Gairnshiel Shorthorn Stud, established in 1962, is run by stud principal Leigh Williamson and his family. They run 200 cattle and sell 30 bulls a year. Mr Williamson uses AI extensively to get the best genetics available. They focus on achieveing a good carcas and easy carving. They sell to a small number of long term clients including Bruce Ross. Dianne and Clive Henderson recently sold Short Horn Heiffer bred with Gairnshiel bull for the record price of $1710 each at Barnawartha, due to the demand for quality genetics and high cattle prices.
Glengyron Shorthorn stud principal Ken Tippet and daughter Hannah Macartney pride themselves in their 50 breeders, with genetics that have been in their family since 1899. The family sell pure Shorthorns to be cross bred. Shorthorn are in high demand for their juiciness, good milking, mothering ability and while affected by the dry season, the family say that extremely high cattle prices have counteracted the impacts of drought-like conditions.
Stud principal Carl Haintz has run Loughlin Park since 2008. His aim has been to produce low maintenance, high growth, correct quality animals. “We’re trying our best to defeat the drought at the moment,” Mr Haintz said. Like other farmers he has sold stock to compensate for the poor conditions and take advantage of the high prices.
Hetherington Park stud principal Phillip Gay runs a head of 50 cows and shares bulls to ensure he can afford the best genetics. The stud is celebrating its 25th year this year and Mr Gay prides himself on using quality genetics. The Poll Hereford breeder said Herefords were increasingly popular, particularly as a cross breed. “The hybrid vigor outperforms a pure bred,” Mr Gay said.
Brothers Brian and Wayne Mobbs left the petroleum business to pursue the cattle industry in the early 1990’s and establish High Spa Angus. They run around 800 head of Angus Cattle. They pursued that breed because it was the most profitable. They enjoyed a steady flow of interest from buyers during beef week.
David and Scott McKay of Marschay Stud run 600 head of Shorthorn cattle out of properties in Dean and Gringegalgona . They pride themselves in cattle with a 400 day weight and mid maturity.Scott says he has never seen cattle prices as high are they are now. “We thought it was very good six to eight months ago – but now it is very rewarding”.
Tarrawarra, near Yarra Glen, was offering a limited number of selected heifers and young bulls, for Beef Week. Jacquelynn Feagan said Tarrawarra was founded in 2010 and had been putting cattle into a range of markets.“They are commercially viable markets, so you can – like us – do direct beef sales, as they are a fantastic breed for that type of operation,” Ms Feagan said. “They are also good for small properties, they are not as hard on the ground, fences or pastures, and are easier to manage on a smaller acreage.” Bulls were being sold into commercial operations, with graziers seeking to maximise their herds with fast finishing animals, while moderating the frame score.“Some of our bulls have gone up to New South Wales, to a big station commercial station up there – they are trying to get something that will finish on grass.”
The increased interest in the French breed, the Blonde d’Aquitaine, has resulted in Elite, Castella, having to reduce this year’s Beef Week offering. Principal Drew Phillips said feedlotters, in particular, were looking for the breed. “The response has been fantastic, I’ve only got young animals to offer this year, we are struggling for anything with a bit of size,” Mr Phillips said. Blonde d’Aquitaine bulls were being used over Angus and Herefords, “to put a bit more meat on the ground,” he said. “It’s been taking its time to get into the market, everyone’s ‘black’ at the moment, but those who are buying and trying them in cross breeding are having excellent results.” “As the breed gets out there, it’s not just a fallacy they do have faster growth, more muscling and less fat.”
Glenview Park Simmentals, Glenburn, stud principal Gina Ryan says sticking with the tried and true has paid dividends for her stud operation. “They are traditional old German, Swiss and Scottish right through, there are no extras put in- they go right back to the original breed,” Ms Ryan said. “There are no extra’s put in, no Canadian, no American, they go right back to the original breed – there are hundreds of years of breeding in these cattle, because my husband always said ‘keep it there, don’t cross breed them with another line’.” Stud bulls were going into commercial herds, due to their hybrid vigour. “I have inquiries all year around, due to the hybrid vigour, the temperament, the longevity, the milking ability of the cows - I have got cows down there that are 13 years old, and they are still breeding.” She said Simmentals were going over Angus and Hereford heifers and producing market topping cattle. “Three or four years ago, we put them into a 1000 cow herd, the hybrid vigour was unbelievable,” Ms Ryan said.
