IN traditional Angus territory in south-west Victoria, Chris Koch-Jones is willing to buck the trend and introduce a profitable SimmAngus option that is turning heads across the world.
The inspiration for the young eight year-old operation stemmed from disappointment with Angus structure and temperament, according to Ms Koch-Jones who invested in renown American Black Simmental bull Hooks Majestic in 2007 which was the launching pad for Chelma SimmAngus Stud at Portland.
The year will mark the stud's inaugural entry in Beef Week, where Ms Koch-Jones hopes to spread news on their breeding achievements that have exceeded expectations in "leaps and bounds".
Ms Koch-Jones' dad Carl got extremely sick in 2001 sparking a need to transition their Greenwall dairy into a new farming operation. Two years in limbo, Ms Koch-Jones invested in 30 Angus cows and calves-at-foot that were artificially inseminated with Hooks Majestic semen from America.
Troubled with the close line-breeding of some Australian cattle, Ms Koch-Jones hoped the introduction of new American genetics would improve compromised fertility.
The stud pregnancy tests 90 Angus and SimmAngus heifers and cows annually which were due to calve from February at Chelma – a 60 hectare property based at Greenwall and Gorae West.
"We are always 10 years behind the US and the Simmental cross Angus (SimmAngus) is absolutely huge over there, but there are myths here about their temperament and calving ease," Ms Koch-Jones said. "The SimmAngus females have been so successful that we will eventually go mostly SimmAngus and keep a core herd of registered Angus cows for breeding."
Fertility with 100 per cent in-calf following drought conditions in autumn as well as carcase quality that had been sought after by South Australian feedlots, has supported the young operation's breeding objectives.
Ms Koch-Jones said, while there were challenges ahead penetrating the traditional commercial market in western Victoria, feedlots were buying what she was selling.
"The greatest market challenge will be convincing people that they're a breed worth considering," she said.
"And when we sell our weaners they're always front row and bought by the lot feeders at the Mount Gambier sale.
"Feeders have already shown ample interest in the sought-after progeny, it is the challenge of tradition we are competing with."
Since 2008, Chelma has had to assist with two SimmAngus births including a breach and a gentle assist.
"We are also chasing that maternal calving ease through their shape because I'd rather a 40 kilogram birthing average than something smaller and just hope it grows," Ms Koch-Jones said.
Their breakthroughs have been attributed to semen investment which started with Hooks Majestic and TNT Tutition before discovering Western Australian based Bonnydale.
In 2010 Chelma purchased semen shares in two pure bred SimmAngus known as Bonnydale Jeronimo and Bonnydale Grandslam, that now have bull calves in the stud.
The following year Ms Koch-Jones bought a further two shares in the two top-priced pure black Simmental bulls, Bonnydale Knoxville who at 12 months-old weighed 626kg, had EMA 105 square centimetres, 5 RIB FAT and 5 millimetres rump fat and IMF 5.1, which Ms Koch-Jones said was enough to rival any western Victorian cattle figures.
The bull, which is now part of the stud's dominant bloodlines was grandson to well-known US pure black Simmental CNS Dream On, and out of dam GLS S82 – an imported embryo donor from the US.
"I prefer a bigger animal with length and I'm not interested in the low birth-weight business because what other breed do you use a low birth-weight? It should be about structural correctness rather than this inconsistent growth," Ms Koch-Jones said.
"I'm not afraid to use bigger birth-weight bulls because it comes down to again that structural correctness and the females capacity to give birth to her progeny."
The hyrbrid vigour cross could produce an extra 30kg resulting in about $60 per head with the extra weight, according to Ms Koch-Jones who said, in many cases, could be the profit for the commercial operation.
"It costs you as much to run good cattle as it does to run bad, so why wouldn't you try and run a good product," she said.
However, it has not always been triumphant wins for the stud which was almost crippled by the 2006 drought.
The operation focuses on growing grass, which Ms Koch-Jones said was all about livestock "nutrition, nutrition, nutrition".
Last year was another challenging spring which resulted in only 17 silage rolls cut across the property before being rewarded with a bumper spring this year where the property cut 106 rolls of silage and 89 of hay.
Next year is already looking like a busy time as demand pushes their operation's numbers up, while they also undertake a trial with a Simmental bull purchased for $4400 in September at the Coolanabull sale, that will go over 30 Angus cows.