2 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST February 2014 - c.cld.pwc.cld.pw/30/articles/resources/1402-DigestPDF.pdf ·...

2 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST February 2014

QC1643132

4 President’s message

4 Looking Ahead

6 Droughties hold on in Quilpie drought

14 Mulga boost at Morven

15 National Female Sale Preview

20 Highland sale with a big heart

22 Pointer to breed’s future

25 Bull power project gets results

28 West Moreton’s top-class cattle

30 The A-Z of EBVs

34 Droughties backbone at Comet

37 Hay help plan gains momentum

41 Time for young to shine at Gatton

CONTENTSFebruary 2014

INSIDE12

AUGUST2014 DIGEST DEADLINESAdvertising bookings: July 14

Advertising copy: July 21

28

6

February 2014 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST 3

22

LIKE most people in the cattle industry at the moment, I’m focused on keeping cattle in

the best condition possible. Unfortunately rain seems a long

way away and it feels as if it never wants to rain again.

Fortunately there has never been a drought that hasn’t broken ... yet!

Hayden Walker is predicting good rain for February, so fingers crossed.

From the society’s perspective, things were very quiet over the festive period.

Fortunately there were some live export orders floating about and some producers were lucky enough to benefit from them.

As we approach the early bull selling season, there is indeed con-cern in the industry.

Rain fixes most things, so let’s pray for a good general break in the season, as soon as possible.

Late in 2013 I travelled to the far

northern zone to attend the zone meeting, which was well attended.

While there I had the honour of presenting to the family of the late Fred Gallo the life membership which the board had awarded to Fred posthumously.

Fred’s family were deeply moved and proud to accept the award bestowed on Fred.

I am of the opinion too many members’ hard work goes unnoticed and unrewarded.

The Droughtmaster breed of cat-tle wouldn’t be where it is today if not for the dedication and hard slog by our forefathers.

Despite the difficult seasons and financial environment, we are rea-sonably optimistic that we remain on track to meet our budget.

To ensure we take advantage of the available genetics during these tough economic times the board offered members the opportunity to reactivate females at no cost.

The response to this has been quite heartening.

We are seeking the names of people suitable for adding to our judge’s panel.

Anyone who knows of any worthy judges or associates, please send their names into the society.

I would like to remind everyone that Beef 2015 is fast approaching and I hope, that as in the past, Droughtmasters will be well represented.

THE pioneer breeders who developed Droughtmasters designed the breed to handle

Australia’s regular droughts, but I doubt they could have imagined anything like the current prolonged drought conditions across such a wide area.

Unfortunately our prayers for the drought to break have, so far gone unanswered for many people.

As we go to press there is some monsoonal improvement in the north of Australia and there is still time for the rains to come and generate feed.

I am very aware of the dire cir-cumstances faced by many beef producers and my heartfelt best wishes go out to them all.

In some areas, this is the worst drought in history and coupled with prolonged spells of extreme tem-peratures, many people need all the encouragement and support we can give.

The emotional stress in these situations is so often overlooked, so I encourage everyone to make a pledge to call at least one affected beef producer and offer support and encouragement or even just a ‘friendly ear’.

Most of us can do nothing to help in a physical or financial way, but

sometimes people just need to know that other people care about them. Please ring someone now – don’t wait.

A notable example of encourage-ment and support is the Johnston family from Craiglea Stud, who organised and coordinated the char-ity drive Hay for Kids’ Ponies in Drought Areas.

They have done two trips so far and are about to set off on a third delivery into the St George/Cunnamulla area.

Stan, Wade and Jason along with their families are the driving force, with great support from many other helpers and donors along the way.

Donations to this worthy cause can be made to ANZ BSB 014 669, Account 286804759.

While these hay deliveries are primarily for the benefit of the kids’ ponies, the emotional benefit to the families receiving the hay is just as important.

The prospects for everyone in 2014 are at the mercy of the season, but stud breeders have to keep breeding bulls for future sales, so they continue to invest in quality genetics knowing that eventually the season will turn around.

When supply outweighs demand, buyers are always going to select the best quality genetics first, so we encourage studmasters to continue to breed from the best available genetics.

We look forward with great anticipation to a great 2014 with live export markets continuing to move ahead, beef sales to China forecast to continue to grow and a predicted low Australian dollar helping us in many markets.

All are very positive signs, which will help tremendously when it finally rains. I wish everyone all the very best for 2014 and pray the good seasons return soon and we get a solid, long run of good seasons.

Prospects down to weatherLOOKINGAHEADNeil Donaldson CEO

Your society is with you in tough timesDROUGHTMASTER STUD BREEDERS’

SOCIETYACN 010 129 68340 Thorn Street,Ipswich, QLD 4305Phone: (07) 3281 0056Fax: (07) 3281 7957Email: [email protected]: www.droughtmaster.com.au

PATRONAudrey PerryBOARDPRESIDENTGreg Edwards (07) 4983 3187VICE-PRESIDENTMichael Flynn (07) 4654 5223DIRECTORS Far Northern ZoneJeff Williams 0418 755 279Northern ZoneVacantCentral ZoneJohn Baccon (07) 4983 1827South East ZoneSteve Pickering (07) 4168 6249Southern ZoneMichael Flynn (07) 4654 5223Far Southern ZoneTimothy Lloyd (02) 6724 8362Western ZoneVacantNationalGreg Edwards (07) 4983 3187Brett Warne (07) 4626 7179Douglas Miles (07) 4934 7645SPECIAL SKILLS DIRECTORDaniel Green (02) 6663 3172CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERNeil Donaldson 0428 796 330OFFICE MANAGER Samantha Ryan REGISTRAR Carmel Bell ACCOUNTS Toni FranklinADMINISTRATION Leigh EleisonTECHNICAL OFFICER Paul Williams 0427 018 982DIGEST PRODUCTIONEditor: Brad CooperEditorial & AdvertisingFairfax Agricultural Media QueenslandPO Box 586, Cleveland 4163Phone: (07) 3826 8200Fax: (07) 3821 1236

The opinions expressed in the Droughtmaster Digest are not necessarily the opinions of the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders Society Ltd, or of Fairfax Agricultural Media Queensland. This publication is protected by copyright and articles or photo graphs may not be used without authorisation.

OUR COVER

PRESIDENT’SMESSAGEGreg Edwards

Rain fixes most things, so let’s pray for a good general break.

As we go to press ... there is still time for

the rains to come and

generate feed.

4 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST FEBRUARY 2014

By PENELOPE ARTHUR

IT’S been a long time since substantial rain fell on Stewart and Tracy Sargent’s 49,000-hectare beef property, Granville, 65 kilome-

tres north of Quilpie.With just 150 millimetres of their 325mm

average annual recorded in 2013, the Sargents are certainly living in one of the region’s hardest hit by the current drought.

But the ability of their Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster-cross herd to withstand the dry conditions has, at least, been some comfort to the Sargents.

“Dad and I just had a drive around this morn-ing and they actually look okay,” Stewart said.

● To p8

Droughties hold on in Quilpie

drought 6 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST February 2014

Droughtmaster-crosscattle on Granville. The

Sargent family runs 1700 head of Droughtmasters,

including 750 breeders, and4500 Merino sheep on

Granville.

Keeping the herd in the best condition possible during a drought is paramount to Stewart Sargent,who praises the Droughtmaster’s performance during tough times.

The Droughtmastersare just good, hardy

cattle. They do well in this country.


QC1643126

● From p6

“The bulls are still fat and cows are all bulling again which is amazing. It goes to show that if you wean hard enough in this country and get the calves off quick they will start joining again straight away.”

The Sargent family runs 1700 head of Droughtmasters, including 750 breeders, and 4500 Merino sheep on Granville.

The property features large tracts of mulga that has again proved invaluable during this drought.

“After two big years in a row in 2011 and the start of 2012 we have plenty of Mulga and a lot of it is low so we haven’t pushed that much at all yet,” Stewart said.

The Sargents were also supplementing their sheep and cattle with a urea based dry lick but switched to a Beachport liquid mineral supple-ment in November to cut costs.

“We have gone from spending $800 a week on dry lick to $800 for the past six weeks,” Stewart said. “It seems to be working really well.

“The cattle and sheep both seem to be holding condition on it. I like that all the stock are getting it, rather than lick where you can have a situation where some animals are getting most of it. We’re delighted to have found it.”

The liquid sup plement is administered through water troughs but doesn’t require some of the expensive dosing equipment necessary for other water medication systems.

“You buy the dosing caps and they just screw onto the drums which you leave in the water trough and the supple-ment drips out,” Stewart said. “It makes the water go a brown colour but the

stock don’t seem to mind that at all.”Keeping the herd in the best condition pos-

sible during a drought is paramount to Stewart.He leaves his bulls in all year round and usu-

ally does two musters a year to wean and brand calves, aiming to turn the progeny off at about 18 months. “We like to sell locally but if we can’t our steers and cull heifers are generally sold through the Dalby Saleyards,” he said.

Stewart also has his own pregnancy scanning equipment which he uses to cull empty cows at

mustering.“Anything that doesn’t have a calf

we put on the scanner and if she is empty she goes,” he said.

“We’ve been running Drought-masters here for over 20 years and have been happy with our

fertility during that time. “The Droughtmasters are just

good, hardy cattle. They do well in this country.”

Stewart and Tracy have been busy trying to develop Granville in recent

years but say the drought has forced them to delay plans to continue expanding their piped water system across the property.

With the help of their three children, Harry, Eliza and Elliott, the pair installed 30km of poly pipe through the middle of their property after the last drought, to improve their water security.

“That has helped a huge amount during this drought,” Stewart said.

“We don’t have a lot of surface water that keeps for very long, so the piped water is very impor-tant to us.”

Stewart has also started installing trap yards across Granville to save on mustering costs.

“We usually muster with a plane and a chop-per, but it’s getting too expensive,” he said.

“I have seen trap yards work well on other properties and our place is well suited to the idea.

“We have had to delay that too but we’ll get it done gradually over the next few years.

“It will make it easier and cheaper to muster and we will be able to do it more often if we need to, like when it gets dry.”


Keys to surviving Granville’s big dry

Stewart Sargentlooks over his

Droughtmaster-cross herd on

Granville.


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ANOTHER high-quality line-up of vendor-bred females was offered at the final Cream of the Crop registered Droughtmaster fe -

male sale at Coolabunia on November 30.The 10th and final sale of its kind averaged

$1410, with heavy rain giving buyers an extra incentive to add to their herds.

