Droughtmaster Feb 2018

DROUGHTMASTER FEBRUARY F EBRUARY 2 2018 018

CONTENTS

P.8

P.16

4

President’s Paragraph

5

Beef 2018 Outlook

8

National Female Sale Preview

12

Sale Previews

16

Droughties Performing Well at The Garden

18

Sale Reviews

20

Tech Innovations at Fossil Downs

24

Northern BIN Steer Project Update

28

Hannah’s Passion for the Cattle Industry

30

Gympie High on the RISE

34

Droughtie Delight at St George

39

A Tribute to a Pastoral Trailblazer

41

Warwick Gold for Droughties

P.30

breeders bulletin board

Get in early.

Advertise your Droughmaster stud for 2018/19 $150 inc GST for 3 Editions August - December - February

P.34 4

Phone Margaret (07) 3826 8282 Email:margaret.ward@fairfaxmedia.com.au

AUGUST DIGEST DEADLINES ADVERTISING BOOKINGS AND COPY: JUNE 29, 2018.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

February 2018

3

MESSAGES

President’s Paragraph As Neil points out with all his statistics, the Droughtmaster breed is growing in popularity and growing in numbers. With such dominating breed numbers already, this can only mean Droughtmasters are continuing to prove themselves to the breeders and the marketplace We extracted the data on the average commercial dollar value of bulls sold, external to the stud market and without doubt Droughtmaster bulls are certainly well within the reach of the average Australian beef producer. I believe press releases, etc are valuable, but they tend to skew the actual price for which we can really purchase strong outstanding genetics.

Beef 2018 is just around the corner, and we are excited about displaying some great cattle and the chance to meet and greet all those who have or are interested in Droughtmasters. We believe it’s time to celebrate what a great contribution the Droughtmaster female has made and will continue to make for Australian beef producers. Beef 2018 will also be a great chance for seed stock producers to purchase some great genetics at the “Leading Ladies” & Beef Genetics Sale, which will showcase led females, embryos, pregnancy tested recipients and semen.

Times are changing, and new technologies keep knocking at our door. Inevitably these changes creep their way in to our minds and start to have some effect on our management decisions. Not every new idea is good but likewise not every new idea is bad. I believe it’s a year to try and understand these changes and or ideas and to just consider the adoption of even just one.

Whether it is gene testing or a new vaccine or simply a different way of measuring production, it may just make a difference to your profit margin. There certainly are some great things happening around the use of drones, etc in not only allowing more man hours completing work versus travelling, but many aspects around health and safety. It can all be a bit overwhelming, but just think of one that is of interest and better understand if it can be implemented and will it be a benefit to your operation, your profit or your land and cattle.

Looking Ahead This year augers well for the Droughtmaster breed following strong demand for bulls and females in 2017, particularly in the latter half of the year when most areas had experienced a break in the season.

Auctions sales for bulls saw an 18% increase in numbers sold compared with 2016, which followed the trend from the previous three years, generating a four year growth rate of 71%.

2017 clearance rates remained at a strong 93%, indicating buyer’s ongoing confidence in the breed. Even though buyers invested more than $14 million on Droughtmaster bulls in 2017 (up 10% year on year), bull prices still remained affordable.

While the overall auction average was $7,580, an analysis of major bull sales indicated commercial buyers were able to purchase bulls for an average of about $6,300. Demand for Droughtmaster bulls purchased out of the paddock, also increased significantly in 2017 and will continue to be strong in 2018, given the preference for this type of trading by volume buyers.

The Australian Beef Industry in general has the opportunity to make monumental gains in production efficiencies through DNA technologies, and the Droughtmaster breed is ensuring they are one of the leading breeds in this field, so commercial Droughtmaster breeders can take advantage of these exciting advances as they become available to the general cattle community.

Beef Australia 2018 in Rockhampton in May is shaping up to be a wonderful spectacular once again, and the Droughtmaster breed will be showcasing its outstanding qualities as usual with large numbers nominated in the stud and commercial judging competitions. Make sure you call in for a cuppa or a cold drink at the Droughtmaster Society exhibition site while you’re there. We look forward to catching up with current Droughtmaster breeders and potential breeders during this wonderful expo.

We’re also excited by the opportunity to showcase our unique breed to the many international visitors who will be attending Beef 2018.

I wish you a happy, safe and prosperous new year.

Unfortunately 2017 ended on a sad note with the passing of pioneer breeder Ted Hart in November. A tribute to Ted is included in this edition.

PAUL LAYCOCK President

NEIL DONALDSON CEO

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February 2018

DROUGHTMASTER STUD BREEDERS’ SOCIETY ACN 010 129 683 40 Thorn Street, Ipswich, QLD 4305 Phone: (07) 3281 0056 Fax: (07) 3281 7957 Email: office@droughtmaster.com.au

PATRON John Gardner

BOARD PRESIDENT Paul Laycock 0438 788 201 VICE-PRESIDENT Douglas Birch 07 4167 5139 DIRECTORS Far Northern Zone Jeff Williams 0418 755 279 Northern Zone Vacant Central Zone Douglas Birch 07 4167 5139 South East Zone Brian Heck (07) 5484 9183 Southern Zone Sharon Harms 0413 583 084 Far Southern Zone Timothy Lloyd (02) 6724 8362 Western Zone Vacant National Dean Allen 0427 962 439 Douglas Miles (07) 4934 7645 Kevin Woolcock (07) 4984 1085 SPECIAL SKILLS DIRECTOR Paul Laycock 0438 788 201 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Neil Donaldson 0428 796 330 OFFICE MANAGER Samantha Horridge REGISTRAR Carmel Bell ACCOUNTS Toni Franklin ADMINISTRATION Leigh Eleison TECHNICAL OFFICERS Paul Williams 0427 018 982 Tim Emery 0408 707 155 DIGEST PRODUCTION Editor: Matt Sherrington Editorial & Advertising Fairfax Agricultural Media Queensland PO Box 586, Cleveland 4163 Phone: (07) 3826 8200 Fax: (07) 3821 1236

www.droughtmaster.com.au Droughties enjoying a drink at the 394,000 hectare pure Droughtmaster breeding operation Fossil Downs situated on the Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley, WA. Manager Rick Ford has been embracing agricultural technology innovations on-property to help improve animal welfare, staff safety and overall efficiency. Photo courtesy of Stacey Ford, Fossil Downs, Fitzroy Crossing

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER LIKE US ON FACEBOOK 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 photographs may not be used without authorisation.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

Fitzroy Crossing BULL SALE DROUGHTMASTER BULL SALE

NEWS

Strong Droughtie Presence Expected for Beef 2018

A

ustralia’s biggest cattle exposition, Beef 2018, is a significant part of the Droughtmaster events calendar this year.

Droughtmasters have been one of the most numerous breeds on display at past expos, so organisers are expecting record nominations for the stud classes.

Traditionally, entries for the expo come from throughout Queensland and NSW for the well-attended event.

Droughtmaster stud judging will be held on Wednesday May 9.

The Australian Beef Cattle Championships, which are held in conjunction with each Beef Expo will once again be well supported by Droughtmaster breeders. The championships cover steers and females in both grassfed and grainfed divisions and traditionally attract large entries from almost every breed and from all points of the compass.

Droughtmasters have been grand champions at seven of the past 10 championships.

The once in a lifetime Droughtmaster “Leading Ladies” & Beef Genetics Sale will take place on Tuesday, May 8, in the Droughtmaster hospitality marquee.

Droughtmasters have been one of the most numerous breeds on display at past expos, so organisers are expecting record nominations for the stud classes at Beef 2018.

A new initiative this year is the Virtual Reality Tours – make sure you come along to the Droughtmaster site and check out this exciting new technology.

The society will be selling a range of promotional clothing and other bits and pieces, so be sure to call into the

Droughtmaster marquee which is conveniently located at the main entry to the judging arena.

Beef 2018 will be held at the Rockhampton Showground from May 6 to 12.

For further information go to www.beefaustralia.com.au.

Top Droughtie genetics on offer at Beef ‘18

D

roughtmaster Australia will be conducting an auction of leading Droughtmaster genetics during Beef 2018.

