August 2018 Digest

DROUGHTMASTER AUGUST A UGUST 2 2018 018

CONTENTS

P.6

P.18

P.28

4

Welcome

6

National Bull Sale Preview

18

Andrew’s deep passion for Droughties

22

Branded Beef at the Bracken Ridge Tavern

25

Pat Flynn awarded Life Membership

28

Beef Australia 2018 in review

39

Fun times at FarmFest

42

Futurity showcase

43

Sale Previews

54

Atkinson’s Paddock to Palate success

56

Internationals visit Amberwood

58

US trade mission opportunity

61

Sale Reviews

74

Technical Matters

85

Paine’s keep coming back to Droughties

88

In memoriam

DECEMBER DIGEST DEADLINES ADVERTISING BOOKINGS AND EDITORIAL COPY: OCTOBER 25, 2018 .

P.56

BREEDERS BULLETIN BOARD Get in early.

Advertise your Droughmaster stud for 2018/19 $150 inc GST for 3 Editions December - February - August

P.85 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

Phone Margaret (07) 3826 8282 Email:margaret.ward@fairfaxmedia.com.au August 2018

3

MESSAGES

President’s Paragraph Welcome to the August edition of the Digest that kicks off bull buying season. This years edition is the largest publication we have done to date, so congratulations to all those involved and a big thank you to the advertisers who have supported our great magazine.

As we’ve all witnessed, the popularity of the breed is continually increasing which is driving more availability of quality stock throughout all regions.

I’m sure the quality of stock available either through private sales, endorsed sales and the sponsored sales will be as high as ever.

Obviously, seasons have been varied throughout the country, however this has further reinforced the need for the Droughtmaster breed which can handle these tough conditions. Beef 2018 certainly highlighted the popularity of Droughtmasters, being the largest breed of cattle on display.

Also, the great win by Yaralla Droughtmasters with the champion pen again, just shows the breed’s great diversity.

The Droughtmaster female as a cross breeding unit continues to shine and as conditions become tough the market diversity of the Droughtmaster sire is providing so many options for commercial cattle producers. As we see more and more of the live export markets open their doors to Droughtmasters, the supply of these cattle will need to increase.

I believe now is an ideal time for producers who haven’t been using Droughtmaster bulls in their programs to consider it and be in a position to be able to supply this market as it grows. Progressing early to these trends, may just prove to be more profitable in the near to medium future.

This is my last column, as my year of helping the Society and breed ends. I have enjoyed working with the CEO Neil Donaldson and with all the office staff. The breed is in such good hands with the professional and passionate approach you all take. It has been a great opportunity to talk and work with many producers and other professionals in the industry. I thank all of you for your time and your continual support of the Droughtmaster breed.

Looking Ahead Unfortunately poor seasons continue to plague many parts of Australia, however cattle prices have maintained the levels established a few years ago, albeit with the traditional fluctuations generated by the usual supply and demand factors.

This is helping drive optimism in the northern Australian beef industry, which was clearly evident at Beef 2018 in Rockhampton in May. The Droughtmaster breed had great success at this renowned event. Droughtmasters had the largest numbers in both stud and commercial competitions which is not surprising given the breed’s ever increasing popularity.

Stud judging drew a large crowd of spectators, which included many international visitors keen to get a look at our unique Australian breed.

Most of the internationals also took the opportunity to check out the commercial judging at CQLX, where Droughtmasters maintained their dominance with the Grand Champion Pen award going to Ken and Kerry McKenzie to make it eight out of 10 championships to the Droughtmaster breed since the competition began in 1991.

The McKenzies also have an outstanding record at these championships with four wins over the years, but they proved in 2017 that it’s not all about “good looks”, when they won the RNA Paddock to Palate Competition at their first attempt!

DROUGHTMASTER STUD BREEDERS’ SOCIETY ACN 010 129 683 40 Thorn Street, Ipswich, QLD 4305 Phone: (07) 3281 0056 Fax: (07) 3281 7957 Email: office@droughtmaster.com.au

PATRON John Gardner

BOARD PRESIDENT Paul Laycock 0438 788 201 VICE-PRESIDENT Douglas Birch 07 4167 5139 DIRECTORS Far Northern Zone Jeff Williams 0418 755 279 Northern Zone Vacant Central Zone Douglas Birch 07 4167 5139 South East Zone Brian Heck (07) 5484 9183 Southern Zone Sharon Harms 0413 583 084 Far Southern Zone Timothy Lloyd (02) 6724 8362 Western Zone Vacant National Vacant Douglas Miles (07) 4934 7645 Kevin Woolcock (07) 4984 1085 SPECIAL SKILLS DIRECTOR Paul Laycock 0438 788 201 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Neil Donaldson 0428 796 330 OFFICE MANAGER Samantha Horridge REGISTRAR Carmel Bell

We were excited to have young Droughtmaster studmaster Steve Hayes from the Northern Territory accept our invitation to be associate stud judge of the Droughtmasters during Beef 2018. The Society endeavours to foster young cattle breeders wherever possible and Steve certainly had a great opportunity as associate to our judge Rob Sinnamon, a very experienced, accomplished and respected judge.

The sense of optimism at Beef 2018 and the strong interest in the Droughtmasters augers well for the industry and the breed in the future.

I look forward to catching up with many of the breed’s loyal supporters during the forthcoming spring sales.

ACCOUNTS Toni Franklin ADMINISTRATION Leigh Eleison TECHNICAL OFFICERS Paul Williams 0427 018 982 Tim Emery 0408 707 155 DIGEST PRODUCTION Editor: Matt Sherrington Editorial & Advertising Fairfax Agricultural Media Queensland PO Box 586, Cleveland 4163 Phone: (07) 3826 8200 Fax: (07) 3821 1236

www.droughtmaster.com.au Beef 2018 success.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Butterworth.

Grand champion Droughtmaster bull of Beef Australia 2018, Glenlands J Voltage, held by Jason Childs, with Associate Judge Steve Hayes, The Garden, Alice Springs, Judge Rob Sinnamon, Yulgilbar, Casino and trophy sponsor Paul Laycock, High Country Stud, Esk.

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August 2018

NEIL DONALDSON CEO

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK The opinions expressed in the Droughtmaster Digest are not necessarily the opinions of the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society Ltd, or of Fairfax Agricultural Media Queensland. This publication is protected by copyright and articles or photographs may not be used without authorisation.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

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SALE PREVIEW

The top price bull of the 2017 sale, Oasis Dundee, with vendors Adam, Archie and Noel Geddes, Oasis Droughtmasters, Emerald, and buyer Gayle Shann, Lamont Droughtmasters, Cantaur Park, Clermont.

Sale to be Stocked with a Vast Diversity of Genetics

By Matt Sherrington

T

he largest number of stud-bred Droughtmaster bulls available in one location combined with a diverse array of genetics ensure that the Droughtmaster National Sale being held on Tuesday, September 11 and Wednesday, September 12 is one not to be missed.

A total of 14 first-time vendors will join with 99 veterans of the sale to offer 589 bulls, including 575 registered bulls and 14 herd bulls across the two days of scinitllating action at CQLX Gracemere.

Sale Committee Chairperson, Nick Hughes said he’s optimistic about the 2018 sales’ prospects given the general popularity of the breed which was enhanced by its “outstanding performance at Beef Australia 2018”.

“Beef was a great showcase for our Droughtie breeders as we had the largest number of entries in the stud judging and commercial judging competitions, and it was pleasing to see Droughtmasters once again win Grand Champion Pen at the Commercial Championships,” Mr Hughes said.

“However vendors are well aware that the season being experienced by their buyers always has the greatest influence on the result, so hopefully the rain will come between now and sale time,” he said.

He said one thing commercial breeders can bank on is the sale offering value for money in the bulls they take home.

“In 2017 commercial buyers purchased 77 per cent of the catalogue for an average of $7,600.”

6

August 2018

In total last year, 488 of 521 bulls sold to record a 92 per cent clearance and a gross of $4,763,500. It was vendors Noel and Robyn Geddes, Oasis Droughtmasters, Emerald, who topped the sale with lot 294, Oasis Dundee, selling to Mac and Gayle Shann, Lamont Droughtmasters, Clermont, for $135,000.

All bulls catalogued can be inspected from noon on Sunday, September 9, right up until the sale begins on both days at 8.30am.