Topping the overall sale at $3100 was Min-lacowie Bettina 7884 (P) from the Spann family, Minlacowie, Goovigen, and was purchased by Joshua Heck, Glastonbury, on behalf of PBR Prop erties, Wirraway, Beaudesert.

Mr Heck said the young heifer was purchased to add to the genetic base of the herd, which the business started earlier in the year.

“We’re really focusing more on quality rather than quantity, and she’ll be grown out on im -proved pasture at Beaudesert and be joined next year – possibly added into the AI program later down the track,” he said.

“The showing of cattle was fantastic this year and it was an exceptional sale.

“Some of the heifers we bought were among the better types and we paid an average of $1500-$1600, which isn’t so great for the vendors but definitely good for the buyers.”

Doug Haigh and Jen Mercer, D&G Livestock, were recognised by the Droughtmaster Breeders Society for initiating the sale at Coolabunia in 2004.

“It was pleasing to have that recognition and we were happy with our final sale,” Mr Haigh said.

“It’s great to see a new sale committee taking on the challenge of continuing the sale at Coola-bunia, and we wish them success with future sales.” – Story: KATE STARK.

Creamof the

Crop to $3100

LEFT: Joshua Heck, Bryvonlea, Glastonbury, purchased Minlacowie Bettina 7884 for the top price of $3100 on behalf of PBR Properties, Wirraway, Beaudesert.

Parawanga Sells 4 Heifers at 2014 National Female Sale

Phone 0404 725902

Lot 133

QC

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720


QC

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724

By KATE STARK

LOCATED on 450 hectares in the pictur-esque hills of the Brisbane Valley, former dairy farmer Ian Williams kicks his shoes

off and sits down for smoko.“I just do half-days now – that’s enough for

me.” Still going strong, the cattleman celebrated his 81st birthday last year.

“It’s home here – I was born here and have been here all my life. It’s a lovely place to be,” Mr Williams said.

“We used to run a Friesian herd of about 200 head and there just wasn’t any money in it, and even though we’re not making a fortune out of it now, we’re doing better and we work respect-able hours.”

Mr Williams said he and wife Dorothy have no regrets after moving away from their Friesian herd to purchase Charbray heifers, along with six Droughtmaster bulls.

“We’ll be selling off the remainder of our crossed heifers in the next year or so as they age, and then hopefully end up with a full Droughtmaster herd.”

Looking at adding some fresh genetics, Mr Williams purchased a Vale View bull at the 2013 Coolabunia sale.

“We really needed something with a bit of Indicus in it that can handle the area, and

Droughtmasters have that tick resistance and they quiet down well when we wean them in the yards.

“I think, when it comes down to basics, I simply like the look of them.”

Mr Williams said the local sale at Toogoolawah was usually very popular for Charbray, but hoped there would be a move towards the full Droughtmaster.

“The cross always get a good showing and there’s quite a few breeders around this area.

“Prices have been down since they slowed the live cattle trade and we’ve started to hurt – we were averaging $500/head a year ago and now we’re getting closer to $400.”

Finishing the weaners on a pellet ration before sale, Mr Williams said he will be waiting until next month to sell.

“We’ve now got 200 breeders and we’ll keep a handful of the weaners to breed from, sell on some older cows that have had their day and move the remaining weaners on to the market.”

Mr Williams said he had previously invested in crops for his herd but found maintaining improved pasture a more effective option for feed.

“When we have water the country is so green. Our pasture is mainly based on green panic and blue grass, and we’ll put some legumes through it to get that nitrogen into the soil.

“The property down to the creek is very steep and rocky, with half of it being forest land mixed with softwood scrub. The cattle can get among it but we really struggle with controlling the lantana.

“My son Michael helps me out on the property with the bigger tasks like fencing and yarding – it’s nice to think he’ll carry on this work when I go.”

With an eye for red genetics, Mr Williams may also consider mixing Gelbvieh with his Drought-masters in the future.

“I want to keep them light red – the lighter they are, the better they handle the hot weather and the country.”

Like every beef producer, Mr Williams is hop-ing for a turnaround in market prices and said the change all hinges on rain.

“We’re not the only ones in trouble if it doesn’t rain, but we need it and we need more movement in Indonesia.

“I just hope prices will come back closer to what they were a couple of years ago.

“It’s fairly tough out here, but compared to the western parts of the state, it’s bloody marvellous.”

Ian Williams, Kweebani, Toogoolawah, crosses Droughtmaster bulls over Charbray and Friesian-cross breeders.

Toogoolawah’sIan isnow

full-on forDroughties

Toogoolawah’sIan isnow

full-on forDroughties

12 DROUGHTMATERDIGEST February 2014

Ian will move towards a full Droughtmaster herd as his breeders age.

RIGHT: Ian will keep a handful of weaners to

breed from.


QC

1642

819

By PENELOPE ARTHUR

DEEP in the heart of south-west Queens-land’s mulga belt, Bill and Carmel What-more are doing all they can to keep their

Droughtmaster herd alive.The Whatmore family runs about 800

Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster-cross breed-ers on their 35,000-hectare property Boatman, 100km south of Morven.

They have been pushing mulga on Boatman since February last year, and say the current drought is among the worst they have seen since moving to the property in the mid-1970s.

Boatman received just 183mm of its 425mm average annual rain during 2013 – making it the second driest year since rainfall records began on the historic property in 1909.

“This is the worst drought for water that I have seen and it has been compounded by the fact that we are getting low on mulga,” Mr Whatmore said.

“We have over 40 dams on this property – we used a bore drain system to partially fill three of them the other day, but we still have areas where we have mulga but no water.”

The Whatmores were thankful to receive 25mm of rain in January, and say that little bit of relief had helped to “freshen up” their precious mulga supply.

Mr Whatmore said their entire herd of 800 Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster-cross cows are feeding on the mulga while also receiving a homemade urea-based dry lick.

He said the cows were holding up well con-sidering the season.

“We pulled the calves off the cows which was a big thing – you can keep a cow going easy enough on mulga, but if you keep the calf on her you really have to feed them.”

With cattle markets depressed by seasonal conditions, the Whatmores decided to keep a mob of 200 weaners they pulled from the cows three months ago.

They spent just over $30,000 feeding the weaners hay and a Top Country ration, Early Wean 100, for six weeks.

“They just poked along for about four weeks

and then they really took off,” Mr Whatmore said.

“We drafted them up and kept those weighing 70kg-140kg in the yards on the Early Wean 100, and the others over 140kg went out onto mulga with another dry lick that has a bit of urea in it.

“We have finished feeding them now and are just holding them on mulga now with some lick, and hoping like hell we get a break in the season or the market improves.

“If it does, the whole exercise might just pay off.”

The Whatmores have been EU accredited since 2001, but have changed their selling program in recent years, and now largely target the non-EU weaner market through Roma.

Mr Whatmore said experience had taught him that it paid to present weaners in forward condi-tion when selling through the Roma Saleyards.

“We were getting about 700 weaners a year up until this drought, and we have been toying with a few ideas about how to put some more weight into them,” he said.

“You get really crucified at Roma if the wean-ers don’t look good.

“We had thought about getting some agistment for the weaners to put some more weight into them, but after seeing how they performed on this feeding program, it might pay in some years to do that instead.

“We will get through this drought first, though, and then look at options like that.”

Mr Whatmore said he had been breeding Droughtmaster cattle for about 12 years after starting off with a Santa Gertrudis herd.

He has also used Red Brangus genetics in the herd, but said Droughtmasters continued to per form well in the mulga.

“We weren’t getting enough calves so we moved to Droughtmasters and it has worked out well for us,” he said.

“The bulls stay in all year round. We used to control mate but we haven’t for about 10 years.

“We muster once every six months and wean and brand then.”

Carmel and Bill Whatmore share a joke despite the trying times on Boatman, south of Morven.

Mulga keeps Morven

Droughties hanging on


You get really crucified at Roma if the weaners

don’t look good.


By INGA STÜNZNER

GENETIC diversity will be the name of the game for the upcoming National Droughtmaster Female Sale at Gympie

Saleyards on Saturday, March 8.“There are a few dispersal and reduction sales

happening at the same time, but the unique sell-ing point is we have 38 vendors, so there are heaps of different bloodlines,” said National Female Sale Committee chairman Brian Heck.

The 33rd annual sale, which kicks off at 9am, will feature 239 females that are all vendor bred and veterinary certified for pregnancy status. It will consist of 11 cows and calves, 68 joined and 160 unjoined females.

Sale committee chairman Brian Heck of Bryvonlea Droughtmasters said that only vendor-bred females were catalogued to ensure quality females were offered.“

You are also getting genetics from different studs, and this is an excellent opportunity to acquire a diversity of genetics,” he said. “The astute breeder is always on the lookout to improve his herd in traits such as fertility, femininity and marketability and the National Droughtmaster Female Sale offers a broad genetic base on which to improve. It’s good to bring in other genetics. Sometimes we might be breeding horned cattle, but want to breed poll cattle, or you might want to get muscling or more femininity.”

It will all be there at the National Female Sale.

There has been good interest at previous sales, with buyers travelling from NSW to northern Australia including far north Queensland, and even some from Western Australia.

“We’re catering for a wide range of buyers,” Mr Heck said.

“It has certainly been a very popular breed over the years because of its diversity – the end product can be exported or it can go into the local trade. We sent some down to NSW, where it’s very cold, but they can adapt to all climates.

“They excel in the west – but that’s the Droughtmaster for you.”

Mr Heck said there would be some new ven-dors at this sale because Droughtmaster Australia

was constantly growing its membership and it allowed new members, as they bred up, to have an outlet for their heifers. “Buyers are a bit of a mixed bunch – we do have commercial buyers who want to breed some quality Droughtmaster cattle and then we do have stud buyers. It’s a great opportunity for studs to buy new cattle.”

The females will be at the saleyards to view on Friday afternoon and a barbecue sponsored by Landmark will start at 6.30pm.

There will also be free drinks sponsored by Sullivan Livestock.

Gympie’s female diversity lureLEFT: Carl Young, manager of Wirraway, Beaudesert, paid the $18,000 Droughtmaster National Female Sale record money for Bryvonlea Jemma 2 (P) offered by Brian and Josh Heck of Bryvonlea Droughtmasters, Glastonbury, at the 2013 sale.

STUDS ON SHOW: NEXT PAGE

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BRYVONLEAELEVEN attractive, stylish females showing breed and beef character line up from Brian and Yvonne Heck’s Bryvonlea Stud. Lots 41 and 42 are joined to Billabong Vermouth, and the open mating heifers selling as lots 184 to 192 present a real opportunity for astute studmasters to advance their genetic pool in the breed. Sires represented are Billabong Riley. In 2013 his sons topped the February All Breeds and the South Burnett bull sales. Also represented is Vale View Ripper, the sire of the record-priced National Female Sale heifer Bryvonlea Jemma. The wonderful dam line complements the genetic strength of the heifers on offer. Bryvonlea females have topped and recorded the top average at the past two National Female Sales.

