The Charolais Advantage July 2014

Turn Silver into Gold with

The Charolais Advantage

Charolais Society of Australia PO Box 772 Armidale, NSW 2350 (Suite 6, 188 Beardy St, Armidale) Ph: 02 6771 1666 F: 02 6771 1561 W: www.charolais.com.au

In this issue On a Winner With Charolais Cross

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Charolais Ease The Load Charolais - The Smart Cross Choice Tender Charolais Beef Hybrid Vigour - Providing Returns Charolais Brahman Cross Growth Rates Charolais Prove Their Versatility Charolais Silver Calves

6 8 10 14 16 18 21

Vale Rob Millner

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General Manager - Terence Farrell, E: gm@charolais.com.au Registrar - Alarna Hall, E: office@charolais.com.au Finance Officer - Hayley Clark, E: accounts@charolais.com.au Member Services Manager - Kristy Ford, E: admin@charolais.com.au

Federal Council President - Keith Glasson (QLD) Ph: 07 4979 1133 Mob: 0418 716 476, E: crathescharolais@internode.on.net Vice President - Heath Dobson (TAS) Ph: 03 6393 1330 Mob: 0409 176 228, E:pineparkcharolais@activ8.net.au Vice President - Chris Knox (Federal) Ph: 02 6842 9101 Mob: 0427 600 278, E: dskangusandcharolais@westnet.com.au Treasurer - Warren Miller (Federal) Ph: 02 4887 1304 Mob: 0423 396 014, E: warren.miller@mclachlan.com.au David Ellis (WA) Ph: 08 9530 3225 Mob: 0427 170 965, E: kooyong.cam@hotmail.com Greg Frizell (NSW) Mob: 0427 781 346, E: wakefieldstud@bigpond.com Ken Manton (VIC) Ph: 03 5856 2163 Mob: 0428 813 723, E: ken.manton@hotmail.com Michael Osborne (SA) Ph: 08 8733 3393, Mob: 0408 838 568, E: ryeview@bigpond.com

Visit: www.charolais.com.au for Regional contacts

The TheCharolais CharolaisAdvantage Advantage

Honorary Life Members Anthony Hordern (Dec’d) Harry Wadds (Dec’d) J. Martin Lenthall (Dec’d) Rick Pisaturo A.M. David Dixon Bill Hayes John Sullivan (Dec’d) Harold Seeley A.M.

Trevor Cottee Helen Trustum Lesley Millner Rob Millner (Dec’d) Michael Hargreaves Alex McLachlan A.M. Gary Noller David Bondfield

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Manager of Lyndhurst, Russell Fogg, Crows Nest, with the champion pen of steers.

Images courtesy of the Queensland Country Life

On a Winner With Charolais Cross Using Charolais bulls in excess of twenty years, has ensured that Ken and Frances Brown of Lyndhurst, Crows Nest, south east Queensland, present weaners at the Toogoolawah weaner sales that are keenly sought out by buyers year in, year out.

A very astute cattleman, Ken was one of the first people in the district to see the benefits of selling calves straight off their mothers.

Ken was instrumental in getting the Toogoolawah weaner sale off the ground with the assistance of agents Shepherdson and Boyd.

Sadly Ken passed away in January of this year. But with manager Russell Fogg at the helm and Ken and Frances’s children, Patricia Carter and Graeme and David Brown in attendance, Lyndhurst exhibited the Champion Pen of Steers at the 2014 Toogoolawah Weaner Sale, with their Charolais, Hereford/Brahman cross steers.

The same pen of steers also topped the sale at $725.

Each year Lyndhurst joins up to 300 purebred Brahman 2

cows with Hereford bulls to produce their F1 females.

Steer progeny are sold, while as many heifers as possible are kept, with the odd one culled for temperament.

500 to 550 F1 females are joined to Charolais bulls from the end of October to the end of February, to produce the F2 progeny.

Every one of these calves is marketed as a weaner in May, with the majority going through the Toogoolawah selling centre.

‘Lyndhurst’ has continued a tradition of cross breeding on such a large scale because of the gains that hybrid vigour offers them.

After many years of breeding cattle and exhibiting and selling at weaner sales, the results that have been achieved with their Charolais cross progeny validate the breeding program that is in place.

Charolais bulls are the breed of choice for the weaners, due to the demand that their progeny create. As far as Russell is concerned, the Charolais bulls perform better than other European breeds and give the most consistent results.

Russell continues to be encouraged by the fact that he can purchase a larger number of better quality Charolais bulls than other European breeds.

Bulls are generally purchased from Charolais studs that are located in the coastal, tick area so that bulls are already adapted to the environment.

When selecting Charolais sires, Russell says that Estimated Breeding Values (EBV’s) are an important selection tool.

While focusing on high growth sires, Russell also selects some sires with a low birth weight to use over the heifers.

Visually, a bull that appeals to Russell is a Charolais bull that ‘takes’ his keen cattleman’s eye. Russell likes a low set compact bull with muscle appeal.

Toogoolawah Top for Lyndhurst The 2014 Toogoolawah sale saw a total of 5420 head of cattle auctioned by agents Shepherdson and Boyd.

Lyndhurst continued their tradition of offering top quality weaners.

The Lyndhurst bred steers saw some spirited bidding from buyers who have previously experienced the growth potential from these extremely well bred steers.

Overall 333 Charolais, Hereford/ Brahman cross steers averaged $578.

A pen of these excellent Charolais, Hereford/Brahman cross steers were not only crowned the Champion Pen of Steers, but also received the top price of $725/head.

Freestone Feedlot, Warwick Queensland purchased the top price steers.

The heifer market was buoyed by southern buyer competition for Charolais cross heifers, with large drafts of cattle from the sale finding their way well into New South Wales and Victoria.

Lyndhurst also reached the top of the market for their Charolais, Hereford/Brahman cross heifers. 230 heifers topped at $560 to average $417.

