Growth, fertility and temperament in focus at Toora West

The pair have been at Toora West, near Glenthompson, for the past 50 years and their hard working efforts continue to pay off, with recent results from a Conargo feedlot in NSW confirming their breeding approach.

"Last year we had a line of 120 steers purchased for a long feed regime at Conargo and the feedlot manager told us that they consider 1.35-1.4 kilograms per day weight gain good and our cattle achieved 1.77kg/day," Mr Kimpton said.

"That means 100kg extra liveweight in that time, but most importantly, what we really loved was that they didn't eat any more feed to achieve those weights than the other cattle."

Originally the property, which now totals 2750 hectares, ran Merino sheep and grew cereal crops.

But a significant investment in water infrastructure, including bores, spring-fed dams, tanks and troughs, allowed the Kimpton family to make a transition to all cattle.

Although they started with a mix of breeds, including Hereford, Simmental and Angus, the decision was made to move to a pure black herd in the mid 1970s, to increase market opportunities.

This move also coincided with the gift of 24 stud Angus cows and six heifers from Mrs Kimpton's father, which formed the nucleus of their original herd.

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The couple currently take care of 1200 Angus breeders, including heifers, and aim to breed big, sound, quiet and functional cows which will produce calves with high growth rates.

They have also expanded their holdings with the purchase of a 768ha farm, The Cockatoo, in higher rainfall country near the coast at Broadwater, where the weaners are sent to be grown out.

"I like versatility in cattle and we have to be flexible, depending on the season," Mr Kimpton said.

"If necessary we can finish our cattle as vealers, with some of our weaners coming off their mothers weighing 500kg, but if people want heavier bodies our cattle will keep growing and putting on weight for longer."

The Kimptons are long-term clients of the Branson family's Banquet stud at Mortlake and have also used Raff bulls from King Island.

"The advantage of these bulls is that they are bigger, we buy our bulls on type and pedigree, we do look at the estimated breeding values (EBVs) but they are just averages," he said.

"I noticed very early on that the cattle we were selecting by eye tended to have a higher mature cow EBV weight than their 600-day weight which was totally unfashionable.

"Everyone is trying to breed smaller, compact cattle that have high growth calves, well I think you are working against nature.

"Older cows are also a big proportion of your income and if you have a 750-800kg cow it's going to make about $600 more than a 550kg cow.

"So a calf from a smaller cow has to make nearly $100 a head more each year to catch up on what you get at the end."

The Kimptons have purchased many top sires over the years, including Banquet National N278, which they paid $48,000 for at last year's autumn sale.

"Specially-selected cows are single-mated to the expensive stud sires which allows us to breed bulls for our own use that should be superior," Mr Kimpton said.

"We like a lovely, big rectangle-shaped cow which is wider behind than in front with a good, fine shoulder and an expressive head.

"Feet, legs and udder structure is very important and body length, as my grandfather would say 'the one hanging up that's closest to the ground is the most valuable' because it's the heaviest."

Low birthweight Rennylea bulls from the Corrigan family's stud at Culcairn, NSW, are used to join to the heifers, which calve down at two years of age.

Until recently the breeding program was split but the Kimpton's are phasing out the autumn calvers, so all the cattle will move to an August/September calving.

"We only have about 200 autumn calvers left, having all spring calvers will mean less feeding out as the calves will be on the ground while the flush of feed is going," they said.

"It also means if the season cuts out we can be weaning the calves at 6-7 months of age in late February/March which gives the cows sufficient recovery time before their next joining."

The mobs average about 60 head at joining and current conceptions rates are more than 90 per cent which the Kimptons are pleased with.

"Observation is very important, we are always driving around and checking the cattle, particularly during joining, and if something isn't right, we'll swap the bulls around.

Animal health and hygiene is a key management factor and in the leadup to calving, every cow receives a drench, 7-in-1 vaccination and will have her tail cut which they believe has significantly reduced the risk of infection and calf scours.

The spring calving mobs are weaned from the end of March onwards at an average weight of 300kg plus, while the autumn calving mobs are weaned in December and are generally heavier, weighing about 350-380kg.

The calves are all yard-weaned for 5-7 days and handled extensively in the yards and adjacent small paddocks on foot and with dogs. The bull calves are also weighed to monitor their growth.

"We like to call it no stress stock handling, they have to respect the dogs and they become very quiet and well-handled."

All the weaner steers and unjoined heifers are moved to the Broadwater property to be finished.

The Kimptons will look at marketing the steers from the following April onwards, selling them through the Western Victoria Livestock Exchange at Mortlake or the Warrnambool saleyards.

The steers are in "genuine store condition" averaging about 400-460kg liveweight at 18-20 months of age.

The heifer portion is classed with a focus on frame size, structure, temperament and body length. About 200-250 heifers are kept each year at Toora West.

Quality lines of surplus heifers for breeding are sold through Mortlake in the following May and are keenly sought by repeat buyers.