CEDAR VIEWLong-established Cedar View stud at Gympie run by Stan and Lynn Tompkins will offer six outstanding polled heifers, three joined and three unjoined. The joined females, selling as lots 43 to 45, have been mated with new stud sire Angle Zed Famagusta, purchased in 2012 for $10,000. Lynn and Stan are extremely impressed with his first drop of calves. Billabong Oakey, who has done a tremendous job in the stud, is sire of lots 44 and 45. Lots 199 to 201 are the first of Bryvonlea Lincoln’s progeny to be offered for sale. This sire has delighted the Tompkins with the growth, softness and temperament of his calves, ensuring these lots are worth the wait.

CRAIGLEA CRAIGLEA Droughtmasters will offer six quality unjoined heifers that will include a 100 percent polled team that is full of style, class and evenness with huge futures within the industry. Catalogued as lots 206 to 211, the heifers are aged from 15 to 18 months and have been left open for the purchaser’s choice of mating. The sale team is from the heart of Craiglea’s proven female lines with a mix of the breed’s top pedigrees and female lines, and being sired by the stud’s top sires. The team will also include show heifers that will be exhib-

ited at the Gatton Futurity the week before the sale. That will be the start of their show careers for the successful purchases.

MINLACOWIEMINLACOWIE has catalogued 11 heifers, seven joined and four unjoined. The joined heifers are running with Craiglea Trump, their top-selling sire for 2013. Backed by 50 years of stud breeding, the success and consistency in the breeding of Minlacowie genetics is clearly evident. Many of the top prices at all of the Droughtmaster sales over many years have had Minlacowie genetics in their short-listed pedigree.

OAKMOREOAKMORE Droughtmasters is offering four females by Sunny View Yeoman. Lot 33, Oakmore Lucy, is PTIC to Aldinga Charmer who was purchased in 2011 for his correct-ness, length, sirey appeal and temperament. Lucy is out of a Billabong female purchased at the 2009 Billabong Female Sale. Lot 34, Oakmore Leisel, is also PTIC to Aldinga Charmer and out of one of our top performing females, Grande-Orr Granda 12. She is a consistent performer and can be relied on to produce a top calf every year. Lots 152 and 153 are both unjoined and out of two more of Oakmore’s fertile and feminine females. These two young heifers are showing fertility, maternal quality and excellent temperament that Oakmore prides its name on.

SCRUBBY MOUNTAINWITH a successful first-time offering, Allan and Nadia Gillies from Scrubby Mountain Droughtmasters are looking forward to another successful outcome with the females and bulls on offer for this year’s sales. Being out of the selling circuit for some time due to the premature birth of their twins, they are getting back on track and have selected some females and bulls ready to do the job. Their breeding herd is based on their prop-erty at Gin Gin and they take great pride in their cattle. Achieving a balance of traits is essential for viability in the ever-changing marketplace. “We set breeding objectives in our herd and always look at key factors of temperament, mothering ability, fertility, beef characteris-

tics and structure” Allan said. “If our cattle are not within our standards then it’s off to the cull paddock.”

TRUVALLE TRUVALLE Droughtmaster Stud (No.22) has been selling quality females at the National Droughtmaster Female Sale for at least 29 years, topping the sale in 1985, 1989 (twice with the top-price cow and calf for $6000, and later with an unjoined heifer for $10,000), in 1990, 1991, and again in 2004. Truvalle females have been the basis of many successful Droughtmaster studs, including Sunny View, who purchased Truvalle Fancy, the beginning of the well-known Sunny View Fancy line. The females offered for sale come from regu-lar breeding females with top-quality blood-lines. Three of the five joined females have been depastured with Minlacowie Montego 5964, a bull with a mostly polled genetic base. Two others have been depastured with Lorendale Halo, a polled sire by Glenlands D Harrison. The three unjoined females are by show champion Truvalle Quarry, Talgai Apache, son of Talgai Impact 951, and Minlacowie Montego 5964.

VALE VIEWDAVE, Colleen and Mac Smith of Vale View Droughtmasters are proud to offer two joined females and five unjoined females. Dave says the heifers are an exceptional line of females backed with strong/proven blood-lines to put buyers at ease. “Due to our property size we are able to offer you our ‘standard replacement female arti-cle’ as we can only retain so many females,” Dave said. “Buyers have a unique opportunity to pur-chase two joined heifers PTIC to our show bull VV Van Damme. “He is a full brother to show champion female Smarty Pants, which also makes him a maternal brother to our lead sire VV Playboy. “Van Damme has our most successful and consistent bloodlines on both sides of the family, these being the mighty VV Maresmo VV Kandy. “We are also offering five unjoined females. Four of these are by the proven sire Rondel Korageous and one by Hamadra Rusty. Both of these sires have proven themselves in our herd.”

National Droughtmaster Female Sale vendors


February 2014 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST 17QC1643136

Haigslea dispersalsad day for Doug


IT WILL be a sad day for Doug Haigh and Jen Mercer as they disperse their herd of Droughtmasters at the Gympie Saleyards on

Saturday, February 15.“We are also livestock agents (D&G Livestock)

and it will be a sad and surreal day having to do our own dispersal in Gympie,” Jen said.

“It probably won’t hit us until the next day when we look out onto our paddocks and don't see our lovely herd.”

A farewell for Doug and Jen, however, will be an opportunity for potential buyers who want a long line of quality breeding.

Doug’s association with the breed began a long time ago when he bred Droughtmasters in the Papua New Guinea Highlands for 20 years and ran a smallgoods factory using his own beef.

When he returned to Australia in 1990 he established his own herd with the initial purchase of a top line of females at the Alcheringa disper-sal sale at Eudlo.

Other worthy lines include the full purchase of Cherrod Stud from Rod and Cheryl O’Rourke, including Swan Raesen – the top-priced bull at the Swan’s annual bull sale.

Other notable sires are Glenlands 593 (ET), purchased at Rockhampton in the early 1990s at $14,000, and Wingfield Nicodemus by Greenacres Julien.

Billabong Ramses was the top-priced bull at the Billabong sale in 1994.

During the late 1990s and the 2000s, Haigslea Stud was the most successful exhibitor at the Gatton Futurity for three years in a row and for five years topped the National Female Sale for averages in Gympie.

Haigslea Gladiator, son of Billabong Ramses, came a very close second to Swan Horsham in the open class at the Brisbane RNA.

In recent years, Wedgwood 1161 was bought for $14,000.

Billabong Sydney was bought at the Hicks sale with a further sire, Billabong Wallace, purchased the following year.

“Haigslea has always had a reputation for breeding cattle with good temperament, good fertility and fleshing ability,” Jen said.

“Doug has always deliberately maintained a strong belief that he needed to have a good percentage of content in his herd, and so has always done well with his Billabong sires.”

The sale, starting at 9.30am, will consist of:

● 58 cows and calves. ● 18 joined cows.● 10 joined heifers.● 23 unjoined heifers.● 2 sires.● 14 yearling bulls.

“We are also in the process of putting our property up for sale here in the beautiful Mary Valley,” Jen said.

She and Doug plan to retire to their beach house in Burrum Heads.

By INGA STÜNZNER

LOYAL supporters of the Droughtmaster breed are being rewarded with the chance to win more than $10,000 in cash and

prizes at the Southern Queensland Store Cattle Show and Sale.

At Biggenden on Thursday, April 10, from 9am, breeders have the chance to win in four categories, and each class will take home an Egel fridge/freezer.

The categories are Droughtmaster steers over 400kg, steers from 300kg to 400kg, females over 300kg, and females under 300kg.

Droughtmaster Australia and Queensland Country Life are supporting the event, and simi-lar sales are sponsored around Australia.

“We appreciate the loyal support shown for our breed, and to show our appreciation we stage shows and sales giving those loyal supporters a chance to compete for prize-money,” Droughtmaster Australia chief exe-

cutive Neil Donaldson said. The sale in Biggenden, 100km south-west

of Bundaberg, began a few years ago when Droughtmaster Australia approached Burnett Livestock & Realty.

“We said sure, we’ll do whatever we can to get clients on board and get as many Drought-master growers on board,” said Lance Whitaker, Burnett Livestock & Realty director.

“It’s a breed that keeps growing in popular-ity.

“I think because they are an easy breed to handle – they have a good temperament, they are good mothers, they calve out without any trouble, they milk well, they do well in hardy

areas – they tick a lot of boxes.”Mr Whitaker said the store show and sale was

an opportunity for producers to display their commercial cattle and compare how they were travelling with everyone else in the industry.

“It’s also a good opportunity for buyers to get top-quality cattle, and it’s a good day out.

“The show and sale has always been well sup-ported, attracting a large crowd of buyers and vendors, and this year should be no different.

“It is a sought-after breed in the area and they are lucky too because they have a society that does a lot of work promoting the breed.”

Producers will come from Wide Bay, further afield out west and even from NSW.

Mr Whitaker said he was proud to be involved with the event.

“I think sometimes, too, with the season being tough like this, it’s a good reason to get out and have a look around.

“We copped those big floods and have [had]drought ever since, so it’s been a very tough 14 months for cattle.

“They mightn’t have had the same weight per age as previous years, but everyone understands that.”

The minimum entry is 10 head a pen. The cattle must be Droughtmaster or first

cross.● For more information, go to www.burnettlr.com.au or phone Lance Whitaker on 0407 139 901.

● 125 head● WHEN: February 15● TIME: 9.30am● WHERE: Gympie Saleyards

HAIGSLEA DROUGHTMASTER COMPLETE DISPERSAL

Doug Haigh with his beloved Droughtmasters before the Haigslea dispersal on February 15.

Cash prizes offered at Biggenden’s sale

John and Tracey Tincknell, Penolva, Mundubbera, with their champion pen of males at the 2013 Southern Queensland Droughtmaster Store Show and Sale. The No.3 steers sold for 201c/kg or $647/head.

● WHEN: Thursday, April 10● TIME: 9am● WHERE: Biggenden

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND DROUGHTMASTER SHOW & SALE

1642722

By INGA STÜNZNER

ONE bull from each vendor’s draft atthis year’s Highlands Droughtmaster Sale will help support victims of cancer, with

10 per cent of its sale price donated to the Kim Walters Foundation.