Creating further confidence in the lead-up to the sale, Mr Hughes said all sale bulls have passed Australian Cattle Vets (ACV) Bull Check soundness evaluation check.

“All sale bulls are semen tested and a large percentage will be morphology tested.

They’re all vaccinated for Tick Fever, Ephemeral Fever (3Day Sickness) and 7in1 or 5in1 and have been scanned by ultrasound for fat and eye muscle area scores.”

He said many bulls will also be eligible for entry into WA and NT, and J-BAS Scores of all bulls will be listed on sale day supplementary sheets.

Mr Hughes said they’ll again be livestreaming the sale online using Elite Livestock Auctions which will enable buyers to bid on bulls without leaving home.

“Elite Livestock Auctions have performed well at our sale for the two years they’ve been involved (2016 – Elite registered 52 bidders who bought nine bulls; and in 2017

they registered 65 bidders who bought 16 bulls.

All attending the sale are invited to the saleyards from 5.30pm on Monday, September 10, for the annual Meet & Greet with complimentary refreshments and finger food on offer.

A charity heifer auction will take place during the evening with proceeds going to the Black Dog Ride Charity, an organisation which raises vital awareness for depression and suicide prevention (see story on page 15).

Mr Hughes said the The DN. Sale website droughtmasternational.com is the “one stop shop” for everything to do with the sale.

“Every bull will have a photo and/or video clip which will be posted on the website, and prospective buyers can search via vendor/stud name or just scroll through all the photos.”

The online catalogue (with pedigrees and other vendor/bull information) is also available on the sale website, with hard copy catalogues to be posted to previous buyers from the sale in early August. New buyers should contact their local agent or the Droughtmaster Society for a catalogue.

“I’d like to thank our sale Gold sponsors Riverina Stockfeeds, Gallagher, Virbac and Queensland Country Life, along with Silver sponsors Beachport Liquid Minerals for their support.”

• Sale agents are Landmark, SBB/GDL and Elders

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

SALE PREVIEW BOWMAN PARK Justin and Kelly Bowman, Bowman Park Stud, are offering two top prospects at the DN. Sale which are both polled sons of the ever consistent $24,000 Strathfield Xplode.

Lot 481, the eye-catching prospective stud sire, Kaboom, has exceptional temperament, length, top line, leg and great growth for age.

Lot 482 King Missile, the younger of the pair, displays a touch more content, with good bone, coat and length.

Justin said both bulls have “the goods” and meet requirements for the trip to WA”.

2018 February All Breeds and the joined females at the 2018 National Female Sale.

Lot 289, Bryvonlea Rambo, will be offered as three quarter share full possession, and the Heck’s think this excellent young bull has a lot to offer.

A Wilfred son and on the dams side, he goes back to the Heck’s “super cow” Fancy 8.

Bryvonlea Shadrach, Lot 293, is by Wilfred out of Glenlands Quiet (Ebony Hills Choirboy/ Glenlands Iris). The Heck’s said they’re “two exceptional, young, future stud sires”.

Bryvonlea will also offer seven young sires at this year’s Bunya Bull Sale as Lots 69 to 75 on September 1 at Coolabunia.

BRYVONLEA CAMBROON PARK The Heck family, Bryvonlea Droughtmasters, will offer 14 young sires for the DN. Sale.

With 20 years of stud breeding behind them they feel this is one of their best drafts yet.

The Bryvonlea draft sells on day one in lots 289 to 300 and on day two in lots 309 and 310.

Current sires featured are Skye Wilfred (poll tested 98pc PP), Medway Urie and VV Ripper.

Progeny from the $50,000 lead sire, Skye Wilfred, debuted last season topping the

8

August 2018

Debut DN. Sale vendor Leonie Nichols, Cambroon Park Droughtmasters, Blackbutt, has catalogued her sole entry, Cambroon Park Cold Beer (P) for the breed’s premier event.

She said, Cold Beer, a November 2016 calf and first son of Oakmore Olivier will sell as lot 483, and has “his sire’s balance, scale and overall appeal, and is out of the very fertile cow, Truvalle Roma 49th, who calved out at 23 months”.

She added that Cold Beer has an average daily weight gain of 1.2kg, without a selffeeder.

CONDAMINE Dal Kroll, Condamine Droughtmasters, Chinchilla has six quality bulls catalogued for the DN. Sale in lots 386 to 391 on the second day of selling.

Dal said a feature of this year’s lineup will be some exceptional sons of former Brisbane grand championship winning bulls in Condamine Icon and Condamine Ivanhoe.

She added that two other bulls worthy of close inspection are Condamine Master Key (Icon) and Condamine Merlin (P) (Ivanhoe) “which are impressive from nose to tail”.

HAMADRA Although Hamadra has drawn late on day two with both their drafts, the McKenzie family said it doesn’t mean their bulls are of lesser quality in the slightest.

Kerri McKenzie said they actually feel that they’re some of their best yet.

The 16 bulls (lots 489 to 498, and lots 584 to 589) Hamadra has catalogued are sired by six proven sires in Hamadra Bodaicious,

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SALE PREVIEW HAMADRA (CONTINUED)

OAKMORE

Minlacowie Salvador 8081, Hamadra Cooper, Yaralla Jorgo, Hamadra Excite and Hamadra Ebay.

All sale lots have been Pompes and Pesti tested negative and the Hamadra herd is JBAS 7 WA eligible.

Kerri added that they’re excited to be offering their Beef Australia 2018 Male Calf Champion and Reserve Calf Champion bulls in this years draft.

View the dam history of the bulls drafted for the sale and more on the stud website hamadra.com. Kerri said inspections are always welcome by contacting Andrew McKenzie on 0439 826 275.

Oakmore Droughtmasters have nominated four standout sires by leading sire, Oakmore Kadir (P) for the 2018 DN. Sale.

Coming into the ring first as Lot 76 is the first son of stud favourite, Billabong Ally (P) to be offered. At 28 months of age, Oakmore Quade (P) is a well grown young sire with length, depth, broad muzzle, sire appeal and has a natural quiet temperament.

Lot 77 Oakmore Quadrant (PH) out of Strathfield Carnation 3rd (P) an impressive cow, has produced a son with scale, length, depth, naturally quiet with eye appeal as an up-and-coming sire.

Lot 78 Oakmore Quantro (PH) is out of Billabong Twinkle (H) and Lot 79 Oakmore Q-Zac (P) is out of Billabong Amelia (P).

These cows have been high performers within Oakmore producing consistent quality progeny. They are the youngsters of the team with length and depth, and naturally quiet temperaments.

Oakmore bulls are yard educated, grown out at the bull depot, Konordy, then brought back to Oakmore for a final light preparation, so they’re are ready for work.

INGRAMS Michael, Meg and Blake Ingram will be offering 12 bulls at the DN. Sale.

Formerly operating under Avondale and Skye prefixes, they will be selling lots 349-360 on day two of the sale.

The Ingram’s will be returning to the sale ring after a four year hiatus, in which time Michael said he’s been “focussed on producing the best bulls possible”.

MINLACOWIE AND WINGFIELD Stud breeders for over 50 years, the Spann Family of Minlacowie and Wingfield Droughtmasters believe their DN. Sale this year (appearing in lots 31 to 34, 39 to 51 and 541 to 551) are the most consistent line of bulls they’ve ever offered.

Among the drafts are the first lineup of sire prospects by “Approved” sire Mt Callan Nimrod. Nimrod is represented with six D2 son’s including the only three-year-old Wingfield Bull, Navada in lot 51 “a top quality son”.

Another of the new season sires producing outstanding progeny for the Spann’s is Minlacowie Saxby (Iker). He’s the sire of the studs lead Wingfield rising two-year-old bull catalogued early on day one as lot 31, Oklahoma who’s “a stud sire prospect for sure with his exceptional length and scale, strong polled head, great bone and tidy underline”.

On offer as well this year are the first of the Minlacowie Tonto son’s (Geronimo) they’re bulls with great bone, length and sire appeal and are well worth a look.

Also on offer will be first sons of Minlacowie Sultan (Nebo) another home bred sire producing top quality sons and daughters.

Other sires represented are Kingston, Paddy Boy, River Phoenix, Rasha, Southern Comfort and Richmond.

10

August 2018

PALMVALE In only its second year of selling at the DN. Sale, fledgling stud Palmvale Droughtmasters has three outstanding sire prospects on offer, coming into the ring from the Streeter family at lots 100 to 102.

