OURTIMETOSHINE
FeedlotTrialUnderway:The inauguralSantaGertrudisFeedlot Trialisunderwaywithmore informationcomingasthetrial progresses.
StandardsDay:Morethan90 malesandfemalespresentedat Mitchell.
SydneyShowLookingGood:More than150entriesacrosssteerand studjudging.
FreeWorkshops: BREEDPLANworkshops willexplorehowdata canbeutilisedin animalselection.
JudgingSchool
Closing:registrations closeMarch5forthe March14-16event.
FromtheGeneral Manager
Thisisourtimetoshine
Welcome to the March edition of Santa Express, and a special welcome to newmembersandanyonereadingourmonthlynewsletterforthefirsttime.
With the autumn months now upon us, it really is the time for our breed to shine.
From the stud ring, country shows are in full swing, and Santa members are outandaboutexhibitingtheircattleandtakinghometrophiesandribbons.
In the selling ring, we have commercial heifer, steer and weaner sales in full stride, where demand for Santa and Santa-infused animals remains strong. Our members in Western Australia are also gearing up for bull sales in the auctionringandoutofthepaddock.
FielddirectorRussellSmythhasrecentlycompletedclassificationvisitsinWA and the SGB(A)A has supported marketing efforts in the west with display advertising in Farm Weekly over December-January and starting again this month.
In the production space, we have nearly 150 head of Santa Gertrudis cattle onfeedatPackaderingaFeedlot,whichwereinductedintotheNanango,Qld facility on February 18. See more on this event and photos below. We thank fielddirectorRussellYeatesforinstigatinganddrivingthisexcitinginitiative
The SGB(A)A office is currently abuzz, preparing classification visits. As we help you, please remember to help us by ensuring you have your contact andlocationdetailsuptodate.It’seasytodobyclickingonthislink.
Have a great month ahead, and I look forward to catching up with some of you at the Royal Sydney Show next month and many other events in our calendar.
BradCooper,GeneralManager
SydneyShow lookinggood
Thankyoutothosememberswhohave swunginbehindeffortstomakethe SantaGertrudisfeaturebreeddisplayat thisyear’sRoyalSydneyShowa spectacularsuccess.
WithnominationsclosingFebruary26,at thefinalcountmembershadnominated 21purebredsteersforsteerjudgingon Thursday,April10and134headforthe studjudgingonSaturday,April12.
FollowingstudjudgingonApril12the SGB(A)Awillhostafunctioninour hospitalityarea,whichwe’vedubbed ‘TheSantaVillage’,providing complimentaryrefreshmentsuntilthe earlyevening.
Sydneyroomstolet
Ifyou’replanningtocometotheSydney Showandareneedingaccommodation, theSGB(A)Aisholdingroomsbooked fromApril11-13closetotheOlympicPark venue.
Atthetimeofwriting,wehadseven roomsavailable.Formoreinformation emailadmin@santagertrudis.com.au
Two raffles will be held on the night, including another gorgeous handmade quilt, currently still in production (as pictured) from master quilt maker Katherine Ashman
For catering purposes, we’d like you to register your attendance at our function by clicking on this link here.
Councilmatters
CouncillorsRussellGray,Scott HumphreysandgeneralmanagerBrad CooperrecentlyattendedtheAustralian InstituteofCompanyDirectors(AICD) GovernanceFoundationscourse.
PresidentLizAllenalsoattendedthe AICDRoleoftheChaircourse.Areport fromlastweek’sCouncilmeetingwillbe intheupcomingeditionofSanta Journal.
Feedlottrial underway
Thosememberswhohaveenteredcattle intotheinauguralSantaGertrudisFeedlot Trialwillreceivefullanalysisoftheircattle’s performanceonfeedandtheirkilldata onceprocessedatTeysAustralia, Beenleigh,Qld
We’llhavemoreinformationcomingas thetrialprogresses.
PicturedisPackaderingaFeedlotowners LachyBrownandEmmaWostearwithfield directorsRussellYeatesandRussellSmyth.
StandardsDay
SGB(A)Acouncillorsandthefield directorsrecentlymetatMitchellin westernQueenslandforStandardsDay.
StandardsDaysareanimportant proceduretoensuretheSantaGertrudis StandardofExcellenceismaintained andthatCouncilandfielddirectorsare allalignedinmaintainingthestandard
Morethan90malesandfemaleswere presentedforinspectiontoensure consistencyinhowminimumbreed standardsareapplied.