Vendors will choose one bull from their draft and decorate him with a pink ear tag, in support

of Julie Veivers from Talgai Stud. The Kim Walters Choices Program offers those diagnosed with breast cancer, their family and friends, access to a network of professionals, volunteersand others affected by breast or gynaecological cancer.

Vendors are Huntly, Kenlogan, Medway, Mt Oscar, Redskin, Strathfield, Toronellah, Warriner and Wolfang.

Up for sale are 51 registered bulls, 25 herd bulls and six registered heifers. Catalogues are

available at www.droughtmaster.com.au.“For the first time, we will be holding a meet

and greet the night before the sale at the Commercial Hotel in Clermont,” said Alex Donaldson, one of the sale organisers.

The event, sponsored by Suncorp, on Thursday, March 13, 6.30pm, will follow the bull inspec-tions. A breakfast will be held on the morning of the sale from 8am at the saleyards, and this is sponsored by Central Highlands Auto.

“Vendors will love to see people there,” Mrs Donaldson said. “This sale has built a reputation for consistently producing top-quality, locally bred, commercially orientated cattle.”

The cattle that come through the sale are quiet, cost-effective, productive and perform well in the field. Every year the Highlands Sale vendors strive to host a sale that produces good beefy bullock bulls for the commercial cattle grower as well as the higher profile sires for the stud buyer.

The Highland sale with

a bigheart


LEFT: The top-priced Highlands Droughtmaster bull at the 2013 sale, Medway Shirt Front, was purchased by Peter (right) and Deleece Carrington and family, Rondel Droughtmasters, Winton, from the Donaldson family, Medway Droughtmasters, Bogantungan. Hamilton Donaldson (left) thanked Mr Carrington immediately after the sale.

● WHEN: Friday, March 14● TIME: 10am● WHERE: Clermont Saleyards

HIGHLANDS DROUGHTMASTER SALE

QC1625451

A HUGE array of polled genetics will be on offer with the major reduction sale of the Vitwood Droughtmaster Stud, Gympie

Saleyards, on Saturday, March 1, at 9am.Ninety-four per cent of the nearly 200 lots are

of polled status with most the other either polled or scurred animals.

Vendors David and Anita Torrisi, Maryborough, have decided to divest a large number of their core breeding assets in this sale involving some 200 head.

The catalogue consists of some 120 cowand calf units, 40 joined and maiden heifers,|30 yearling bulls and 10 resident sires. The Torrisi family has decided that this reduction sale will be the last auction the prefix will conduct. The owners have retained a numbers of females and sires for their pleasure and plan to remain within the breed but with a lesser presence.

All female breeding units are running with sires and pregnancy status information will be available on sale day. Calves at foot include the progeny of 13 sires sourced from leading opera-tions including Glenlands, Clonlara, Yackatoon, Bryvonlea, Talgai, Rondel, Redskin and Strathfield. These top quality females have been

joined to a battery of leading males including the retained Vitwood sires, Liberty and Nooroo, Rondel Kernell, Clonlara Balboa, Redskin Wise Guy and Glenlands Lincoln. In all some 17 prefixes are represented in the females on offer from many of the breeds leading addresses.

The young bulls are the sons of the Glenlands

introductions, Oliver, Megabyte, Immense, Kyle, Kilby, Strathfield X-Terminator, Rondel Kernell, Talgai Cooper, Minlacowie Luther, Vitwood Judus, Bryvonlea Emperor and Redskin Wise Guy.

Outside sires on offer in the sale are the Glenlands bulls, Lincoln and Incite, along with Billabong Norris, Bryvonlea Emperor, Strathfield X-Appeal, Yackatoon 4163, Redskin Wise Guy and Imbil Adriane. Bolstering the sire gallery destined for sale are the retained Vitwood males, Matrix (Wolfang Fred-O) and Judus (Calioran Nelson).

The Vitwood herd has steadily grown in size over the years with the private acquisition of the Tapiola herd, Biloela, and purchases from many of the leading Droughtmaster herds and prefixes.

Resident and foundation sires have been a huge part of the Vitwood prefix. Many high-selling and outstanding bulls have seen service with the herd including the former breed record holders, the $95,000 Glenlands Hilton and the $150,000 Wolfang Fred-O. Other notable bulls include the former RNA champion, $37,500 Glenlands Immense, $30,000 Vale View Lawman and $26,000 Bryvonlea Emperor.

One of the many leading sires represented in the Vitwood sale is the $37,500 former RNA champion, Glenlands Immense. Purchased at the 2006 Glenlands sale, Immense is pictured with Vitwood principals Anita and David Torrisi, Susan River, and Jason Childs, Glenlands Stud, Bouldercombe.

Vitwood reduction sale offers opportunity


www.IGTbovineIVF.com.au

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ABOVE: Commercial Droughtmaster cattle at Meadowbrook, Dysart.

MAIN: Aleisha Finger judgingat Beef 2012.


POINTER TO BREED’S FUTURE

At 27 years old, Dysart district cattle producer Aleisha Finger reckons the Droughtmaster breed has served her very well.These days Aleisha runs 500 commercial Droughtmaster breeders plus 20 stud cows under her stud prefix Almafi, on her parents’ properties. She spoke with HELEN WALKER for this special Digest profile.

▲


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ALEISHA Finger is one of five children of John and Donna Finger, and they all run their own cattle on the family properties,

paying agistment to their parents each quarter. However, at the rate that Aleisha’s cattle numbers are growing, she is certainly looking to buy more country to call her own in the near future.

“That is really my goal, and I will be looking for a brigalow property grassed with buffel in central Queensland, and I believe the Drought-master breed will help me achieve this,” Aleisha said.

Her grandfather, the late Keith Flohr, of Wot-onga, Nebo, gifted each of his grandchildren with six heifers when they were born and ear-tagged it ‘the future investment fund’ that got Aleisha under way.

When she was 12, she opted for the Drought-master breed from a mix of breeds her family was using and crossing including Droughtmaster, Brahman, Limousin and Charbray.

In her commercial breeding operation, Aleisha joins one bull to 30 to 40 cows on a 12-month mating program. She selects her sires from the annual Droughtmaster National at Gracemere, paying up to $10,000 for a quality sire.

Aleisha targets her turn-off on the Japanese market, selling to JBS Rockhampton, where she receives an average of $3.25/kg dressed for bul-locks averaging 320kg dressed weight.

The family operates three rounds of mustering,

with the first getting under way in March/April, and that is when the calves are weaned, and all breeders pregnancy tested and plunge-dipped for tick control.

During the second round in June/July, the same process is applied; however, this time cat-tle are vaccinated for lepto and botulism, while the third round is along the lines of the first.

Aleisha carries out all her own pregnancy test-ing, a skill she gained at the Emerald Pastoral College, Emerald.

She has followed up on refresher courses while working for the Australian Agricultural Company on Meteor Downs in Springsure district.

“I was looking to gain more experience away from home, so I worked on Meteor Downs for six months, particularly to gain more artificial insemination and preg-testing experience.”

It was in 2011 that Aleisha decided to invest

further into Droughtmaster genetics and regis-tered the Almafi stud prefix, derived from the first two initials in her given and surname.

Aleisha bought 12 to 24-month-old heifers, some unjoined, while others were joined from Vitwood, Glenlands, Rondel, Huntly, Kenlogan and Jembrae studs as the foundation females for her stud. She plans to breed up her numbers to 50 stud breeders, by retaining all quality heifer calves, and will have paddock bulls for sale in the next 12 months.

“There is no way I would breed anything but Droughtmasters as they handle the environment they are in and give a return, and I have seen this first hand.”

So far Aleisha has already bought the 2430-hec-tare property Elonerra in the Capella district, which is used in conjunction with the family properties Meadowbrook, and Farlane Park near Middlemount.

“But the ultimate is to eventually own my own property, and with the help of my Droughtmasters, hopefully that will be in the next couple of years,” she said.

Aleisha has just returned from a 12-month working trip to the US where she worked on ranches to gain more experience and bring home some ideas.● At the time of the Digest’s visit to Meadowbrook, Aleisha was still in the US. Her cattle were being managed by parents John and Donna, and sister Larissa.

Success in Droughtie country


LEFT: Donna and John Finger, Meadow-brook, Dysart, with their daughter Larissa.

Selling 2 unjoined heifers and two joined heifers – Droughtmaster National Female Sale March 8, 2014

LOT 33

Droughtmaster StudStud # 1107 Brand 4DI

OAKMORE LUCY • Sire: Sunny View Yeoman Dam: Billabong Shannae • PTIC: Aldinga Charmer

Joined: Lot 33 Oakmore Lucy, Lot 34 Oakmore Leisel.Unjoined: Lot 152 Oakmore Nikki, Lot 153 Oakmore Neve

Lot 8, 4 Hodgson Street, Greenmount, Q 4359Ph: (07) 4697 1007; Mobile 0413 583 084

[email protected] Q

C16

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CEDAR VIEWSelling: 3 joined & 3 unjoined Females

2014 National Female Sale

Lot43

Lot44

Contact: Stan & Lynn Tompkins Ph: (07) 5486 6213Mobile: 0417 647 558 Email: [email protected]

1642893

THE Australian Cattle Veterinarians (ACV) has released revised standards for mini-mum scrotal circumference to pass a Vet-

er inary Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation (VBBSE).

The revised standards have resulted from re -cent advances in understanding as to what con-stitutes normal scrotal size in the Australian herd based on the ‘Bull Power’ project.

This project involved analysis of more than 260,000 scrotal circumference measurements that had been recorded with Breedplan in 2000 to 2012 across 13 common breeds of Australian beef bulls, including Droughtmaster.

Scrotal circumference measurements were mostly taken when bulls were within 250kg-750kg live weight and 300 to 750 days of age.

Why measure scrotal circumference?Measuring scrotal circumference can indicate

the likelihood that a bull has reached puberty, and whether testicular development is within the normal range. Scrotal circumference assessment is an important part of a VBBSE, which is used to assess whether bulls have normal reproductive function prior to making selection and manage-ment decisions.

Scrotal circumference is:● A good indicator of daily sperm production, especially in young bulls, which is fairly constant per gram of testis.● A highly repeatable measure (with appropriate technique) and highly heritable (30-45 per cent).● Correlated with sperm motility and morphol-ogy. However, these are independently assessed

as part of a routine VBBSE.● Genetically correlated with earlier age at puberty in female relatives.● Genetically correlated with earlier return to cyclicity after calving in female relatives within tropically adapted cattle, and especially Bos Indi-cus cattle.

VBBSE standards for scrotal circumferencePrevious VBBSE standards listed simple min-

imum cut-off points for scrotal circumference based on breed and age.