Prior to the sale, Shepherdson & Boyd livestock agent, Vince O’Brien, Toogoolawah, held a minute silence in honour of the late Ken Brown and paid tribute to the man who asked the agency to organise the first weaner sale at Toogoolawah.

The Charolais Advantage

Russell found that at this year’s Toogoolawah Weaner Sale, the average that Lyndhurst received overall was significantly higher than most other vendors. A result that may not only be contributed to seasonal factors, but also to the years of quality breeding behind the stock on offer.

While ‘Lyndhurst’ has had what Russell considers to be an average season, he concedes that their conditions are significantly better than most of Queensland. Russell has not had to go down the path of hand feeding and has only had to put out dry licks for the cattle.

Patricia Carter and Graeme & David Brown, representing their parents at the Toogoolawah Weaner Sale

5420 head were yarded for the 2014 Toogoolawah Weaner Sale. The majority of which had Charolais blood.

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Bred for Commercial Success Rosedale Charolais is one of Australia’s oldest and largest Charolais herds with over 350 registered stud cows. Rosedale has been key to pioneering the development of the modern day polled Charolais bull.

Rosedale has always tried to utilise the best genetics available, which has led to a cow herd with depth and quality.

A key feature of the stud’s genetic development has been the ability to benchmark genetics with all beef breeds in the commercial world, through carcase competitions and feedlot trials to monitor and observe the success and effects of the breeding program.

The Rosedale stud is run alongside a commercial operation comprising a herd of over 800 Angus, Shorthorn and Santa Gertudis cows. These cows are run under commercial conditions and joined to Rosedale bulls to produce F1 calves. These calves are grown out to killable weights on pasture and sold back into the Australian domestic market. By crossbreeding with Charolais, calves are turned off quicker as they reach target weights a lot faster than straight British bred calves, whilst still meeting grid requirements. Another benefit gained by the Charolais influence is that processors readily accept both first cross heifer and Cattle producers with experience in managing yearlings often say that they prefer them because they settle in better, mix with other cattle more easily and are easier to handle than older bulls.

However, there are some far more tangible incentives in using them.

By first using bulls as yearlings, the working life of a bull can be extended by a year or more – a 25% increase. As a result, the purchase price and running costs of bulls can be spread over more calves. This reduces bull costs per calf and boosts profitability.

Yearling bulls also allow cattle breeders the opportunity to achieve faster rates of genetic improvement.

By using genetically superior bulls as young as possible, faster turnover rates of genes are achieved. Joining yearling bulls to yearling heifers can maximise genetic improvement by lowering generation intervals.

Yearling bulls are significantly less costly to produce. Seedstock suppliers sell their bulls 6-12 months earlier, which simplifies their management and reduces overheads.

steer calves.

Rosedale has had great success in the show ring over the years but takes more pride in the results from commercial competitions as these are lot more relevant to breeding cattle for maximum profit.

Past Results: Meat Board Competition Homebush (over 500 entries) -1975 – Grand Champion Carcase -1977 – Reserve Grand Champion Carcase.

Blayney Hoof and Hook –Most successful Exhibitor 1976-1978 Royal Sydney Show – Grand Champion Carcass 1981 Present Results: NSW Beef Spectacular Feedlot Trial (Largest in Australia) -2013 – Grand Champion Team (Char/Angus), most profitable team -2014 Three teams finish in the top Ten (120 teams entered) Royal Sydney Show Feedlot Challenge –2012 Grand Champion Team (domestic), 2013 Grand Champion Team (Export), most profitable team.

Australian National Field days Trial -2012 Grand Champion Team -2013 1st Carcass yield, 2nd Carcass points 4th overall.

RNA Feedlot Challenge –2013 1st place MSA eating quality, (6th/74 teams entered)

In addition to these advantages, there is strong circumstantial evidence to suggest that bulls used first as yearlings have even longer working lives because of superior fitness and lower levels of body fat.

The more active lives of these bulls means that they are maintained at body weights below their genetic potential. As a result, less stress is placed on their skeletal structure when serving, with less likelihood of breakdowns occurring.

‘Ascot bulls are bred for a purpose, that is to make your enterprise as the producer more profitable. These bulls are impeccably bred, are functional and extremely fertile. The bulls are backed by great sets of figures and raw data but most importantly they’re real bulls for real cattleman that are suited for all areas. You wont be disappointed’.

Shad Bailey Colin Say & Co. (Glen Innes) ‘We purchased from the inaugural sale in 2012. I was impressed by the extra growth & doability they displayed. These bulls work and are very fertile, being used as yearlings I was highly surprised by the results I achieved’. Nugent Grazing Co. “Balaclava Station” Glen Innes

CLARINDA CHAROLAIS

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BULLS & FEMALES FOR SALE Enquiries always welcome

Presenting our New Sire

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Kandanga Valley

11th Annual On Property Bull Sale - July 26th 5th Annual Nebo Bull Sale - December 4th

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Polled Full French - Semen available

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The Charolais Advantage

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Images: A Charolais ‘Silver’ steer calf, Len Blyth & Jen Allen with 4yo bull Elliot. Facing page, a selection of the farm’s February-late April drop steer calves before weaning last year.

Charolais Ease The Load

By Bobbie Hinkley, The Farm Weekly

“We started with Charolais partly because of their temperament and partly because of their muscling. The breed choice also has a lot to do with the fact we don’t need to spend weeks on end at the farm during calving“.

There are 126 hectares at the home block and 202ha 10 kilometres away on the Bridgetown shire boundary. Both properties are duplicated and run independently for logistical reasons.

In the early years Len’s father was the local butcher and supplied his own shop with beef from the farm. At the time the farm was home to a Poll Hereford herd followed by years of running Limousins, Simmentals and finally, Charolais.

In the process of being passionate about their Charolais herd, there are also other things of importance in Len and Jen’s lives.