This special sale, titled the “Leading Ladies” & Beef Genetics Sale will feature led registered females, plus semen, embryos and PTIC recipients.

Limited to just 30 lots for the whole sale (including led females, semen packages, embryos and PTIC recipients) with a maximum of five lots per vendor, the sale will offer some of the leading genetics in Australia.

All the led females offered will be nominated for Beef 2018 stud judging, and will be available for potential buyers to inspect at Beef 2018.

Internet bidding and live streaming will be combined with the traditional auction system to ensure buyers locally and internationally have extensive access to the outstanding genetics catalogued at this auction.

prior to the sale and all semen straws will be tested and certified as viable prior to cataloguing.

This exceptional, once in a lifetime sale will be conducted in the Droughtmaster Australia marquee at the Rockhampton Showgrounds, on Tuesday, May 8, the day prior to the Droughtmaster stud judging.

For further details contact the Society.

All live animals will be inspected by society classifiers prior to cataloguing; all lots will also have passed parental verification by DNA

Spectacular Stud Cattle Gearing up for Gatton

T

he 33rd Annual Droughtmaster Futurity Show at Gatton is gearing up to be another spectacular showing of stud cattle.

Judge Steve Farmer, sponsor Margaret Wilson, associate judge Lauren Finger and Ayden Williams, Toogoolawah High with 2017 Gatton Show Grand Champion, Mt Brisbane Heidi.

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February 2018

With nominations in excess of 120 head it promises to be a great event which is traditionally attended by several hundred spectators keen to see sires and dams of the future, many of which will be appearing at Beef 2018 in May.

Long term supporters of the breed and the Society, WFI Insurance are once again major sponsors of the Futurity. Mark your calendars for March 3, 2018 and get out to the Gatton Showgrounds. Don’t forget your hat and a chair. Refreshments and food are available at the grounds.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

SALE PREVIEW

National Female Sale flush with genetics

By Matt Sherrington

A

fresh influx of genetics from many of the Droughtmaster breed’s leading studs will leave prospective buyers spoilt for choice with ways to enhance their respective breeding programs when the National Female Sale takes place at Gympie Saleyards on Saturday, March 10, from 9am.

A total of 25 returning and first-time vendors encompassing a large geographical spread stretching from Emerald to Boonah have chosen 149 of their very best females including 126 unjoined heifers, 20 joined heifers, and three cows and calves - which will go under the hammer at the Gympie Saleyards, where the sale has been held for its entire 37 year existence.

Sale coordinator Brian Heck said past results have shown that the sale provides solid value for money year-in and year-out for the sales’ buyers.

“There will be plenty of options for buyers to choose from, with the impressive bloodlines flowing through the females selected for the sale sure to help them bolster their commercial and/or stud breeding programs,” Brian said.

“The sale has always proven to provide buyers from large and small scale operations, with quality females at affordable prices.”

Kerri McKenzie, Hamadra Droughtmasters with Christian and Jordan Brooks, Major Droughtmasters, Wivenhoe Pocket and the $15,000, 2017 sale topper, Hamadra Golden Girl.

The sale draft will be available for preinspection from Friday, March 9 at 3pm, with a barbecue sponsored by Landmark and Sullivan Livestock & Rural Services to follow on at the saleyards from 6.30pm.

“I encourage all vendors, prospective buyers and sale supporters to come and take a good look at the females included in the sale catalogue, then stay on for the drinks and barbie, as it always provides a relaxed way for all involved in the sale to have a yarn and get to know each other better. And be sure to stay on after the sale for the traditional post-sale feed of pizza sponsored by Elders.”

To access all the latest news, vendor information, and photos, details and video of the dale lots please visit dmnfemalesale. com.au.

For sale enquiries and to obtain a sale catalogue please contact the Droughtmaster Society on (07) 3281 0056 or email: office@droughtmaster.com.au, Brian Heck on 0407 714 439 or the sale agents Elders, Landmark and Sullivan Livestock.

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February 2018

Becky and Jim Farquhar, Calco Droughtmasters, Rolleston with Dave McCabe, Breffni Droughtmasters, Chinchilla and 2017 top price joined female Breffni Imelda.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

SALE PREVIEW BRYVONLEA

HAMADRA

TRUVALLE

A 20 year milestone will be reached by Brian and Yvonne Heck and family at this year’s sale where they purchased their first females in 1998.

Since then Bryvonlea Droughtmasters now situated in the Glastonbury Valley, northwest of Gympie, has grown in scope to include over 180 registered breeders.

Bryvonlea will offer three joined females (Lots 21 to 23) all by leading sire Skye Wilfred and joined to Billabong Fergus, and five unjoined females (Lots 27 to 31), while Bryvonlea JBH stud’s Joshua Heck has catalogued three unjoined females (Lots 45 to 47).

“These quality young females representing the depth of 20 years of breeding are aged from 14 to 19 months and represent the sires Skye Wilfred, Vale View Ripper, Billabong Riley and Medway Urie,” Yvonne said.

“Their dam’s pedigrees go back to the stud’s foundation females, Fancy, Edith, Hannah and Trinity.”

She said Lot 27, Bryvonlea Note, is an outstanding young heifer by Billabong Riley that will be on show at the Futurity Show in Gatton.

Andrew and Kerri McKenzie, Hamadra Droughtmasters, Wild Horse Creek, Bluff, will be returning to the National Female Sale for their second year of selling with a draft of 10 unjoined heifers (Lots 58 to 67) from six proven sires.

“We enjoyed last year’s sale and look forward to offering our females there every year,” Kerri said.

“We feel all our heifers have different qualities to offer and we’ve picked a few different types to try and accommodate different breeding programs, but we would’ve been happy to have kept any these young ladies in our breeding program.”

Hamadra’s aim is to breed easy care, early maturing cattle with clean underlines, good udders and plenty of muscle and bone on a moderately framed size animal.

The centrepiece of Hamadra’s program is the production of the highest quality bulls and females, which have the capability to implant their inherited genetic strengths into their progeny in all environments.

For further information of the sale draft visit www.hamadra.com.

South Burnett-based, Truvalle stud principal Margaret Wilson has been supporting the National Female Sale since its inception.

“My late husband, Peter, was one of the ‘driving forces’ behind the sale, and we’ve always enjoyed selling there,” Margaret said.

The breeding program at Truvalle hasn’t changed much since they began using Droughtmasters in the 1960’s.

“Being in ticky lantana country on the eastern side of the Divide, we need to breed cattle that perform well in those conditions.

“The top priority is temperament, while correct conformation and structure, coat type, and good weight for age are also important in our cattle selection process.

“It’s for those qualities that we carry out a controlled mating system to suit the environment.”

Truvalle are offering five unjoined heifers in Lots 32 to 36 (four by Talgai Apache, and one by Lorandale Halo).

Apache has earned more than $300,000 in the sales of his progeny for Truvalle.

Impressive genetics from Billabong, Huntly, Wingfield, Minlacowie, and Garthowen feature in the female bloodlines.

FAROGAN VALLEY A draft of four 17 to 19 month-old unjoined females (Lots 70 to 73) will be offered at this year’s sale by Nick and Sarah Hughes, Farogan Valley Droughtmasters, Upper Kandanga, Mary Valley.

All four heifers are sired by Bryvonlea Oisin, and this is the first time the stud will offer females by him. On the dams side, there are bloodlines from Haigslea, Vitwood and their own breeding.

“They’re easy doing, growthy heifers, with length, depth, tidy underlines, and quiet temperaments,” Sarah said.

“Our lead heifer is FV Lorelei. She’s out of a Haigslea cow, and has plenty of length, depth of body, and is showing good growth for age, with a calm nature.

“We’ve produced an even line of heifers, that are all worth a look.”

She said the quality of their herd was vindicated in 2017 at the Gympie Droughtmaster Feature Show, where the stud won Supreme Exhibit with their bull, Grand Champion female and dams progeny.

“We aim to produce cattle that’ll perform well in anyone’s herd, and are easy to handle.”