Historically, bulls with a scrotal circumference greater than the cut-off were scored with a tick for the scrotal circumference component of the VBBSE, and those below with a cross.

● To p26


New scrotal circumference

standards – do they measure up?

New scrotal circumference

standards – do they measure up?

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● From p25In recent times, the VBBSE have moved from

a pass/fail model to a description of risk with a T (tick), Q (qualified) and X (cross) system being used to acknowledge that there are shades of grey and that assessment of risk is not always absolute.

Findings from Bull Power projectThe main findings from the recent analyses

include:● Live weight appears to be a superior reference point in comparison to age as a measure for assessing acceptable scrotal circumference in young bulls. Age can also be used, but the vari-ation at any age is higher because of nutrition effects on weight per day of age.● Scrotal circumference x weight relationships have the same pattern in most breeds. The range across breeds of average scrotal circumference at any weight from 250kg-750kg is 5cm-7cm. Temperate breeds tend to have larger scrotal

circumference at the same weight than tropically adapted breeds. Some of this is related to the lower width to length ratio of Bos Indicus testes.● Across the 13 breeds included in the study, Aus tralian beef bulls have been categorised into five groups that, at the same live weight, have sim i lar average scrotal circumference. Drought-master bulls have been grouped as having very similar live weight x scrotal size relationships to Limousin, Belmont Red and Santa Gertrudis.

RecommendationsThere is no clear point at which a scrotal

circumference indicates an increased risk to fertility.

Thus, scrotal circumference needs to be inter-

preted along with other elements of the physical examination, and with crush-side semen and morphology results if available.

Bulls with a scrotal circumference that is not within ‘normal limits’ should be viewed with suspicion, unless it can be shown by other means that this does not pose a risk.

Details of normal scrotal circumference in the Australian Droughtmaster bull population are provided in Figure 1.

As a general principle, it is recommended that the minimum acceptable scrotal circumference is the bottom 5pc value at any weight.

It should be noted that the minimum recom-mended is ‘bare minimum’.

For example, bulls close to the minimum threshold are more likely to suffer from some of the problems associated with small scrotal cir-cumference than bulls well above the threshold.

Bull breeders may consider setting a higher scrotal circumference minimum for sale bulls than what is indicated by normal range.

Table 1 shows the data from Figure 1 in tabu-lar form and provides a ready reckoner to the minimum acceptable scrotal circumference at a given live weight in Droughtmaster bulls.

Acknowledging that it is not always possible to obtain live weights for bulls, Table 2 provides recommended minimum scrotal circumference thresholds for Droughtmaster bulls in situations where live weight is not available.

Again, these are the ‘bare minimum’.The above standards do not indicate that either

puberty or sexual maturity has been reached – rather, they indicate normal minimum levels of testicular development as reflected in scrotal circumference.

Separate evaluation of crush-side semen and/or sperm morphology are required to confirm attainment of puberty and sexual maturity, with most bulls reaching puberty in a narrow range of 27cm-30cm.● Reference: Australian Cattle Veterinarians, Veterinary Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation, 2013.

BullPowerproject

gets results


Bulls with a scrotal

circumference that is not within

‘normal limits’ should be

viewed with suspicion.


QC1625446

By INGA STÜNZNER

HUGGING the semi-rural outskirts of Ipswich, West Moreton Anglican College (WestMAC) may be one of the state’s

younger schools, but its cattle program packs a punch.

Last year, the students took out the grand championship at the RNA Schools Competition at the Brisbane show – beating 39 other schools from Queensland and NSW.

“That’s the biggest highlight of our careers,” said agricultural science teacher Shannon Lynes, who is one of three staff running the college’s cattle program. “That is what we train for, and it’s like the Olympic Games for the students.

“We trained really hard for that and this time

we came out on top.”The cattle program has been going since West-

MAC’s inception 20 years ago, and has be come so popular the college now has 50 to 55 cattle.

“We need to have that many to supply the students, because we have so many,” Ms Lynes said.

In fact, in the first week of college the cattle school was inundated with phone calls and emails from parents wanting a place for their child.

“We get about 70 students, and each year we get a heap of new students in grade 7 who will continue the whole way through to grade 12.”

The program is a ‘fitting service’, where local breeders provide their cattle on loan and the students will fit them out for the shows.

Half of the cattle are led steers, so the students

also use them in their assignments for weight gain trials. However, the shows are the main part of the extracurricular program.

“We have Charolais, Black Angus, Limousin, Poll Herefords and Droughtmasters, so we try to get an animal in all the show categories.

“That keeps us busy at show time as cattle go into the ring all the time.”

The owners provide the feed and the students spend their afternoons after school learning the intricacies of showing: shampooing, grooming, blow-drying and walking.

“At the moment we have about 20 animals that we are breaking in, so we have the older stu dents coming in every afternoon doing that.

“Then we get the younger students after school on a Tuesday and Thursday working on showing, and we get ready for a show on a Saturday.”

The college participates in all the shows in the West Moreton and Brisbane region – taking 25 to 35 cattle to each and staying overnight.

“We’ll take three or four camping tents and the students find a spot to sleep on the ground with their swags – they absolutely love it,” Ms Lynes said. “We get there on a Friday morning and we will have some students who will come then and do the washing and preparation, and then we have the little students who come on the Saturday.”

Although last year’s championship at the Ekka was the highlight, WestMAC has slowly been accumulating the awards. For two years in a row, the college has taken out the supreme tropical breed female with their Droughtmasters at the West Moreton and Brisbane Valley Sub-chamber.

They also won the led steer category there last year.

The Droughtmaster breed is a relatively new addition to the cattle program – and this is due to Ms Lynes.

“I’ve been with the school for the past three

West Moreton Anglican College cattle show team members Rebekkah Quinn, Mt Walker (holding Cebella Perez), Jack Brosnan, Mt Walker (holding Cebella Latoya), Mitchell Jackwitz, Glarmorganvale, Stephanie Laycock, Eskdale (holding Cebella Cruize), and Belynda Henry, Fernvale (holding Cebella Oliver). – Pictures: SARAH COULTON.

RIGHT: West Moreton Anglican College cattle show team

member Stephanie Laycock, Eskdale, with Cebella Cruize, and in

the background is Rebekkah Quinn, Mt Walker, with Cebella

Perez.

West Moreton’s top-clas


One absolute drawcard to the Droughtmaster is

their uniqueness and their personality. The students

love their character.

years, and when I came our led steers were primarily Charolais.

“I had Droughtmaster cattle and I thought we should expand the number of breeds.”

The students, used to blow-drying hairy European breeds, are now learning how to pre-pare and run tropical breeds.

Ms Lynes said she fell in love with the breed as a school student at Beenleigh, where her school had Droughtmasters.

Although she went on to study agricultural science at Gatton and then become a teacher, she has also set up her own small Droughtmaster stud. “I had always had good experiences with them. I am happy with their temperament, how they perform and their resistance to parasites, and thought, ‘Why would I bother going any-where else?’”

Now WestMAC students are also seeing their appeal.

“One absolute drawcard to the Droughtmaster is their uniqueness and their personality. The students love their character.

“I have a calf that was on my cow last year, so the students have had her since she was born here and she thinks she’s one of the students.”

Having a variety of European and tropical breeds at the college’s cattle program has widened the students’ experience.

“The students do different activities each week, and there are a few who are prepared to fight for

their time with the Droughtmasters – and there are also some who are a bit intimidated by the extra character.”

Either way, the agricultural program offers what most students are not exposed to in ordinary life.

“We get some students who come and just do show cattle and that’s it. But there are others who go on and do their certificates.

“Quite a few go out and work on properties, and we have some students who will go and work on studs and show cattle for other people.

“That’s the uniqueness of what we do. We have students who come to us who have never touched a cow before in their life.”

Meanwhile, it is full steam ahead for another year of shows and working to keep the championship title.

West Moreton Anglican College cattle show team member Rebekkah Quinn, Mt Walker, with Cebella Perez.

ss cattle


1642894

AN important step when making selection decisions using BREEDPLAN Estimated Breeding Values (EBV) is the consideration

of EBV accuracy. The following information provides a guide to understanding and utilising EBV accuracy in selection decisions.

What is EBV accuracy? By definition, an EBV is an estimate of an

animal’s true breeding value. The ‘accuracy’ figure produced with each EBV provides an indication of the amount of information that has been used in the calculation of that EBV.

The higher the accuracy, the more likely the EBV is to predict the animal’s true breeding value and the lower the likelihood of change in the animal’s EBV as more information is analysed for that animal, its progeny or its relatives.

How accuracy is reportedAccuracy figures are reported as a percentage

(%) between 0-99. In most cases where an EBV is presented, the accuracy of the EBV will be reported in either the column immediately fol-lowing the EBV or the row beneath the EBV (Figure 1).

Interpreting EBV accuracyThe following guide is recommended when

interpreting accuracy: ● Less than 50% accuracy – the EBVs are pre-liminary. In this accuracy range the EBVs could change substantially as more direct performance information becomes available on the animal. ● 50-74% accuracy – the EBVs are of medium accuracy. EBVs in this range will usually have been calculated based on the animal’s own per-formance and some pedigree information. ● 75-90% accuracy – the EBVs are of medium-high accuracy. EBVs in this range will usually have been calculated based on the animal’s own performance coupled with the performance for

a small number of the animal’s progeny. ● More than 90% accuracy – the EBVs are a high accuracy estimate of the animal’s true breed-ing value. It is unlikely that EBVs with this accuracy will change considerably with addition of more progeny data.

EBV accuracy confidence rangesThe maximum likely change to EBVs at dif-

ferent accuracy levels is described by the confi-

The A to Z of EBVs


Figure 1: EBV accuracy figures are reported as a percentage (%) between O and 99.

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dence range (also known in statistical circles as the stand-ard error of esti-mate). The size of

this value decreases as the accuracies in -

crease. Statistically, there is a 67% chance that

an animal’s true breeding value will be within 1 stand-ard error of its EBV, and a 96% chance that it will be within 2 standard errors of its EBV. As an example, Table

1 shows the Trans-Tasman Angus BREEDPLAN confidence ranges associated with different accuracy levels for various traits. For example, a 600 Day Wt EBV with an accuracy of 90% will have a confidence range of ± 8.5 kg. If an animal’s EBV is +100 then, with the addition of further information (e.g. progeny or sibling records), the EBV would be expected to still fall within the range of +91.5 kg to +108.5 kg (i.e. 100 ± 8.5kg) 67% of the time; and, within the range of +83

kg to +117 kg (i.e. 100 ± (2 X 8.5)kg) 96% of the time.

