Focus on top genetics pays off for the Cameron family

This will be the fourth year of selling for Chris and Annabelle Cameron, their children Hamish and Archie, and Mr Cameron's parents Ewen and Rosemary, who will offer their draft of 220 steers and 100 heifers at Hamilton in mid-January.

Based at Wallacedale, the Camerons currently run 440 Angus breeders and 5000 first-cross ewes for prime lamb production across a spread of three properties, totalling 1400 hectares.

RELATED READING:

Diversifying their operation further, they grow about 80ha of barley, oats and wheat for stock feed, make their own hay and silage and also run a hay contracting business.

"We used to do a lot of on-farm feedlotting, growing our steers out to about 500-550 kilograms liveweight and selling them to Coles but it just became too labour intensive," Mr Cameron said.

"I'm really happy we transitioned to selling in the weaner market for ease of management and the returns are certainly there, particularly at the moment."

Traditionally the family ran Hereford cattle, but Mr Cameron made the switch to pure Angus about 10 years ago due to the breed's market opportunities and available premiums.

High-performing bulls are sourced from Shane and Jodie Foster's Boonaroo stud, near Casterton, and Mr Cameron believes an investment in quality genetics is the key to lifting herd productivity.

More recently, bulls have also been introduced from the Hann family's Nampara Angus stud, Kingston, SA.

"In the last few years I have focused on buying quality bulls in the top end of the catalogue and we are definitely seeing the benefits," Mr Cameron said.

"Spend more money on your genetics and the results will come through in your calves, we are producing better-framed weaners with improved growth and weight gains."

Mr Cameron prefers to initially select bulls using a visual appraisal and then look at their estimated breeding values to help confirm his decision.

Significant emphasis is placed on structural soundness, particularly feet, carcase shape and growth.

Maternal traits including milking ability, calving ease and fertility are also important.

"I am not going for the big, stretchy bulls anymore as because we're coming off a Hereford base our cows are bigger-framed, so we're selecting a more compact bull," Mr Cameron said.

"We also aim to have low birth weight bulls for the heifers."

During the past few years, Mr Cameron has gradually moved his calving from March to February to maximise the calves' weight gain ahead of the weaner sales.

"Traditionally we were always March calvers, but are moving back into February to try and get another 20-30kg into the calves," he said.

"But sometimes the hot weather isn't that favourable for calving in February so it can be a juggle."

An annual artificial insemination program is carried out in late-April to join the heifers using selected low birth weight Boonaroo bulls.

"This not only allows me to use the latest Boonaroo genetics, it is really beneficial to quieten down the heifers," Mr Cameron said.

"They become very used to going through the yards and being handled regularly, they end up being really nice, quiet cows.

Mr Cameron aims to present his calves in the best possible condition.

All the calves are weaned in mid-December and supplemented with silage in small paddocks to help settle them down.

By the time they get to the sales, they will have received two 5-in-1 vaccinations, several oral drenches and trace element capsules.

The herd has also been European Union-accredited for many years which Mr Cameron said had provided good premiums along the way.

"We're really pleased with how the calves are looking; it was a cold, wet winter but it set us up for an excellent spring and they are really putting the weight on now," he said.

"I would anticipate the top end of the steers to be just over 400kg and the middle run about 350-360kg, I'm hoping our top lines of heifers will be 340-350kg."

The steers will be sold on January 10, and the heifers on January 13.