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February 2018

NINDETHANA Bronwyn Betts and Michael Hawkins, Nindethana Droughtmasters, will offer seven quality heifers this year. The team consists of two joined heifers (Lots 12 and 13), and five unjoined heifers (Lots 83 to 87). Sires represented in the draft include Bryvonlea Malachi; RSVP Jackpot; Jembrae Glenowie; and Glenlands Invincible.

Nindethana Hallee (Bryvonlea Malachi) will lead the Nindethana team as Lot 12.

Bronwyn said “it is only fitting that a Malachi daughter lead their first Female Sale draft, and especially one that has inherited so many of his wonderful traits.”

“Malachi has been a magnificent sire, and has taken our stud to the next level,” she said. Several of his daughters have been retained in the stud, while his sons dominate their annual sale team, selling to a top of $23,000.

The two joined heifers, Hallee and Helena, are in calf to the $25,000 sire, RSVP Jackpot.

“He has produced a very impressive line of calves in his first season, many of which have already made an impact in the show ring.”

The first of the stud’s unjoined females into the ring will be another Malachi daughter, Nindethana Issie (Lot 83).

“Issie is one of our show heifers. She is feminine, gentle, great with kids, and one that will bring absolute joy to her future owners.”

VALE VIEW Vale View Droughtmasters’ Dave, Colleen and Mac Smith from Manumbar via Goomeri have selected nine unjoined heifers aged 15 to 19 months (Lots 92 to 100) for the 2018 sale.

In the draft are the first offerings from sires Vale View X-Man and Vale View Yes Man, which both go back to one of thestuds most consistent female lines in VV Kandy.

Colleen said the sale team features a “lovely line of very soft, feminine females backed by some of our best bloodlines on both the sire and dam sides”.

“Some of these heifers wouldn’t look out of place in the show ring,” she said.

She said the standout in the draft is Lot 92, Vale View Alice, a lovely long very maternal looking female who is exceptionally deep in the flank and has the excess skin to grow into.

She said Lot 97, Vale View Adele, sired by sale topping sire VVM Ballistic out of a daughter of the ‘mighty Maresmo’ is another heifer to inspect.

Colleen said at Vale View they aim to breed functional efficient beef cattle by focussing on “fertility, doing ability, carcass, and temperament, to make life easier”.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

The Past

Est. 1980

SELLING BULLS BUNYA BULL SALE Coolabunia, Kingaroy 1st September, 2018 NATIONAL DROUGHTMASTER BULLS SALE Gracemere 11th & 12th September, 2018

SELLING FEMALES

CREAM OF THE CROP SALE Coolabunia, Kingaroy 24th November, 2018

AW3235510

The Present

NATIONAL DROUGHTMASTER FEMALE SALE Gympie 10th March, 2018

The Future Nindethana & Nindethana JEM Droughtmaster Studs Bronwyn Betts & Michael Hawkins Camp Mountain QLD 4520 Tel: 07 3289 1554 Mob: 0408 700 510 Email: nindethana.droughtmasters@gmail.com

www.nindethanadroughtmasters.com

SALE PREVIEW

Highlands Sale Going From Strength to Strength

T

he Clermont Saleyards will again play host to the annual Highlands Droughtmaster Bull Sale on Friday, March 16, 2018.

In its 27th year, the Highlands Sale has gone from strength to strength, with the addition of new vendors and the ever increasing quality of bulls being presented.

This years draft will see a total of 86 bulls, both herd and registered from 14 different vendors. Vendors this year include: Medway, Huntly, Oasis, Strathfield, Strathfield 9JE, Wolfang, Wolfang TJ, Karragarra, Kenlogan, Redskin, Almafi, Warrina, Mt Oscar and Wajatryn.

Sale coordinator Jane Barton said as is the case every year, each vendor has chosen a bull from their draft which will be sporting a different coloured tag.

“These bulls will have 10% of their proceeds go to the Clermont Kindergarten Daycare to help this local facility provide ongoing care for the community,” she said.

Representing the Donaldson family, Medway, Bogantungan, Brenten Donaldson, and purchaser Tom Flohr, Red River Droughtmasters, Nebo, plus auctioneer Mark Scholes, Landmark with the $38,000 joint top price bull of the 2017 sale Medway Wanditta (P) D5

All bulls will be EMA scanned and vet checked, semen tested, pre treated for ticks and Pesti tested. There is also a bulk buyer rebate for purchases of six bulls or more and a 4% outside agents rebate, as well as some great buyers incentives thanks to the generous sponsors.

“As always there will be a pre inspection backyard bull walk at the saleyards on Thursday afternoon and a complimentary breakfast will be provided on the morning of the sale, starting from 8am.

Jane said on the Thursday night prior to the sale, the sale vendors will be hosting the annual Meet and Greet at the Commercial Hotel from 6pm.

“Due to its popularity, a charity auction will be held again, this time in aid of the “Tie Up the Black Dog” charity which supports rural people battling depression.”

For more information, get on and like the Facebook page, or hop on the Highlands Droughtmaster Sale website for all photos and details of the bulls. You can also contact the local Elders or Landmark agents for any further information regarding the sale.

Vendor Ken Rutherford, Redskin Droughtmasters, Mornish with buyer Warren Kenny, Wajatryn Droughtmasters, Gayndah and auctioneer Randall Spann, Elders with the 2017 sale equal top price $38,000 bull Redskin Harley (S) D5.

Innovative plan for Inaugural Scenic Rim Sale

By Matt Sherrington

T

op quality genetics will come to the fore during the first Scenic Rim Droughtmaster Bull and Female Sale being held at the Boonah Showgrounds on October 13, which will offer an innovative bidding approach.

Sale coordinator Greg Anderson, Grandview Droughtmaster Stud, Boonah, said while it was still early days, at present he’s expecting the sale draft will be comprised of at least 150 bulls and females, including close to 50 Registered stud sires.

“We have close to 15 well regarded Droughtmaster Studs from around the region lined up for the invitational sale which will be held under the Helmsman bidding system,” Greg said.

“We went to a Helmsman sale near here recently, and we really liked the social aspect that style of sale provides, there is less pressure, as every animal can be bid on over the two to three hour period,” he said.

He said to put a unique spin on the traditional Helmsman style auction, they’ll do away with the old whiteboard and have an electronic board in place which will be updated constantly as the bids come in during the three hour sale window.

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February 2018

“This will give buyers a quick and clear way of seeing if they’ve been outbid on a particular bull or female they like so they can bid again or start looking at other options.

“All the vendors are excited about the idea of the sale, as it has never been done before.”

He said a breed Classifier will be checking all drafts in the lead-up to the sale to ensure the standard of the cattle being offered are of the highest quality possible.

“We’re being very careful about making sure a wide selection of top notch genetics are made available, as we want this to become an annual fixture on the stud sale calendar.

“Some of the studs involved are fairly new and will be conducting their first genetics programs this year, so if this year’s sale proves successful, buyers can expect a more extensive offering in 2019.

For enquiries regarding the sale please contact Greg Anderson on 0429 440 886 or Andrew Percy on 0408 335 951 or by email; meandarraptyltd@bigpond.com.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

OUTSTANDING TS N

in their field

Bulls & stud and commercial females for sale Roger and Jenny Underwood • Eversleigh & Wallace Vale Droughtmasters, ‘Pine Hills’ Wallumbilla | Ph 0488 417 385 or 0428 417 120

WWW.EVERSLEIGHDROUGHTMASTERS.COM.AU

Heading to the H

2018 HIGHLANDS SALE Clermont, Friday 16th March

WAJATRYN

BEEF

BONE

SCALE

STYLE

Contact Warren and Carolyn Kenny and family, Gayndah, Queensland Ph 07 4161 1279 www.wajatryn.com

CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO

BEEFING UP OUR BUSINESS AND YOURS

Heading into 2018 we have: LS FOR THE HIGHLANDS SALE, FRIDAY, 16TH MARCH 18 BULLS FOR THE DROUGHTMASTER NATIONAL SALE, SEPTEMBER PADDOCK SALE BULLS & LEADING GENETICS SEMEN SALES YEAR ROUND

YOUNG BULLS GROWING OUT FOR SALE, 2018 Backed by over 30 years of genuine performance selection, Commercial relevance and Sale Ring Success.