To assist with the understanding of confidence ranges, a graph has been developed when view-ing animals within the EBV enquiry facility on Internet Solutions. This is available for imple-mentation by breed societies that have upgraded to ABRI’s new generation of breed registry soft-ware known as ILR2.

Known as the EBV standard error graph, it depicts in graphical form the possible change in an animal’s EBVs for each trait. The horizontal bar for each trait displays one standard error either side of the current EBV value, meaning that statistically, there is a 67% chance that the true breeding value for this trait will be within this range. Figure 2 shows an example standard error graph for a young animal of lower accuracy, compared to a proven sire of higher accuracy,

EBV accuracy for a group of animalsWhile many beef producers look at EBV accu-

racy in relation to an individual animal, it is also worthwhile considering how accurate the EBVs are in describing the genetics of groups of animals within a breeding program.

In conducting a breeding program, it is normal practice for multiple animals to influence the genetics of the breeding herd rather than just an individual. It is important to understand accuracy of the EBVs describing the breeding value for a

group or team of animals. For example, the EBV accuracy for the team of females being flushed in an embryo transfer program, or the team of bulls being joined.

This may be a group of bulls used in a specific joining (e.g. spring/summer 2013) or a group of bulls used over subsequent joinings (e.g. all bulls used over past three years).

Figure 3 illustrates the EBV accuracy for a group (or team) of animals with an average EBV accuracy of 30% for a trait. While individual bulls within the team may have ‘low’ EBV accu-racy, the accuracy of the EBVs describing the breeding value for the entire team of animals will be considerably higher. Put in practical terms, while individually some bulls within the team will perform above expectation, some will per-form below expectation and some will perform exactly as expected, across the entire team, the EBVs will describe the breeding value of the team of bulls with considerably higher accuracy.

For example, an individual bull with an EBV of relatively low accuracy of 30% has some level of risk attached, as the EBV could change sig-nificantly as more information is analysed. If there is a bull team of two, averaging 30% accuracy for the EBV, the EBV accuracy for the bull team is considerably higher at 58% for a team of full sibs, 68% for half sibs and 74% for unrelated bulls.

Similarly, if there is a bull team of ten, averaging 30% accuracy for the EBV, the EBV accuracy for the bull team is 74% for a team of full sibs, 88% for half sibs and 95% for unrelated bulls.

For the same situation, but all with 60% accuracy for the EBV, the EBV accuracy for the bull teamis 90% for a team of full sibs, 93% for half sibs

● To p32


Table 1: Confidence ranges for EBVs at different levels of accuracy.

What influences the accuracy of an EBV?

A guide to understanding and utilising EBV

accuracy.

● Heritability of a trait: Heritability is defined as the proportion of ob -ser vable differences in a trait between individuals within a population that is due to genetics. The higher the heritability of a trait the higher the EBV accuracy, all other variables being equal. For example, this is one reason why we generally see higher accuracies for Weight EBVs (e.g. 400 day weight) compared to the Days to Calving EBV. ● The accuracy of the parents: An animal that has sire and/or dam with high EBV accuracy will generally have higher accuracy EBVs compared to an animal with parents of lower accuracy as more information is known about the relatives of the ● The amount of performance infor-mation available: EBV accuracies will increase as more performance infor-mation is analysed for a specific trait. This includes performance informa-tion on the animal itself, as well as

progeny records. EBV accuracies of 90% and greater are generally only observed on animals that have had progeny with performance recorded for the specific trait.● Effectiveness of performance information: Animals that are in large contemporary groups will gen-erally have higher EBV accuracy compared to those in small or single animal contemporary groups.● Genetic correlation with other measured traits: As BREEDPLAN uses a multi-trait model, genetic correlations between traits are uti-lised to calculate EBVs and associated accuracies, e.g. recording 200 day weight will also add information to the generation of the 400 day weight EBV. Therefore herds that are record-ing a range of traits (calving ease, weight, fertility, carcase) will have higher EBV accuracies than a herd that is undertaking limited recording (e.g. 200 day weights only).

SCRUBBY MOUNTAINGRAZING

Thank you to all our bull & female buyers & bidders for your valued support in 2013

Wishing all producers a Successful, Wet& Happy New Year!

Offering 5 unjoined females at the 2014 National Female Sale Gympie

Also offering 8 bulls at the February All Breeds Sale Gracemere

Scrubby Mountain DroughtmastersAllan & Nadia Gillies

0427 066 [email protected]

1642892

● From p31

and 97pc for unrelated bulls. The reason higher bull team EBV accuracy is observed for unrelated bulls, compared to half sib or full sibs, is due to there being less chance of a bias affecting the EBVs for all bulls in the team.

This shows that the risk of using bulls with relatively low individual EBV accuracy (e.g. year-lings) can be overcome by considering them is a bull team context, rather than individuals. This is a result of “spreading-the-risk” across the team, rather than “putting-all-your-eggs-one-basket” approach. This also suggests that a team of younger “unproven” bulls can be competitive, in terms of EBV accuracy, to an individual “proven” sire.

Consider accuracy in selectionAlthough the accuracy of an EBV should be

considered, animals should generally be compared on EBVs regardless of accuracy as they are still the best estimate of an animal’s breeding value.

In the case where animals have similar EBVs, the animal with the higher accuracy would be prefer-able because results can be predicted with more con fidence. If seedstock producers pre fer to mini-mise risk through use of animals with higher accu-racy EBVs, consideration could be given to:● Undertaking a higher level of performance recording across a range of traits and managing their seedstock herd to maximise contemporary group size. ● Sourcing bulls, females and genetics (e.g. semen, embryos) from herds with a history of performance recording.● Using high accuracy proven sires (e.g. AI sires) or dams.

● Spreading the risk of using younger, lower accuracy animals by utilising the bull “team” approach.

References: Lohuis, M.M and Smith, C. (1994). Risk associated with teams of bulls. Proceedings of the 5th World Congress of Genetics Applied to Livestock Production 18:298-301


Figure 2: Examples of EBV standard error graphs for a young animal, left, and proven sire, right.

Figure 3: Accuracy of a bull team when EBV accuracy of individuals is 30pc.

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By HELEN WALKER

COMET district beef producers Steve and Vicki Bottomley maintain 650 to 700 Droughtmaster breeders on their breeding

property Monash, joining at a ratio of 50/50 to Droughtmaster and Limousin bulls to target the MSA grass-finished market.

More recently they have focused on also sup-plying to the premium EU market and the newly created domestic Pasturefed Certified Assurance Scheme (PCAS) segment.

However, the couple feel the real backbone to their operation is in the strength of their Droughtmaster breeders.

According to Steve, the Droughtmaster cow is

the most suitable animal type for their operation and land type.

“They are essentially a hybrid animal with a medium frame, docility, and have good carcase characteristics, few calving difficulties and are tick resistance,” he said.

Steve and Vicki manage their operation over two properties in the Comet district.

Pictured in November last year, Steve and Vicki Bottomley, Zara, Comet, where Droughtmaster genetics are the backbone of their grassfed operation.

Droughtmasters backbone of Comet operation


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QC

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All breeders are run on Monash, which is fondly referred to as the ‘breeder engine of their operation’, while steers and heifers are finished on Zara.

Both properties are located south of Comet, and are in easy access to each other.

“The Limousin-cross progeny are nearly all terminal, with only a few of the heifers return-ing to Monash as breeders,” Steve said.

“The choice of the Limousin as opposed to other Euro/British breeds again comes down to ease of operation and market suitability.

“With grass-finishing options, the Droughtmaster/ Limousin does the job for us and fits well with the Droughtmaster herd.

“We are intent on breeding an ‘easy care’ beast, as we operate here with just the two of us – my wife Vicki, and me – with mustering support from our valued neighbours, the Barlow family.

“What we are sincerely hoping is the PCAS system can gain enough traction to become a force in red-meat retailing, as it ticks the cus-tomer boxes of ‘free range non-factory farming’, plus the essential underpinning of MSA eating quality.

The Bottomleys relocate all weaners onto Zara from Monash after the Comet Campdraft, in September.

They are walked for two days into Comet then trucked to Zara after the event.

The steer portion is grown out and sold direct to the processors at 600kg to 650kg live-weight.

The heifer portion can be handled in different ways depending on the season and markets, but usually 70 Droughtmasters, once grown out, are returned to Monash as replacement breed-ers.

“We then market half of the remainder as we see fit,” Steve said.


Steve with the nutrient-rich water medication containing a blend of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur that is maintaining condition and health in his herd.

Water medication for Monash cattle

THE Bottomleys are great believers in water medication and have been using this method for the past 15 years.

“We have now got to the stage where we have an effective and inexpensive livestock supple-mentary feeding program in place across both properties,” Steve said.

“The benefits are more than obvious in times like at present, with a difficult season rolling on.

“Stock on the water injected mixture are significantly better off than those not, and at a daily cost well below any alternative.

“The methodology is now mature and re sear-ched, and should be more widely accepted.”

Every trough has the pipework set up to plug on one of these assemblies, with the unit being moved to the next paddock as stock get moved.

“Our water medication focuses on the three main nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur,” he said.

“The basic theory here is we are feeding the rumen microbes with protein (urea) that in turn is consumed by the bovine.

“The phosphorus is an essential animal nutri-ent, as is the sulphur.

“With water medication, every animal re-ceives its portion, and is often self-regulating with pasture condition determining water us-age.

“We get this from a mixture of urea, urea phosphate and sulphate of ammonia.

“Until last year we have simply purchased this pre-mixed from Pasture and Feedlot Sys-tems, but are now mixing our own.

“This costs 9 to 10 cents a day for a lactating cow when it’s dry.

“We monitor the water PH and have different mixtures for different water points with dif-ferent water, often from bores, and the PH is driven down further with hydrochloric acid if needed.

“When it gets dry or frosted, we also add a multi-mineral liquid from PFS to aid in general breeder well-being.”

The couple do not run centralised dosing and prefer a small unit at each trough, or a group of two troughs.

“This way you don’t have a pipeline full of reactive water, and a different concentration or mix can be tailored for the stock at that point,” Steve said.

“Further, a float-valve malfunction only wastes the small amount of concentrate at that trough, and this has worked well for us now for many years.”

With grass finishing options,

the Droughtmaster/Limousin does the job

for us and fits well with the Droughtmaster

herd.

QC1642896

“IF we had known about farm succession planning, we would still have the family farm, and if we still had the family farm,

our family would still be together.”These were the words spoken to me about 18

months ago in Toowoomba, just after I had delivered a seminar on farm succession planning.

