Southside super sire

A fifth-generation Pathfinder descendant, KCF Bennett Southside, was acquired via private treaty by ABS's US beef acquisition manager Ben Lohmann.

This week Mr Lohmann spoke at the 2015 beef sire update held at Total Livestock Genetics, Glenormiston, about US impact sires that were set to make waves on the Australian beef scene.

According to Mr Lohmann, Southside is turning heads in the US for its expected progeny differences (EPD), which include -0.8 for birthweight, +82 for weaning weight , +0.63 for marbling and +71.30 for weaning $Values.

"Southside on paper suggests he is a low birthweight, exceptional growth and high performer in one package," Mr Lohmann said.

"Compared to the (EPD) breed average, Southside will be a pound (0.45 kilograms) under breed average for birthweight and in the top one per cent for the breed in growth and performance – we'll see some good news come from him in Australia."

However, a more immediate trend is that of the progeny of Broken Bow, which have started to attract plenty of interest within Australia.

While Broken Bow's semen has been on the market for several years it is the bull's progeny that have started to affirm the sire's dramatic EPD growth figures of -0.8 for birthweight, +62 for weaning weight and +106 for yearling weight.

The 130 attendees of the ABS sire update visited Broken Bow's progeny on the ground at Murdeduke Angus, Winchelsea.

"He has gone through the discovery phase and now people who are seeing progeny at closer maturity are taking on a new appreciation for how good his performance is," Mr Lohmann said.

During his talk Mr Lohmann spoke of the contracted US herd which has seen cow numbers drop to 29 million and higher prices being paid for fat cattle.

"Because of these reduced (breeding) numbers, the US beef market is in unchartered territory right now," he said.

This has translated into improved prices at the US spring bull sales, which Mr Lohmann said saw commercial bull prices average $US7000-$US10,000.

"There were commercial customers who challenged anyone to $US10,000-$US15,000 on occasion," he said.

Meanwhile, ABS's Australian beef product manager Bill Cornell said Ardrossan Equator a241 and Te Mania Emperor E343 remained the most popular sires within the Australian Angus market.

Other trait leaders he forecast would make ripples in the market were Ardrossan Honour H255 and Sterita Park Black Jack J231.

The ABS sire updates are held annually, with an overseas trip every third year.

Mr Cornell said the events were educating the seedstock and commercial industry on sires and trait developments.

He said while Australian studs increased their use of science in production there was still some scepticism for stock with extreme-performance animals such as Broken Bow.

He said attendees viewed the bull's data before seeing its calves on the ground and older breeding heifers.

"The science told us he was going to grow – people can read the figures but nothing is as reinforcing as seeing it in production," Mr Cornell said.