Young bulls pictured here in their grower paddocks at Wajatryn, January, 2018.

FULLY VACCINATED, TESTED AND TRUSTED CATTLE, JBAS 7. WA ELIGIBLE.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND ON OUR WEBSITE FOR REGULAR UPDATES & PHOTOS OF OUR CATTLE.

INSPECTION OF OUR CATTLE WELCOME YEAR ROUND

COMMERCIAL

Droughties Performing Well in The Garden

By Matt Sherrington and Robyn Ainsworth

T

HE switch from Poll Hereford to Droughtmaster is paying dividends for Georgina Range Pastoral Pty Ltd on The Garden Station in Central Australia, run by members of the well-known Hayes cattle family.

The family has owned The Garden Station since November, 1995.

Andy and Jane and their children Katy and Steve moved out to The Garden in January, 1996, from their neighbouring property, Undoolya Station, which has been in the Hayes family since 1906.

Undoolya is run by Andy’s brother Ben and his wife Nicole.

The family say they “enjoy the challenges of producing a great animal in our climatic environment”.

Katy and Steve are the sixth generation of the family to be in the pastoral industry.

“And we have a seventh generation just touching down in the Centre!” Andy said.

The Garden is 130 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs, in the heart of the East McDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory, and comprises 2134 square km.

The property had good rain early in 2017 and is covered in a lot of native grasses, including annuals and perennials, with a good stand of the introduced buffel and couch grasses.

The property had good rain early in 2017 and is covered in a lot of native grasses, including annuals and perennials, with a good stand of the introduced buffel and couch grasses.

“The season has been pretty kind to us over the past couple of years,” Andy said.

“Cattle prices have been unbelievably high for the past three years.

“It is always easier to manage in these good times.”

Back in the 1940s, the station was home to a large Poll Shorthorn herd and more recently had Poll Herefords, but Andy and Jane decided to make the switch to a predominantly Droughmaster herd.

They bought their first Droughtmaster bulls in 1999 from the Spann family’s Minlacowie stud, Goovigen, Queensland, and purchased their first lot of heifers from Penola Downs, south east of McKinlay, Qld, in 1997.

Those heifers were quoted to the Hayes from stock agent Doc Cunningham, who was one of the greatest advocates of Droughties in the Alice Springs area.

The Hayes aim to eventually create a purebred Droughtie on The Garden Station.

The breed has market versatility.

“In 2000 we sold 1000 Droughtmaster and Droughtmaster-cross females and brought over from Undoolya about 700 Poll Hereford heifers,” Andy said.

“You can go north onto the boat (for export) or into the southern markets with the same animal,” Andy said.

“From that time until February 2017 we ran two herds, being a Droughtmaster herd and Poll Hereford herd.

“There are the options of a lot more markets, being north or south of us.”

“Management became difficult in keeping the two herds separate, so we decided to go with one herd only and as we have had such a good run with the Droughtmasters for getting out and covering the country, we chose to go with them.

The Droughtmasters also have the ability to walk out onto feed.

“We are currently running about 5000 head in total, which are mostly Droughtie and Droughtie-cross with just a handful of Poll Herefords left here.”

Andy said the Droughtmaster breed appealed to the family because they were a “good, soft animal”.

Having run two herds, the Hayes found the Droughties have certain advantages over the Herefords in their region.

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February 2018

“As we are in the Centre, it is easier for us to go into any state.

“And we find they are a really good-natured animal.”

The Hayes aim to eventually create a purebred Droughtie on The Garden Station.

“We are trying to achieve a line of commercial Droughtmaster cows that would line up against any stud animal in Australia,” Andy said.

“We would like to have a herd well-known for all the right reasons.”

The family looks for particular traits when selecting bulls and females at the stud sales.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

Andy Hayes said the Droughtmaster breed appealed to the family because they were a “good, soft animal”.

“When purchasing cattle we look for an animal that can step out well and that are not going to have problems with sore feet, preferably poll cattle with a good temperament, and good muscle,” Andy said.

Last year, Andy went across to the Artesian Droughtmaster Bull Sale at Blackall, where he purchased 17 bulls from Glenlands, Medway, Clonlara and Yaralla studs.

From about 2007 to 2011, the Hayes bought bulls from Bob and Marie McQueen of Marosa stud in Victor Harbor, South Australia. The McQueens were also great supporters of the Alice Springs Show and Show Bull Sale.

On his way home, he filled the truck up from Rondel stud at Winton.

Andy said for the past six years Hayes have also supported the Bekker family from Bos Park, Gympie, Qld, who had been taking Droughtmaster bulls to the show and sale.

“After we sold the Poll Herefords out, we purchased about 400 Droughtmaster heifers off AuctionsPlus from Central Queensland to replace them,” he said..

In May last year, Andy went to Queensland again and purchased bulls from Lazy A and Powermac, Rondel and Western Red. The business has been receiving great prices for the Droughties so far.

“The prices have been brilliant and really just catching up from the past few years previous (when the seasons were poorer),” Andy said.

“We are also accredited as Australian Certified Organic as well as the US National Organic Program (NOP).

“For the past few years we have been going straight into slaughter, with steers averaging about 320 kilograms over the hooks.”

Supreme Exhibit 2017-Droughtmaster Feature Show Gympie

F V Chief

Nick and Sarah Hughes Farogan Road UPPER KANDANGA 4570 Qld Ph: 07 5488 4352 / 0400 709 124

Grand Champion Female-2017 Droughtmaster Feature Show Gympie

AW3415124

www.farogan.net F V Aura

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

February 2018

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SALE REPORT

Hannalee Tops Cream of the Crop Sale

By Martin Bunyard

A

quality line up of Droughtmaster females were offered during the 2017 Cream of the Crop sale at Kingaroy in late November.

The Coolabunia Sale Complex was full of prospective buyers who were hoping to secure some good quality Droughtmaster genetics.

It didn’t take long for the top price to be reached with spirited bidding on the Hawkins-Betts family’s Lot 9, Nindethana Hannalee (P) (AI), who topped at $7000.

The 27-month-old heifer was Pregnancy Tested in Calf at 12 weeks to Droughtmaster sire RSVP Jackpot and was bought by the Cormack family, Black Gully Droughtmaster Stud, Oakwood, Wallumbilla.

“A stunning female with an extraordinary nature,” Nindethana Droughtmaster Stud’s Bronwyn Betts said.

“Paternal sister to Daisibel, who had broad ribbon wins at Futurity, Beef 2012 and Royal Queensland Show, plus the heifer has had her own success during showing in 2016 and early 2017.”

The Nindethana Hannalee heifer will now join the Cormack family’s Black Gully Droughtmaster Stud breeders at Wallumbilla to calve down next year.

Overall, the sale achieved 81 per cent clearance with 42 females sold during the sale out of the total 52 head offered. The sale topped at $7000 to record an average price of $2703.

A third top price of $4500 was reached late in the sale by the Heck family’s Lot 58, Bryvonlea Wilona (P), who was 17-monthsold and sired by Skye Wilfred (P). The heifer was purchased by the Cormack family, Black Gully Droughtmaster Stud, Wallumbilla.

The second top priced joined female of the sale was the Terry family’s Lot 11, 3D Iris (P), who sold to $5250. The 27-month-old female was sired by High Country Bronco (P) with the heifer PTIC seven months to 3D Import and was purchased by the Brooks family, Major Droughtmaster Stud, Wivenhoe Pocket.

Two unjoined heifers also reached $5250 with 15-month-old Lot 28, Nindethana Inga (P), bought by Rangeview Droughtmaster Stud and 23-month-old Lot 31, Nindethana Hilary (P), purchased by Dianne, Cathy and David Butler, Magnolia Farm, Bli Bli.

Todd and Beyoncé Cormack, Black Gully Droughtmasters, Wallumbilla with top price Nindethana Hannalee and Bronwyn Betts and Michael Hawkins, Nindethana Droughtmaster Stud.