The importance of succession planning cannot be underestimated, and many of the processes

can be easy and inexpensive to implement.Consider the following case study:Doug and Janelle have three children, Peter,

John and Mary. Peter and John are actively involved in the farm business and Mary lives close by.

There was increasing concern over the farm suc cession plan as John had recently married and wanted to secure his future in farming, while neither Mary nor Peter, who were also married, had shown any interest in staying on the land.

Increases in land values and disagreements between spouses prompted the family to seek succession planning advice.

Their main issues were:● Being afraid of succession planning.● How to resolve and agree the farm succession plan.● Retirement planning for the parents.● How to value the farm and obtain adequate suc cessor funding.● How to provide for each ‘dependant’ equitably and fairly.

The solution implemented had four steps:1. Education and fact finding.2. Negotiating an agreed plan. (A farm value

gap analysis was undertaken by WLW and all family members were required to agree to par-ticipate in a farm succession planning workshop facilitated by WLW. This enabled the family to openly discuss and agree on the farm succession plan in a proactive environment).

3. Implementation (valuation and funding).It was agreed the transfer of the farm business

to John would occur in two stages: livestock (stage 1) and land (stage 2) over a period of five years so Doug and Janelle could exit slowly from the farming business and monitor John’s progress and development. The land was transferred at ‘generational value’, determined as the maximum amount the bank would lend to John to purchase the farm (i.e. 60 per cent of market value). The difference between the market and ‘generational value’ was recorded as an interest-free loan to John to be forgiven by Doug and Janelle, via their wills, at time of death.

4. Documentation and support.Doug and Janelle’s wills were updated to reflect

the forgiveness of debt for John and the equita-ble distribution of their remaining wealth to Peter and Mary equally. Doug and Janelle also estab-lished a trust to provide benefits to their grand-children, and a financial plan was prepared.

Getting the right help to address what can be difficult and complex issues is critical, and the sooner you start the process, the better.

WLW provides members of the Droughtmaster Society the first consultation free of charge.● Article prepared by Ian Mortley, WLW Group. Phone 1300 937 724.

Why it’s so vital to havea plan

in place


Getting the right help to address what can be difficult and complex issues is critical, and

the sooner you start the process, the better.

2014 SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND DROUGHTMASTER STORE

SHOW AND SALETHURSDAY 10 APRIL, BIGGENDEN SALEYARDS

Quality Cattle, High Demand, Great PromotionSee website for details: www.burnettlr.com.au or www.droughtmaster.com.au

Contact: Lance Whitaker – Burnett Livestock & Realty – 4127 1277 or 0407 139901Neil Donaldson – Droughtmaster Society – 0428 796 330

Great range of prizes supplied by our generous sponsors: Queensland Country Life, Ken Mills Toyota, Virbac Animal Health,

Landmark Mundubbera, Engel Fridges, Heritage Seeds, Goldmix Stock Feeds and many more.

QC

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A PLAN to help drought-affected families feed their horses is gaining traction.

The idea came to Stan Johnston, Craig-lea Stud, Kenilworth, as he was driving back from a race meet in Townsville.

“They interviewed a little girl on the radio and she said her family owned a property outside Prairie and it was getting very dry,” he said.

“Her dad has having to sell cattle and she had two or three little ponies that were struggling in the dry, so I thought we might be able to do something.”

Mr Johnston touched base with the Thorough-bred Breeders Queensland Association, Droughtmaster Stud Breeders Society and hay merchant Peter Doyle, Kynoona Pastoral, Grantham. Together they hatched a plan to deliver 10 bales of hay to each affected pony or horse, free of charge where possible.

“It is going to be a major task to get the hay out there,” Mr Johnston said.

“Between the Droughtmaster Society and the racing industry, we have a broad network of trainers and owners who want to help get hay out to these little girls who are desperate

to feed their ponies.”Hay merchant Peter Doyle knows first hand

how forces of nature can have a devastating impact on businesses and families.

Following the 2011 floods, no lucerne was able to be grown in the Lockyer Valley for six to seven months.

Mr Doyle had to travel as far afield as South Australia to source hay and chaff for his business.

“A lot of people in western Queensland would have donated money to the people of Grantham,” he said. “Stan and I are now out talking to peo-ple to donate hay to support the kids out west.”

Mr Doyle said to transport a bale of hay from the Lockyer Valley to Winton was $6 to $7, plus the cost of freight and GST – prime lucerne in the west could cost $16 to $18.

For a family struggling with drought, buying hay is yet another hefty expense, and the support of a stranger could make all the difference.

Mr Johnston and Mr Doyle have done two hay runs since Christmas, with a third planned soon.● If you are interested in donating hay, or need a helping hand to feed your pony, email: [email protected]

Hay help plangains momentum


Malanda heifers to $1250

THE Atherton Tableland played host again this year to the 11th annual Droughtmaster Malanda Female Sale on January 25. The registered fe -male cattle offered were of a high standard, and some lucky buyers picked up excellent heifers and PTIC animals in an overall buyers’ market. Commercial females and steers also went under the hammer at value for money.The top-priced registered Droughtmaster cow with heifer calf at foot was Peter Bauer’s Warrina Upperclass (P) D5 which sold at $1250. Bidding was stiff for the high-class PTIC female, offering superb value to buyers Peter and Ann Woollett, Pegasus Park Stud, Nardoo Pastoral Company.The highest price for a registered unjoined Droughtmaster heifer went to Barry and Barb Shephard’s foundation stud Kanbrae, with Kanbrae Fear (P) D5 sold at $1100 to discerning buyers Kevin and Iris Lambert from Mt Fisher Stud. The best-priced pen of unjoined commercial heifers were from Steve Rockley’s Dunmore Droughtmaster Stud, and these were knocked down to the day’s bulk buyer, Dave Dickson of Tarzali, at $660. The-top priced pen of 13-month commercial steers from the Drury family at Ravenshoe also went for good value at $525 (about $1.60/kg).

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JOANNA Stewart-Moore, wife of the late John Stewart-Moore (Drought master Society foun-ding member, former president and for mer patron) died peacefully on November 23 at

the age of 93.Born in England, Joanna was 19 at the outbreak

of World War II and joined the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s army).

Her work was mostly driving trucks and ambulances. This was definitely not fun during the Blitz, but there were other aspects to the jobs.

While in the relative safety of Scotland, driving officers around from one administrative assign-ment to another, she met young naval officer John Stewart-Moore at a social evening given by her troop.

John came from Ireland but had been born in Australia, before his father put a manager on Dunluce, his sheep station near Hughenden, and returned to look after his father’s Irish farm.

Joanna married John in 1943. Daughter Carol was born at the end of the war.

As John had been schooled at naval college, he expected the navy to be his career.

When he was invalided out due to damage to his eyes, decisions had to be made about the future of his little family.

Blocks of land were available for ballot in Queensland from Telemon, next door to Dun-luce, and this was one of the alternatives con-sidered.

Perhaps it was a sense of adventure that made it more attractive than other propositions.

As it turned out, the war was probably the best training Joanna could have had for life on the station.

As an ATS driver, she had to do all servicing and mechanical repairs, and this was often use-ful if something broke down.

Organising a troop of young women was not all that different to running a station – ordering supplies, dealing with staff, general household maintenance, teaching correspondence lessons, even long-distance driving.

The one thing that did bother her was com-munication, but even this was improving as airmail started to replace sea mail.

Joanna wrote many letters home to her family, and the ones that have been kept provide inter-esting insight to life in those times.

Ninian was born in the early 1950s but never knew the joys of correspondence school.

John had more eye trouble and it was suggested he avoid glare and dust, which is not easy in the north-west, so again a manager was engaged and the family moved south, to Toogoolawah.

Glare and dust probably weren’t very much less in south-east Queensland, but John felt he was following doctor’s orders, and here he was able to indulge a growing passion for breeding cattle.

Using a Santa Gertrudis bull and Brahman- infused cows, Charraboon was one of the first studs registered in the Droughtmaster Society.

John always felt he’d had more to do with building the society than the breed, which he credited to other Droughtie pioneers.

Joanna enjoyed being closer to her neighbours and having a kinder climate for her garden, and as air travel became more accessible, she was able to visit her family more often than long sea voyages had allowed.

She also enjoyed being a member of the QCWA and Red Cross, and latterly was a keen volunteer at the Wesley Hospital Breast Clinic.

Another move came in the 1960s after Gordon Ferguson bought Charraboon and the stud.

The Brisbane house on the river had a bigger garden for Joanna, but no room for cattle.

Telemon Droughtmaster Stud took over where Charraboon had left off, and continues to flour-ish.

Though it seemed impossible that the Brisbane flood of 1974 would reach their house, it did, but restoration went ahead with military preci-sion.

After Ninian took over management of Dunluce and Telemon, John and Joanna moved north too, but sold the house and acquired a unit in Brisbane as a second home. Joanna divided her time between Brisbane and the north, and periodically continued to visit her family overseas.

John finally retired, permanently this time, to the Brisbane unit, and later they both moved to Aveo (Forest Place) at Durack.

Joanna had a long and interesting life. She had never been one for the cattle yard

(though she would help muster sheep in the early days at Telemon), but she loved the cattle and was extremely proud of the Drought-master breed.

Joanna Stewart-Moore sashes the grand champion Droughtmaster cow at the Royal Queensland Show in 1995.

Always proud of the Droughtmaster breed


Using a Santa Gertrudis bull and Brahman-infused

cows, Charraboon wasone of the first studs

registered in the Droughtmaster Society.


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BREEDERS BULLETIN BOARD

“THE PRIME REPRODUCER”J.S., M.A. & T.S. LLOYD

‘HEITIKI’ DELUNGRA(02) 6724 8225(02) 6724 8362

Email: [email protected]

DROUGHTMASTERS

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Stud No. 1095

Brett and Gordon Weick808 Oakey Creek Road

Piallaway, NSW 2342

Property Inspections Invited

Ph/Fax (02) 6744 5289Mob 0448 679 697

E: [email protected]

BARWONGA DROUGHTMASTERS

CedardaleDroughtmasters No. 307

BREEDING FOR PERFORMANCE AND FERTILITYInquiries welcome to

Neil and Margaret WarnePh: (02) 6663 7094Mob: 0400 426 232

Email: [email protected] 1642

869

For Temperament,Fertility & GrowthWee Waa NSW 2388

Hugh FarisPhone: (02) 6795 6149

Mob: 0428 956 [email protected]

IVANHOE

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Quiet Quality Stud and Commercial Cattle for Sale

Inquiries:Allen Walker

Kilcoy and TanseyPh/Fax: (07) 5498 1053

Mobile 0411 725 030E: [email protected] 16

4317

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MANCHESTERDROUGHTMASTERS

Performance Under Pressure Without

ChemicalsNo Dip Spray or Drench since 1985Think how much money we’ve saved!

