Top priced bull at the 2015 Limousin National is helping transform an apricot herd to commercially savvy black at Yarrowitch via Walcha.
Jeff and Kerrie Etheridge, Red Rock Limousins, purchased reserve senior champion Flemington Joker J33 for $14,500, predominantly because of his homozygous black and poll traits.
“Everyone wants black these days,” said Mr Etheridge. “We had clients asking us for black bulls so we had to look outside our bloodline and we wanted the best. The Limousin National gave us the chance to see a range of top genetics.”
The Etheridges were equally impressed with Joker’s low birthweight, a trait passed down from his sire Wulfs Spring Loaded 3158S.
Joker’s first progeny, 60 of them, are now on the ground, part of 490 head with 250 breeders on 2000ha at the eastern edge of the Tablelands.
Mr Etheridge says the bull’s low birth weight certainly contributed to a hassle free calf drop. Another 37 calves are expected by August, from first calf heifers held back from the bull after drought delayed development. But the two-part joining has made better use of Joker’s genetics. “These are all by first calf heifers and they are all usable thanks to that light birth weight,” said Mr Etheridge. “Most are good enough to use in our stud. It shows that good breeding is an excellent investment.”
Jeff has known Donna Robson, Flemington, a long time having shown pole Hereford along side her father many years ago and on more than a few occasions caught up with each other at a Limousin sale.
“It seemed Donna was always bidding against me, successfully, on females that I had researched and wanted for my stud,” said Jeff. “That reinforced in us that Flemington ideas were similar to our own. We’re a bit old school with similar ideas and breeding objectives so it made sense that we would buy these bulls.”
The Limousin breed attracted the Etheridge family in large part due to their intelligent mothering with remarkable milking ability.
“They are very family oriented,” said Mr Etheridge. “They sleep together. They are herd oriented and a smart animal, a bit like a Brahman in that way. Treated right they have a quiet temperament. We have 2000ha in only four paddocks with only a motorbike for mustering. If they were difficult cattle I wouldn’t be able to manage them.”
Of course measuring birth weight can be an issue when not only the mother but all the breeders in the herd gather to voice their disapproval. Limousin browse rather than gorge and as a result rarely bloat. Last winter was difficult after a dry summer and the herd spent nine months on the road just maintaining themselves.
