MoniqueAmadoro,workingasastudgroomintheSantaGertrudisringat lastyear'sEkkaandthisyearamajorawardwinneraspartofthe IntercollegiateMeatJudgingTeamcompetinginRockhampton,thanksto fundsraisedatthe2025EkkaAuction Readmoreinside
WelcometotheAugust2026editionofSantaExpress–news,informationand updatesfromtheSantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia)Associationuploadedon thefirstMondayofeverymonth.
AsanotherbusyEkkaweekgetsunder way,welcometotheAugusteditionof SantaExpress.
Augustisalwaysoneofthemost importantmonthsontheSanta Gertrudiscalendar,bringingtogether membersfromacrossthecountryto celebrateourbreed,conduct Associationbusinessandshowcasethe commercialperformancethatcontinues todrivedemandforSantagenetics.
Inthiseditionyou'llfindallthekeydates andeventssurroundingEkkaweek, includingtheCouncilelectioncount, SantaGertrudisjudging,theR.J.Kleberg ScholarshipannouncementandEkka AuctionandtheAssociation'sAnnual GeneralMeeting.
Wealsotakeacloserlookathowfunds raisedthroughlastyear'sauctionhave beenreinvestedintoyouthdevelopment initiatives,creatingopportunitiesfor youngmembersthroughleadership programs,industryeventsand educationalexperiences.
AwayfromBrisbane,wehighlightthe upcominginspectiondayforthe Bartholomew&CoSantaGertrudis FeedlotTrialandinvitemembersto attendtheresultslunchlaterthismonth.
Withthespringsaleseasonbeginningto gathermomentum,wealsoremind vendorstosubmittheircataloguesfor inclusioninourweeklySantaMustersale alerts.
Importantly,we'repleasedtoreporton theoutstandingsuccessofSanta GertrudisandSanta-influencedcattleat boththeCentralQueenslandCarcase ClassicandtheCallideDawsonBeef CarcaseCompetition,onceagain demonstratingthebreed'scommercial credentials.
Finally,welookaheadtoseveral importantAssociationevents,including theNovemberCouncilandDelegates meetingsandthereturnofthehighly anticipatedSantaGertrudisYouthCamp inJanuary2027.
Thankyouforyourcontinuedsupportof ourAssociationand,forthoseattending Ekkaweek,welookforwardtocatching upwithyouinBrisbane
BradCooper GeneralManager
SantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia) Association
Ekkaweekisuponusand,asalways,itis oneofthebusiestandmostexciting weeksontheAssociationcalendar.We encouragememberstotakenoteofthe followingkeyevents:
Wednesday,5August CouncilElectionBallotCount Councilelectionballotswillbecounted from9.30amatGeebung.Resultswillbe emailedtomembersduringthe afternoon.
Friday,7August
SantaGertrudisStudJudging Ring4,MainArena|Commencing 8:30am
Watchtheactionlivebyfollowingthe SantaGertrudisBreeders'Australia Facebookpage,wherejudgingwillbe livestreamedviaStockLive.
AreminderthatthefinalCouncilMeeting for2026willbeheldonThursday,5 November,followingaDelegatesDayon Wednesday,4NovemberinDalby.
Theseeventsprovideanimportant opportunityforCouncilmembers, delegatesandindustryrepresentatives
Friday,7August
2026R.J.KlebergScholarship Announcement&Auction RydgesFortitudeValley|Commencing 5:30pm
Joinusasweannouncetherecipientof the2026R.J.KlebergScholarshipbefore aneveningoffundraisingandfellowship. Thescholarshipauctionwillcommence at7pm,conductedbyGDLand simulcastviaAuctionsPlus.
AsofMonday,3August,theeventwas soldout.However,memberscanstill viewtheauctionlotsandregistertobid onlineviathislink.
Saturday,8August AnnualGeneralMeeting PodiumRooms2&3,RydgesFortitude Valley|9am
Welookforwardtoseeingmembers throughouttheweekandcelebrating anothersuccessfulEkkafortheSanta Gertrudisbreed.
tocometogethertodiscussAssociation businessandfuturepriorities.
Furtherinformationregardingthevenue, accommodationoptionsandprogram detailswillbedistributedtomembersin thecomingmonths.
TheSantaGertrudisEkkaAuctionhas becomemuchmorethanafundraising event.Itisaninvestmentinthefutureof ourbreedandourindustry.
Lastyear'sauctionraisedan outstanding$27,000,withproceeds helpingtooffsetproductioncostsforthe SantaJournalandAnnualCalendar. Importantly,mostfundsweredirected towardsourgrowingYouth DevelopmentProgram,creating opportunitiesforyoungmembersto developtheirskills,leadershipand industrynetworks.
Theadditionalfundinghasallowedthe Associationtoprovidegreatersupport totheR.J.KlebergScholarshiprecipient intheirroleasBreedAmbassador, helpingtostrengthenourpresenceat industryeventsandengagemore youngpeoplethroughinitiativessuchas theYoungBeefProducersForum.
