Our Cattle
The Herd
Our herd is a couple of thousand self replacing, spring calving Angus. All our cattle are APR or APR Base eligible with Angus Australia.
Breeding Focus
Our approach to breeding and genetics is to focus on the biggest influences to profitability and management.
We try to source the highest indexing and structurally sound semen sires available at the time. Then we shorten our genetic interval as much as practical by presenting all our replacement heifers to AI and heavy use of yearling bulls.
All of our herd bulls are born unassisted to first calving heifers. Their mothers conceived in the first AI cycle and got straight back in calf at their next mating. We avoid using low birth-weight 'heifer bulls' in order to apply selection pressure on our replacement females, this has resulted in a cow herd that doesn't have any calving or joining problems while being run in varying situations. We farm high quality pastures with intensive rotations and get great productivity. The cows achieve good pregnancy and weaning rates while grazing poor pastures on leased ground.
We also take the view that if an animal would have failed without husbandry then it doesn't stay in the herd. Therefore females that receive any individual treatments or assistance along with their calf is culled from the breeding herd.
Health and Handling
Animal handling, health and welfare are priority's for us.
We put lots of time and effort into stockmanship skills and handling practices to keep animals as calm and comfortable as we can manage. This has left us with cattle that are usually very easy and rewarding to work with.
Reference Sires
We aim to use three or four AI Sires every year that best represent our breeding objectives at the time. We add a couple of new AI Sires each year, only using them 2 years in a row.
Recent AI Sires used are;
2023 - Connamara P64 VHGP64
Sitz Stellar 726D USA18397542
Sterling Pacific 904 USA19444025
2022 - SS Brickyard USA18860371
Sitz Stellar 726D USA18397542
Chiltern Park Moe GTNM6
Sterling Pacific 904 USA19444025
2021 - Clunes Crossing Dusty QMUM13
Clunie Range Plantation NBHP392
Chiltern Park Moe GTNM6
Naranda Pimp WLGP5
2020 - Clunes Crossing Dusty QMUM13
G A R Ashland USA18217198
Verilek Geddes USA18886461
Clunie Range Plantation NBHP392
2019 - S Whitlock 179 USA17007891
G A R Ashland USA18217198,
Verilek Geddes USA18886461
2018 - S Whitlock 179 USA17007891
PA Full Power USA16981588
EF Commando USA17082311
2017 - PA Full Power USA16981588
EF Commando USA17082311
Pathfinder Komplete K22
2016 - Esselmont Lotto WWEL3
Shielfelbein Effective USA17065105
Carabar Docklands QHED62
Ayrvale Bartel HIOE7
Some influential bulls prior to this were Ayrvale Bartel, Carabar Docklands, Pathfinder Goldmark and Lawsons Dinki Di