Family and Len’s international hockey commitments mean there is a lot of travel involved in running the farm and as a consequence the couple can only be in Manjimup half the time for various durations.

Len Blyth calls his cattle production style peculiar. But those who know him well see nothing more than his passion and dedication to his herd.

Together with his partner Jen Allen, Len has been producing cattle for the WA market on and off for as long as he can remember.

Now in their 60s, Len and Jen left behind their Perthbased chartered accountancy practice in favour of a life But the key was to try to be as efficient as the men and split between their city home and Len’s childhood home women who farmed cattle at Manjimup. and family farm at Manjimup.

There have been up to 300 head of breeders on the farm Len and Jen spent countless years returning on and off to in the past but these days there are 250 (125 on each block the farm to help Len’s parents and since the passing of his that are split into two equally sized herds). mother and father, have now taken the reins entirely.

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Charolais bulls are put with each herd of Angus, Murray Grey, Lincoln Red, Gelbvieh, Red composite and Charolais-Murray Grey cross cows.

Len and Jen look to buy about 25 genuine dispersal British breed second to fifth calvers as replacements each January from the Mt Barker and Boyanup sales but there’s only one breed of bull for them - Charolais.

The couple have been buying Charolais sires to put over their mixed herd for at least 10 years now and are in no danger of looking back. Len said his interest in Charolais cattle was sparked a number of years ago when he and Jen realised the breed of cattle on their farm would need to be conducive to their ‘drive-in, drive-out’ lifestyle.

“We started with Charolais partly because of their temperament and partly because of their muscling,” Len said.

“They were the flavour of the month about 10 years ago but we, as well as many other producers, have hung in with them because sometimes Jen is left to move and feed cattle alone and she didn’t want to work with any animal she couldn’t trust.“The breed choice also has a lot to do with the fact we don’t need to spend weeks on end at the farm during calving.

“The cows are very capable of birthing their Charolais-cross calves with little to no intervention.”

All bulls on the property are animals purchased from a local Charolais stud.

Len said proof of the breed’s ease and temperament was in the pudding as the couple who owned the stud were ICU nurses in Perth and manage to run the successful Bridgetown-based stud with the same ‘drive-in, drive-out’ management style.

He also said hybrid vigour from crossbreeding was well proven and all of his cows are pregnancy tested when the bulls come out in August.

Len and Jen are currently trying to shorten the breeding cycle from 13 weeks back to 12 in order to assist cows regain their condition after calving.

Len said calving at the Manjimup farm took place much in the same way as it happened on larger properties whereby not much intervention was undertaken.

“We come down to the farm once a week for a few days,” he said.

“We paddock draft the cow and calf off into a separate paddock to let them mother up for a few days and mark them somewhere between two and four weeks old.”

Heifer and steer calves were then usually sold at a weaner sale in Boyanup in January.

The couple work hard to be a credible supplier as the majority of their heifers were usually picked up by local lotfeeders who supply boutique butchers in Perth.

This season 10 per cent of Len and Jen’s calves were heavier than 400 kilograms by December so they chose to sell them off a month earlier than usual.

They sold 109 heifers and 97 steer calves at an average weight of 314 kilograms ($1.83/kg) and 341kg($1.93/kg) respectively.

Remaining cattle on the property were then rotationally grazed once or twice a week to allow for pasture recovery.

Len also credited their success to the farm’s 1000 millimetre rainfall bracket, though he said in recent years he had noticed an increasing amount of out of season rain.

To make the most of potential summer rain the couple November-sowed a combination of phalaris, gatton panic, kikuyu and strawberry clover over 50ha in the hope of achieving a burst of green feed.

If the pasture does flourish due to summer rain Len and Jen said they’d also be able to cut and feed out less hay.

The move was just one of many pasture renovation techniques being used on the farm to help the property remain efficient and make each hectare count where it matters.

Challambi Bulls Produce progeny like these.

BULLS FOR SALE YEAR ROUND BREEDPLAN Recorded Vet Checked

Challambi Charolais

The Charolais Advantage

Breeding Profitable & Affordable Charolais

Contact: Nigel Spink Ph: 02 6948 4464 7 E: spink264@hotmail.com

Charolais - The Smart Choice Cross Work smarter not harder was the approach Victorian producers Lex and Sandra Finlay took when devising their plan to make a profit from cattle as they entered semi-retirement.

And a key component was a shift to using a Charolais bull as a terminal sire over their herd of Angus cows.

“We are running fewer acres so we’ve got to make the acres do more,’’ Lex said.

The couple are experienced beef producers, originally operating a Murray Grey stud before switching to commercial Angus on their property called “Thalia’’ at Tamleugh North, situated 20 kilometres south-east of Shepparton, Victoria.

Today Lex (who celebrated his 78th birthday in June) and Sandra run 80 cows on the 161 hectare dryland farm, which comprises undulating creek front country and is in a 550mm rainfall zone.

Four years ago, on advice from their stock agent, and watching trends at the nearby Euroa saleyards (which is one of Victoria’s feature store cattle markets) they invested in a Charolais bull.

“There certainly seemed to be a strong market for European-cross calves with all the grain-feeding which was going on, and a good chance to make more money from the heifers,’’ Lex said.

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While they did harbour some concern about calving and temperament from using a European bull, their experience with the Charolais has been a very positive one.

“They are completely different to what I thought,’’ Lex said: “The first calving we had we kept all the cows right under our nose as we didn’t know what would happen, but we didn’t have any assists at all.’’

“And the temperament of the calves has been amazing they are so easy to handle.’’

Sandra said they were more focused on their cow’s weight and condition in the lead up to calving since using the Charolais bull, but that had been the only tweak to their operation.

“Our experience has been pretty much trouble free,’ she said.