Anvil Angus, Alexandra, stud principal Ian Bates says the RASV Heifer Challenge is a valuable part of Beef Week, which he describes as a “show and tell” for studs. “It’s a really good chance, on open day, to show what you are doing with the females and how they present – some people like to come and see the heifers because they are interested in looking at what the cows are, behind the bulls they are interested in,” Mr Bates said. Among the progeny of new sires on display were Mohnen South Dakota, Boonaroo Glenelg and Millah Murrah Equator sons. “In the past, when we have done that, we have had other studs – interested in those types of genetics – drop in and have a look, to see what those bulls are doing for us and if they are going to use them themselves. “It’s always been a good reason for us to have a chat, with them.”
Shrublands, Thornton, principal Caitlin Williams has used genetics from top North Dakota, America, bull Ellingsen Guaranteed to improve the Angus side of the business. This year, Ms Williams said she was concentrating on the black cattle, after previously showcasing her British Whites. “He’s in the top one per cent of the breed for 600, 400 and 200 day carcase figures, he’s an absolute powerhouse, so their numbers have shot through the roof,” Ms Williams said. “We AI’d to him and that’s really given that growth and milk, sort of everything we aimed to do, this breeding season.” There was still interest in the British Whites, three of which would be put up for sale this year. “People are a little bit curious,” she said. “They are good looking bulls; I’m running one with the rest of the (Angus) herd, to see how he breeds out. “The focus is on Angus, its all about black at the moment.”
The tough season around Mansfield has meant early weaning for Riga Angus, as the stud decided to look after its females, principal Vera Finger said. “We’ve decided to have a yearling bull sale, because we have sold out of all our older bulls,” Ms Finger said. “We’ve invested time in growing out our bulls correctly, for work as yearlings, and we’ve had a steady stream of people through, with lots of positive feedback, on that concept, particularly on presentation and temperament. “I’ve been asked several times ‘do we sleep with the bulls?” Ms Finger said she was looking forward to the autumn break. “Beef prices are very strong, and that’s going to be maintained for some time, it’s very, very encouraging for our industry and exciting to be involved in breeding genetics, for the future.”
Chris Goddard’s Dysart Angus heifers appealed to a group of Chinese buyers recently, and were on show at his property ahead of being shipped out of Adelaide in February. A group of 18-month-old bulls were also up for inspection, comprising about half of what the Dysart principal will sell this year. He is pictured with Daughter-in-law Juliana Goddard and Bruce Bradbury Tatura, who was looking for a thick-bodied bull with good butt-shape.
Jeff Smith was enjoying the first “bearable” day weather-wise at their Andtravern Hereford/Poll Hereford Lancefield property during Beef Week in recent years. Despite the bad season in central ro North-East Victoria people were still optimistic, mostly in part to the bumper beef prices Mr Smith said. He and daughter Erin Waters were keenly awaiting the first drop of calves from their new bull Yarrandabbie Jack Henry, which they saw at Beef Week last year and bought after the Hereford National.
Double O Seven’s John Carter is looking to breed Angus bulls that aren’t too big, have a lot of early weight gain and thick through the body to suit his local commercial clients.He has a 30-head breeding herd at his Mickleham property, which the season had been tough last year and continuing through summer. Most of his sale bulls this year were by Ardrossen Equator A241.
Lynn Vearing’s 140-head Glen Goulburn Hereford breeding herd is almost hidden on the Melbourne city fringe, but that hasn’t stopped he and wife Pam topping sales at major selling centres like Yea and Pakenham recently. “We gauge our stud cattle on how we sell commercially,” Mr Vearing said, indicating signs were good at Glen Goulburn. Mr Vearing places a lot of emphasis on the temperament of his bulls, and the proof was in the pudding.