ForthefirsttimeintheAssociation's history,wewerealsoabletosenda teamoffouryoungSantaGertrudis representativestotheIntercollegiate MeatJudgingNorthernConferencein Rockhampton.
Theauctionproceedshavealsohelped establishongoingsupportforaSanta Gertrudismemberagedunder35to attendtheprestigiousMarcusOldham RuralLeadershipProgram.
AndrewDoeringandhisdaughterMia,Tansey withIanandLouiseMacCue(centre), Goondiwindiatlastyear’sauction
Theseachievementswouldnothave beenpossiblewithoutthegenerosityof ourbiddersandtheindividualsand businesseswhodonateitemsforsale.
Everybidplacedandeverylotdonated directlycontributestocreatingnew opportunitiesforthenextgenerationof SantaGertrudisleaders.
Wesincerelythankour2026auction sponsorsandsupporters: GDLRural AuctionsPlus KingRanch InsightRepro Vytelle NIOA
Whetheryou'reattendinginpersonor biddingonline,weencourageall memberstogetinvolvedandhelpus continuebuildingastrongfuturefor SantaGertrudisyouthdevelopment.
Viewtheauctionlotsandregister tobidonlineviathelinkbelow.
ThepopularityoftheSantaGertrudis YouthCampcontinuestogrow,with inquiriesalreadybeingreceivedabout nextyear'sevent.
WhiletheYouthCommitteetraditionally meetsinearlySeptembertofinalisethe programbeforeregistrationsopenin October,wecanconfirmthatthecamp willreturntoMorganPark,Warwickin January2027
Toaccommodatearefreshedprogram andprovidemoreflexibilityfor participantsandfamilies,thecampwill operateunderaslightlyrevisedformat.
Activitieswillcommenceonthe afternoonofWednesday,13January followingregistrationandcontinue throughtoSaturday,16January.The campwillconcludewiththe presentationofawardsonSaturday evening.
Participantswillthenpackupand departonSundaymorning,17January.
TheYouthCampremainsone fth Association'spremierinitiative bringingtogetherthenextgen
SantaGertrudisenthusiaststodevelop theircattlehandling,judging,leadership andteamworkskillswhilebuilding lifelongfriendshipswithinthebreed.
Moreinformation,includingregistration details,programhighlightsand accommodationarrangements,willbe releasedinthecomingmonths.
Membersareencouragedtokeepan eyeonAssociationcommunicationsand socialmediachannelsforupdates.
Ifyou'revisitingBrisbaneforEkkaweek, whynottakeashortdrivesouthto FreestoneFeedlotnearWarwicktoview cattlecurrentlyonfeedinthe Bartholomew&CoSantaGertrudis FeedlotTrial?
Therearecurrentlymorethan430Santa GertrudisandSanta-crosscattleon feed,providinganexcellentopportunity toassesstheperformanceofthebreed inacommercialfeedingenvironment.
Withtheheifersweighedon31Julyand scheduledforprocessingonTuesday,11 August,andthesteersweighedon5 Augustandscheduledforprocessingon Tuesday,18August,thisSundaywill providetheidealopportunitytoinspect thecattlebeforetheyleavethefeedlot.
�� FreestoneFeedlot,Warwick
�� Sunday,9August
�� 9amto11am
Forfurtherinformationregardingthe feedlotinspection,pleasecontact: GarthWeatherall
�� 0438793100
Alunchcelebratingtheoutcomesofthis year 'sBartholomew&CoSanta GertrudisFeedlotTrialwillbeheldlater thismonth,providingmembersand industry
Santacattleon-feedatFreestoneFeedlot, Warwick
supporterswithanopportunitytoreview theresultsandcatchupwithfellow Santaenthusiasts.
�� BoonahTavern
�� Sunday,30August
�� From12noon
Guestswillenjoyasetmenufeaturing twobeefdishesshowcasingSanta Gertrudisbeef.Cost:$35perperson.
Paymentcanbemadeontheday; however,registrationisessential.Please registerviathislink.
Forfurtherinformationaboutthelunch, pleasecontact: WendyJames SantaGertrudisBreeders'Australia
�� (07)32162708
��admin@santagertrudis.com.au
Weencouragemembers,commercial producersandindustrysupportersto takeadvantageofboththeinspection dayandresultslunchtogainafirsthand insightintotheperformanceofSanta Gertrudisgeneticsinthefeedlotsector.
Thepastmonthhasonceagain highlightedthecommercialstrengthof SantaGertrudisgenetics,withSanta andSanta-influencedcattledelivering outstandingperformancesintwoof CentralQueensland'smostrespected carcasecompetitions,theCentral QueenslandCarcaseClassicandthe CallideDawsonBeefCarcase Competition.
Acrossbothevents,Santaexhibitors recordedclasswins,major championshiptitlesandnumeroustopsixplacingsingrass-fed,grain-fedand feedlotperformancecategories,further reinforcingthebreed'sreputationfor profitability,marketcomplianceand carcasequality.
