FIRSTRATEPERFORMANCE
WelcometotheJune2026editionofSantaExpress–news,informationand updatesfromtheSantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia)Associationuploadedon thefirstMondayofeverymonth.
KingRanch:Keyleaders arriveinAustraliathis month
FeedlotTrial:Save23 Augustforpresentation lunch
JudgingSchool: Registrationsopenfor1719Julyevent
StateofOrigin:Refreshed TVadhighlightsNSWand Qldbullsales
TheodoreFeatureShow oozesSantaquality
Strongnumbersandseriouscompetition setthetoneforSantaGertrudisatthe breed’sfeatureshowduringthe74th TheodoreShow,withthebreed dominatingthestudsectionand backingitupinatightlyjudged interbreedfinaleon12May.
A140+headSantalineupacrossStud andPrimeformedthebackboneofthe 315headofcattleentered.JudgeBrett Ellem,YugilbarStation,NSWpraisedthe depthandquality,notingthecattle exceededexpectationsforaregional show.
TheHattonfamily,DiamondH, Wandoan,ledthecharge,withDiamond HBaileyB263(withcalfatfoot)claiming championseniorfemaleandgrand championfemale,whileDiamondH Bentleysecuredchampionseniormale andgrandchampionmale.
Bailey’sstandoutdaydidn’tstopthere, goingontobecrownedSupreme ChampionFemaleoftheShowand securingtwoofthemajortricolourribbons.
Acrosstheremainingclasses, weresharedamongDangarfi
AssociationPresidentLizAllenwithKaseyPhillips fromMurgona,LouisePrenticefromJamarStud andPeterMahonyfromGyranda
DiamondH,Moongana,Murgona,Nioa, Ribbleton,SantahatandtheWhite Family.SantahattookthePairof Females,andMurgonasecuredboth ProgenyStakesandBreeder’sGroup, partofahighlyconsistentshowingthat resultedintheTaroombasedenterprise ofDanielandKaseyPhillipsawarded MostSuccessfulStudBeefExhibitor.
Outsidetheshowring,Murgona presentedthechampionpairofunled SantaGertrudisbulls,withJamar, EmeraldclaimingreserveandGyranda, Theodorethird.
InthePrimeBeefSection,RFCGoodland wonChampionSingleSantaMaleand ChampionPenof3SantaMales;Hatton &CowonChampionSingleSanta FemaleandJamarSantasclaimed ChampionPenof3SantaFemales
AboutKing Ranch
KingRanch,Inc.,isaprivately heldagriculturalproduction andresourcemanagement companyestablishedin1853.
HeadquarteredinTexasand ownerofthehistoric825,000acre(333,866ha)King Ranch,itisthebirthplaceof theSantaGertrudisbreed.
Today,itsoperationsinclude cattlebreedingand production,horses,wildlife managementand recreation,andthe productionofseveral agriculturalcommodities includingcotton,milo,sugar cane,almondsand pistachiosandvarious vegetables.
KingRanchoperates extensiveturfgrass operationsandisthe majorityownerofoneofthe largestcitrusproducersin theUnitedStates.
Thecompanyoperates severalretailoperations, includingthefamousKing RanchSaddleShop,andhas brandingpartnershipswhich includeFordMotorCo.
KingRanchvisit
ITheleadershipteamfromKingRanch,Texas arrivesinAustraliaonJune15foratwo-week, ground-leveltourofleadingcattleoperations, feedlots,processorsandresearchinstitutions.
ThedelegationwillcompriseRobertHodgen–President/CEO,HeathGrigg-VicePresident/ GeneralManager–Ranching&Wildlife,Michael Rhyne-ChiefOperatingOfficer&ExecutiveVP andDarrellWhite–AreaManager(Cattle).
Withastrongfocusonherdmanagement, geneticselectionandlong-termproductivityin subtropicalenvironments,thevisitisfirmly education-driven,withanemphasisonsharing insightsfrombothUSandAustralianproduction systems
LedbyformerMLAManagingDirectorandSanta GertrudismemberJasonStrong,theitinerary includesasessionatCQUniversity, RockhamptononJune20,(clickhereformore information)plusvisitswithSantaGertrudis breedersandadinnerwithSantaGertrudis councillorstocoincidewiththeCouncilmeeting inBrisbaneonJune15-16.