All three bulls are sired by Oasis Manu (poll), who’s first son sold last year for $30,000 to Andrew Rea, Etonvale, Bowen.

Beth Streeter said the standout in the draft is is Lot 100, Palmvale Batchelor (P) a clean polled, strong boned young bull with exceptional length, temperament and an extremely tidy sheath.

She added that his dam “is a stylish first calf heifer by Jembrae Fenton, out of a Fernleigh cow”.

RSVP & SYLVAN SPRINGS RSVP and Sylvan Springs studs have selected an exceptional draft of 14 young sires for this years DN. Sale. The RSVP draft sells first up on day two as lots 301 to 308.

The $20,000 Billabong Armstrong is represented by two outstanding sons who will impress for type and consistency.

The Sylvan Springs draft will sell on the first day of the sale as lots 283 to 288 and contains two sons of Ianbrae Wanted.

Other sires represented include RSVP Jackpot, Glen Ruth 1331, Sylvan Springs Escapade,

Sylvan Springs Cowboy, Warrina Yalumba and Toblo Preston.

Stud manager, Graham Brown is confident the industry relevant draft will impress both stud and commercial breeders and recommends an inspection.

SKYE The Ingram family, Skye Droughtmasters, will be selling 10 rising two-year-old bulls at the DN. Sale in lots 137 to 146. There are nine polls or scurrs in the offering.

Libby Ingram said later in the year at the Bullzeye Sale in Capella they’ll be selling eleven bulls, nine of which are polled or scurred.

All sale bulls will be scanned, weighed, semen tested, pesti tested free and will have up-to-date vaccinations.

Both drafts are eligible to be sold into WA. She added that they’re very pleased with the temperament and quality of both sale teams and “we guarantee there will be bulls for all budgets”.

SUGERLAND Sugerland Droughmaster stud principal Wil Haviland said as the owner of a pen full of bulls you like to stay “quietly confident” about the prospects for the upcoming bull selling season.

He said they “don’t want to overstate their attributes and bore onlookers with adjectives, but keeping that in mind as bull producers, Sugerland Droughtmasters keeps the commercial realities of our beef industry central to our breeding objectives”.

Will said in the upcoming selling season they have 16 bulls heading to the DN. Sale (lots 477 to 480) and Bullzeye Sale, and said one thing about this years bulls that stands out is their docile temperament.

TRUVALLE Truvalle’s draft for the 2018 Rockhampton DN. Sale will enter the sale ring on day two in lots 336 to 340. Lead bull Truvalle Denham’s sire and dam combination have been earning an average of $11,000 per bull calf.

Consistency of quality is reaffirmed in the lightly shown Duke and Deign. The Truvalle herd is JBAS-7 WA eligible and most animals have a strong polled background.

VALE VIEW Vale View Droughtmasters’ David and Colleen Smith will offer a multitude of genetics within their draft of 15 bulls being made available for the DN. Sale.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

SALE PREVIEW VALE VIEW (CONTINUED) Bred by nine different sires, the bulls aged between 21 to 25 months are catalogues to appear on day one as lots 92 to 99 and on day two as lots 379 to 385.

This year’s sale draft will include the first sons by Glenlands Tactician, Angle Zed Ferdinand, and Vale View M Diesel, along with other sons of consistent Vale View sires; Glenlands Substitute, Connor Enis, Vale View M Ballastic, Vale View Uripper, Strathfield XXXX Gold; and AI sire Vale View Lawman.

Colleen said “whether your breeding for vealers, bullocks, replacement heifers or stud bulls; we have a variance of type to suit all needs”.

Bulls are WA eligible, pesti virus free and pompes tested negative with natural quiet temperaments, backed up by the Smith’s honesty and support.

Bulls are available for inspection anytime at Vale View (near Goomeri).

WAJATRYN Commercial relevance underpins Warren and Carolyn Kenny’s family cattle business, based in the Central Burnett, Qld. Wajatryn Pastoral Company markets more than 100 bulls a year.

The family pride themselves on productive, naturally quiet, workable cattle, with high fertility, longevity, beef and bone.

For many years Wajatryn have offered a select team of bulls at the DN. Sale.

This year’s draft comprises first sons of True Blue Lordz as well as proven performers, Wajatryn T-Rex, Wajatryn Gizmo and Huntly Latham.

The eight bulls selected for the sale are fully vaccinated, tested pesti and pompes free, and Wajatryn is JBAS 7 WA eligible. The Wajatryn draft will enter the sale ring on day one in lots 147 to 154.

Championships winning the Grand Champion Pen with a pen of Droughtmaster X Heifers and were awarded the Most Successful Exhibitor.

YARALLA Yaralla Droughtmasters is presenting 15 bulls on the first day of the DN. Sale in lots 11 to 25 and will also be offering 18 bulls at the Artesian Sale in October.

At the DN.Sale they’ll be leading off with Yaralla Thoros and Tommen by Hamadra Brax.

Also featured in the draft are four sons of Yaralla Olaf: Yaralla Tristan, Tennyson, Tyrell and Tarth. Yaralla Radcliffe is the sire of the other bulls included in the draft: Milan, Radcliffe, Maxwell, Norton and Needmor 613.

Yaralla Droughtmasters has had a successful year at the 2018 Beef Australia Commercial

A total of 488 bulls sold across two days of spirited bidding during the 2017 sale.

Nick and Sarah Hughes - Upper Kandanga - 07 5488 4352 / 0400 709 124 12

August 2018

AW3534458

Droughtmaster National Sale CQLX Lot numbers are Day 1 / Lots 87-91 Photo of lot numbers at www.farogan.net

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NEWS

Beefmaster Delegation at Beef 2018

F

ollowing some informal communication between the Droughtmaster Society and the Beefmaster Breeders Association in the USA a delegation of Beefmaster breeders visited Australia in May. The delegation was accompanied by three representatives of the Texas Department of Agriculture.

The delegation visited several Droughtmaster properties in southern, central and north Queensland, before and after they spent the week at Beef 2018 in Rockhampton.

The delegation included the following breeders: Dr. Robert Williams, Lorenzo Lasater, Gary Frenzel, Larry Miller, Larry Meacham, Nolan Goebel, Lauren Lyssy, Texas Department of Agriculture representatives Dan Hunter, Jon Garza and Austin Van Hooser, Beefmaster Breeders’ Association director of Breed Improvement Lance Bauer,also joined the delegation on their tour of the state.

Steve and Claire Farmer, Mt Elsa, via Canoona, were one of the destinations on the Beef 2018 Property Tours, and also hosted the Beefmaster delegation during the expo.

Heifer to be Auctioned for a Great Cause

By Matt Sherrington

G

uests at the Drinks with Droughties meet and greet taking place the night before the DN. Sale on Monday, September 10 at CQLX, will have the opportunity to help a great cause.

During the evening a 14-month-old Droughtmaster heifer, Deep Valley Crystal (P) D5, generously donated by Graham Bishop and Glenn Hoskins, Deep Valley Droughtmaster Stud, Donnybrook, WA, will go under the hammer, with SBB generously providing their services free of charge and buyers will also able to bid online through Elite Livestock Auctions, thanks to the generous assistance of Chris Norris.

DN. Sale guests along with buyers from throughout Australia can bid on the heifer and view the sale, with all proceeds going to the Black Dog Ride Charity which was created to raise awareness of depression and suicide.

For more than a decade Peter and Judy Milton, Dardanup, WA, have been soliciting, preparing and showing a steer and then selling him at Perth Royal Show in support of Black Dog Ride with great success and maximum exposure provided for the charity.

Deep Valley Crystal has a companion on her tour, a Fresian cross heifer called Clemintine.

“The fact that the steers were slaughtered upset some people, so we decided to work with heifers so they can be sold to go back to a paddock and live out an idyllic life as a productive cow,” Mr Milton said.

He has taken Deep Valley Crystal to various public appearances where she’s “behaved beautifully”.

“We enjoy tremendous support from a local mining company, Iluka Resources, who’ve given Black Dog Ride a new horse float and a 4WD Ute to take the heifer to Kununurra stopping at towns and remote communities along the way to raise awareness both on site and with the powers that be in the city of just how much suffering is occurring in the bush,” he said.

The heifer will remain in WA until after the sale, after which Doug and Dani Giles, Quicksilver Droughtmaster Stud, Newdegate, WA have generously offered to deliver the heifer free of charge to the purchaser (even if it’s purchased by a buyer from the eastern states).

