Debuting in the NSW Beef Spectacular Feedback Trial this year, the Stonestreet family of CP. & PG. Stonestreet, Barry, has received a well-deserved 10th place overall, a result that is attributable to their focus on producing a quality product.
A purebred self-replacing Angus operation based on Karoo bloodlines, and more recently Landfall, Trish and Chris Stonestreet along with their son Rory and his wife Pip, joined 700 females to calve in the spring.
"We have bought another property and are building our herd up," Chris said.
They are aiming to increase their numbers by keeping 100 per cent of their females, joining them and then doing the first cull at pregnancy testing which will also help them ensure good fertility.
"Once we reach the target number, we will look at shortening up the time bulls go in for, or look at AI (artificial insemination) in the future," they said.
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They also get the foetus aged so they know what will calve early or late, and have the option to sell the late calvers.
First introduced to the trial through their family friends and previous competition winners, the Tait family of Tait Pastoral Company, Mandurama, the Stonestreets hoped to get feedback on their steer's performance and benchmark where they sit compared to others.
"Previously we had only got induction feedback, not carcase," Chris said.
The Stonestreets sell direct to feedlots therefore believe it is important to have a gauge on how they will go on and perform.
"We try to get them as close to 500 kilograms, without going over the top, which can be difficult especially with the more grass about that they can eat," they said.
They entered one team in the trial, selecting the 10 heaviest and then walking through them to find the best looking steers.
Ranking ninth in feedlot performance with 205 points, the Stonestreet steers had an average daily gain of 1.9 kilograms per head per day with one individual putting on 2.3kg/day.
Their team placed fifth in the carcase section on 383.5 points, with their best carcase receiving 86 points from the 110 possible. They had an average MSA Index of 62.738, and all but one steer had a marble score of two and qualified for the Riverine Premium Beef brand.