The Finlay’s calve their herd down in February/March, with the early calving part of their strategy to maximise calf growth and weight before the feature Euroa store weaner sales held in early December each year.

Lex said while they don’t have the facilities to monitor cattle weights on-farm, he believed they had achievedweight gain benefit from the Charolais-cross calves compared to the straight Angus. The couple still calve a portion of the females to Angus for heifer replacements.

The Euroa saleyards displays the weights of calves as a guide for buyers, and last year the Finlay’s top pen of Charolais Angus-cross steers averaged 361kg and sold for 198c/kg or $715 head, while the heifers weighed 331kg and sold for 171c/kg or $565.

The year before in 2012 their steers weighed 337kg and sold for 191c/kg liveweight, while the heifers weighed 338kg and made 183c/kg.

Sandra said the only issues they had found since incorporating a Charolais into their program was having less pure-bred Angus heifers to select from for herd replace- Lex & Sandra Finlay, have enjoyed the extra weight gain Charolais bulls have brought to their herd. ments, and smaller lines when selling.

“As we only have 80 cows and are joining to both the Charolais and Angus one disadvantage is we can’t put together one big line - we are usually lucky to get 20 head in a pen,’’ she said.

“But we’ve certainly enjoyed using the Charolais and its been a rewarding exercise.’’

Mt William Commercial Mag Ad 2014_Layout 1 4/06/14 8:55 AM Page 1

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The Charolais Advantage

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Tender Charolais Beef

non-Charolais cattle are generally 50 kgs lighter at the same ossification scores. At $3.00 per kilo this gives Charolais cross progeny a premium of $150 per head. Processors can maximise their returns by selecting carcases at these weights with less than 10 mm of rib fat. Retailers benefit by not having to trim excessive fat from steaks and the fat content in mince is minimised which increases the value of the carcase.

The Charolais Society recommends that beef producers select bulls using Charolais BREEDPLAN indexes for high 400 day growth and eye muscle area, and select for average rib fat levels.

See the Society’s website for further details: www.Charolais.com.au

Carcase results for the progeny of sires represented in the Walcha NSW project in 2014.

Carcase Weight (kgs)

Le

SK

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360 340 320 300 280 260 240 220 200

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Research on loin steaks from 520 Charolais Angus cross progeny has shown that the age of cattle has a greater positive influence on meat quality than marbling or fat cover. Meat from beef cattle becomes tougher as the animals grow older and particularly after they mature around 20 months of age. Charolais cross progeny consistently produced high tenderness scores as a result of the progeny reaching slaughter weights at a young age. The average ossification levels of progeny in the project ranged from 100 to 150. Tenderness was measured by the shear force on cooked samples and the average result was 3.5 kgs.

Shear force measures below 4 kgs are associated with high eating quality and tough beef typically measures in excess of 8 kgs.

Three feeding treatments were trialled in the project including pasture fed steers and heifers, and grain fed steers for either 70 or 100 days. The research indicated that shear force did not decrease with higher levels of rib or p8 fat, or marbling. There was a small positive association between tenderness and intramuscular fat which was measured in a laboratory; however, the relationship between marbling and intramuscular fat was very low. This result confirms that animals that reach slaughter weights at a younger age will produce tender meat providing that they have more than 4 mm of rib fat and have been on a rising plane of nutrition prior to slaughter.

Several large beef processors have reduced their fat specifications and increased their emphasis on younger animals to take advantage of the tenderness effect.

A number of processors have also introduced new beef brands to promote grass and short fed cattle.

The average live weight of animals in the trial was 530 kgs which produced a carcase weight of approximately 310 kgs. The MSA data base shows that carcases from

57BULLS 12 PTIC HEIFERS 9th ANNUAL SALE

Selling at 1pm August 8th 2014

On-Farm Sale Complex Enquiries: Greg & Jenny Frizell Ph: 02 6778 1346 Fax: 02 6778 1205 E: wakefieldcharolais@bigpond.com

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Midcoast Rural Agencies Mark Haywood Ph: 0437 286 494 Office: 02 6562 5131

Ray Donovan Stock & Station Ray Donovan Ph: 0428 918 971 Office: 02 6643 4411

www.wakefieldcharolais.com.au

AusMB

Shear Force (kgs)

tN ac o hm an W Lt hi te W es te M rn in ni Ed eV ge a le M Bo ou na nt nz W a ill iam D as h M Ri PC ve E rR 66 E un Ex Ro ca l se ib da ur le D on W ot at ell er o fo rd Fo W re in ig ch n es te rD av Ba ey ro ol aD 90 3E

ec

Le

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SK

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xp ec tN ac o hm an W Lt hi te W es te M rn in ni Ed eV ge a le M B ou on nt an W za ill iam D as h M Ri PC ve E6 rR 6E un Ex Ro ca lib se da ur le D on W ot at ell er o fo rd Fo W re in ig ch n es te rD av Ba ey ro ol aD 90 3E

6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00

JE

Le

xp ec tN ac o hm an W Lt hi te W es te M r in n ni Ed eV ge ale M B ou on nt an W za ill iam D as h M Ri PC ve E6 rR 6E un Ex Ro ca lib se da ur le D on W ot at ell er o fo rd F or W eig in ch n es te rD av Ba ey ro ol aD 90 3E

JE H

Rib Fat (mm)

H SK D

Le

SK D

Le

H SK D

12.00 10.00 8.00 6.00 4.00 2.00 0.00

IMF (%)

4.50 4.00 3.50 3.00 2.50 2.00 1.50 1.00 0.50 0.00

xp ec tN ac o hm an W Lt hi te W es te M rn in ni Ed eV ge ale M B ou on nt an W za ill iam D as h M Ri PC ve E6 rR 6E un Ex Ro ca lib se da ur le D on W ot at ell er o fo rd Fo W re in ig ch n es te rD av Ba ey ro ol aD 90 3E