SALE REPORT

Impressive MAGS Droughtmasters in Demand

By Julie Sheehan

L

amont, Mungalla and Valley Droughtmaster Studs sold impressive and sizeable lines of bulls to Queensland and interstate buyers at November’s Charters Towers’ Monty Atkinson Genetics Sale (MAGS).

Overall the sale grossed $842,000 for 127 bulls to average $6,639 with 59 registered bulls grossing $399,000 to average $6765 for a top of $19,000 while the 68 herd bulls took the top honors of the day with $28,000 top, a gross of $443,000 averaging $6,515.

Top price of the day was a composite herd bull, Lamont 717 who weighed 938kg and with an EMA of 147cm sq.

The scurred bull out of a Lamont Droughtmaster cow by a Charolais bull was a mountain of beef and bone and hit the $28,000 high.

He was snapped up by Paul Lever, Murray River Grazing, Murray Upper who like many others in attendance was impressed by the overall capacity of the bull.

Not far behind in the second top price spot was another herd bull many had their eye on, Lamont 741.

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February 2018

The poll sire out a Lamont Droughtmaster cow by Brahman bull, Lancefield D Winslow (P), had the content and lift with a pink nose that impressed many.

Vendors were pleased with the success of the sale and the fact that the 25 per cent increase in bull numbers this year was accounted for by a wider spread of buyers.

Lamont 741 (874kg, 145cm sq EMA, 41.5cm scrotal) from Mac and Gayle Shann’s draft made $24,000 and went to Daniel Green, Greenview Droughtmasters, Backmede, New South Wales, bidding online through Elite Livestock Auctions.

“The substantially larger offering allowed buyers in all budget ranges to operate throughout the sale and take home affordable bulls,” Mac Shann said.

Another highlight of the sale was the poll Droughtmaster herd bull, again from Mac and Gayle Shann in Lamont 731 (790kg, 134cm sq EMA, 5.1% IMF) who hit the $22,000 mark and found a new home with Lawrence and Pat Hack, Rocklea, Alpha .

“Bidding was competitive and the sale gross was up nine per cent on last year’s record sale,” he said.

The pair also took home 25-month-old Lamont 687 by a Moongool Charolais bull, who weighed 952kg with an EMA of 143cm sq and 85 per cent motility.

Volume buyers included Cobb Cattle Company, Melaleuca Station, Clermont purchasing 17 bulls at an average $4855 and SPK Pastoral, Spring Creek Station, Mt Surprise, putting together a line of 16 bulls averaging $4780.

MAGS Sale vendors Mac and Gayle Shann, Lamont Droughtmasters, Cantaur Park, Clermont, with the purchaser of the top price bull, Paul Lever, Murray River Grazing, Murray Upper.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

AW3425943

COMMERCIAL

Tech Innovations Making an Impact at Fossil Downs

By Matt Sherrington

S

ince 2016, Rick Ford, manager of pure Droughtmaster herd operation Fossil Downs situated at Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley, WA, has been embracing agricultural technology innovations to help improve overall efficiency, animal welfare and staff safety.

Rick and his family moved from a nearby property to run Fossil Downs close to two years ago.

“The property is 394,000 hectares, and has the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers on the doorstep. These two water sources present a major opportunity for agriculture in Australia,” he said.

He said the herd continually fluctuates with purchases, sales and natural increases but there are currently close to 20,000 head on property.

Rick said they began trialling modern agricultural technology innovations on the property soon after he took up his management position at Fossil Downs.

“We use data management software to collect stock data which is uploaded to the cloud every night and syncs with our head office in Perth. This data is transmitted and accessible from many positions instantly.

“We’re also now using an ultrasound pregtesting machine to provide a less intrusive, more comfortable process for our cows, which also provides us with greater accuracy.”

He said a walk-over weigh platform has been set up in the paddock at a watering point which provides the staff with data on each individual animal that passes over it.

“It has the capability of drafting off animals at a target weight range and provides other relevant data from the paddock direct to our computers or phones. We can access information on rainfall, hourly images of the water levels in our trough and tanks, the density of cattle in a specific area, satellite images of pasture growth and many other useful and crucial pieces of information.”

Rick said solar technology is being rolled out to reduce their reliance on diesel.

“This can be witnessed on-property with the solar bore pumps, solar hot water and solar lighting we already have installed, which are reducing operational costs across the board.”

Digital mobilised radios are also in use now at Fossil Downs which Rick said has greatly improved communications across the

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February 2018

Fossil Downs manager Rick Ford said they began trialling modern tech innovations on Fossil Downs in 2016 to improve animal welfare, staff safety and overall efficiency of the operations.

property and significantly enhanced safety standards for the employees.

“Our employees wear their radios every day, keeping staff in close contact so that if an accident was to occur on our million acre property the employee can push the emergency button triggering an alarm on every radio across the station to raise awareness.

“These learned technologies from the mining industry substantially improve staff safety. For example our GPS tracking system ensures that if a vehicle breaks down we can track them in real time and send out assistance at a rapid pace.”

He said the number of water points has been increased to lower the distance cattle have to walk, to reduce their stress and to assist staff with paddock utilisation through grazing management.

“To support the increased water points we’ve increased fencing and we’re moving the herd towards a more controlled mating routine which ensures calves are born at a time

where the lactating cow can maintain peak condition, again improving animal welfare, particularly supporting calves more holistically.”

Rick said he’s always keeping a keen eye on new innovations that can be adopted into the beef industry and believes that many exciting projects are evolving.

“The use of drones on the property is something we’re looking into closely, and we’re currently attempting to ascertain how they could be used to complement our business both economically and environmentally.”

Rick said Droughtmasters have been used on Fossil Downs for 30 years, and were brought in by former owners John and Annette Henwood who “did a tremendous job in developing the herd”.

Rick has purchased significant numbers of Droughtmaster bulls since he took over as Manager and he has been very pleased with how they have performed.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

“In 2016 we had a very big wet with extreme humidity which challenged the purchased bulls a bit, but they adapted well and came out stronger and better for it,” he said.

He said the aim in the development of the herd is for a polled beast that is both soft and mature with a high fertility rate, which are grown out to 350kg then sold to the local market.

“The poll gene from the Droughtmaster is a great selling point.

“We always test for the poll gene. We want a high semen count and strong morphology results. The bone structure must be dense and the beasts must have a safe sheath and definitely not be overfed.

“They have a great temperament, which is balanced with the breeds muscle formation and physical style.

“Their genetic makeup brings a high performance in terms of fertility which creates greater returns to the business and improves the herd.”

Rick Ford walking a portion of the pure Droughtmaster herd on-property.

Photos courtesy of Stacey Ford.

for bringing up my four daughters with my beautiful wife Stacey”.

cattle, but the whole of the Kimberley’s will grow and prosper.

“This is all part of our management plan.’

“When you stand back and look into the industry for the most part everyone is positive.

We definitely see growth going forwards.

Rick said he loves being a beef producer as it’s a “fantastic life not just for me, but, also

“If we get Government support in WA I believe not only Fossil Downs, and not just

“We just need access to water from our rivers and recharging aquifers year round so we can together make the Kimberley’s a powerful agricultural force in Australia.”

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Rick said there is a large stand of feed at Fossil Downs to keep the cattle in good shape.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

February 2018

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TECHNICAL

Northern BIN Steer Project Update

T

he Droughtmasters Stud Breeders’ Society (DSBS), Australian Brahman Breeders’ Association (ABBA) and a consortium of Santa Gertrudis Breeders are currently conducting a joint progeny test project with funding assistance from the Meat & Livestock Australia Donor Company under the Beef Information Nucleus (BIN) Program. This joint Northern BIN Steer Project has utilised the steer progeny from a second MLA funded project ‘Enabling genetic improvement of reproduction in tropical beef breeds (Repronomics)’ outlined below. The project has currently purchased five cohorts of steers from “Spyglass” near Charters Towers and three cohorts of steers from “Brian Pastures” near Gayndah. The Northern BIN Steer Project will provide performance data for carcase and live traits, which will be married up to DNA Markers.