AtthemorerecentCentralQueensland CarcaseClassic,SantaGertrudisand Santa-influencedentriesfeatured prominentlythroughouttheresults.
Standoutperformancesincludeda classwinforAndrewandKate Chapman,RowanleaCattleCompany, alongwithstrongplacingsfor CoorumburraPastoralCompany,RF Active,JamarSantaGertrudisStudand MontoStateHighSchool.
ThesuccessstartedattheCallide DawsonBeefCarcaseCompetition,
TraderWilson,Dingo,DavidAtkinson, MarlboroughandtheChapmanfamily,Calliope wereamongtheSantawinnersattheCentral QueenslandCarcaseClassic
whereSantageneticssecuredsomeof thecompetition'shighesthonours.
DodsonAgclaimedtheprestigious ChampionGrass-FedSteerCarcase award,whileDanandKaseyPhillips, Murgona,wereawardedChampion Grass-FedHeiferCarcase.
Santa-influencedcattlealsocollecteda rangeofclassvictoriesandplacingsin grain-fedandtradecategories,with particularlystrongperformancesfrom SpringCreekSantaGertrudis,Bellbird PastoralCompany,BurleighEstatesand Gyranda.
Importantly,Santacattlealsoexcelledin feedlotperformancemeasurements, recordingexceptionalaveragedaily weightgainsanddemonstratingthe efficiencyandgrowthtraitsthat continuetomakethebreedattractiveto bothseedstockandcommercial producers..
Asthespringsaleseasonbeginsto gathermomentum,theAssociationwill onceagainbedistributingourweekly SantaMusteremaildirectlytomembers eachFriday.
TheSantaMusterkeepsmembers informedaboutupcomingsalesand alertsbuyerswhennewsalecatalogues becomeavailabletoviewontheSanta Gertrudiswebsite.
OuronlineStudSalesCalendar continuestobeavaluableresourcefor bothbuyersandvendors,bringingsale dates,cataloguesandsalevideos togetherinoneconvenientlocation.
Theplatformmakesiteasyfor prospectivepurchaserstoaccess informationonSantaGertrudissales acrossthecountryandcomparethe cattleonoffer.
Theseresultsareacredittothebreeders, exhibitorsandcommercialproducers whocontinuetoinvestinSantaGertrudis geneticsandprovidefurtherevidence thatthebreedremainshighly competitiveacrossawiderangeof productionsystemsandmarket specifications. Congratulationstoallexhibitorswho representedthebreedsosuccessfully andshowcasedthecommercial performanceadvantagesofSanta Gertrudiscattleonsomeoftheindustry's mostrespectedbenchmarkingstages.
Ifyouhaveasalecomingupandhave notyetprovidedyourcatalogue,please senditthroughassoonaspossiblesoit canbeincludedonthewebsiteand featuredinourweeklymemberalerts
Cataloguesshouldbeemailedto: WendyJames �� admin@santagertrudis.com.au
Includingyourcatalogueonthe Associationwebsiteisasimpleand effectivewaytoincreaseexposurefor yoursaleandensuremorebuyersare awareoftheanimalsyouhaveonoffer thisyear.
AsAustralia’spremiermachineryfield dayapproaches,visitorstoAgQuipnear Gunnedah,NSWcanonceagain experienceoneofthegreattastesofthe Australianbeefindustry,thefamous SantaSteakSandwichorSantaSangas (asthey’repopularlycalled)served daily
Preparedfresheachdayfrom8am,the SantaSangashowcasestheexceptional eatingqualityofSantaGertrudisand Santa-crosscattle,demonstratingwhy thebreedcontinuestoearnrecognition incarcaseandprimebeefcompetitions acrossthecountry.
Thebeeffeaturedinthisyear'ssteak sandwicheshasbeencarefullyselected todeliveraquality,affordableeating experience
CutswillcomefromSantaGertrudis cattlesourcedfrommultiplevendors throughoutCentralQueenslandand chosenspecificallyfortheirsoftnessand suitabilitytomeetthehigherMeat StandardsAustralia(MSA)eating qualityexpectationsdemandedby today'sconsumers.
Thiscombinationofgenetics,feeding andcarefulselectionhashelped produceconsistent,high-qualitybeef withthetendernessandflavour consumersexpect.
Whetheryou'researchingforbreakfast, lunchorsimplyaqualitysnackwhile exploringAgQuip,makesureyouvisit SiteG-H/34-35duringthethreedaysof theeventfrom18-20August
EverySantaSangasoldsupportslocal highschoolsintheTamworthand Quirindidistricts,helpingfund agriculturaleducationprogramsand supportingthenextgenerationof Australianproducers.
8August SGB(A)AAGM,Rydges,FortitudeValley
26August AustralianRegisteredCattleBreeders’Association (ARCBA)AGM,Brisbane
Nobodyeversoldasecretsoifyouhave somethingtopromotetotheSanta GertrudiscommunityacrossAustralia, thenwhynotadvertiseinSantaExpress orSantaJournal. ThenextSantaExpresswillbeuploaded onMonday,September7.