Stock & Land

Clay Gully Simmentals bred tough

QUALITY: Clay Gully Simmentals has produced functional, well-muscled, soft and easy-doing cattle for the past four decades.
QUALITY: Clay Gully Simmentals has produced functional, well-muscled, soft and easy-doing cattle for the past four decades.

This article is advertiser content for Clay Gully Simmentals.

FOR 40 years the Laycock family of Esk, Qld, have been dedicated to breeding functional, easy-doing Simmental cattle in the ticky lantana country of the State's south-east.

Now, commercial producers will see for themselves some of Qld's best and most-adaptable sires at the Clay Gully Simmental bull sale being held next month.

Stud principal Gareth Laycock said 70 Simmental and Simbra bulls would be on offer at this year's sale at CQLX Gracemere, Rockhampton, on August 30.

"We have an impressive line-up of bulls from some exciting sires including the ever-renowned Bokara Freightliner, Lavarta Last Man Standing and the homebred Clay Gully Limited Edition," Mr Laycock said.

TOP SIRE: Clay Gully Qld Storm, Lot 1, presents for next month's Clay Gully Simmental bull sale with extra length and a perfect QLD skin type.
TOP SIRE: Clay Gully Qld Storm, Lot 1, presents for next month's Clay Gully Simmental bull sale with extra length and a perfect QLD skin type.

"Our aim is to produce functional, well-muscled, soft and easy-doing cattle and these sires have made a big impact on our herd."

The entire draft is 100 per cent Qld-born and bred from the tough, coastal lantana that makes up the Laycock family's holdings in South East Qld.

It's this harsh environment that is key to the quality and versatility of the Clay Gully sires.

"Because our cattle are bred here, our clients can have the confidence that they'll handle the toughest of conditions," Mr Laycock said.

"Clay Gully genetics have done the job in central and northern Qld for the past 40 years and our very first clients are still purchasing bulls today."

Clay Gully Simmental Stud was founded in 1981 by Gareth's grandparents Rob and Viv Laycock, using Dunmore bloodlines and purebred females imported from New Zealand.

In 1989 the Laycocks purchased Kipper, a 900-acre property located 20 kilometres west of Esk and comprising a mixture of ticky spear grass and vine scrub country.

POWER AND PUNCH: Clay Gully Quasom, Lot 3, brings with him extra long and heavy bone and a smooth, sleek skin type.
POWER AND PUNCH: Clay Gully Quasom, Lot 3, brings with him extra long and heavy bone and a smooth, sleek skin type.

After completing his university studies in agriculture in 2013, Mr Laycock returned to work alongside his grandparents and his uncle Darren Laycock.

Mr Laycock also operates Biarra Valley Simmentals with his partner Emily Brassington.

Mr Laycock said he was most proud of the reputation his grandparents had established with Clay Gully Simmentals.

"It's incredible the reputation they've been able to build up," he said.

"It's a testament to the quality and exceptional results they've achieved."

Those results have been highlighted in the recognition Clay Gully has received in the show ring, including seven grand champion titles at EKKA and numerous broad ribbons at beef expos and feature shows.

Like many livestock producers, the stud has welcomed the good season that has followed drought conditions.

Mr Laycock said in recent years, Clay Gully had focused particularly on increasing its polled genetics.

A SIRE'S PRESENCE: The easy-doing, fleshy young Clay Gully Quade (P), Lot 4, is ready to turn heads at the sale.
A SIRE'S PRESENCE: The easy-doing, fleshy young Clay Gully Quade (P), Lot 4, is ready to turn heads at the sale.

"We've purchased several polled sires from across Australia," he said.

"We like polled cattle, but we've also worked to maintain the qualities of a good horned animal - that being length, bone and carcase.

"We've also focused on smooth, sleek Qld skin types and good temperaments.

The Clay Gully Simmental bull sale will be held on August 30 at CQLX Gracemere, Rockhampton from 11 am.

The event will be streamed online with bidding via StockLive for those unable to attend the physical sale. Bulls will be available for inspection at CQLX on the day prior to the sale, or at any time at Kipper, Esk.

All bulls will be semen tested and muscle scanned, and vaccinated with 3 germ blood, 7in1, and botulism and three-day sickness vaccines prior to the sale.

Clay Gully Simmentals will once again be offering free delivery of purchased bulls to major saleyards across Qld.