Overview of the Repronomics Project This collaborative, five-year Meat & Livestock Australia funded project aims to improve the evaluation of animals within industry for a number of economically important performance traits, in particular female fertility. The collaborative partners are the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Agri-Science Queensland, University of New England’s Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) and the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries (NTDPIF).

O off th One the steers t iinvolved l d iin th the project j t att S Spyglass l near Charters Towers in 2013.

The key component in the evaluation is the combination of strategic phenotypic recording and new, high density SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) genotyping of well controlled, specifically managed cattle to rapidly increase the accuracy of genetically describing the reproductive merit of tropically adapted beef cattle. The data collected through this study will also be used to seed the new genetic analysis methodology of calculating estimated breeding values for all traits.

Northern BIN Project To date 586 Droughtmaster steers by 52 Droughtmaster sires have been purchased by the Northern BIN Steer Project. The sires of these steers are either proven sires with a large number of registered progeny (few of which have been performance recorded with BREEDPLAN) or young up and coming bulls. A list of the sires is in Table 1. The steers are by AI or natural matings out of highly recorded Droughtmaster cows from Spyglass Research Station and Brian Pastures Research Station. The first steers to be purchased by the Northern BIN Steer Project were from the Spyglass 2013 drop, with steers from the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 drops subsequently purchased. The first steers from Brian Pastures were the 2015 drop and the 2016 and 2017 have since been purchased.

Both 400 and 600 day weights have been or will be collected for all steers. Steers are scanned for rib fat, rump fat, intramuscular fat measurement (IMF) and eye muscle area (EMA) at the 600 day weight measurement, along with a structural soundness assessment. Full MSA chiller assessments have been conducted on the steer carcases and meat samples from all steer carcases have been analysed by the UNE Meat Science Lab for tenderness, cooking loss, meat colour and intramuscular fat (IMF). All data collected as part of the Northern BIN Steer Project will be submitted to BREEDPLAN. Tail hairs and blood samples were collected from all steers as a source of DNA information for future development and validation of genomic based technologies

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February 2018

A selection l i off the h three h cohorts h off steers ffrom B Brian i P Pastures near Gayndah in 2016, ready for slaughter.

Table 1: Droughtmaster Sires of Research Steers

Slaughter data has been collected on the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Spyglass steers. The slaughter data results presented in Table 2 summarises the minimum, maximum and average 2013, 2014 and 2015 Spyglass born Droughtmaster steer dataset for a number of traits. There is large variation in all of the carcase traits, with carcase weight at slaughter varying by 168 kg, P8 fat varying by 28 mm and Eye Muscle Area varying by 54 cm2 for the 2015 born steers. These steers were born within a 90 day period.

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(It should be noted that 2015 Spyglass steers accidently received a growth promotant at feedlot entry which had a negative effect on the MSA Index for those steers)

Table 2: Summary of the slaughter data for the Spyglass 2013, 2014 and 2015 steers

Shear Force, a measure of tenderness, is measured using the Warner-Bratzler shear force test. The unit of measurement is kilograms of force needed to shear a 1 cubic centimetre muscle sample. Analysis of the average progeny Shear Force for the seven sires of the 2013 Droughtmaster steers shows considerable variation, as seen in Figure 2. There is an average one kilogram difference in shear force between the progeny of the sire with the highest average progeny Shear Force and the sire with the lowest average progeny Shear Force. Importantly, this is the first carcase data to be collected in the Droughtmaster breed that will go onto the BREEDPLAN analysis.

Figure 2: Average Progeny Shear Force (kg) for the sires of the 2013 Droughtmaster steers in the Northern BIN Steer Project

Slaughter data has been collected on the 2015 and 2016 Brian Pastures steers. The slaughter data results presented in Table 3 summarise the minimum, maximum and average 2013, 2014 and 2015 Brian Pastures born Droughtmaster steer dataset for a number of traits. As with the Spyglass steers there is large variation in all of the carcase traits.

Table 3: Summary of the slaughter data for the Brian Pastures 2015 and 2016 steers

The Northern BIN Steer Project will provide vital data that will be married up with DNA markers which will assist commercial breeders in more easily and accurately determining the best performing genetics for a number of carcase and growth traits in Droughtmaster cattle. Coupled with fertility data generated by the Repronomics Project, commercial Droughtmaster breeders will be able to make significant genetic progress through DNA technology.

For more information on the Northern BIN Steer Project please contact Paul Williams from Tropical Beef Technology Services on 0427 018 982 or via email paul@tbts.une.edu.au.

Analysis of the average progeny carcase weight for the twelve sires of the 2015 Droughtmaster steers (with more than five progeny) shows considerable variation as seen below in Figure 1. The sire with the heaviest average progeny carcase weights produced steers that averaged 376 kg, while the sire with the lowest average progeny carcase weights produced steers that average 329 kg. The difference in average progeny carcase weight between these two sires is 47 kg, which results in an average difference of approximately $250 in the sale price between the progeny of the two sires.

Figure 1: Average Progeny Carcase Weight (kg) for the sires of the 2015 Droughtmaster steers in the Northern BIN Steer Project

A T At Tawarrii 600 d day weight i h and d carcase scanning i was conducted on on the Spyglass 2016 steers.

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February 2018

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

NEXT GENERATION

Hannah’s Cattle Industry Passion Runs Red Hot

By Bronwyn Betts

Hannah with the first Semloh Droughtmaster Stud progeny ‘Semloh Delta’.

O

wning a beef cattle stud and forging a career in the cattle industry were not part of the “life plan” for 19 year old Hannah Holmes.

Her passion was horses and her focus on life was to achieve a tertiary education and embark upon a career in either teaching or architecture. However, involvement in a school based agricultural program during her secondary schooling not only exposed Hannah to cattle, it ignited a passion for the industry, and unearthed an extraordinary talent that would see this young woman charter a very different course in life, and one in which she would rapidly excel.

Hannah and her younger brother, Alex, grew up on their parents’ hobby farm on the outskirts of Warwick. Hannah’s father Kevin works with thoroughbred horses and mother, Chris, at a local high school.

Horses were a way of life for the Holmes family and Hannah recalls a childhood in which she was surrounded by them and numerous other pets and animal species, none of which included cattle.

Hannah’s journey into the beef cattle industry began in 2011 when she commenced her secondary schooling at Warwick State High School.

Her interest in animals saw her enrol in the school agricultural program, which introduced students to agricultural science and afforded them the opportunity to work closely with sheep, goats and beef cattle.

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February 2018

Hannah on her thoroughbred horse Lucky

Warwick High School operate a Droughtmaster Stud and Hannah elected to join the ‘Cattle Team’, which enabled her to work with the stud cattle, as well as a number of steers that the school raised, prepared and ultimately exhibited in various prime beef cattle competitions.

It was evident from the outset that Hannah had a natural affinity with the cattle and as time progressed, her gentle and calm approach proved to be an extraordinary asset in all aspects of cattle work, especially breaking in young bulls and heifers, and parading them at agricultural shows.

Hannah also had a keen eye when it came to identifying the finer features of the various beef cattle breeds, a skill that saw her win numerous awards in the Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies Stud Beef Cattle Young Judges competitions, and ultimately, be invited as the Associate Judge in the Droughtmaster ring at the 2016 Royal Queensland Show.

Being part of the School Cattle Team was a life-changing experience for Hannah. She met some very generous and supportive Droughtmaster breeders and through those associations, has been able to exhibit cattle at numerous agricultural shows, Droughtmaster Feature Shows, the Royal Queensland Show and the triennial Beef Australia Expo. She also established, in partnership with her younger brother Alex, Semloh Droughtmaster Stud and the pair

now breed their own Droughtmasters on family property outside of Warwick.

Hannah completed her secondary education in 2015, excelling in all areas of study. Her love of animals, and her experience with stud beef cattle during her time as a student at Warwick State High School and with Droughtmaster breeders that she had met through that association, influenced her decision to study Veterinary Science at the University of Queensland (Gatton Campus) where she is about to embark upon her third year of study.

Hannah is passionate about working with cattle and has a very clear vision of her future in the industry, both as a breeder and a veterinarian. She is committed to growing Semloh Droughtmaster Stud and while it’s early days, she has identified a desire to pursue post-graduate opportunities that would enable her to specialise in bovine reproduction.