1.80 1.60 1.40 1.20 1.0 0.80 0.60 0.40 0.20 0.00 JE

AusMB

Progeny from the Moona Plains BIN Project

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Phone: 0412 608 043 Matthew & Ann-Marie Collins, 25 Cutt Hill Road, Cobbitty NSW 2570 NSW 2570 Matthew & Ann-Marie Collins, 25 Cutt Hill Road, Cobbitty Rankin NSW 2570 Moorak, Lane, Holbrook NSW 2644 The Charolais Advantage 11 echarolais.com.au Email: ann-mariecollins@bigpond.com | Website: www.kenmerecharolais.com.au E: ann-mariecollins@bigpond.com www.kenmerecharolais.com.au Matthew & Ann-Marie CollinsW: , 25 Cutt Hill Road, Cobbitty

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Champion Middleweight

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Silver Medal Carcase

Gold Medal Grand Champion Carcase

Champion Middleweight on hoof Reserve Champion Middleweight Carcase

Guest vendor;

Bryson Charolais

42 Angus 33 Charolais Majority Polled

The Charolais Advantage

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A selection of F1 Brahman/Angus females with their Charolais progeny.

Images courtesy of The Land

Hybrid Vigour - Providing Returns

Using Charolais bulls over Brahman/Hereford and Brahman/Angus F1 females, Geoff and Lyn Slack of Berrico Beef, Gloucester New South Wales maintain that the resulting genetic mix, when combined with feeding from their quality pastures, means a wide-bodied weaner with lots of meat on the bone.

Prior to purchasing “Berrico”, Geoff and Lynn grew out first-cross cattle in the Taree area. This original breeding program contributed to experimental research performed by the NSW government’s Grafton Research Station (now the Grafton Primary Industries Institute). The results of the research and observations led to Berrico’s present cross breeding preferences.

The results from hybrid vigour were too good to ignore for the Slacks and their cross-breeding program now relies on Charolais sires over their F1 cows.

In selecting the terminal sire that would most suit their breeding program, the Slacks tried a number of breeds before settling on Charolais.

‘After looking at the results, the Charolais progeny came Geoff and Lyn run “Berrico” a 1620-hectare property which they have owned for the past 27 years. The property is out so far ahead, that we’ve continued to breed with Charonow 95% improved pastures comprising kikuyu, paspalum, lais bulls,’ said Mr Slack. clovers and rye that were initially fertilised every year and now every second year.

Great Year for Kandanga Valley Clients

these sappy young heifers created a lot of interest from very astute Despite a very testing season, Kandanga Valley clients enjoyed great cattle breeders.

At the recent Toogoolawah weaner sale, Champion pen of steers was success with Charolais cross progeny throughout the past twelve won by Ken Brown and Family, Lyndhurst, Crows Nest and sold for $725/ months. hd.

At the 2013 Brisbane Ekka, John and Roz were excited to see a magnificent commercial led heifer, bred by Greg and Leonie Ball, Singleton, Anthony and Kylee Curtis, Goondiwindi, proved that a good bull is never dear, when they presented a quality line of Charolais cross steers at a NSW, take out “Grand Champion Junior heifer – Hoof and Hook” in the schools competition, presented by St Josephs High School, Aberdeen. recent Roma store sale. The Curtis’s received top price of the sale with The heifer went on to sell to Woolworths for $6/kg to return $1,696.80. 2.23c/kg in a drought affected market. Anthony and Kylie purchased The heifer was sired by Kandanga Valley Chester, a powerful, muscled Kandanga Valley Floyd for $16,000 at the 2012 Kandanga Valley on on property bull sale. son of Kandanga Valley Alexander.

The 2014 sale will be held on Champion pen at the Biggenden weaner sale was won by long term clients Bundaberg Sugar. These outstanding steers weighed 303kg and July 26th. sold for 180.2 c/kg to make $548/hd in a very depressed market due to The Mercer family will present 45 Charolais and 41 Charbray the severe drought.

Alan and Helen Janke from Widgee, via Gympie had a good day at the bulls.

Woolooga weaner sale, winning overall Champion pen of heifers. Sired 14

by Kandanga Valley bulls and out of Limousin cross Brahman cows,

Grand Champion Junior heifer – Hoof and Hook, EKKA 2013

Proof in the Results for Berrico When your weaner cattle are keenly sought by buyers from all over New South Wales and beyond each year, it becomes very clear that your breeding program is on target.

‘The proof in the quality of our program is the success of over a decade of annual sales,’ say Geoff and Lyn Slack (pictured right).

For the past 13 years, Berrico Beef has conducted an Annual EU Production sale each March at the Gloucester Saleyards. Offering in excess of 600 head.

The 2014 sale held on the 21st of March this year, saw a very tough market, with large areas of Australia continuing to experience tough drought conditions.

However, when compared to similar sales during the week, Berrico Beef stood up exceptionally well. A testament to the weaner cattle on offer.

Steers sold to a top of $600 and a top of 197.8 cents per kilo. While Heifers sold to a top of $550.00 and a top of 179.7 cents per kilo.

A tentative date for the next Berrico Beef Annual EU Production Sale is Friday 13th March, 2015.

True to their word, since 1993 Berrico has sourced early maturing fine-shouldered Charolais bulls from a stud in central New South Wales. Temperament and good feet are also paramount in bull selection.

Estimated Breeding Values are used, with a focus on 200, 400 and 600 day weight, as well as milk.

At present the Berico herd consists of up to 1000 breeding females. Geoff and Lyn run approximately equal numbers of F1 Angus/Brahman cross females and Brahman/ Hereford cross females, sourced as weaner heifers from the north coast region of New South Wales.

Females are run year round in five mobs of approximately 200 and moved onto fresh 120 to 160 hectare paddocks every four to six weeks.

SECOND ON PROPERTY SALE

The F1 females are joined with Charolais bulls commencing the first week in August for a ten week joining period, with the calving period from the middle of May for ten weeks.