The 14-month-old Droughtmaster heifer, Deep Valley Crystal (P) D5, will be sold online through Elite Livestock Auctions during the Drinks with Droughties event the night prior to the DN. Sale with all proceeds going to the Black Dog Ride Charity.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

Full pedigree details and photos and video of Crystal will be available on the DN. Sale website. For further enquiries please contact the Droughtmaster Society - 07 32810056.

August 2018

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NEXT GENERATION

Andrew’s Passion for Droughties Runs Deep

By Matt Sherrington

I

t was after being gifted a Droughtmaster heifer by Glenlands’ Bruce and Val Childs in 2008 that Andrew O’Kane became a junior member of the Droughtmaster society, and his passion for the breed has only grown since.

Raised on cattle stations in The Gulf of Qld and the Barkly Tablelands of the NT, Andrew has always had an appreciation for cattle which was made apparent when as a fouryear-old he showed his first heifer at the Tennant Creek show.

He said one of his most memorable moments was when he was asked to be the associate judge for the Droughtmasters at The Ekka in 2009.

“To attend these shows I’m indebted to the many people who gave me rides or put me on the bus, including Bruce and Val Childs who often picked me up when I was a little

kid with a big hat waiting at the servo on the way through to a show. And Society CEO Neil Donaldson who often dropped me back at boarding school in Toowoomba after a bull sale or show,” he said.

After joining the society as an 11-year-old, and while droving close to 2000 backgrounders from Babbilooria on the banks

Andrew did his primary school through School of the Air at both Alice Springs and Mt Isa, before moving into boarding life at Toowoomba Prep and then Toowoomba Grammar School.

He said many of his school holidays were spent breaking in and branding cattle on various properties.

“While at boarding school I was also given leave to attend The Ekka, Rockhampton Heifer Raised on stations in The Gulf of Qld and show, the Droughtmaster National Sale and the Barkley Tablelands of the NT, Andrew’s the Glenlands annual sale,” Andrew said. always loved working with cattle

Andrew O’Kane mustering at Bunda Station on the NT/WA border, where he’s currently the head stockman.

Mastering the Drought

AW3550670

Skye Droughtmasters

Libby Ingram • Alpha • (07) 4985 3524 18

August 2018

Selling at National and BullZeye Sale DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

of the Warrego River with master drover Dale Harrison that he he decided on the prefix “Warrego” for his Droughtmaster stud.

Since receiving his first heifer in 2008 Andrew with his family has slowly built up his herd numbers initially with heifers from Calioran, Iris Hill and Heitiki.

“We now run close to 150 registered females on, Conloi, Wandoan.”

Since becoming a junior member he’s used the latest in IVF and AI technology to improve the quality, and increase the numbers of his Warrego female herd.

Being a passionate cattle and horse person, after Andrew completed his senior education and received his Certificate III in Agriculture he joined Consolidated Pastoral Company where he’s been for the last five years and is currently head stockman at Bunda Station on the NT/WA border.

The Warrego Droughtmaster breeders on the family property, Conloi, Wandoan.

“While employed in the north with CPC I’m gaining first-hand experiences and realising the importance for seedstock producers to produce fertile functional cattle that are structurally correct to handle the extreme weather cycles Northern Australia presents.”

In 2016 during the wet season Andrew also spent time in South Africa working with Considerata Droughtmasters.

Andrew said one of his most memorable moments was when he was asked to be the associate judge for the Droughtmasters at The Ekka in 2009.

Ugo

8 Sons

Senator

Glenlands Senator • Glenlands D Roebuck • Calioran Ugo

DROUGHTMASTER

National

BULL SALE

© kentbward.com © ruraldesign.com.au

Tuesday 11TH SEPTEMBER 2018 Lots 162-169

Roebuck

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

13 Bulls LOTS 41-53

David, Rosemary, Michael & Kathy Purnell 07 49271104 Ph/Fax 07 4927 1166 Michael 0429 815 074 August 2018

19

;OHUR`V\

to Our Buyers, Underbidders and Agents at this our first year selling at the Highlands Sale, Clermont (in March).

BULLS AVERAGED $10,000. LEAD BULL, $15,000 WAJATRYN KNOCKOUT, SOLD TO REPEAT BUYERS OF WAJATRYN BULLS, C & J HICKS, KEILAMBETE STATION. Thankyou also to RM & PE Walker, Dingo (2 bulls) • Redskin Stud, Mornish • Duncan Investments, buying our Charity bull, Wajatryn 2337 Kensington for $10,000. ($1,000 to Clermont Kindy)

WAJATRYN CATTLE THE ‘REAL DEAL’ IN PERFORMANCE BASED GENETIC SELECTION

BEEF BONE SCALE & STYLE CONFORMATION FERTILITY LONGEVITY GREAT TEMPERAMENTS WORKABLE CATTLE

SEMEN SALES First release, New & Proven Sires $17,000 True Blue Lordz (P)

Wajatryn T-Rex (P) (S Castletower Fireman)

DN LOTS 147 - 154 JBAS 7 WA ELIGIBLE VACCINATED FOR 3 GERM BLOOD, 7 IN 1, 3 DAY BOTULISM

T-Rex now owned by Wetheron Droughtmaster Stud

Wajatryn Knox (P) (AI) (S. $55,000 Wajatryn Devil)

Wajatryn Gizmo (P) (S. Redskin X-Factor)

TESTED PESTI AND POMPES FREE

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND ON OUR WEBSITE FOR REGULAR UPDATES & PHOTOS OF OUR CATTLE. $38,000 Redskin Harley (S) (S. Dalmally Yale)

Wajatryn Jack Daniels (P) (S. Medway Scallywag)

DN Lot 148

DN Lot 147

DN SALE & PRIVATE ON PROPERTY SELECTION BULLS

OFFERING 100+ BULLS YEAR ROUND

Contact Warren & Carolyn Kenny, Gayndah Phone 07 4161 1279

www.wajatryn.com

NEWS

Droughtmaster Steaks its Origin

By Brad Cooper

C

HEERS for the Maroons may have been just that little bit louder on the north side of Brisbane on Wednesday, June 6, as steak diners at a well known suburban eatery enjoyed the taste of Queensland pride.

While NSW prevailed in the match, to the despair of many in attendance, the quality of the fare offered at the Bracken Ridge Tavern thanks to Droughtmaster producers in south east Qld was a sure-fire winner.

According to proprietor Michael White, every day has been gameday of A grade quality since a range of Droughtmaster grilling cuts was introduced to patrons.

“And the fact they are from an iconic Qld breed such as Droughtmaster makes it perfect for our dining service promotion during State of Origin season,” Mr White said.

E j i the Enjoying h D Droughtmaster h cuts, ffrom lleft, f S Society i CEO CEO, N Neil il D Donaldson, ld owner off the Bracken Ridge Tavern, Michael White, with senior chefs and Jenny and Roger Underwood, Pine Hills, Wallumbilla.

over from the Droughtmaster Society’s international function at Beef Australia 2018.

The Droughtmaster consignment arrived at Bracken Ridge from portions that were left

“The treatment they’ve been given both pre and post slaughter is not unlike what you’d

broon Par m a C8Z

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“We’re calling it the Steak of Origin,” he said.

About 30 Droughtmaster steers were killed for the purpose at Nolan Meats, Gympie in February after spending 100 days on feed.

Droughtmasters

find in Nolan’s premium Private Selection brand – the eating quality is absolutely first rate,” Mr White said.

Droughtmaster Society CEO Neil Donaldson said there were plans to have the breed’s name on menus at select venues for special events.

Presents at the 2018

Droughtmaster National Bull Sale

Cambroon Park Cold Beer (P) D5

Junior Stud 1624

Lot 483 AW3544076

Leonie Nichols 0487 231 545, Find Us on Facebook 22

August 2018

Sunny View Yeoman Oakmore Olivier Oakmore Kasey Cambroon Park Cold Beer (P) D5 c; 28/11/16 Talgai Apache Truvalle Roma 49th Truvalle Roma 47th

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

STUD 302

HEITIKI DROUGHTMASTERS

N

D

E L A

S

Lot 270, H. Merlin (G75) exhibited at Beef 2018

Heitiki is selling registered bulls at both the DN National sale 11/12 September Lots 270 & 271 and The Droughtmaster Roma Sale.

We are extremely happy to be offering the first son of Heitiki Hanrahan at both sales.

