Kurra-Wirra - Breeding Australia's Finest Cattle

MEASUR ED TO PE R FORM

A STORY OF INNOVATION

Kurra-Wirra is a leading intergenerational farming business, renowned for its innovative livestock breeding of top-tier Red Angus, Angus and Slick Angus cattle.

Our breeding program harnesses high-performing genetics from the world’s premier sires, producing cattle that excel in carcase quality, fertility, calving ease and temperament. Our cattle thrive in all environments, particularly the warmer northern climates thanks to our innovation in integrating the Senepol heat-resistant gene into our Red Angus and Angus herd.

Our involvement in the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation (TACE), The Leachman $Profit analysis, and the use of genomics, gives us the confidence to continuously refine our herd based on comprehensive performance data, ensuring excellence in every generation.

The primary aim at Kurra-Wirra is to produce market focused bulls that enhance the beef industry and improve the profitability of our clients.

SIX GENERATIONS OF EXPERTISE

At the heart of Kurra-Wirra lies the Close family legacy.

For six generations, the family has excelled in livestock breeding and farm management. Together, Robert and Bernadette Close expanded Kurra-Wirra while raising their children — Christopher, Simon, Anthony, Michael, and Anna-Grace — on the land. Bernadette, who passed away in 2022, left a profound impact through her dedicated support in nursing and farm administration.

Today, Robert, along with his sons Simon, Anthony and Michael steer Kurra-Wirra as managing directors. They all share a deep passion for their land and livestock, actively contributing to all facets of the business. Under Robert’s mentorship, whilst nurturing their own families, they are committed to preserving the family vision of “An intergenerational farming business that looks after its people, animals and the environment”.

AN EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF SUPERIOR BULLS

2.RED ANGUS

Red Angus cattle possess all the esteemed qualities of Angus, enhanced by a distinctive homozygous red coat colour. Renowned for their excellent temperament, strong maternal instincts, and superior carcase characteristics, Red Angus and their crosses are highly valued by commercial producers as a foundational element in their production systems. Additionally, Red Angus are exceptionally adaptable, thriving across the diverse climatic conditions found throughout Australia.

RED COAT COLOUR

1. BLACK ANGUS

The most widespread and keenly sought after temperate beef breed in the world, due to the greater profitability achieved over other breeds. They are undemanding, adaptable, good natured, mature extremely early and have a high carcase yield with good marbling. Angus are renowned as a carcase breed. They are used widely in crossbreeding to improve carcase quality and milking ability.

MARKET DEMAND

FERTILITY & MATERNAL

Angus are well known for their tremendous market versatility. They have the ability to grow to heavy market weights quickly.

FERTILITY RATES

The lighter red colour also assists in handling heat conditions better than black hided cattle.

Red Angus cattle’s excellent fertility rates ensure robust herd growth and genetic consistency, significantly enhancing their appeal and value in the breeding industry.

TEMPERAMENT

Angus females reach puberty at a young age, are highly fertile and are renowned for their longevity in the herd. They have excellent milk production and have a strong maternal instinct. Combined with easy calving attributes.

Gentle natured and easy cattle to work with. Research has linked positive relationship between ‘good’ cattle temperament, improved productivity levels and overall meat quality.

CARCASE QUALITY Top class in tenderness, texture, flavour and fat marbling.

DISPOSITION

CARCASS QUALITY

The calm and docile disposition of Red Angus cattle makes them a favourite among farmers, facilitating easier handling and management. The cattleman’s most important trait.

Red Angus cattle are renowned for their superior carcass quality, yielding consistently tender and well-marbled meat that meets high market demand.

3.

kw. SLICK ANGUS

Using top global Red Angus and Angus sires, we infuse with our Kurra-Wirra slick coated females to develop our superior kw. Slick Angus cattle. Advances in genetic testing, especially for the Slick-coat gene from the Senepol, allow us to dramatically increase the Angus content in our kw. Slick Angus cattle while retaining the invaluable benefits of the heat-tolerant, Slick-coat gene. This approach provides substantial advantages for commercial beef enterprises, enhancing fertility and productivity while catering to diverse market opportunities.

INTRODUCING THE SUPERIOR QUALITIES OF SLICK ANGUS

For the past two decades, Kurra-Wirra has focused on breeding cattle that impact positively and profitably on the Australian beef industry. By blending the robust characteristics of Angus with the Senepol’s heat tolerance and parasite resistance, slick-coat gene, we’ve developed cattle that are ideally suited for the northern climates. Our kw. Slick Angus cattle has superior fertility, growth, and carcass quality, all while retaining the vital slick coat gene for optimal performance in the heat. These bulls provide a very distinct advantage to commercial beef breeding operations in Northern Australia, focused on increased production and efficiency as well as higher value carcases from hot northern environments.

This deliberate genetic combination ensures that our kw. Slick Angus bulls have higher fertility rates and accelerated calf growth, allowing for earlier weaning as they reach heavier weights at younger ages. This accelerated growth decreases the time calves need to graze before being sold, boosting profitability, reducing methane production and carbon footprint which provides a more environmentally sustainable solution.

We call this new breed, the ‘kw. Slick Angus’.

BREEDING FOR BETTER –SLICK ANGUS

Our Slick Angus program taps into the finest global genetics of the Angus and Red Angus breeds combined with the Senepol slick coat gene. This initiative delivers high-quality, performance-tested animals with considerable genetic advantages. Featuring sire verification and genomically enhanced Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) through the Leachman $Profit analysis, we rigorously assess key traits such as growth, birth weight, fertility, carcass quality, and conformation, ensuring a consistently exceptional standard across our herd.