The Slacks join their Charolais bulls to all their females, including the heifers.

Weaner calves are then sold at the Annual Berrico Beef Sale the following March. The progeny from this crossbreeding program have an enviable reputation for their consistent high quality suitable for both the domestic and export markets.

ELSTOW CHAROLAIS

Monday 14th July, 2014 30 Bulls & 10 Females “Elstow” Baradine NSW 2396 Contact: Bruce & Marg. McConnaughty Ph: 02 6843 6258 Mob: 0402 522 009 The Charolais Advantage E: elstowcharolais@gmail.com

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Charolais Brahman Cross Growth Rates Charolais Brahman cross cattle take advantage of the tick and fly resistance of the Brahman breed and the growth rates and meat production of the Charolais breed to produce a profitable combination.

Research on Charolais sires over Braham females has been conducted in Southern Queensland for the past two years to evaluate the top performing Charolais sires.

In 2012 the project evaluated 485 progeny and slaughtered those cattle after 100 days of grain feeding at two different feedlots. Again in 2013 and 2014 a further 250 progeny are being evaluated. Calving ease was high across all sires over the two trials with 98.5 per cent success.

The growth rate results show that the progeny from the tested sires have achieved an average 292kgs live weight by 400 days of age and 390kgs at 600 days.

The aim of the project was to evaluate a range of sires over all production and meat quality traits.

The difference between the weight of the top sire’s

progeny and the bottom sire’s progeny at 400 days was 27.5kgs and the weight difference at 600 days was 47kgs live weight. These results show that at 400 days the top sire could produce an additional $6,660 in revenue assuming the bull produces 30 calves for four years and the additional 27kgs of beef was priced at $2.00 live weight. This premium could increase to $11,280 for the top sires at 600 days.

The 250 progeny in this year’s trial have entered a feedlot and will be assessed for feedlot weight gains and then meat quality traits later in the years. Producers should consider all BREEDPLAN traits including slaughter EBV’s when making purchasing decisions.

Cattle producers should pay close attention to the BREEDPLAN 400 day and 600 day EBV’s that are published at sales for Charolais sires as it could mean the difference between higher or average returns. The results clearly indicate that it is financially beneficial for commercial producers to pay more to purchase the top indexing bulls.

400 & 600 day weights and EMA results for the progeny of sires represented in the Southern Queensland Projectin 2014.

400 Day Weight (kgs)

il

ra wc Ba ar d ro ol aD 90 3D

D

Vi rg

fo rd W at er

Ad va nc eD Al lan om fa in ul o d Su pe rs co t Ba ro ol Be a rn D ici 9D aP Bi ld gS El no ea w zo G r ol Br d Bu an lli ch on vi ew El do ra CV do W Ex t ra bu Ch ll ar ne G l l eF er ra 11 rd 1 M on te zu m a Le KV ac Ch hm ab an lis n W hi te M G elp ol d las h Es M ca oo rg ng ot oo lD er rin ge Ri r ve rR Ri un ve E rR sk y un Ex ca lib ur Sh iil oh Fi lle ro y

320 300 280 260 240 220 200

600 Day Weight (kgs)

D

ra wc Ba ar d ro ol aD 90 3D

il Vi rg

fo rd W at er

Ad va nc eD Al lan om fa in ul o d Su pe rs co t Ba ro ol Be a rn D ici 9D aP Bi ld gS El no ea w zo G r ol Br d Bu an lli ch on vi ew El do ra CV do W Ex t ra bu Ch ll ar ne G l l eF er ra 11 rd 1 M on te zu m a Le KV ac Ch hm ab an lis n W hi te M G elp ol d las h Es M ca oo rg ng ot oo lD er rin ge Ri r ve rR Ri un ve E rR sk y un Ex ca lib ur Sh ii l oh Fi lle ro y

440 420 400 380 360 340 320

Eye Muscle Are cm2 (400 days)

1616

Pictured: Charolais/Brahman cross progeny at Ashvale Station, Queensland

D

ra wc Ba ar d ro ol aD 90 3D

il Vi rg

fo rd W at er

Ad va nc eD Al lan om fa in ul o d Su pe rs co t Ba ro ol Be a rn D ici 9D aP Bi ld gS El no ea w zo G r ol Br d Bu an l li ch on vi ew El do ra CV do W Ex tra bu Ch ll ar ne G l l eF er ra 11 rd 1 M on te zu m a Le KV ac Ch hm ab an lis n W hi te M G elp ol d las h Es M ca oo rg ng ot oo lD er rin ge Ri r ve rR Ri un ve E rR sk y un Ex ca lib ur Sh iil oh Fi lle ro y

60 55 50 45 40

The Charolais Advantage

17

Charolais Prove Their Versatility

Sydney Royal

Proving that Charolais are a breed for all markets, a purebred Charolais steer took out the Champion Lightweight Carcase at this year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show. This award came among a myriad of other awards across the whole spectrum of the competition.

Exhibited by the McLachlan Group’s Airlie Charolais Stud, the 397 kilogram live weight steer, dressed out at 58.1%, had a P8 fat depth of 6mm, rib fat of 4mm and an eye muscle area of 83 centimetres square, scoring the maximum score for each of these criteria.

Sired by Airlie Dalgite, the purebred Charolais steer scored a total of 90.5 points out of 100 and as well as winning the Champion Lightweight Carcase, was also awarded a Gold Medal in the carcase awards.

The Charolais carcase success did not end there with three purebred Charolais carcases winning first place in the Virtual Taste Test competition.

A 498kg middleweight steer bred by DSK Charolais and exhibited by McCarthy Catholic College took out one of these awards. Sired by DSK Edge It To The Slips E18E, the carcase was also awarded a Silver Medal and placed second in the live judging.