Hanrahan is from a highly credentialed female line including Dam Heitiki Conny (2970), grand dam Heitiki 1815.

Hanrahan sons include: Roma sale, Heitiki Linderman (4010) exhibited at beef 2018 The Lloyd family will also be offering a son of Swan Horsham at the DN sale in Heitiki G81, LOT 271’ G81 is A full embryo bred brother to Heitiki Indigo, sold at the DN sale in 2015 to LAMONT stud for $37,500.

All bulls being offered are sound and fertile, tested ready to work.

Contact: Tim 0429 318 096 or AH, 02 6724 8362 | e: timothy.lloyd@bigpond.com

ROMA SALE - 19TH OCTOBER

Heitiki Kidman

J.S., M.A. & T.S. LLOYD ‘HEITIKI’ DELUNGRA

Heitiki Linderman

Paddock bulls for sale (02) 6724 8225, (02) 6724 8362 Email: timll@bigpond.com

AW3543840

NEWS

Flynn Recognised for his Dedication to Youth and the Breed

By Jenny Underwood

W

hen Pat Flynn arrived at a surprise party for his 70 th birthday in mid-March, he didn’t realise that another surprise was in store for him.

For more than four decades Pat has been involved with the Droughtmaster breed and during that time has been dedicated to helping youth learn about the cattle industry, which prompted his nomination for Life Membership of the Droughtmaster Society.

Many breeders would be familiar with the Droughtmaster stud prefix “Boystown”, which was established in 1984 as Stud No. 495.

Boystown cattle eventually became highly sought after, and in the show-ring celebrated a remarkable list of successes.

When Pat was asked about his contribution to the Boystown Droughtmaster Stud, he simply replied “My passion was using the Droughtmaster breed to change the lives of disadvantaged and disengaged children.”

“Droughtmaster cattle provided many kids with a sense of accomplishment and improved their attitude and outlook on life,” he said.

Pat’s association and involvement with Boystown came to an end when the home was shut down in 1992.

Droughtmaster Society director, Sharon Harms presented the Life Membership award to Pat Flynn on behalf the Society.

In 2000 he commenced employment with the Warwick State High School and on Pat’s recommendation the school started showing Droughtmasters, thanks to the generosity of the Rowe family (Greenacres and Southern Cross Studs).

Pat has assisted and guided many people in establishing their own Droughtmaster studs, he has also provided free semen, show equipment and transportation to many of those studs.

Through Pat’s experience of showing cattle with his three sons, he knew the temperament of the Droughtmaster breed would be perfect for Boystown’s youth.

Fred Rowe sent 14 head of Droughtmaster cattle to Warwick State High School, which cemented a long association between the two men.

Pat Flynn has dedicated over half his life to working with youth and the Droughtmaster breed and is a very worthy recipient of Life Membership.

Voltage Sells in a Record $100,000 Deal

In his summation, judge, Robert Sinnamon said of his Beef expo champion,“He has the length, bone, softness, sire appeal, tidy sheath and underline that everybody’s looking for, he’s a game changer that will have a real influence on the Droughtmaster breed.”

certainly going to take full advantage of that by putting him with a wide selection of our top cows.”

Pat was working at Boystown in the 1980’s and he recommended the establishment of a Droughtmaster stud because he believed a stud operation would instil responsibility and accountability in the boys of Boystown, while creating a rewarding hobby that would generate life-changing opportunities for them.

By Kent Ward

I

n a recent joint statement the Glenlands and Fieldhouse studs have announced the record private sale of Glenlands J Voltage (P).

Voltage has been sold for $100,000 in a three quarter share and full possession arrangement. New owners, the Mutton family, Fieldhouse Stud, Wickepin, WA, first inspected the bull at last years Brisbane Royal Show and again at the 2017 Glenlands Sale.

It wasn’t long after the Glenlands Sale that the two parties agreed on a price and a delivery date, after Beef 2018.

Voltage’s run up the awards board started when he claimed the Junior Championship title at the 2017 Brisbane Royal under judge, Renee Rutherford and her associate, Remy Streeter. He then went onto claim the Grand and Senior Championship award at the recent triennial event, Beef 2018.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

At 28 months of age Voltage weighed 920kg and recorded an EMA measurement of 131cm sq and fat depth scans of 19/13mm.

The bull is a naturally produced son of Garthowen Sparrow 2 and from a Glenlands 5225 sired daughter of the multiple broad ribbon winner, Glenlands Fame (P).

Commenting on the record priced bull, Jason Childs said, “We’ve always considered him an outstanding individual, we’re confident he’ll breed on and go onto even greater things for the Fieldhouse Stud.”

Ben Mutton, Fieldhouse Stud said of his new acquisition, “We’re happy we’ve secured Voltage, he’s certainly developed in short space of time, he’s extremely safe, great length, structure and a terrific underline, just what’s needed for these conditions.

“Another great advantage he brings is a new set of genetics, new bloodlines and we’re

Glenlands Voltage (P), the breed’s Grand and Senior Champion Droughtmaster Bull at Beef 2018 with Jason Childs, Glenlands Stud, Bouldercombe. Photo by Kent Ward

August 2018

25

BEEF AUSTRALIA 2018 REPORT

A High Voltage Performer for the Childs Family

By Helen Walker

W

ith a strong team of 30 exhibits, the Childs family, Glenlands Droughtmasters, Bouldercombe, enjoyed one of their better performances in the Droughtmaster judging by claiming eight of the 12 broad ribbons on offer at Beef 2018.

Breed judge, Rob Sinnamon, Yulgibar Santa Gertrudis, Baryulgil, NSW and his associate judge Steve Hayes, The Garden, Alice Springs, worked hard in the blistering heat and humidity sorting through the record breaking 228 entries to find their winning champions.

Putting the charge into Glenland’s victory was their senior and later grand champion bull, Glenlands J Voltage.

Voltage entered the judging ring tipping the scales at 1124kg with an eye muscle area of 145cm sq.

He was described by Mr Sinnamon as a “modern bull and industry game changer” who typified the breed.

“He really is a special bull who will advance the Droughtmaster breed,” Mr Sinnamon said.

Voltage is by the $20,000 Garthowen Sparrow 2 sire, and was last year’s Brisbane Royal Show junior champion bull.

Standing as reserve senior champion bull was Glenlands J Velocity, who was the last year’s Brisbane Royal Show grand champion bull.

Junior champion bull was Glenlands D Whiskey, who is a first season calf of the influential sire, Glenlands D Rambo. Reserve junior champion bull was Glenlands D Winchester.

The Childs family also claimed reserve senior champion female with Glenlands Vaneeta, reserve junior champion female with Glenlands D Whitney and calf champion female, Glenlands J Wishful.

The senior and grand champion female was Farogan Valley Aura, exhibited by Nick and Sarah Hughes, Farogan Valley, Kandanga.

Aura earned the judge’s praise when he said the senior female classes were all about production and profitability.

“She has it all, as she is a very efficient functional breeding unit,” he said.

Hamadra Droughtmasters, Bluff, were successful in the bull calf champion awards, taking champion with Hamadra Houston, and reserve with Hamadra Hadleigh.

Both calf champions were praised by Mr Sinnamon who described them as great indicators of the Droughtmaster breed.

Nick and Sarah Hughes exhibitors of the grand champion Droughtmaster female, Farogan Valley Aura, held by Leanne and Les Lee with Judge Rob Sinnamon.

The Carrington family, Rondel Droughtmasters, Winton, took reserve calf champion female with Rondel Violet.

The youngest exhibitor in the Droughtmaster judging, Mac Smith, Vale View M Droughtmasters, Manumbar, with Vale View M Gator.

Six Year Old Mac Takes on Beef

W

ith wisdom beyond his years, Mac Smith, Vale View Droughtmasters, was the youngest exhibitor in the Droughtmaster judging, and has already decided the direction his career will take when he leaves school.

At six years of age, Mac exhibited Vale View M Gator, who was placed first in the six to nine months class, while his cow Vale View M Zena with a calf a foot named Gidgee was placed second in the 30 to 36 months class.

His third exhibit, Vale View M Fee, was unplaced but sold to $5500 at auction at the Beef Genetics Focus Sale.

Mac couldn’t wait to get back to school for ‘show and tell’ to show the other kids his blue and red ribbons.

“It is very exciting winning a ribbon here at Beef 2018,” he said.