SantaGertrudisBreeders(Australia),in partnershipwithQuadrantAgToursandCQU, hasspentthepastsixmonthsbringingthistour together—anotherstepinstrengtheningthe long-standingconnectionwithoneoftheUS beefindustry’smostinfluentialoperations.
FollowSantaGertrudisAustraliaonFacebookfor updatesasthetourunfolds.
CasinoBeefWeek success
SantaGertrudishasblitzedCasinoBeef Weekon30Maywhere143entries across13breedswerejudgedinan interbreedformat.
RLPastoralCompany,RiverinaStudwith RiverinaUTangoU95wonSenior interbreedChampionfemaleofCasino BeefWeek,whileherstablemate RiverinaUCanU111backedupwinning ReserveSeniorChampionInterbreed female.
Seeusat
FarmFest
SantaGertrudisisbackatFarmFest (Kingsthorpe,June2–4),showcasing qualitycattleandthestrengthofthe breed.
Cattleondisplaywillbepresentedby JohnMcCarthy,Rosehill,Cliftonand JonathanMaskall,Homeleigh, Millmerran,alongsideanAssociation display.
Ifyou’reheadingtoFarmFest,besureto dropbyandseethecattleupclose. There’snobetterwaytoexperience SantaGertrudisinaction.
FollowalongonFacebookforupdates throughouttheevent.
SantasenjoyedsuccessatCasinoBeefWeek
Thestudalsoclaimedboththe prestigiousInterbreedBreedersGroup andalsotheInterbreedSiresProgeny Group RiverinaUTangoY95was awardedSupremeexhibitfortheSanta Gertrudisbreed.
FeedlotTrial update
SantaGertrudiscattleinthe Bartholomew&Cofeedlottrial (Beaudesert)arecurrentlyperforming stronglyatFreestoneFeedlot,Warwick, reportedtobeinexcellentconditionand progressingwellacrossboththe70-day and100-dayprograms.
Vendorsandinterestedproducersare encouragedtosavethedate–Sunday, 23August–forapresentationlunchat theBoonahTavern,whereresultswillbe sharedandagreatopportunityto connectwithfellowproducers.
Moredetailscomingsoon.
NorthernGenetics
Project
GeneralManagerBradCooperand PresidentLizAllenmetwith representativeslastweekfromABRI, AustralianBrahmanBreeders' Association,BrangusAustraliaand DroughtmasterAustraliatodiscuss objectives,scopeanddeliverablesfora potentialNorthernGeneticsProject.
Theprojectwillaimtoincreaseadoption ofBREEDPLAN,genomictools,and geneticdecision-supportsystemswithin
SantaGertrudis
JudgingSchool–
RegistrationsOpen
Registrationsarenowopenforthe upcomingSantaGertrudisJudging School,tobeheldfrom17–19Julyat DangarfieldCattleCo,Kingswood(150 AquaParkRd,Taroom).
Thispopularprogramisafantastic opportunityforthose18yearsandover todeveloptheirskillsandgainadeeper understandingofthefinerpointsof assessingSantaGertrudiscat
Breedgroupscametogethertodiscussthe potentialproject.
thenorthernbeefindustrytodrivefaster andmoreaccurategenetic improvement.
Whetheryou’relookingtobuild confidenceinthejudgingringorexpand yourindustryknowledge,thishands-on weekendisnottobemissed.
Theeventisfullycatered,withon-site accommodationavailablefor participants,ensuringacomfortableand immersiveexperience
Pleasenotethatplacesarelimitedto30 participants,andaspecialdiscounted rateisavailableformembers.
Weencourageearlyregistrationviathis
PrepareYourCattlefor 2027–ALandmarkYear
Ahead
Nowisthetimetostartplanningfor whatwillbeatrulyhistoricyearforthe SantaGertrudisbreedin2027.Notonly willwebecelebratingour75thJubilee, butthebreedwillalsotakecentrestage attwomajorindustryevents.
SantaGertrudiswillfeatureprominently atBeefAustraliainRockhamptonin May,oneofthelargestandmost influentialcattleindustryeventsinthe SouthernHemisphere.