It is hard to imagine that a school-based agricultural program could have such a dramatic influence on a young person, such that it would radically change the course of their life. This has certainly been the case with Hannah.

The Droughtmaster community and beef cattle industry as a whole are all the richer for this outcome, for they have acquired an extraordinarily gifted young woman and cattle breeder and the prospect of a talented veterinarian.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

NEXT GENERATION

Gympie State High School on the RISE

By Sally Bekker

The imperative of modern agriculture

A

gricultural specialists, whatever the field, are helping today’s farmers grow more of everything than they used to.

And in the future, they will need to do more with less. Less land and less reliable water resources.

For Australian farmers, this is nothing new but more than ever before, Australian agriculture needs the input of talented young people entering agricultural industries armed with the attitude and skill set to make the impossible today, tomorrow’s standard practice.

And this where Gympie State High School’s Rural Industries School of Excellence (RISE) comes in.

With around 390 students enrolled in the RISE program, Gympie High is the region’s largest provider of agricultural education.

The program delivers a vertically integrated school-based program enhanced by established training partnerships and industry experience in a number of fields of study including agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, mechanics and rural

A Droughtmaster steer in training with Gympie State High School’s Rural Industries School of Excellence (RISE) students.

operations, articulating into career pathways such as veterinary science, agronomy, agricultural and horticultural production and systems.

Students enter RISE in Year 7, and continue to build their knowledge and skills through the delivery of theory and practical coursework.

Gympie SHS’s Inaugural Paddock to Plate Luncheon

I

n order to celebrate the range and quality of Gympie High farm produce, the inaugural Paddock to Plate luncheon was held in September 2017.

With guest chef, Matt Golinski, in charge of the menu and Gympie High students responsible for food preparation, table service and entertainment, the event highlighted the whole range of curriculum offerings provided by the school.

The four-course meal featured school-raised poultry and locally caught prawns and Moreton Bay Bugs from Tin Can Bay. Of course, with a long history of breeding stud Droughtmaster cattle that dates back to 1974, the menu would not have complete without the addition of Gympie High Droughtmaster beef, served as roasted sirloin, with spiced pumpkin, pickled squash and mushroom jus.

In order to celebrate the range and quality of Gympie SHS farm produce, the inaugural Paddock to Plate luncheon was held in September, with Gympie SHS RISE students such as Nelia Shay responsible for food preparation, table service and entertainment.

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February 2018

All four courses were served with matching wines and beer and was made possible through the support of sponsors including Neal’s Family Meats, Nolan Meats, De Bortoli Wines, Kenilworth Country Foods, Tin Can Bay Seafood Supplies and The Australian Hotel.

The luncheon was such an outstanding success that plans are already underway for

the 2018 Paddock to Plate event, which promises to be even bigger.

Special thanks goes to chef Matt Golinksi for his extraordinary efforts both in planning and preparing the menu and in mentoring the school’s students.

Thanks also to the GSHS Agriculture, Hospitality and Music Departments who brought the event together, including staff members Bob Leitch (Subject Area Coordinator, Agriculture), Sally Bekker (Head of Department, Agriculture), Allison Keillor (HoD, Home Economics and Hospitality), Callum Roberts (Teacher, Hospitality) and John Fletcher (Teacher, Music).

Gympie High aims to provide its students with a smorgasboard of skills and experiences to ensure that their options beyond school are as extensive as possible.

As Kofi Annan put it, “Knowledge is power.

Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family” and, it could be said…to “every farm”.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

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St George Producers Delighted by Droughties

By Lucy Kinbacher

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hen St George beef producer Kylie Savidge told her father, John Kilpatrick, they should invest in buying a Droughtmaster bull for their commercial operation, he was openly hesitant.

But with progeny on the ground, Mr Kilpatrick, who was once a staunch Hereford supporter, is not only happy with the breed’s influence on the herd, he has already began purchasing more.

Kylie Savidge and her partner TJ Moroney, along with John Kilpatrick and his wife Queenie, operate the 11,000 hectare property, Southampton, 110km north west of St George, where they run a Santa and Droughtmaster cross Hereford and Brahman herd of about 500 breeders. They turn off weaner cattle to the store sale market.

It wasn’t until Easter in 2016 when the family purchased their first Droughtmaster bull from Roger and Jenny Underwood, Wallace Vale and Eversleigh Droughtmasters, after routinely using Santas and Herefords.

TJ Moroney and Kylie Savidge with some of their new Droughtmaster bull purchases in December.

“I had watched their bulls progress on social media (while in western Queensland) and thought, I’d like to try these bulls,” Ms Savidge said.

When the Underwood’s moved to Wallumbilla, the Southampton crew agreed to buy a Droughtmaster privately. They also attended the Roma Tropical Breeds sale where they purchased another four bulls.

Ms Savidge said the trait that had convinced them to pursue Droughtmasters was their temperament.

“The biggest thing for us was temperament and temperament that follows through,” she said.

“Dad wasn’t sold on them, but he is sold on them now,” Ms Savidge said on buying Droughtmaster bulls for their commercial operation.

“I believe you have got to cull on temperament first and conformation second. We are a family operation and so it has to be able to be handled by the whole family.”

While, like most producers, the Southampton crew battled dry conditions in 2017, theirs was made even more difficult by the resurgence of pimelea poisoning which affects about 8000 hectares of the property.

Since November 2016, the family lost 70 head of cattle including 12 of their 18 bulls to pimelea.

But after receiving some promising spring rainfall the family were confident enough to restock their bull base and purchased another four Droughtmaster bulls in December, two of which were for Mr Kilpatrick.

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February 2018

A Droughtmaster bull on Southampton with his progeny.

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A Tribute to a Pastoral Trailblazer

By Chris McLennan Editor’s Note: The Droughtmaster breed lost one of its pioneer breeders recently, when Ted Hart passed away aged 91.

Ted was the first person to take Droughtmasters into the Northern Territory.

In 1973 after he purchased Hodgson River Station in the Roper River District, with wife Elizabeth and daughters Sonya and Donna, Ted set about building up the Hodgson River Stud. Ted had already established the Oaklea Droughtmaster Stud in Atherton in 1968 (Stud No. 43) based on Mungalla, Cherokee and Glenray bloodlines plus animals bred by Louis Fisher. He renamed the stud “Hodgson River” when he moved his family to the Northern Territory.

NT Primary Industries Minister Ken Vowles paid tribute in Parliament to Ted, who was at the heart of the NT cattle industry and a beloved Katherine resident.

“I would like to pay my respects to Ted Hart, highly respected member of the Northern Territory cattle industry who sadly passed away at his home in Katherine on October 29,” he said.

“Throughout his long and adventurous life he had exemplified the pioneering spirit of the Territory pastoral industry and it will be hard to find a man so well liked and admired.

“He first came to the Territory in 1948 to work on Limbunya Station as head stockman with Aboriginal stock camp before heading back to Queensland where he had his first attempt at owning a station, only to learn the hard way how difficult a business that can be.

“Ted did a season on a couple of stations in North West Qld, before he came to Alice Springs region initially cutting and carrying timber for railway in 1956. Ted then went contract fencing and yard building on various stations.

The NT Parliament was told Ted Hart exemplified the pioneering spirit of the Territory pastoral industry “and it will be hard to find a man so well liked and admired".

“Ted Hart represented the best qualities of a true Territorian. He was a great bushman and a modest, kind and generous man.”

“When share farming at a later point he started his own bull breeding project and fed his bulls on lucerne, which he irrigated using a pumping system he devised himself that ran on gas produced from a charcoal burner, the charcoal having been made from hand-cut mulga.

The full article on Ted’s incredible life of achievement against adversity is can be found at: www.katherinetimes.com.au/ story/5075457/vale-ted-hart/

BREEDERS BULLETIN BOARD HUNTLY

2DP >P.

PURNELL FAMILY ROCKHAMPTON

Stud 23 AW3136819

Visitors and inquiries welcome Ph: (07) 4927 1104 Fax: (07) 4927 1166 Michael 0429 815 074

1642870 AW1871501 AW3136808

AW3136850

AWe new Sire, Glenlands Senatora(Hatch) U9C1311942M welcomed new sire, has Glenlands taken up residence atDCalioran, purchased atin the2013 Artesian sale.