He has 30 registered head, which runs parallel with parents David and Colleen Smith, Vale View Droughtmaster Stud, Manumbar.

“I really have a love of animals,” he said. “I am really looking forward to working for Dad when I leave school.”

And there is nothing more that Mac loves doing than washing and feeding feeding his cattle before and after school.

Mac has sold bulls to $18,000 at the Droughtmaster National sale at Gracemere, to Lindsay Park Droughtmasters, Bell, in 2016.

“I really don’t get sad when I sell them as it is part of my business,” he said.

He will offer three bulls at this year’s Droughtmaster National event.

G Grand d champion h i D Droughtmaster h bbull, ll Gl Glenlands l d JV Voltage, l h held ld bby JJason Child Childs, with Associate Judge Steve Hayes, Judge Rob Sinnamon, Trophy Sponsors Paul Laycock and Mark Scholes.

28

August 2018

And Mac has for plans to spend some of the proceeds from the sale of his heifer fee.

“I will buy some Lego.”

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

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BEEF AUSTRALIA 2018 REPORT

Straws for a Cause

T

he Droughtmaster Society, as with many organisations affiliated with the beef industry, is committed to investing in young people through education and industry development opportunities.

The ‘Straws for a Cause’’ campaign was created to raise much-needed funds for the foundation, and it was kicked off at the Beef Genetic Focus Sale during Beef Australia 2018.

To that end, the society established the Droughtmaster Research & Education Foundation Inc. (‘the Foundation’) as a vehicle through which funds could be raised and apportioned exclusively for this purpose.

A package consisting of 30 straws of semen donated from ten leading Droughtmaster sires (three straws each) was sold for $6,000 to successful bidders, Alex Gibbon and Paige Hodkinson of Stonebridge Droughtmaster Stud, Mallanganee, NSW.

The objectives of the foundation are to advance the education of young people in the beef cattle industry, particularly those associated with the Droughtmaster breed; to promote research by young people into a diverse range of fields related to the beef cattle industry; and to provide grants and scholarships to young people pursuing studies or scientific research in this area.

The ‘Straws for a Cause’ organisers would like to thank agents, Savage Barker & Backhouse for conducting the sale; Just Genes and Rocky Repro for their support and assistance with the handling, movement and storage of the semen; and the Droughtmaster studs that generously donated semen for this great cause included: Billabong (Billabong

Stonebridge Droughtmaster Stud’s Paige Hodkinson and Alex Gibbon, with Straws for a Cause sale coordinator Bronwyn Betts.

Rockafella); Skye (Calaanah Abraham); Glenlands (Glenlands Invincible); RSVP (Ianbrae Wanted); Bryvonlea (Skye Wilfred); Nindethana (RSVP Jackpot); Vale View (Vale View Ripper); Oasis and Needmor (Redskin Huckleberry); Hamadra (Hamadra Kacoby); and Jembrae (Glenlands D Lookalike).

Yaralla Wins Fifth Championship in Commercial Cattle Competition at Beef 2018

By Lucy Kinbacher

B

lackwater Droughtmaster breeders Ken and Kerry McKenzie mixed up the perfect recipe for success yet again, taking out the grand champion title in the commercial cattle competition at Beef Australia for the fifth time in six years.

But in a small change to the script, it was a pen of heifers that took out the top honours in a first for the event.

Known for breeding bulls under the Yaralla stud prefix, it was a pen of two-year-old Simmental/Droughtmaster-cross heifers that claimed the champion grainfed female and grand champion title under judges Duanne Woodham and Peter Healy.

The pen of heifers averaged 561.5kg at judging and sold for 331c/kg at CQLX Gracemere special prime cattle sale.

The McKenzie’s integrated Simmental genetics into part of their commercial herd eight years ago with offspring sold to a dedicated feedlot buyer.

While they have moved away from fattening in their own operation, they continue to enter the competition for the enjoyment and business benefits.

With a record entry of 1200 grainfed and 662 grassfed cattle in this year’s event, Mr McKenzie said the 2018 win was a great testament to the success of their Droughtmaster genetics.

30

August 2018

Kerry, Ken, and Thomas McKenzie, Yaralla Droughtmasters, Blackwater with their champion Beef Australia 2018 champion commercial cattle pen.

“The breed have been really dominant in Central Queensland and this is a massive area, it’s a powerhouse, so they have done well,” he said.

“You have got all the top producers and potential bull buyers here, people that look at your cattle, and I think if you show consistency you hope that you can sell a bull that does the same thing.”

He said while some people could get caught up in chasing commercial cattle success and produce “extremes”, they aimed to create a balanced animal from their versatile herd.

The females in particular were a favourite for Mr McKenzie.

“I’ll be honest when we put everything on feed those heifers did stand out, they were exceptionally good,” he said.

Droughtmasters and their crosses dominated the competition once again with about 30 per cent of entries, a clear demonstration of the popularity of the breed in northern Australia.

The profitability of the Droughtmaster breed was further cemented during the sale, with John Atkinson, Glenavon, Yaamba, selling a pen of 10 purebred Droughtmaster bullocks for $2282 per head a record price for the whole competition, while the Shann family, Lamont Droughtmasters, Cantaur Park, Clermont, topped the heifer section with their pen of 10 Charolais x Droughtmasters reaching $1930 per head.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

National

LOT 424

National

National

LOT 429

LOT 422

2018 SALES 11 Bulls Lots 421-431 National Sale 12 September 22 Bulls Artesian Sale 08 October

© kentbward.com ©ruraldesign.com.au

20 Bulls Bullzeye Sale 12 October

National

LOT 421

COMMERCIALLY CONNECTED WITH SEEDSTOCK SENSE

Paddock bulls avaliable Hastings & Sandra Donaldson 07 4985 5318 Brenten Donaldson 0417 070 376 Hamilton Donaldson 0429 412 804

CHAMPAGNE EMBRYO SALE 5th & 6th September 2018

A/c Daddamarine

Due to ill health, Michael Brown has sold his Daddamarine Stud & Commercial Herd These Embryos now become available

Timed Online Auction

18 Lots

Conducted by Elite Livestock Auctions

Consisting of 3-20 Embryos per lot

248 Embryos Include: 94 - Glenlands Pacific x Glenlands Olympia–Record holding top priced female at $20,000 and by the dual RNA Champion–Glenlands Maxamillion 14 - Glenlands Quartermaster x Glenlands Olympia 48 - Glenlands Pacific x Daddamarine Acacia–an Olympia daughter by $52,500 Glenlands O’Shea 22 - Glenlands Pacific x Daddamarine Cindy–by Glenlands Maxamillion & out of Glenlands D Olive–Dam of $34,000 Glenlands D Richmond & $30,000 Glenlands D Roebuck 3

- Glenlands Pacific x Daddamarine Paradise–daughter of renowned sire Glenlands D Hadleigh

28 - Glenlands Pacific x Glenlands Placid–by Medway Outcast–purchased for $25,000 39 - Glenlands D Rambo x Glenlands Placid

James Cochrane Ethan Carter

www.elitelivestockauctions.com.au

0438 843 166 0427 561 923

www.sullivanlivestock.com.au

AW3553891

Embryos collected & stored by Simon Walton at ART - 0400 368 048

BEEF AUSTRALIA 2018 REPORT

Rapunzel Raises $6700 for the Cancer Council

By Lucy Kinbacher

D

roughtmasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own Rapunzel had her first haircut following Beefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interbreed judging, raising a total of $6700 for her monumental chop.

A large crowd watched on at the Droughtmaster Australia tent as 20-year-old university student Amy Birch had 76cm of her hair chopped off for first time since she was two.

The virgin hair was donated to children with medical conditions while raising money for the Cancer Council.

It is estimated it will make two or even three wigs for the cause.

An auction before the cut, featuring jewellery, a handbag and artwork, raised $1550 including $380 paid by Steven Pickering, RSVP Droughtmasters, for the honour of chopping Amyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s locks.

Amy, who took out third in the National Young Stud Judges competition in Melbourne last year, was well known for her trademark long

locks, having grown up showing her familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Droughtmaster stud cattle around the state.

But she had only ever had a few centimetres trimmed off.

Amy said knowing her hair could be used for so many wigs made it all worth it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People kept saying, are you nervous about cutting your hair?â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All day people kept asking me. I was not nervous at all; I was excited, I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was extremely happy with the response, especially as it ended up later then I expected (due to the interbreed judging). I was so appreciative that people stayed out to support the event.â&#x20AC;?

