Producing quality Angus weaners is the focus for the Linke family, whose calves are in strong demand at the annual sales in Hamilton.
Brett and Angela Linke, and sons Jackson and Oscar, have been breeding Angus cattle for more than 20 years and currently run about 380 cows and 50-60 heifers as replacements on their two properties at Mt Napier and Gazette, totalling 688 hectares.
This year, they will offer 150 steer calves and 100 heifers, all April/May-drop and Mr Linke expects the weights to be similar to last season with the top draft of steers averaging about 395 kilograms.
He estimates the tops of the heifers should average about 370kg.
"We have been here 22 years and it's definitely the best spring we've ever had," he said.
"Although the autumn and winter was average, the amount of feed here at the moment is phenomenal."
According to Mr Linke, improving their female herd has been a key driver of their weaner success.
Starting with a mob of Black Baldy cows, they decided to start buying better quality females to upgrade their herd, sourcing a mix of joined cows and heifers from throughout western Victoria and south-east SA.
"The best decision we ever made was to source better quality females rather than trying to breed up from inferior cows, as you can improve your herd almost immediately," he said.
The Linke family aims to breed quiet, functional cattle with a tough constitution that produce healthy, fast-growing calves.
"It is a fine balance between getting your frame score and body shape to where you want to be," he said.
"In the last few years we have focused on breeding deeper-bodied cattle on a moderate frame that finish well and put weight on more quickly.
"I think it's a great trait when just prior to weaning you can look at the calves and they're not far off their mother's size."
The Linke family have been sourcing bulls from Pathfinder at Gazette for many years and more recently have introduced genetics from the Hann family's Nampara stud, Penola, SA.
Mr Linke prefers to select his bulls visually, looking at body shape, structural soundness, including feet and legs, and temperament.
"I use estimated breeding values as a final guide to reinforce my selection, looking at 200 and 400-day growth, fat depth and eye muscle area," he said.
"I'm also happy to select bulls with high birth weight figures of 5-7.
"I know there has been a big push towards using low birth weight bulls but I think it creates problems in the long-term as you are breeding females that can't handle bigger calves."
The family pride themselves on presenting their calves in the best possible condition.
All the calves are yard-weaned in mid-December for 2-3 days on silage and handled extensively.
By the time they get to the saleyards in January, they will have also received two doses of 5-in-1 vaccinations and an oral drench in spring.
"A big part of producing calves is to have quiet cattle, buyers want cattle that are properly weaned, that run off the truck and settle quickly," he said.
"When I'm doing cattle work, I like to be calm and take it slowly."
All the weaners will be finished on their Gazette block, which is in later country with plenty of strawberry clover flats.
Mr Linke said the weaner market suits their operation, with their calves attracting repeat buyers from both the local area and interstate.
"Last season we sold all our heifers because it was a tough spring and the tops made 342c/kg, which was a great result," he said.