Roebuck

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

AW3401460 Droughtmaster Digest186mm for August W X 135mm H AW3425533

rdpurnell@optusnet.com.au

Deadlines:

Booking & Copy

Friday 6th July - ad copy to be built and

All bookings to: Julie Sheehan

julie.sheehan@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Peter Lowe

peter.lowe@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Jane Lowe

jane.lowe@fairfaxmedia.com.au

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

Breeders Bulletin Board Deadline Friday 6th July

Friday 29th June - booking deadline,

Thursday 12th July - for complete/camera ready material.

AW3136871

“For Commercially Focused Adaptable Cattle”.

For August & December Edition

Contact: Douglas & Juanita Birch

Ph (07) 4167 5139 Mob: 0427 352 774 E-mail: birchpastoral@westnet.com.au

Birch Droughtmasters

Cost $100 inc Margaret Ward Ph: (07) 3826 8282 margaret.ward@fairfaxmedia.com.au

February 2018

AW3381875

Stud No. 963

DROUGHTMASTERS

39

Droughtmasters Returning to Gympie in 2018

National Female Sale Saturday 10th March

2 Quality unjoined females..... > Lot 118 Sevenell Jonquil 1036 (P) DOB 8/9/16 s. Konjuli Golden Eye d. Sevenell Joann 554

Lot 119 >

DOB 28/7/16 s. Konjuli Golden Eye d. Sevenell Phyllis 876 Lindsay & Lyn Philp (07) 4663 1285 & Inga Hayes 0428 182 078

sevenell@bigpond.com

AW3442966

Sevenell Petunia 1028 (P)

NEWS

Droughtmaster Trade Mission to USA

I

n late October / early November 2018, the Droughtmaster Society are staging a tour of the Southern USA, taking in Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee.

The timing of the tour is designed to take advantage of the annual convention held by the USA Beefmaster Breed Association.

The 2018 convention is being held in Franklin, just outside Nashville in Tennessee.

There will be numerous on-property tours leading up to and following the three day convention.

provides a great chance to compare breeds and operations.

There will also be time to see some of the major tourist sights during the 14 day tour.

The route will take in places such as Memphis (on the mighty Mississippi River), Nashville (home of Country music), Oklahoma City, Dallas, etc.

The tour will depart Sydney for Dallas on October 21 and arrive in Sydney from Dallas on November 3 (dates are approximate).

This is a wonderful opportunity to see how stud breeders and commercial breeders operate in the USA.

The pre-convention on-property visits will be hosted by the Beefmaster Breeders Association and the tour will be organised by renowned agricultural travel company, Quadrant Australia.

The Beefmaster breed has many similarities to the Droughtmaster breed, so this tour

Costs will be determined when approximate numbers are known. At this point

Th There will ill bbe numerous on-property tours leading up to and following the three day convention, taking in Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Droughtmaster Australia are calling for expressions of interest from members and non-members alike.

Please email your expression of interest (with number of travellers) to office@ droughtmaster.com.au

NEWS

NEWS

Droughties Star at Warwick

Not all heroes wear capes ... some carry a show cane

K

nown by many as the “Melbourne Cup” of campdrafting, the Warwick Gold Cup attracts more riders and offers more prize money than any other campdraft in Australia.

Worth over $100,000 plus a gold cup and a trophy saddle, it is, and has been for many years, regarded as the Australian Championship Campdraft. Incorporated in the week-long event is the Canning Downs Campdraft which has a prize purse of $50,000 plus trophies.

The campdraft is a massive event with over 900 competitors in each of the first rounds so thousands of head of cattle are needed.

For the third year in a row the cattle to be used in the finals of both the Canning Downs Campdraft and the Warwick Gold Cup were donated by Mac and Gayle Shann from Cantaur Park near Moranbah. Preparations for this event began months ago when 156 steers averaging 450-550kg were trucked from Cantaur Park to the Freestone Feedlot at Warwick. The predominantly Droughtmaster and DM/Charolais steers had been on feed for almost 70 days in readiness for the draft; they returned to the feedlot after the events where they went on feed for 100 days and were then slaughtered at Dinmore.

It was a mammoth undertaking by the Shanns and not only is it an honour for their cattle to be used in these prestigious events, but they are to be congratulated on their

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

F For the second straight year Ian and Donna Atthow from Sevenangle Droughtmaster Stud at Millmerran donated steers to be used during the preliminary rounds of the Warwick Gold Cup.

generous gesture of donating the cattle for the finals.

And for the second straight year Ian and Donna Atthow from Sevenangle Droughtmaster Stud at Millmerran donated steers to be used during the preliminary rounds.

In 2016, they loaned 150 steers for the first round of the stallion draft. This year, 100 head were used for the first round of ladies’ draft.

The No-7 Droughtmaster steers were on oats at Millmerran for three months prior to the event.

“We take pride in lending a quality line of cattle to the wonderful sport of campdrafting,” the Atthows said.

After the Gold Cup, the steers returned to Millmerran and went on pasture.

or “more years than he can remember” David McCabe from Breffni Droughtmasters has volunteered his time to run, and assist at, cattle assessment and handling schools.

Along with his family, who often form part of the catering team, David has been instrumental in ensuring that young and enthusiastic kids can learn about all that goes into caring for and preparing cattle for the show circuit.

A number of these children have never been “up close and personal” with a steer or heifer but by the end of the school many of those children (and some “not so young” children are included in this too) are keen to try out their skills and many return to the schools the following year.

Droughtmaster Society CEO Neil Donaldson said David is known for his quiet and patient manner.

“David is a true hero and we would like to thank him sincerely for all that he has done over so many years to ensure that the youth of today become confident and competent cattle breeders of the future,” he said.

February 2018

41

2018 Calendar of Events JANUARY 27 Malanda Female Sale - Malanda

FEBRUARY

AUGUST 09 RNA Stud Cattle Judging - Brisbane 09 Droughtmaster Australia AGM - Brisbane

14 All Breeds Sale - Rockhampton

24 Fitzroy Crossing Sale - WA

24 Karragarra “Entire Drop” Female Sale - Emerald

25 High Country Sale - Eskdale

SEPTEMBER MARCH

01 Bunya Bull Sale - Coolabunia

03 Futurity Show - Gatton

03 The CAP Sale - Rockhampton

10 National Female Sale - Gympie

04 Central Reds Bull Sale - Emerald

16 Highlands Sale - Clermont

05 Piggott Sale - Springsure

APRIL 06 X-Factor Sale - WA 11 Narngulu Bull Sale - WA

May

07 Valera Vale Sale - Augathella 11/12 National Bull Sale - Rockhampton 19 Clonlara Sale - Glenmorgan 21 Glenlands Sale - Bouldercombe

6 - 12 Beef Australia Expo - Rockhampton 08 “Leading Ladies” & Beef Genetics Sale

OCTOBER 05 Diamantina Sale - Winton

Rockhampton

08 Artesian Sale - Blackall

JULY 14 Grafton Invitational Sale - Grafton

12 Bullzeye Bull Sale - Capella 13 Scenic Rim Droughtmaster Sale - Boonah 19 Tropical Breeds Sale - Roma

NOVEMBER 09 MAGS Sale - Charters Towers 24 Cream of the Crop - Coolabunia

Request a Sale Catalogue Return this form to the Society via post or email

Name: Address: Please return this form to: Postal Email Droughtmaster Australia office@droughtmaster.com.au 40 Thorn Street, Ipswich QLD 4305

List the catalogues you require

Scenic Rim Droughtmaster Bull & Female Sale

Showcasing the best

Scenic c Rim has to offe r. . . . . . . .

Boonah Showgrounds Greg Anderson 0429 440 886

Sat 13th Oct 2018 Andrew Andrew Percy Percy 0408 0408 335335 951951

QualityforFemales Every Budget Ever

149

Registered Females 9am 10 March 2018, Selling Agents

Gympie Saleyards