or frosted, we also add a
multi-mineral liquid from PFS to aid in general
breeder well-being.”
The couple do not run centralised dosing and
prefer a small unit at each trough, or a group
of two troughs.
“This way you don’t have a pipeline full of
reactive water, and a different concentration or
mix can be tailored for the stock at that point,”
Steve said.
“Further, a float-valve malfunction only wastes
the small amount of concentrate at that trough,
and this has worked well for us now for many
years.”
QC1642896
Why it’s
so vital
to have
a plan
in place
“I
F we had known about farm succession
planning, we would still have the family
farm, and if we still had the family farm,
our family would still be together.”
These were the words spoken to me about 18
months ago in Toowoomba, just after I had
delivered a seminar on farm succession planning.
The importance of succession planning cannot
be underestimated, and many of the processes
can be easy and inexpensive to implement.
Consider the following case study:
Doug and Janelle have three children, Peter,
John and Mary. Peter and John are actively
involved in the farm business and Mary lives
close by.
There was increasing concern over the farm
succession plan as John had recently married
and wanted to secure his future in farming, while
neither Mary nor Peter, who were also married,
had shown any interest in staying on the land.
Increases in land values and disagreements
between spouses prompted the family to seek
succession planning advice.
Their main issues were:
● Being afraid of succession planning.
● How to resolve and agree the farm succession
plan.
● Retirement planning for the parents.
● How to value the farm and obtain adequate
successor funding.
● How to provide for each ‘dependant’ equitably
and fairly.
The solution implemented had four steps:
1. Education and fact finding.
2. Negotiating an agreed plan. (A farm value
gap analysis was undertaken by WLW and all
family members were required to agree to participate in a farm succession planning workshop
facilitated by WLW. This enabled the family to
openly discuss and agree on the farm succession
plan in a proactive environment).
Getting the right help
to address what can be
difficult and complex
issues is critical, and
the sooner you start the
process, the better.
3. Implementation (valuation and funding).
It was agreed the transfer of the farm business
to John would occur in two stages: livestock
(stage 1) and land (stage 2) over a period of five
years so Doug and Janelle could exit slowly from
the farming business and monitor John’s progress
and development. The land was transferred at
‘generational value’, determined as the maximum
amount the bank would lend to John to purchase
the farm (i.e. 60 per cent of market value). The
difference between the market and ‘generational
value’ was recorded as an interest-free loan to
John to be forgiven by Doug and Janelle, via their
wills, at time of death.
4. Documentation and support.
Doug and Janelle’s wills were updated to reflect
the forgiveness of debt for John and the equitable distribution of their remaining wealth to Peter
and Mary equally. Doug and Janelle also established a trust to provide benefits to their grandchildren, and a financial plan was prepared.
Getting the right help to address what can be
difficult and complex issues is critical, and the
sooner you start the process, the better.
WLW provides members of the Droughtmaster
Society the first consultation free of charge.
● Article prepared by Ian Mortley, WLW Group.
Phone 1300 937 724.
2014 SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
DROUGHTMASTER STORE
SHOW AND SALE
THURSDAY 10 APRIL, BIGGENDEN SALEYARDS
Quality Cattle, High Demand, Great Promotion
See website for details: www.burnettlr.com.au or www.droughtmaster.com.au
Contact: Lance Whitaker – Burnett Livestock & Realty – 4127 1277 or 0407 139901
Neil Donaldson – Droughtmaster Society – 0428 796 330
QC1639780
Great range of prizes supplied by our generous sponsors:
Queensland Country Life, Ken Mills Toyota, Virbac Animal Health,
Landmark Mundubbera, Engel Fridges, Heritage Seeds,
Goldmix Stock Feeds and many more.
A
PLAN to help drought-affected families
feed their horses is gaining traction.
The idea came to Stan Johnston, Craiglea Stud, Kenilworth, as he was driving back
from a race meet in Townsville.
“They interviewed a little girl on the radio and
she said her family owned a property outside
Prairie and it was getting very dry,” he said.
“Her dad has having to sell cattle and she had
two or three little ponies that were struggling in
the dry, so I thought we might be able to do
something.”
Mr Johnston touched base with the Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association,
Droughtmaster Stud Breeders Society and hay
merchant Peter Doyle, Kynoona Pastoral,
Grantham. Together they hatched a plan to
deliver 10 bales of hay to each affected pony or
horse, free of charge where possible.
“It is going to be a major task to get the hay
out there,” Mr Johnston said.
“Between the Droughtmaster Society and the
racing industry, we have a broad network of
trainers and owners who want to help get
hay out to these little girls who are desperate
to feed their ponies.”