18

The second Taste Test award went to a 439kg middleweight steer bred by GA & LJ Ball and exhibited by Tractor Charolais. Sired by Grenell Dainhill, this steer placed first in the live judging, with the carcase also being awarded another Silver Medal. This steer was also awarded the People’s Choice Champion Charolais Steer during the selection of the Stanhill Trophy team.

The final Taste Test Award went to a 508kg heavyweight steer, bred by Rosedale Charolais and exhibited by the St John’s College Dubbo. Sired by Rosedale Avenger, the carcase was awarded a Bronze Medal.

The carcase success for Charolais steers came off the back of outstanding results in the live judging.

A 481kg live weight steer, exhibited by Chris Knox and Helen Alexander was crowned the Champion Middleweight steer. Sired by DSK HJ Express E75E, this result was backed up by a Bronze Medal in the carcase awards.

In the heavyweight hoof judging a 646kg steer bred by Violet Hills Charolais and exhibited by The Scots School Bathurst won Champion Heavyweight Steer. Sired by Violet Hills Ellis, this steer also won a Bronze Medal in the Carcase awards.

A 499kg Charolais cross steer bred by Ross Lawrence and exhibited by Travis Worth, took out the title of Reserve Champion Trade Steer.

To top off the competition the Charolais team of three purebred steers was awarded second place in the prestigious Stanhill Trophy.

Circular Head

A Charolais sired steer, exhibited by Milton and Gaylene de Jonge, Stanley Tasmania, won first place carcase in the Yearling Steer or Heifer for Local Trade section.

Entrants in this section are required to produce a carcase 220kg-340kg, with fat depth of 5-22mm, ideally with a fat depth in the range of 6-12mm.

Well and truly meeting these specifications was the de Jonge’s 337kg carcase dressing out at 59 per cent and scoring 92.59 points out of 100 to take out the title.

Audrey and Robert Scott, Stanley Tasmania, won the Prime Beef Steer for Japanese Export Class also with a Charolais sired steer. Entrants in this section are required to produce a carcase 340.1kg-439.9kg, with a fat depth of 9-22mm, ideally with a fat depth of 15-20mm.

The Scott’s 373kg carcase dressed out at 58 per cent and scored 91.9 points out of 100.

‘This competition always attracts high class cattle, that have to meet the Greenham specifications’, said Mr de Jonge.

Sydney Royal

Champions

Champion Light Weight Carcase

Champion Middleweight Steer

Pictured above: Virtual Taste Test winner & people’s choice Charolais Steer.

Pictured below: Charolais steers during Stanhill Trophy Team selection.

The Charolais Charolais Advantage Advantage The

Reserve Champion Trade Exhibit

19 19

Look out for our sale teams: - Annual Bull Sale 20th August - Charolais National Dubbo AIRLIE HORUS (P)

Senior Champion Bull Sydney 2014

CHAMPION LIGHT WEIGHT CARCASE SYDNEY ROYAL 2014

AIRLIE FRIESIA G726E (P) (R/F) Reserve Senior Champion Female Sydney 2014

MCLACHLAN GROUP Airlie Charolais - Talis Angus

www.facebook.com/ McLachlanStudCattle

Warren Miller - Ph: 0423 396 014 E: warren.miller@mclachlan.com.au Michael Bond - Ph: 0419 482 754

Charolais Silver Calves Bringing More Returns Selling store calves by weight and cents per kilogram has enabled Victorian producer Glen Atchison to accurately quantify the boost a Charolais bull has given to the family’s cattle operation.

Glen, and wife Nichole, farm 404 hectares at Tarrenlea in the Western District near Hamilton under the name of the Heartsville Partnership, running crossbred ewes for prime lambs and about 135 cows.

In 2006 Glen said they were encouraged by their stock agent to try a Charolais bull over their herd, comprising mostly black cows bred up from a Murray Grey base, as a way to boost growth and muscle.

“The theory was the Charolais would add bulk and muscle and extra kilos to the calves, and we would still get paid a similar liveweight rate, putting us ahead,’’ Glen said.

While a lot of ‘theories’ in farming never quite work in a practical sense, the shift to a Charolais produced impressive results for the Atchisons.

Glen said in the three years from 2010 to 2012 they sold 138 steers at the annual New Year weaner sales held at the Hamilton saleyards. It is one of the few weaner sales held in Victoria to curfew calves and sell by cents per kilogram liveweight.

He said the 85 Charolais Angus-cross steers averaged 364.33kg per head, and sold for an average of 204c/kg for a return over the three seasons of $738.75.

Pictured above: Charolais Angus cross heifers that have been kept and are due to calve; Glen Atchison and his twins at the Hamilton Saleyards

This compares to an average of $587.25 for the 53 Angus steers sold, which averaged 297.04kg and sold for an average of 197c/kg.

It works out to an income difference of $151 in favour of the Charolais-cross compared to the Angus sired steers.

“I originally expected the Charolais to give us an extra 20-30kg, but there has been a massive difference of about 60kg and they are not treated any different - the cattle all run over the same country,’’ Glen said.

The weight and price gains has encouraged to use Charolais bulls over the bulk of the herd, except for first-calving heifers.

There was also a significant difference recorded between the Charolais Angus-cross and Angus heifers sold

by Heartsville at the weaner sales of up to $211 per head in some years. However, as the property kept the better Angus heifers as replacements it’s not an accurate comparison.

Glen said they have now kept some Charolais Angus-cross heifers to try as breeders, with the plan to join them to Angus for their first calf and then go back to the Charolais.

“I’m interested to see if we can get more weight gain out of the second-cross Charolais and how they perform,’’ he said.