CouncillorsandfielddirectorscompleteBreed StandardsDay,back,fromleft:DennisMoxey,Louise Prentice,LizAllen(president),MichaelDoering,Scott Humphreys,RussellGray,NeilWatsonandBrettEllem. Front,fromleft:fielddirectorRussellSmyth,Scott Ferguson,DavidBassingthwaighte,RickGreenupand fielddirectorRussellYeates.
FielddirectorsRussellSmythandRussellYeateslook overoneofthebullspresentedforStandardsDay
Brandingon themove
The general manager ' s Toyota Prado has received a makeover.
Consistent branding on the side panels and rear of the vehicle, displaying our web address and office phone number will now be more visible as the vehicle moves aboutthecountry.
Aprofessional-lookingbrand prominently displayed, sends a clear message that wemeanbusiness!
BREEDPLAN workshops
ABRI is launching a new series of online workshopsfor2025,includingUsing BREEDPLAN InformationinAnimalSelection.
The free, hour-long workshop will explore how BREEDPLAN information can be utilised, alongside visual assessment, in animal selection Topics to be explored in the workshopwillinclude:
How to interpret BREEDPLAN EBVs and SelectionIndexes.
A guide to using this information in your animalselectiondecisions.
How to search the online database to create a shortlist of animals with suitable genetics for your operation ahead of sale day.
ABRIhasscheduledfourworkshopsthroughout 2025,onthefollowingdates:
Tuesday25March7-8pmAEDT
Tuesday20May7-8pmAEST
Tuesday22July7-8pmAEST
Tuesday23September7-8pmAEST
Bookings are essential, and can be made via Trybookinghere.
Further information is also available on the BREEDPLANwebsitehere.
JudgingSchool closingsoon
Registrations are still being taken for the SantaGertrudisJudgingSchool.
Be quick, though, because registrations will close March 5 at the close of business for the March 14-16 event. To register,clickhere.
Santa Gertrudis judging schools offer cattle producers a forum to assess their operations and breeding programs through presentations by guest speakers.
Thesesessionsincludelectures,practical demonstrations, and opportunities for participants to engage in discussions, ask questions, provide feedback, and sharetheirselectioncriteria.
Learnjudgingetiquetteandgettipson howtoimproveyourcommentaryinthe showring,aswellasreceiveinsightson selectingandjudgingbulls,femalesand steers
Held only once a year, the Santa Gertrudis Judging School is always in high demand. Places are limited to 30 peopleagedover18.
Thecostis$165(incGST)perpersonand coversallmealsandcampingon-site.
Camping facilities are available at Broadwater Sales Complex, Yulgilbar stud,Baryulgil,NSWandincludeshowers, toiletsandkitchenfacilities.
Off-site accommodation is an option at theparticipant’sowncost.
Payment is due upon registration and registrations will be taken on a first in, firstservedbasis.
Toinquireaboutaccommodationphone BrettEllemon0427772507
MarcusOldham scholarshipclosed
Applications for the Marcus Oldham Scholarshiparenowbeingassessedand willbeannouncedsoon.
The five-day program from April 27-May 2 will give the successful candidate the skillsandconfidencetobeabeefleader oftomorrow.
The Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Program scholarship is valued at more than$4000.
RJKlebergScholarshipUpdate
Informationabouttherevamped RJKlebergScholarship,with detailsonhowtoapplytobe releasednextmonth.
SantaExpress advertisingavailable
Ifyou’dliketoadvertiseinSanta Expressatcompetitiveratescontact MaddisonMcCaffertyat admin@santagertrudis.com.au.
ThenexteditionofSantaExpresswill beuploadedApril7.
SantaJournalnextedition AdvertisingbookingsclosingonMarch 7forthenexteditionofSantaJournal, withproductionstartingMarch10.The publicationwillbeprintedMarch17 andisscheduledtoleavetheBrisbane mailhousebyweekendingApril4.
Thiseditionwillincludeallthe highlightsoftheSantaYouthCamp, withstoriesbehindsomeofour winners.We’llhaveapreviewto SydneyShowandfeaturesonpeople makingtheirmarkwithSantacattle andSantabeef.
Toadvertiseinthisedition,contact MaddisonMcCaffertyat admin@santagertrudis.com.au