Hay merchant Peter Doyle knows first hand
how forces of nature can have a devastating
impact on businesses and families.
Following the 2011 floods, no lucerne was
able to be grown in the Lockyer Valley for six
to seven months.
Mr Doyle had to travel as far afield as South
Australia to source hay and chaff for his business.
“A lot of people in western Queensland would
have donated money to the people of Grantham,”
he said. “Stan and I are now out talking to people to donate hay to support the kids out west.”
Mr Doyle said to transport a bale of hay from
the Lockyer Valley to Winton was $6 to $7, plus
the cost of freight and GST – prime lucerne in
the west could cost $16 to $18.
For a family struggling with drought, buying
hay is yet another hefty expense, and the support
of a stranger could make all the difference.
Mr Johnston and Mr Doyle have done two hay
runs since Christmas, with a third planned soon.
● If you are interested in donating hay, or need a helping
hand to feed your pony, email: craigleastud@bigpond.
com.au
THE Atherton Tableland played host again this
year to the 11th annual Droughtmaster Malanda
Female Sale on January 25. The registered female cattle offered were of a high standard, and
some lucky buyers picked up excellent heifers
and PTIC animals in an overall buyers’ market.
Commercial females and steers also went under
the hammer at value for money.
The top-priced registered Droughtmaster cow
with heifer calf at foot was Peter Bauer’s Warrina
Upperclass (P) D5 which sold at $1250.
Bidding was stiff for the high-class PTIC female,
offering superb value to buyers Peter and Ann
Woollett, Pegasus Park Stud, Nardoo Pastoral
Company.
The highest price for a registered unjoined
Droughtmaster heifer went to Barry and Barb
Shephard’s foundation stud Kanbrae, with
Kanbrae Fear (P) D5 sold at $1100 to
discerning buyers Kevin and Iris Lambert from
Mt Fisher Stud.
The best-priced pen of unjoined commercial
heifers were from Steve Rockley’s Dunmore
Droughtmaster Stud, and these were knocked
down to the day’s bulk buyer, Dave Dickson
of Tarzali, at $660. The-top priced pen of
13-month commercial steers from the Drury
family at Ravenshoe also went for good value at
$525 (about $1.60/kg).
QC1643438
Hay help plan
gains momentum
Malanda heifers
to $1250
Always proud of the
Droughtmaster breed
J
OANNA Stewart-Moore, wife of the late John
Stewart-Moore (Droughtmaster Society founding member, former president and former
patron) died peacefully on November 23 at
the age of 93.
Born in England, Joanna was 19 at the outbreak
of World War II and joined the ATS (Auxiliary
Territorial Service, the women’s army).
Her work was mostly driving trucks and
ambulances. This was definitely not fun during
the Blitz, but there were other aspects to the jobs.
While in the relative safety of Scotland, driving
officers around from one administrative assignment to another, she met young naval officer
John Stewart-Moore at a social evening given by
her troop.
John came from Ireland but had been born in
Australia, before his father put a manager on
Dunluce, his sheep station near Hughenden, and
returned to look after his father’s Irish farm.
Joanna married John in 1943. Daughter Carol
was born at the end of the war.
As John had been schooled at naval college,
he expected the navy to be his career.
When he was invalided out due to damage to
his eyes, decisions had to be made about the
future of his little family.
Blocks of land were available for ballot in
Queensland from Telemon, next door to Dunluce, and this was one of the alternatives considered.
Perhaps it was a sense of adventure that made
it more attractive than other propositions.
As it turned out, the war was probably the
best training Joanna could have had for life on
the station.
As an ATS driver, she had to do all servicing
and mechanical repairs, and this was often useful if something broke down.
Organising a troop of young women was not
all that different to running a station – ordering
supplies, dealing with staff, general household
maintenance, teaching correspondence lessons,
even long-distance driving.
The one thing that did bother her was communication, but even this was improving as
airmail started to replace sea mail.
Joanna wrote many letters home to her family,
and the ones that have been kept provide interesting insight to life in those times.
Ninian was born in the early 1950s but never
knew the joys of correspondence school.
John had more eye trouble and it was suggested
he avoid glare and dust, which is not easy in the
north-west, so again a manager was engaged and
the family moved south, to Toogoolawah.
Glare and dust probably weren’t very much
less in south-east Queensland, but John felt he
was following doctor’s orders, and here he was
able to indulge a growing passion for breeding
cattle.
Using a Santa Gertrudis bull and Brahmaninfused cows, Charraboon was one of the first
studs registered in the Droughtmaster Society.