Followingthis,wewillproudlyhostthe WorldSantaGertrudisCongressin Brisbane,culminatingintheSanta GertrudisFeatureBreedShowatthe Ekka—anincredibleopportunityto showcasethestrength,quality,and progressofourbreedonbothanational andinternationalstage.
Toensuretheseeventsarearesounding success,wearecallingonallmembers
Startpreparingnowfor2027showcaseevents.
tobeginpreparingnow.Settingaside yourbestcalvesearlywillbekeyto buildingstrongrepresentation, particularlyinstudclasses.
Carefulselection,strategicfeeding,and consideredpreparationplanswillgive youthebestchanceofpresentingcattle thattrulyreflectthequalityofyour programandthebreed.
WiththespotlightfirmlyonSanta Gertrudisin2027,thisisaunique opportunitytobepartofsomething special,showcasingourcattletoa globalaudienceandcontributingtoa milestonecelebrationforthebreed.
Newsfromtheoffice
We’verefreshedthelookofourTax InvoicesandStatementstomakethem clearerandeasiertonavigate.Members willnoticeacleanerlayoutandmore straightforwarddetail.
Tohelpdistinguishbetweendocuments ataglance,TaxInvoicesarenowblue andStatementsred,aligningwithour brandcolours.
Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorneed clarificationonaninvoiceorstatement, pleasecontactusat sg@santagertrudis.com.au
RJKleberg Scholarship applications
Applicationstowinthis prestigioushonourandgain theopportunitytotravelto KingRanch,TexasUSas Australia’sSantaGertrudis BreedAmbassadorclose Friday,12June. Clickhereformore informationandtoapply.
2026Marcus
OldhamRual Leadership
“Tobeagoodleaderyou mustbeableshareavision withtherestofthegroup thatisalignedwithyour goalsandwhereyouwantto endup.Stresscomesfrom theunknown,comfortcomes fromtheplanning”.
ThomasFogdenhasjust completedhisscholarshipat the2026MarcusOldham RuralLeadershipProgramin Geelong,Victoria.Afull wrap-upwillappearinthe Augustmagazine.
–ApplicationsOpen
TheSantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia) Associationisaproudmemberofthe AustralianRegisteredCattleBreeders Association(ARCBA)andispleasedtosupport theprestigiousArthurRickardsScholarship.
In2025,ARCBAisofferinga$15,000scholarship toayoungpersonaged18–35toundertakea studytour,providinganoutstanding opportunitytobroadenknowledge,gain internationalexperience,andcontributetothe futureoftheAustraliancattleindustry
Westronglyencourageyoungmembersofthe SantaGertrudiscommunitytoapplyandtake advantageofthisvaluableopportunity.
Pleasenotethatallapplicationsmustincludea letterofsupportfromyourrespectivebreed society,confirmingendorsementofyour nominationtotheselectionpanel.
FurtherdetailsontheArthurRickards Scholarshipareadvertisedinthisnewsletteror canbeaccessedviatheprovidedlink.
FormoreinformationphoneSantaGertrudis GeneralManagerandmemberoftheARCBA Executive,BradCooper(07)32162708oremail gm@santagertrudis.com.au
SantaGertrudistakes onStateofOrigin
Youmaynoticeafamiliarfaceonyour screensduringthisyear’sStateofOrigin series,withSantaGertrudislaunchinga refreshedadvertisingcampaignthat celebratesthebreed’sperformance, reliability,andversatility—allwitha distinctlyStateofOrigintwist.
Designedtoconnectwithproducers acrossbothstates,thecampaign highlightsthestrengthandconsistency ofSantaGertrudisgenetics,whilealso promotingtheextensiverunofbullsales takingplaceacrossQueenslandand NewSouthWalesfromJunethroughto October
It’satimelyreminderthat,whenitcomes toselectingbulls,SantaGertrudis continuestodeliverresultsinawide rangeofenvironmentsandoperations. Ifyou’retuningintotheStateofOrigin broadcastsontheImparjaTelevision network,besuretokeepaneyeoutfor thead.
We’reproudtosupportruraland regionalAustraliabypartneringwith Imparja’sStateofOriginbroadcast, celebratingnotonlyregionalAustralia’s loveoffooty,butalsoitscommitmentto qualitycattleandthepeoplebehind them.
Toviewtheadclickhere.