Contact: Ken Shaw(07) 5447 7233

Mob: 0407 137 571E: [email protected]

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LorandaleLorandaleDroughtmasters

Registered Stud No. 1024Quality Droughtmasters exhibiting:

• Size • Muscling• Temperament • Fertility

Dale & Lee SmithLot 2 Boyle Road

Belli Park QldPhone (07) 5447 9395Mobile 0409 631 523Fax (07) 5447 9265

[email protected]

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GRANDVIEWDROUGHTMASTERS

BOONAH

Greg & Dianne AndersonInquiries welcome

Ph: (07) 5463 43280429 440 886

Top quality & sound genetics

Top quality & sound genetics

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ANCHOREDON QUALITYwww.mtbrisbane.com.aufacebook.com/mtbrisbaneJohn, Carli or Don McConnel

Mt Brisbane Phone (07) 5426 0169ESK Qld 4312 Don (07) 5426 0285Email: [email protected]

1642

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Nick and Sarah HughesFarogan Road

Upper Kandanga 4570 QLDPh (07) 5488 4352

0400 709 124E: [email protected]

www.farogan.netStud No. 1269

Farogan ValleyDroughtmasters

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Brand with a history...Cattle with a future

Contact:Kylie Graham

“Farnham”Taroom, Qld 4420Ph: (07) 4627 8145Mob: 0409 040 030

E: [email protected] 1642

859

REDWINGDroughtmastersDroughtmasters

Bred for Docility with Quality

you can TrustADELE JONES

117 GREENMOUNT NOBBY RD, GREENMOUNT, Q 4359 VIA TOOWOOMBA

Inquiries Welcome

Ph: (07) 4697 1257Email: [email protected]

www.redwing.net.au

1642

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Our genetics fatten off grass efficiently

Scott & Tracy SewellPhone (07) 4654 5107

www.wingstar.com.au

Augathella Qld • Stud No 1089

Droughtmasters

Stud # 1107 S.M. Harms & Sons Brand 4DI

Droughtmaster Stud• Docility• Fertility• Adaptability

Greg & Sharon HarmsGreenmount, Qld

Ph: (07) 4697 1007Mobile: 0413 583 084

www.oakmoreparkdroughtmasters.com.au


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InquiriesKen & Kathy or Jim & Amelia Stower

Ph: (07) 4695 4145Fax: (07) 4695 4180 Mobile 0427 154 323

MS 1231 Millmerran, Qld 4357E: [email protected]

DEVELOPED IN AUSTRALIA FOR

AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS

BRANDSTUD No

408

1642

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1642

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BREFFNIDroughtmasters

ChinchillaNo. 1524 Y07

Inquiries WelcomeDAVID & ROBYN McCABE

Mobile 0427 658 153A/h: (07) 4665 8153


}

RM .

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ED.Contact: Anthony Anderson

(07) 4746 7221Mob: 0458 467 221


EDDINGTONDROUGHTMASTER

JULIA CREEKBULLS

AVAILABLE& ACCREDITED

FEMALESALL ENQUIRIES WELCOME

1642

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A continuing tradition of consistent quality

Estab. 1962

MARGARET C WILSONPO Box 7, “The Valley”, Blackbutt, Qld 4306

P/F (07) 4163 0103Email: [email protected]

www.truvalle.com.au

TRUVALLETHE HOME OFDROUGHTMASTERS

STUD No 22 1642

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Droughtmaster StudRoger Webber & Family81 William Webber Road,Cloyna, Qld 4605P (07) 4168 6137M 0477 274 432E [email protected]

1642829

1643211

QUALITY up and coming cattle of the Droughtmaster breed are being pre-pared for the annual Gatton futurity on

March 1, at 8.30am.Judge Shane Perry, Strathfield stud, Clermont

and associate judge Amy Williams, Barron Valley stud, Malanda, will have their work cut out at Gatton Showgrounds assessing a nominated 140 head from 31 exhibitors.

Again exhibitors will compete for many out-standing trophies donated by generous sponsors and supporters.

The office staff will be on hand with plenty of merchandise for sale, including many items on special.

A canteen run by the Gatton Show Society auxiliary will provide delicious options for lunch, morning tea and breakfast for those who are there bright and early.

Don’t forget to take a hat and a chair.


Time for young to shine in

Regan Harms, Oakmore Park Droughtmasters, Greenmount, with Oakmore Karfy, who was the winner of the 7 to under 9 month class at last year’s Gatton Droughtmaster Futurity. – Picture: SARAH COULTON.

GattonGatton

BREEDERS BULLETIN BOARD

Stud No. 963PURNELL FAMILYROCKHAMPTONWe welcomed a new sire,

Glenlands D Roebuck in 2013Visitors and inquiries welcome

Ph: (07) 4927 1104Fax: (07) 4927 1166Michael 0429 815 074

[email protected]

2DP>P.

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STUD & COMMERCIAL CATTLE

“THEY WORK FOR YOU”Contact Hugh & Sherri Philp

“Wyena” Clermont QLD(07) 4983 5022

Hugh – 0428 494 177Sherri – 0428 835 577

[email protected]

VALLEYVALLEYDroughtmaster Stud No. 31

ZD1S

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genetics suit requirements for all markets

Try a KM DROUGHTMASTERfor extra GROWTH

Ken & Cindy Muller & Family800 Valentine Plains Rd, Biloela

Ph: (07) 4992 2512Mob: 0408 922 512


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LAMONT DROUGHTMASTER STUD

Mac & Gayle Shann‘Cantaur Park’Clermont Qld 4721

p 07 4983 5246m 0407 835 246

www.cantaurpark.com.au1642823

Sam and Jane Barton Clermont(07) 4985 6104 or 0428 856 104

“A mountainof beef...”

Stud 23

1642

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STUD 1136Graeme & Cathy

WestheadPh/Fax: (07) 4956 5833Mobile: 0402 009 337

151 Upper Alligator Creek Rd, Sarina, Qld 4737

Email: shardaledroughties @bigpond.com

1643212

Breeders’ Bulletin BoardADVERTISE YOUR DROUGHTMASTER STUD

FOR 2014AUGUST – DECEMBER = $100 INC GST

BOOKING AND COPY BYMONDAY 1ST JULY, 2014

Phone Margaret (07) 3826 8282Email: [email protected]

One-stop website to

offer tradingplatform


BEEF producers will soon have a ‘one-stop’ website to source and sell their Droughtmaster and

Droughtmaster-cross products in one convenient location at a reasonable price.

Droughtmaster Australia CEO Neil Donaldson said the website droughtmas-teronlinetrader.com was designed to allow commercial and stud buyers and sellers to ‘shop’ in the one spot.

The website is accessible direct or through the For Sale section of the society website droughtmaster.com.au.

Features of the new Online Trader site are: ● All ‘wanted’ listings are no charge. ● All ‘commercial classified’ listings will be free for a three-month introductory period and then charged at $20 per listing. Listing is online until sold and also posted on the ‘Droughtmaster Online Trader’ Facebook page. ● All stud cattle classified listings will be charged at $30 per listing for three

months and also posted on the Droughtmaster Online Trader Facebook page.● Droughtmaster Society-sponsored sale logos will be listed on pages throughout the website and linked to sale website.● Private sale logos will also be listed and linked back to their sale website for a maximum of three months. ● Advertisers are allowed to submit up to four photos with unlimited text, drafted by the advertiser. Photos will remain for a three-month period.● For details contact the Droughtmaster Society at [email protected]

DROUGHTMASTER EVENTS- 2014 -

DROUGHTMASTER SALESMalanda Female Sale ............................................................................................................................................................................25 JanuaryAll Breeds Sale, Rockhampton ...............................................................................................................................................18 & 19 FebruaryVitwood Female Major Reduction, Gympie ....................................................................................................................................... 1 MarchNational Female Sale, Gympie ................................................................................................................................................................ 8 MarchBillabong Heart of the Herd, Gracemere .................................................................................................................................10 & 11 MarchHighlands Sale, Clermont .......................................................................................................................................................................14 March Narngulu Bull Sale, WA.................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 AprilDiamantina Sale, Winton .............................................................................................................................................................................16 May RSVP Online Semen Sale ............................................................................................................................................................................14 JuneVale View & High Country “Performance Plus” Bull & Female Sale, Toogoolawah ............................................................23 AugustAll Red Sale, Gracemere .........................................................................................................................................................................28 AugustVitwood Bull Showcase Sale, Susan River .......................................................................................................................................30 AugustHeitiki Sale, Delungra ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4 SeptemberGlen Fosslyn Sale, Roma .................................................................................................................................................................. 6 SeptemberCapricorn Sale, Glenmorgan .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 September Piggott Sale, Springsure ................................................................................................................................................................10 September Valera Vale Sale, Augathella .........................................................................................................................................................12 SeptemberNational Bull Sale, Rockhampton .....................................................................................................................................16 & 17 SeptemberClonlara Sale, Glenmorgan ...........................................................................................................................................................24 SeptemberBillabong Sale, Moura ....................................................................................................................................................................25 SeptemberGlenlands Sale, Bouldercombe ...................................................................................................................................................26 September Wolfang Annual Sale, Longreach .....................................................................................................................................................10 OctoberArtesian Sale, Blackall ...........................................................................................................................................................................13 OctoberNQ Sale, Charters Towers ....................................................................................................................................................................20 OctoberTropical Breeds Sale, Roma ................................................................................................................................................................24 OctoberCQ Spring Female Classic Sale, Emerald ......................................................................................................................................3 NovemberMonty Atkinson Genetics Sale, Charters Towers ................................................................................................................... 10 NovemberCentral Reds Invitational Bull Sale, Emerald ............................................................................................................................ 17 November

SPECIAL EVENTSFuturity Show, Gatton ................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 MarchSth Qld Droughtmaster Store Cattle Show & Sale, Biggenden ....................................................................................................10 AprilDroughtmaster Feature Show, Emerald ..........................................................................................................................................3 & 4 JuneRoyal Queensland Show Judging, Brisbane ..................................................................................................................................... 7 August Droughtmaster Society AGM, Brisbane ............................................................................................................................................. 7 August

1643

213

It is designed to allow commercial

and stud buyers and sellers to ‘shop’ in

the one spot.


QC1643225

QC1643129

2 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST February 2014 - c.cld.pwc.cld.pw/30/articles/resources/1402-DigestPDF.pdf ·...

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