Joanna Stewart-Moore sashes the grand champion Droughtmaster cow at the Royal Queensland Show in 1995.
Using a Santa Gertrudis
bull and Brahman-infused
cows, Charraboon was
one of the first studs
registered in the
Droughtmaster Society.
John always felt he’d had more to do with
building the society than the breed, which he
credited to other Droughtie pioneers.
Joanna enjoyed being closer to her neighbours
and having a kinder climate for her garden, and
as air travel became more accessible, she was
able to visit her family more often than long sea
voyages had allowed.
She also enjoyed being a member of the QCWA
and Red Cross, and latterly was a keen volunteer
at the Wesley Hospital Breast Clinic.
Another move came in the 1960s after Gordon
Ferguson bought Charraboon and the stud.
The Brisbane house on the river had a bigger
garden for Joanna, but no room for cattle.
Telemon Droughtmaster Stud took over where
Charraboon had left off, and continues to flourish.
Though it seemed impossible that the Brisbane
flood of 1974 would reach their house, it did,
but restoration went ahead with military precision.
After Ninian took over management of Dunluce
and Telemon, John and Joanna moved north too,
but sold the house and acquired a unit in Brisbane
as a second home. Joanna divided her time
between Brisbane and the north, and periodically
continued to visit her family overseas.
John finally retired, permanently this time, to
the Brisbane unit, and later they both moved to
Aveo (Forest Place) at Durack.
Joanna had a long and interesting life.
She had never been one for the cattle yard
(though she would help muster sheep in the
early days at Telemon), but she loved the cattle
and was extremely proud of the Droughtmaster breed.
QC1643210
BARWONGA
DROUGHTMASTERS
E: [email protected]
Ph/Fax (02) 6744 5289
1643202
Mob 0448 679 697
Inquiries welcome to
Neil and Margaret Warne
Ph: (02) 6663 7094
Mob: 0400 426 232
GRANDVIEW
MANCHESTER
Lorandale
Droughtmasters
DROUGHTMASTERS
DROUGHTMASTERS
BOONAH
Registered Stud No. 1024
Performance Under
Pressure Without
Chemicals
Contact: Ken Shaw
(07) 5447 7233
Mob: 0407 137 571
1642857
1643170
• Size • Muscling
• Temperament • Fertility
No Dip Spray or Drench since 1985
Think how much money we’ve saved!
Inquiries:
Allen Walker
Kilcoy and Tansey
Ph/Fax: (07) 5498 1053
Mobile 0411 725 030
Quality Droughtmasters exhibiting:
Dale & Lee Smith
Lot 2 Boyle Road
Belli Park Qld
Phone (07) 5447 9395
Mobile 0409 631 523
Fax (07) 5447 9265
[email protected]
1642898
Quiet Quality Stud and
Commercial Cattle for Sale
For Temperament,
Fertility & Growth
Wee Waa NSW 2388
Hugh Faris
Phone: (02) 6795 6149
Mob: 0428 956 149
[email protected]
Top
quality
& sound
genetics
Greg & Dianne Anderson
Inquiries welcome
Ph: (07) 5463 4328
0429 440 886
QC1643211
808 Oakey Creek Road
Piallaway, NSW 2342
Property Inspections Invited
1642869
BREEDING FOR
PERFORMANCE
AND FERTILITY
Stud No. 1095
Brett and Gordon Weick
1642873
‘HEITIKI’ DELUNGRA
(02) 6724 8225
(02) 6724 8362
Droughtmasters No. 307
1642876
H
IVAN OE
Cedardale
DROUGHTMASTERS
“THE PRIME REPRODUCER”
J.S., M.A. & T.S. LLOYD
1643211
BREEDERS BULLETIN BOARD
REDWING
ADELE JONES
117 GREENMOUNT NOBBY RD,
GREENMOUNT, Q 4359 VIA TOOWOOMBA
Inquiries Welcome
Droughtmaster Stud
1642877
STUD No
408
DEVELOPED IN AUSTRALIA
FOR
AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS
BRAND
EDDINGTON
DROUGHTMASTER
}
Augathella Qld • Stud No 1089
www.oakmorepark
droughtmasters.com.au
Inquiries
Ken & Kathy or Jim & Amelia Stower
Ph: (07) 4695 4145
Fax: (07) 4695 4180 Mobile 0427 154 323
MS 1231 Millmerran, Qld 4357
1508822
www.wingstar.com.au
1642886
Scott & Tracy Sewell
Phone (07) 4654 5107
1642881
RM .
