PHIL and Kerry Geehman sold the top-priced pen at last year's Ensay cattle sale and are hoping the good season in the high country will pay off again this year.
Their 83 Shorthorn-Hereford cross steers, at more than 400kg, returned a top of $785 each last year; and averaged $687 across the sale.
The couple's cattle are consistent performers, returning the top priced pen in 2012 ($935) and not far off the mark in 2013 ($750), behind Barry and Topsy Newcomen ($810) and Evan and Dot Newcomen ($790).
This year they will put up 80 steers again, out of their Shorthorn-Hereford cross cows joined to Hereford bulls.
The Shorthorn-Hereford-Hereford cross has been a satisfying cross-breed for more than 20 years for the couple, who run 200 self-replacing breeders at Ensay.
This year, being exceptional for pasture growth, has enabled them to wean the calves onto pasture and not worry about supplementary feeding.
For the past 20 years, the bloodlines of their cows have been based in Amberley Park Shorthorn genetics.
"The Amberley Park bloodlines have been very good and resulted in a large framed, good milking cow," said Mr Geehman.
"The cows put plenty of frame, weight and milk into their calves.
"The influence of the Shorthorn is very strong in our cows."
Mr Geehman joins an Amberley Park Shorthorn bull to Hereford cows to get the first cross, then joins that progeny to a Hereford bull to produce second-cross calves – all steers bred for the high country sale.
The Hereford influence, of big muscled beef, is gained from Bowmont Glendan Park Storm and Nunniong Drake bloodlines, both with birth weight estimated breeding values in excess of +5 and 600-day growth of +88 and +78 respectively.
The Geehmans bought Nunniong Drake for $22,000 in 2013 and have used Bowmont Glendan Park Storm bloodlines, purchasing sons and grandsons, for the past 14 years.
"If we like the heifer we keep her to breed," Mr Geehman said.
He has kept all the heifers from last year's drop, he was so impressed with them. It is their brothers – from joining with both Storm and Drake bulls – who will be in next month's sales.
Mr Geehman's cows calve down from early April.
"If you're going to calve for the sale, you might as well do it then," he said.
Mr Geehman supplementary feeds the cows with home-grown lucerne, cocksfoot and ryegrass hay through winter, to ensure they produce the milk the calves need; and to ensure their next cycling.
The past couple of seasons have been good ones in the high country and the old saying that three good years makes a difference rings true for the cattle breeders this year.
Mr Geehman's cattle, like many, are sleek, shiny and in good mettle.
But that is not enough for the Geehman enterprise.
When they yard-wean the calves in early January, they feed out silage in small bales twice a day and spend a lot of time each day moving among the animals.
This ensures they remain quiet, even when they go onto pasture, Mr Geehman said.
He ensures the weaners' paddocks are in good condition every year.
"We definitely plan to have good paddocks to wean them onto," Mr Geehman said.
"Even with dry summers, these paddocks are still good for the calves to keep growing on."
He also ensures good water is available to the calves.
"We aim to produce a calf with no setbacks from birth to weaning," Mr Geehman said.
"And we do the main work when we wean them.
"Our progeny have always proven as good as the bull we've picked out – both Bowmont or Nunniong.
"Once you've got onto something that works, I reckon we'll stick with it," Mr Geehman said.