While there are a few things with the new â&#x20AC;&#x153;doâ&#x20AC;? Amy isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t used to, she has fallen in love with the style change. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The weirdest thing was when I went to brush it I swung it over my shoulder like I normally

Steven Pickering, RSVP Droughtmasters, paid $380 to chop the hair of Amy Birch, Birch Droughtmasters, Eidsvold, to make wigs for cancer.

do and it just all flopped back because there was none of it there,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Washing it last night, I was literally smiling because it was so nice and so easy.â&#x20AC;?

Amyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hair was professionally styled following the event by Stacey Baldwin, Fox and the Hare.

¤S E H K O LO A E V A H ¤ N E #OM

AWESOME - LOT 350 SELLING LOTS 349 - 361 DN. SALE 12 SEPT 2018 All bulls are: â&#x20AC;˘ Horn/Poll Tested â&#x20AC;˘ Pompes Tested â&#x20AC;˘ Morphology Tested â&#x20AC;˘ BBSE Certificates â&#x20AC;˘ JBAS 7WA Eligible for entry into WA

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

August 2018

33

BEEF AUSTRALIA 2018 REPORT

Michael is on the Road to Bigger Steps

By Helen Walker

D

uaringa Droughtmaster breeder, Michael Ingram, Little Wyntoon, walked into the Droughtmaster judging ring unaided for the first time in 18 years during Beef 2018.

Michael had earlier set himself a goal that he would walk unassisted into the Droughtmaster National Sale selling ring held at Gracemere in September.

However, his goal was achieved much earlier amid mixed emotions when Michael took his unassisted steps on May 9.

The last time Michael walked unaided was 18 years ago, after a fall from a horse at Skye Station, west of Alpha.

This accident left him with a brain injury, leaving him unconscious for eight weeks and hospitalised for 10 months.

But all that changed eight months ago when he pulled a muscle and made the trip to Rockhampton to see a physiotherapist.

The physiotherapist put him in touch with Glenn Hansen of Vector Heath, who

embarked on the journey to have Mr Ingram stand and walk without an aid.

“I was in a motorised wheelchair and they said I would never walk again, but here I am walking unassisted,” Mr Ingram said.

Both his daughter Meg and son Blake were on hand to witness their dad walking unassisted for the first time, and said ‘It is really inspirational to see him walking unaided’.

His hard work started to pay off about three months ago due to his ongoing exercise regime.

Mr Ingram makes the 250 kilometre round trip from his property in Duaringa to Rockhampton twice a week to attend gym sessions for two hours each session.

“Every couple of months I will come and go the gym for five days in a row,” Mr Inghram said.

These two-hour sessions are made up of repetitive exercises — lifting his legs, squeezing a ball — and it is hard work.

“I am really looking forward to be walking freely

by September, and while I will always need my motorised wheelchair, this will give me a greater degree of independence,” he said.

Michael Ingram took his first unassisted steps in 18 years as he walked into the Droughtmaster judging ring during Beef.

The People’s Choice Award.

Entries Poured in for Beef 2018 Photo Comp

The Droughtmaster photo competition winning entry.

C

lose to 160 superb entries were lodged in the Droughtmaster Photo Competition which was on display at Beef 2018.

After some tough competition judge Kelly Butterworth from event sponsor Queensland Country Life announced the winners, which were: Winner - Robyn Roberton, By-Mingo, Coalstoun Lakes, Qld. Runner-up - Kerry Patterson, Pullenvale, Qld. People’s Choice award - Jenny Underwood, Eversleigh and Wallace Vale, Wallumbilla Qld.

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August 2018

This shot Thi h was named d the h runner-up iin the h D Droughtmaster h photo h competition. ii

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

BEEF AUSTRALIA 2018 REPORT

Hoganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beef â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18 Dream Fulfilled

By Matt Sherrington

G

len Hoganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream of getting to show his champion bull Payola Falcon at Beef 2018 was realised when the junior bull entered the Droughtmaster show ring, sadly Glen wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t there to experience the moment in person.

The long-time Droughtmaster breeder who established the successful Payola Droughtmaster Stud, near Gympie, passed away on December 8, 2017, at the age of 63, after a long battle with liver and lung cancer.

After Glenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passing Droughtmaster Australia president, and High Country Droughtmasters stud master Paul Laycock, was determined to get Payola Falcon to Beef 2018 to bring the dream of his client and friend to fruition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Glen and his wife Margaret had been in the breed for a long time, and had worked with me to purchase sires over the years,â&#x20AC;?Mr Laycock said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He took Payola Falcon to the Droughtmaster Feature Show at Gympie in 2017, where he won his class and calf champion,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before his cancer returned Glen told me a dream on his bucket list was to be able to

take the calf to Rockhampton, and exhibit him at Beef 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sadly, Glen became aware that he might not be able to see that ambition through, so we purchased the bull, and helped him out with some of his other cattle, when he got sick again, and I gave him my commitment that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d do everything possible to bring the bull to Rockhampton and represent him.â&#x20AC;?

He said Glen was always a real gentleman and had been around the breed for a long time,â&#x20AC;&#x153;so we worked hard to get the calf hereâ&#x20AC;?.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Glen was interested in cattle since he was a young boy living in Mackay, and when we formed Payola, no other breeds were really considered besides Droughtmasters,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He loved the fact that Droughties are Australian-made cattle, and he also liked their quiet temperament.

months @ 2020months @sale sale

August 2018

Margaret said it was a lovely moment to see Falcon, a son of Vale View XXXX out of a homegrown Payola dam, going through the Droughtmaster show ring .

Richard and Margaret Hogan, Payola Droughtmasters, Gympie, with Payola Falcon, during the Droughtmaster stud judging competition at Beef Australia 2018.

.DERRP NJ # PRQWKV

Lot 481 2018 DN. Sale

Lot xxx Lot 482 2018 DN. Sale 2018 Sale

36

â&#x20AC;&#x153;That didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t deter us though, once he recovered, we started the stud again from scratch and it was going well until Glen was informed that the cancer had returned.â&#x20AC;?

Margaret said breeding high quality Droughties and barracking for the North Queensland Cowboys were Glenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s twin passions through his life.

.LQJ 0LVVLOH NJ # PRQWKV

%3 %3

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had the stud running well after we first established it, but Glen first got diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago so we had to sell off our stock.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The brand you can bank onâ&#x20AC;?

23 months @ sale Justin & Kelly Bowman Ph: 0407 938 684 E: bowmanpark7@bigpond.com DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

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BEEF AUSTRALIA 2018 REPORT

Internationals get a Droughtie Education

By Matt Sherrington

G

uests from across the globe united at the Rocky Sports Club at Beef 2018 to learn about the advantages the Droughtmaster breed can provide for their respective businesses, during the Canapes and Cattle function staged by Droughtmaster Australia.

Droughtmaster Society CEO Neil Donaldson said the aim of the event was to get the Beef 2018 guests in attendance from Indonesia, Vietnam and China thinking about the breed as a potential export option for inclusion in the beef operations.

“Droughtmaster cattle are especially well-suited for the Indonesian market, as they offer all the advantages provided by Bos Indicus breeds and are ideal for Asian feedlots due to their tropical skin type, docility, and their ability to gain weight rapidly,” Mr Donaldson said.

During the event Frontier International Agri sales manager Tony Gooden, provided the guests with a snapshot of the Indonesian, Vietnamese and Chinese markets, and the various challenges and benefits involved with exporting to each country.

The international guests also got a chance to talk to some of the Society Directors in attendance to learn more about the breed, and sample what the beef tastes like in a variety of delicious canapestyle offerings.

Frontier International Agri sales manager Tony Gooden, provided those in attendance with a snapshot of the current state of play in the Indonesian, Vietnamese and Chinese markets.

Julie Allen, Tarcombe, Longreach with university student Farid Luthfianto, Lampung, Indonesia, who came to Beef ‘18 to learn more about the Australian cattle industry.

Droughtmaster Australia’s Samantha Horridge, CEO Neil Donaldson, and Leigh Eleison.

Robert and Debra Cooke, from Brisbane have been working to convince Indonesian feedlots to run Droughtmaster cattle.

Friends and Indonesian feedlotters Rocky Maza, Joko Iriando, Big Bull Iqbal and Kevin Tandiary, were excited to learn about the potential advantages the Droughtmaster breed could provide them with.