Y07
Inquiries Welcome
DAVID & ROBYN McCABE
Mobile 0427 658 153
A/h: (07) 4665 8153
Estab. 1962
MARGARET C WILSON
PO Box 7, “The Valley”, Blackbutt, Qld 4306
P/F (07) 4163 0103
BULLS
AVAILABLE
& ACCREDITED
FEMALES
ALL ENQUIRIES WELCOME
ED.
1642875
Droughtmaster Stud
Roger Webber & Family
81 William Webber Road,
Cloyna, Qld 4605
P (07) 4168 6137
M 0477 274 432
E [email protected]
www.truvalle.com.au
TRUVALLE
1642829
No. 1524
A continuing tradition of
consistent quality
JULIA CREEK
Contact: Anthony Anderson
(07) 4746 7221
Mob: 0458 467 221
www.redwing.net.au
Chinchilla
1642845
• Docility
• Fertility
• Adaptability
Greg & Sharon Harms
Greenmount, Qld
Ph: (07) 4697 1007
Mobile: 0413 583 084
Our genetics fatten
off grass efficiently
BREFFNI
Droughtmasters
Stud # 1107 S.M. Harms & Sons Brand 4DI
Droughtmasters
Ph: (07) 4697 1257
1642891
Stud No. 1269
Contact:
Kylie Graham
“Farnham”
Taroom, Qld 4420
Ph: (07) 4627 8145
Mob: 0409 040 030
THE HOME OF
DROUGHTMASTERS
STUD No 22
1642867
Nick and Sarah Hughes
Farogan Road
Upper Kandanga 4570 QLD
Ph (07) 5488 4352
0400 709 124
www.farogan.net
1642863
Farogan Valley
Droughtmasters
Bred for Docility
with Quality
you can Trust
1642859
John, Carli or Don McConnel
Mt Brisbane
Phone (07) 5426 0169
ESK Qld 4312
Don (07) 5426 0285
Brand with a history...
Cattle with a future
1642872
www.mtbrisbane.com.au
facebook.com/mtbrisbane
1642865
ANCHORED
ON QUALITY
sters
Droughtma
Time for
young to
shine in
Gatton
Q
UALITY up and coming cattle of the
Droughtmaster breed are being prepared for the annual Gatton futurity on
March 1, at 8.30am.
Judge Shane Perry, Strathfield stud, Clermont
and associate judge Amy Williams, Barron Valley
stud, Malanda, will have their work cut out at
Gatton Showgrounds assessing a nominated 140
head from 31 exhibitors.
Again exhibitors will compete for many outstanding trophies donated by generous sponsors
and supporters.
The office staff will be on hand with plenty of
merchandise for sale, including many items on
special.
A canteen run by the Gatton Show Society
auxiliary will provide delicious options for lunch,
morning tea and breakfast for those who are
there bright and early.
Don’t forget to take a hat and a chair.
Regan Harms, Oakmore Park Droughtmasters, Greenmount, with Oakmore Karfy, who was the winner of the 7 to under 9 month
class at last year’s Gatton Droughtmaster Futurity. – Picture: SARAH COULTON.
1643212
BREEDERS BULLETIN BOARD
VALLEY
Droughtmaster Stud No. 31
Mac & Gayle Shann
‘Cantaur Park’
Clermont Qld 4721
PURNELL FAMILY
ROCKHAMPTON
2DP
>P.
www.cantaurpark.com.au
[email protected]
1642823
Try a KM DROUGHTMASTER
for extra GROWTH
“THEY WORK FOR YOU”
1642870
Visitors and inquiries welcome
Ph: (07) 4927 1104
Fax: (07) 4927 1166
Michael 0429 815 074
genetics suit requirements
for all markets
S
STUD & COMMERCIAL CATTLE
We welcomed a new sire,
Glenlands D Roebuck in 2013
p 07 4983 5246
m 0407 835 246
ZD1
Contact Hugh & Sherri Philp
“Wyena” Clermont QLD
(07) 4983 5022
Hugh – 0428 494 177
Sherri – 0428 835 577
[email protected]
1642884
Stud No. 963
Ken & Cindy Muller & Family
800 Valentine Plains Rd, Biloela
Ph: (07) 4992 2512
Mob: 0408 922 512
1642862
LAM O NT DRO UGHTMASTER STUD
Breeders’ Bulletin Board
Sam and Jane Barton Clermont
(07) 4985 6104 or 0428 856 104
Ph/Fax: (07) 4956 5833
Mobile: 0402 009 337
151 Upper Alligator Creek Rd,
Sarina, Qld 4737
Email: shardaledroughties @
bigpond.com
1642883
1642844
Stud 23
“A mountain
of beef...”
