FOR Riga Angus, the key to profitability lies in the performance and efficiency of its cow herd.
The stud, run by Vera and Ian Finger at Nillahcootie Park near Mansfield, focuses on a breeding program where cows are a moderate mature size, calve with ease and have adequate fat and milk with the ability to transmit growth.
Visual assessment is ongoing at the stud and Mrs Finger said visual assessment was integral to breeding structurally sound cattle with desired type and temperament.
Having supplied heifers to the Beef CRC Maternal Productivity research program, Riga Angus receives Maternal Journal annually which discusses current research and findings on the issues they are passionate about in their herd.
"This information has been invaluable in the continued development of our type of animal, something we believe is of great importance if commercial producers are to consider the multiplication of our seed stock through their herds," Mrs Finger said.
Riga Angus was originally established by Vera's father Juris (Geroge) Kakis in 1972 in the Yarra Valley.
"My father George and mother Irina arrived in Australia in 1947 as part of Arthur Calwell's Beautiful Balts immigration program," Mrs Finger said.
"They arrived with nothing other than the clothes on their backs."
The Kakises selected five females from the Swansea Stud at Swanpool in 1971 to begin the stud.
The stud expanded to 20 breeders in the late 1970s and by the 1980s featured 50 breeders.
The couple retired in 1982 and the stud moved to Mansfield where Vera, Ian and their two children Kate and Tim have continued Riga Angus's success.
Mr Kakis passed away in 2010 at age 93.
Currently, there are 300 breeding females and one of the main philosophies, developed by Mr Kakis and carried on by his daughter, is the importance of cost efficiency when producing beef.
"My dad recognised early on the importance of cost efficiency and this has been central to the development of the stud during the past 40 years," Mrs Finger said.
"Dad observed the easy doing ability of Angus cattle back inthe 1960s and recognised the value of producing beef at a minimum cost, particularly during times of stress and including the recent droughts."
Riga use AI and ET to accelerate genetic gain with Riga bulls used as a back-up.
ET has also been used to diversify the female gene pool with the females purchased from dispersals at Blackmore and The Grange.
"High performing females within our herd have also been flushed with exceptional result," Mrs Finger said.
"Our plan is to continue to flush our females which have been identified to perform well in our environment."
AI sires are selected to complement the Riga females and to enhance their commercially viable traits.
"We select our bulls for balance, structural integrity, high growth rates together with heavy muscling, carcase traits and high fertility," Mrs Finger said.
Their most recent sires include Te Mania Africa A217, Sitz New Design 458N, Mohnen Dynamite, B/R Future Direction 4268, TC Franklin 619 and Te Mania Estate E895.
Riga bulls are not fed a major ration but are instead managedto maintain healthy weight gains without excessive deposition offat.
Mrs Finger said that this ties in well with the studs current practice of selling during the year.
"Our bulls are presented in athletic working condition and, if managed correctly, will continue to grow well into their fourth and fifth year," she said.
"We receive excellent feedback on the longevity of our bulls with many starting their working lives at 14 months."
The Riga Angus stud will be celebrating its 40th birthday this year.
Mrs Finger said the name Riga was chosen by her father.
"Riga is the name of Latvia's capital and as such was chosen as the stud name."