Annual Bull Sale

Roma Saleyards Wednesday 13 August David Sullivan 4628 1252 Glenmorgan QLD 4423 www.riverglen.net.au The Charolais Advantage

21

MOONGOOL CHAROLAIS & CHARBRAYS ANNUAL BULL SALE SEPTEMBER 2014

100 S AIS BULL CHAROL ROLAIS 200 CHA RAY & CHARB S FEMALE

K BULLS PADDOC LE AVAILAB S OFF OAT

CONTACT: Ivan Price 0428 265 031 Ian Price 0427 235 215

A/H 07 4626 5031 A/H 07 4623 5215

www.moongool.com.au

22

Vale Rob Millner

By Caitlyn Burling, The Farm Weekly

One of Australia’s original Charolais breeders, Rob Millner, sadly passed away recently.

A faithful and committed Charolais supporter his entire life, Rob left a long-standing legacy to the breed and entire Australian cattle industry.

His association with the breed commenced in 1970 when he began the Rosedale Charolais Stud at Blayney, New South Wales.

He used semen from full French English Charolais bulls on his commercial Shorthorn herd, adding to his new Charolais direction when he purchased and imported Sundowner Ranches Honor from New Zealand in 1972.

Rob nurtured and developed the Rosedale stud until he passed it onto his son Michael in 1983, who now conducts the stud with his sons James and Robert.

Rob was very keen to promote the carcase attributes of Charolais and was a strong competitor in steer competitions from as early as 1975.

He amassed an incredible number of hoof and carcase championships throughout NSW, including top awards in both Sydney and Melbourne Royal Shows.

When Rob moved to WA more than 30 years ago, he founded the Downunder Charolais stud with his wife Lesley at their property at Wooroloo.

Their stud herd was built using Charolais genetics from Rosedale and Culham stud stock, adding to it by supporting most of the Charolais auctions held across the country in the early years.

The Millner’s commitment to promoting the breed in WA led them to introduce new female genetics from Charolais studs across Australia.

They bought their first property on Harper Road and then later a second, bigger property on Bailup Road, Wooroloo and the farming enterprise now known as Robley Park Grazing.

Consistency, Key to Success for McLachlan McLachlan‘s involvement in the beef industry for the last 35 years has experienced numerous challenges and success, with the business always evolving to meet the requirements of financial viability, and a product that remains viable under varying production models and environmental conditions.

Success can be measured in numerous ways, but this year a Charolais Steer from the McLachlan Groups’, Airlie Charolais stud, won Lightweight Purebred Steer at Sydney Royal, a success that will stay in their minds for a long time. The McLachlan Group views this win as their product evolving through the diversity of the Charolais breed.

Consistency of the breeding program was rewarded with Most Successful Charolais Exhibitor and Grand champion Angus bull at Sydney Royal.

McLachlan’s cattle enterprise relies on commercial viability, and ability to market a product off grass. Knowing their product the McLachlan Group is able to confidently sell direct over the hook and value add to their product.

Thea Charolais Advantage In 2014 decision has been made to move the annual sale to their

It is here where Rob designed and built their home, and the two properties are still farmed by Lesley today and the paddocks are still full of Charolais cattle.

Rob was awarded an Honorary Life Membership of the Charolais Society of Australia in March 1999, for his unwavering service and dedication to the Charolais breed, which was presented in 2000 at the Sydney Royal Show.

He spent many years on the Federal Council, from 1975 until 1983 and served on the NSW Regional Committee for the same period.

After making the move to WA, he then served on the Western Regional Committee and was chairman from 1989 to 1995.

Later he and Lesley became field officers for the Charolais Society of Australia, hitting the open road and promoting the breed they were so passionate about.

They spent 12 months on the road with their caravan in tow to promote Charolais cattle from WA to northern Queensland, visiting as many Charolais members as they could along the way. property in Cowra. This move is viewed as a benefit to their clients with its central location.

The sale will be conducted on the 18th August at 1:00pm at North Logan, North Logan Rd Cowra. On offer will be 22 Charolais and 22 Angus bulls. All bulls will be prepared on grass or fodder crop, with no supplementary feeding.

This preparation of sale bulls is an important issue considering the majority of bulls are going into breeding operations finishing progeny directly off grass.

The draft of Charolais bulls can best be described as a strong line of powerful meaty bulls able to fatten on grass. The Angus draft display a phenotype with figures to match.

It is important that producers maintain profitability, and maintain a return on investment. This is an opportunity to source quality bulls that meet those criteria.

23

Carcase Quality, Charolais Steers On Top

gus averaging 7.6. Charolais had a 22.25% larger EMA. Average dressing percentage for Charolais was 57.87% while Angus averaged 54.85%.

In summarising these results for a commercial situation, Charolais are able to produce carcases with 3% higher dressing percentage, an eye muscle area 22% larger and similar marble scores of Angus.

These results support data gained from the ongoing BIN trials with the proven extra weight-gain pointing to a healthy future for the Charolais breed.

Beef producers today are striving to run a profitable and viable program. Todays Charolais breed has the important traits available to achieve this with high yielding, top performance and the finishing ability to suit all markets with carcase quality that can match any breed….

As a seed-stock and commercial breeder of Charolais cattle, Chris Knox was excited by the excellent results in the purebred steer and carcase competition at the 2014 Sydney Royal Show.

A record number of 27 Charolais steers were exhibited and excelled in strong competition.

Charolais steers achieved Champion Middleweight and Heavyweight on the hoof and Champion Lightweight Carcase, displaying the versatility in the modern Charolais to cover all markets.

The Charolais carcases displayed tremendous carcase quality winning three 1st’s and three 2nd’s out of ten classes in the Virtual Taste Test.

When researching the carcase results, there were some clear advantages for the twenty seven Charolais carcases when compared to the thirty eight Angus carcases. The marble chip score of the Charolais averaged The team of 1.14 and the Angus 1.16, a close result when you consider the Angus 3 Charolais breed has targeted marbling for many years and are renowned for this Steers, placed trait.

2nd in the Average eye muscle area points for the Charolais were 11.94, with An- Stanhill Trophy

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