ADVERTISE YOUR DROUGHTMASTER STUD
FOR 2014
AUGUST – DECEMBER = $100 INC GST
BOOKING AND COPY BY
MONDAY 1ST JULY, 2014
STUD 1136
Graeme & Cathy
Westhead
Phone Margaret (07) 3826 8282
One-stop
website to
offer trading
platform
B
EEF producers will soon have a
‘one-stop’ website to source and
sell their Droughtmaster and
Droughtmaster-cross products in one
convenient location at a reasonable price.
Droughtmaster Australia CEO Neil
Donaldson said the website droughtmasteronlinetrader.com was designed to
allow commercial and stud buyers and
sellers to ‘shop’ in the one spot.
The website is accessible direct or
through the For Sale section of the
society website droughtmaster.com.au.
Features of the new Online Trader site
are:
● All ‘wanted’ listings are no charge.
● All ‘commercial classified’ listings will
be free for a three-month introductory
period and then charged at $20 per
listing. Listing is online until sold and
also posted on the ‘Droughtmaster
Online Trader’ Facebook page.
● All stud cattle classified listings will
be charged at $30 per listing for three
It is designed to
allow commercial
and stud buyers and
sellers to ‘shop’ in
the one spot.
months and also posted on the
Droughtmaster Online Trader Facebook
page.
● Droughtmaster Society-sponsored sale
logos will be listed on pages throughout
the website and linked to sale website.
● Private sale logos will also be listed
and linked back to their sale website for
a maximum of three months.
● Advertisers are allowed to submit up
to four photos with unlimited text,
drafted by the advertiser. Photos will
remain for a three-month period.
● For details contact the Droughtmaster
Society at [email protected]
DROUGHTMASTER EVENTS
- 2014 DROUGHTMASTER SALES
SPECIAL EVENTS
Futurity Show, Gatton ................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 March
Sth Qld Droughtmaster Store Cattle Show & Sale, Biggenden ....................................................................................................10 April
Droughtmaster Feature Show, Emerald ..........................................................................................................................................3 & 4 June
Royal Queensland Show Judging, Brisbane..................................................................................................................................... 7 August
Droughtmaster Society AGM, Brisbane ............................................................................................................................................. 7 August
1643213
Malanda Female Sale ............................................................................................................................................................................25 January
All Breeds Sale, Rockhampton ...............................................................................................................................................18 & 19 February
Vitwood Female Major Reduction, Gympie ....................................................................................................................................... 1 March
National Female Sale, Gympie ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 March
Billabong Heart of the Herd, Gracemere .................................................................................................................................10 & 11 March
Highlands Sale, Clermont .......................................................................................................................................................................14 March
Narngulu Bull Sale, WA.................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 April
Diamantina Sale, Winton.............................................................................................................................................................................16 May
RSVP Online Semen Sale............................................................................................................................................................................14 June
Vale View & High Country “Performance Plus” Bull & Female Sale, Toogoolawah ............................................................23 August
All Red Sale, Gracemere.........................................................................................................................................................................28 August
Vitwood Bull Showcase Sale, Susan River .......................................................................................................................................30 August
Heitiki Sale, Delungra ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4 September
Glen Fosslyn Sale, Roma .................................................................................................................................................................. 6 September
Capricorn Sale, Glenmorgan .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 September
Piggott Sale, Springsure ................................................................................................................................................................10 September
Valera Vale Sale, Augathella .........................................................................................................................................................12 September
National Bull Sale, Rockhampton..................................................................................................................................... 16 & 17 September
Clonlara Sale, Glenmorgan ...........................................................................................................................................................24 September
Billabong Sale, Moura ....................................................................................................................................................................25 September
Glenlands Sale, Bouldercombe ...................................................................................................................................................26 September
Wolfang Annual Sale, Longreach .....................................................................................................................................................10 October
Artesian Sale, Blackall ...........................................................................................................................................................................13 October
NQ Sale, Charters Towers ....................................................................................................................................................................20 October
Tropical Breeds Sale, Roma ................................................................................................................................................................24 October
CQ Spring Female Classic Sale, Emerald ......................................................................................................................................3 November
Monty Atkinson Genetics Sale, Charters Towers ................................................................................................................... 10 November
Central Reds Invitational Bull Sale, Emerald ............................................................................................................................ 17 November
QC1643225
QC1643129

Breeders` Bulletin Board

Transcription

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