OPENING UP MARKETS

SUPERIOR FERTILITY

Our cattle not only fetch Angus premium prices and are suitable for northern exports but also experience high demand in feedlots and store markets throughout Australia, with progeny commanding a flat-backed premium crossed with Bos Indicus cows.

High libido with the ability to breed in diverse and often challenging environments, combined with high conception rates, ensuring a reliable and efficient production system.

EARLY MATURITY

MEAT QUALITY

REDUCTION IN HEAT STRESS

TICK & PARASITE RESISTANCE

Reach maturity quicker than many other breeds. This early maturity allows for earlier breeding and shorter generation intervals, enhancing productivity reaching target weights at a younger age.

Premium price cuts that exhibit tenderness, texture, flavour, marbling and meat yield.

Our cattle maintain a lower internal body temperature, minimising the impact of heat stress in temperatures exceeding 28 degrees. This trait contributes to enhanced fertility and increased production. 1

Estimated on-farm cost of ticks to the Australian cattle industry (production losses plus control costs) is approximately $146m per year. Slick Angus is a tick resistant breed – an efficient method to control this parasite.2

MORE GRAZING TIME DURING DAYLIGHT

A higher degree of heat tolerance allows for longer average daily grazing time when compared to other non-slick coated breeds resulting in improved production and performance.

1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36819485/ 2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22115946/

KURRA-WIRRA BREEDING PROGRAM

Kurra-Wirra bulls are bred from an 800 strong head cow herd, run under tough commercial conditions. We do this to apply pressure on each cow and to test the capacity of her genetic traits so the ‘cream can rise to the top’. This allows only the most profitable genetics to remain within the herd. Females are subject to a rigorous selection process. Culling of females is strict and done under these conditions:

• Cows MUST get in calf each year: No exceptions,

• Heifer must calve unassisted at 2 years of age,

• Temperament must be favourable. We allow the cow to be protective of calf but any hint of madness, she’s gone!

• Conformation and structure are measured and culled upon before entry into the stud,

• Must pass on strong genetics in relation to birth weight, growth rates and carcass traits.

Our selection criteria are first and foremost focused on type and structure, and then on above average genetic performance - never in reverse. We AI a significant number of females to proven sires from the best Angus and Red Angus bulls into our herd. This is to ensure we deliver the most commercially relevant and most profitable bulls to the industry.

Our primary focus is consistently centred on breeding market-oriented bulls that not only elevate the beef industry but also improve the profitability for our clients.

CALVING RATE INCREASED

MATTHEW MACDONALD GM OPERATIONS - WESTERN GRAZING

“Western Grazing have been buying Kurra-Wirra bulls for 16 years. We were looking for a breed to cross with our Brahman base herd that had muscle, fertility, growth, and that could stand up to the northern climate. We have found that Kurra-Wirra bulls have all that and more. By using these bulls, our calving rate has increased, our calves are heavier, and we are able to turn them off more quickly. The slick coat enables our cattle to maintain export opportunities to Northern markets and to be soft enough, with less ear that southern buyers also love them. Clients that buy our weaner steers say that they perform above and beyond other breeds and continue wanting more.”

OPTIMUM HEAT TOLERANCE

JOHN FRIEND & SON. LIVESTOCK & LAND

“We’ve successfully integrated over 140 Slick Angus Bulls into operations in Northern Queensland and Pilbara, WA, excelling in fertility and adaptability to diverse climates. These bulls have thrived in humidity, extreme heat, and tick-prone areas, producing calves with excellent calving ease, growth rates, and temperament. The resulting MSA Acceptable offspring are highly sought after in domestic markets, showcasing consistent red color and optimal heat tolerance. We operate across 2 million acres in WA and 12 stations in Queensland, with plans to continue this approach.”

SUPERIOR FERTILITY

RUSSELL POOL - LILLIANFELS INVESTMENTS

“Red calves on green feed a testament of good breeding. 9 years of pretty ordinary times in Western Queensland, 7 years of using Kurra-Wirra Bulls and they still amaze me in the way they perform in all conditions. (The fertility is second to none). Have never had so many pregnant cows is such dry times.”

KURRA-WIRRA BULLS ARE RUNNING IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

WHAT WE OFFER

As part of our dedication to collaboration and superior customer service, we extend an open invitation for anyone to come and view our herd at any time. Whether you’re a seasoned breeder, prospective buyer, or simply curious about our operation, we welcome you to witness firsthand the quality and care that goes into our cattle breeding program. Additionally, we offer the convenience of private sales nationwide, ensuring that our genetics are accessible to breeders across Australia.

NORTHERN BULL SALE

CONTRACT BREEDING

PRIVATE SALES

Angus, Red Angus, Slick Angus bulls for sale in our Northern Sale in Blackall QLD. Sep/Oct

Contract breeding for large-scale commercial clients, providing tailored solutions to suit your specific needs.

Consistently high-quality selection of bulls available for private selection.

SEMEN SALES

CONSULTATION

Semen sales available for both domestic and international beef producers.

Breeding advice and tailored solutions servicing our customers in the way that is right for them.

KURRA-WIRRA

Simon Close - 0447 715 647 | simon@kurrawirra.com.au

Robert Close - 0413 285 860 | robert@kurrawirra.com.au

AUSTRALIAN TOPSTOCK

James Lilburne - 0417 333 737 | james.lilburne@bigpond.com

WWW.KURRAWIRRA.COM.AU @kurrawirra