Charolais Weaners Dominate

One recommendations for the Charolais breed is the annual Shepherdson and Boyd Toogoolawah Weaner sales. This annual event in May features lines of weaners predominantly from Bos Indicus cross dams from the breeding country of the Brisbane Valley.

This year for the first time the sale has been split into two days, 5,000 steers on the 19th May and 3,000 heifers on the 26th May. Of these two thirds will carry Charolais genetics. Charolais pens always start this sale with renowned breeding herds such as Lyndhurst, Eskdale Cattle, Paradise Grazing, Tandora and Luck Farming to name a few in the leading pens. The first thirty three pens at this year’s steer sale featured Charolais calves. With a cattle market correcting from prior years, the sale started off with the first two pens of Lyndhurst steers making $1300 each.

Charolais sired from Hereford Brahman cross dams, these steers showed great growth and muscle expression and will go like steam on feed. A three-breed specific or terminal cross results from mating Charolais bulls to the Hereford Brahman cows. In the three-breed cross, both individual and maternal heterosis are maximized. Maternal heterosis is maximized because the breeds crossed to produce the maternal line (the Hereford and Brahman) have no common composition. The Hereford Brahman cross female achieves maternal heterosis and adaptation to the environment, while the Charolais (terminal sire breed) produces the most acceptable turnoff animals.

Charolais infused calves from Grieve Brothers, Colinton topped the sale at $1,400 per head. (The steer sale in 2022 at the peak of the cattle market topped at $2,400 a head)

In the pre-sale judging, Eskdale Cattle was awarded the Champion Overall pen of Steers with their 20 head in Pen 25. At auction this pen made $1380 a head selling to Freestone Feedlot at Warwick. Freestone Feedlot went strong on the Eskdale Cattle weaners buying five pens in the first draft from this vendor. Eskdale Cattle were featured in the July 2022 edition of this magazine. The Eskdale pens are all clearly displayed with their pretreatments under their “Prepared to Succeed” motto. The calves are yard weaned and tailed, pre dipped and have an extensive vaccination record. This ensures the calves have every opportunity to express their genetic potential for their purchasers.

These pens involved 126 head and averaged $1,270 per head. Freestone Feedlot feed the Queensland Region Charolais Feedlot trial cattle and have done a great job with this competition. In only the third year this competition has attracted well over 300 head for the 2023 event.

Moteham Pty Ltd (Lyndhurst Station) placed second in the pre-sale judging Charolais Infused section. This pen of 18 head sold for $1,290. Taking third place in this section was JR, BJ & SR Gittens. This pen with a different judge won the Queensland Region Charolais Breeders $500 cash prize for best pen of Charolais steers. Several Queensland Charolais studs offer Bull sale vouchers to reward their clients at this prestigious event.

Lyndhurst Stations’ first run of 139 steers averaged $1,280 a head. In the first breed run which saw 690 Charolais sired steers sold in 33 pens, the average was $1,263 a head. Fifteen of these pens sold for $1,300 or more. Luck Grazing with their well-bred calves are always at the top of the prices. They sold their top pen of 17 Charolais sired calves for $1,360. Paradise Grazing, Nanango sold a pen of 25 Charolais infused calves for $1,370 a head. Attending this sale, it is easy to see why buyers place such strong recognition of these calves ability. The majority of these calves are bred in ticky forest type country which having Bos Indicus genetics in the female herd is an advantage.

These cows when joined to European type sires especially Charolais, breed calves with the frame and muscle that once on good feed will power ahead. Look at the topline on the calf on the front cover, the width and muscle expression is outstanding.

The pens of Charolais sired calves present with strong uniformity even though the breed content of their dams can be as wide as the spectrum. As Eskdale Cattle manager, Trevor Watson said in last year’s editorial when interviewed “the best thing about a Charolais, you can put them with any type of crossbred cow and you will get an even line of calves”. Due to the ticks, regular dipping is required and these weaned calves have super quiet temperaments due to their repeated handling.

The next week 2,720 calves were yarded in the heifer sale. Moteham P/L (Lyndhurst) were awarded the champion pen of the sale with a pen of Charolais cross heifers selling for $1,050 head. Moteham also had another two pens for $1,050 head with 162 heifers averaging $952 head. G and D Francis, Anduramba, sold Charolais cross heifers for $1,000 head.

Luck Farming, Mt Mort, sold Charolais cross weaner heifers for $980 head. Eskdale Cattle, Toogoolawah, sold 314 heifers with pens topping at $920, $890 and $850 head. Great to see strong commercial demand for Charolais genetics.

Cross into Profit with Charolais

We sincerely thank all who attended our 8th Annual Yearling Bull Sale & Liberty Charolais 30 Year Celebration. A special thank you to all purchasers and under bidders for your support and selection in our Liberty breeding program.