Dr Brian Burns, DAF and UQ, with Douglas Birch, Birch Droughtmasters, Monto, Kevin Woolcock, Moystendale Droughtmasters, Springsure, and Doug Miles Trafalgar Droughtmasters, Morinish.

Droughtmaster Australia president Paul Laycock, High Country Droughtmasters Toogoolawah, with Tim Lloyd, Heitiki Droughtmaster Stud, Inverell, NSW.

Trade and Investment Queensland project support officer Martin Rush, director Denise Kreymborg, and principal trade and investment officer Roger Kaus.

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August 2018

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

SHOW REPORT

A Fantastic FarmFest Experience

I

t was expected to be a cold and miserable week at CRT FarmFest in June, however, mother nature smiled upon those in attendance with the first two days of warm winter sun leaving the final day just a little bit chilly.

A busy time was had in the Droughtmaster shed with visitors coming from far and wide to enjoy the cattle and warm hospitality from the exhibitors.

Droughtmaster Society CEO Neil Donaldson said a huge “thank you!” to the following studs for taking the time out from their busy lives to exhibit: Amavale and Amavale K – Katherine and Steph Rose, Breffni – David and Robyn McCabe, Lynsey Park, Sevenell – Lynsey and Lyn Philp, Inga Hayes, Semloh – Hannah and Alex Holmes (junior members) and Oakmore – Sharon Harms.

“I’d also like to give a special thank you!” to Gayle Ward of Jomedan Stud, Tinana, for coming down to help over the week,” Mr Donaldson said.

An action-packed itinerary started on Tuesday involving a strong Commercial Steer and Heifer Competition with large numbers

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

presented by schools and private exhibitors alike. Junior Paraders was held in the afternoon with Alex Holmes competing in a line-up of over 50 paraders in his age group.

Alex went on to claim second in his class then later took out Reserve Champion Parader leading Oakmore Granda. Champion Parader went to Lawrence Sehmish-Lahey.

Wednesday was a day of promotion with a presentation given by a representative of each breed as their animals were paraded in the ring.

In the Junior Paraders competition at CRT FarmFest Alex Holmes claimed second in his class against a line-up of over 50 paraders in his age group. He later took out Reserve Champion Parader leading Oakmore Granda.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to highlight sales and the positive attributes of the Droughtmaster Breed.”

Thursday came with yet another surprise with the Droughtmaster team picking up the WFI Livestock Perpetual Beef Cattle Champion Display for the second time.

“A final thank you to those volunteers who helped with the busy bee prior to CRT FarmFest and to Con Sullivan who helped redesign our merchandise area.”

The Droughtmaster team won the WFI Livestock Perpetual Beef Cattle Champion Display trophy for the second time, which was proudly displayed at the Droughtie site.

August 2018

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AW3556373

AW3556377

POMPES NEGATIVE - PESTI NEGATIVE - POLL GENE TESTED - JBAS 7

SHOW REPORT

RSVP Nevada Wins Gatton Futurity

By Martin Bunyard

R

SVP Droughtmasters took out top honours at this year’s Droughtmaster Futurity Show held at Gatton Showgrounds in March.

The heat was felt both inside and outside the show ring on the day with hot, muggy conditions prevailing across the region at the time.

Despite the challenging environment, 12-month-old bull RSVP Nevada was crowned Grand Champion Exhibit of the Droughtmaster Futurity’s 2018 show.

RSVP stud manager Graham Brown said it was Nevada’s first time showing and would head to Beef 2018 to compete in the Droughtmaster breed calf section.

“RSVP Nevada’s sire, Warrina Yalumba, has done a fantastic job in our stud herd and produced numerous high-quality bulls for us,” Mr Brown said.

“Nevada was 550kg about three or four weeks ago when we weighed him and he’s a good, early maturing calf with plenty of muscle.”

RSVP Nevada was also awarded the Champion Bull Calf during the day’s judging which was conducted by husband and wife team, Mac and Gayle Shann, Cantaur Park, Clermont.

It’s the third Grand Champion Exhibit win at the Droughtmaster Futurity for RSVP stud.

In overall results, Paul Dingle’s 19-month-old Waringle Bones won Champion Droughtmaster Bull, while the Williamson family’s 16-month-old Yellowwood Maximus (P) was awarded Reserve Champion Droughtmaster bull.

Reserve Champion Droughtmaster Bull Calf went to Sharon Harm’s 10-month-old Oakmore Robroy (P).

Ms Harms’ Oakmore Stud also took out the Champion Droughtmaster Heifer with 14-month-old Oakmore Granda 400 (P).

Reserve Champion Droughtmaster Heifer was awarded to the Williamson family’s 14-month-old Yellowwood Mollie (P).

Champion Droughtmaster Heifer Calf was taken out by Shane and Sarah Hauschildt’s 4-month-old View Field Gemma (P). Reserve Champion Droughtmaster Heifer Calf was awarded to Bronwyn Betts and Michael Hawkins’ 8-month-old Nindethana Joy (P).

The 2018 Droughtmaster Futurity Show’s Breeders Group was won by Greg and Sharon Harms’ Oakmore Stud, while reserve champion went to Nindethana Stud.

Champion Droughtmaster heifer Oakmore Granda with owner Sharon Harm, Bevan Kammholz and handler Alex Homles.

Bronwyn Betts and Michael Hawkins’ Nindethana Pastoral Co was also the Most Successful Exhibitor of the Show. Most points by a first time exhibitor was awarded to Shane and Sarah Hauschildt’s View Field Droughtmaster Stud.

The Droughtmaster cattle display has been a very popular spot ever since AgQuip commenced more than 30 years ago, a popularity that has been enhanced by the juicy Droughtmaster steak burgers served to visitors who come to inspect the cattle.

Barbecue Galore

E

ach year Droughtmaster Members and volunteers cook and serve more than 2500 steak burgers at the AgQuip Field Days in Gunnedah, NSW. AgQuip is the largest Field Day in Australia and the Droughtmaster cattle display has been a very popular spot ever since AgQuip commenced more than 30 years ago.

That popularity has been enhanced by the juicy Droughtmaster steak burgers that have been cooked and served to visitors who come to inspect the cattle on display.

Grainfed rib fillet specially sourced from Nolans Meats at Gympie has proved to be very popular with visitors who often queue for up to 30 minutes, due to the reputation for serving succulent, juicy and tender steak.

Cooking and serving 2500 steak burgers over three days takes a lot of input from members and their friends, and the committee is looking for additional volunteers this year.

Droughtmaster Society CEO Neil Donaldson said the team always have a good time and there is great camaraderie and lots of fun, plus cold drinks at the end of the day.

“You don’t even have to be a member - all volunteers are welcome,” he said.

Grand Champion Exhibit of the 2018 Droughtmaster Futurity Show was 12-monthold bull calf RSVP Nevada (P) pictured with Melanie and Graham Brown, RSVP Droughtmaster Stud, Windera.

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If you are able to come along and help out (even for a few hours) please contact the Society on (07 3281 0056). AgQuip is held at Gunnedah on August 21-23.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

SALE PREVIEW

Hit the Bullzeye in Capella

C

onsistency across the entire draft catalogued provides the core appeal of the multi-vendor Bullzeye Droughtmaster Bull Sale taking place at the Capella Showgrounds, according to sale committee spokesperson and sale vendor Will Haviland, Sugerland, Capella.

Eight highly regarded Droughtmaster studs including Needmor, Locarno, Sugerland, SC, Hamadra, Medway, Rondel and Skye will offer 120 bulls at the sale on Friday, October 12.

“These values are why we’re here and why we have chosen Droughtmaster to take us forward.

“We are focussed on the northern region, and to back this up we’ll be offering free transport from the comfortable, first-class facility at the Capella Undercover Arena to Charters Towers and local centres.”

Mr Haviland said the addition of sale agents SBB/Ruralco will extend the coverage and

broaden the support which existing sale agent Landmark offers.

“I’d like to thank our sale Gold Sponsors HHH Partners, Chartered Accountants, Emerald and Rockhampton, the Bottlebrush Motel, and Ampol Capella, for their support.”

For sale enquiries please contact Matt Beard, Landmark Emerald, 0428 765 687, or Josh Heck, SBB Rockhampton 0409 732 676, and visit bullzeyedroughtmasters.com

“The sale bulls average 22.5 months of age, weighing 756kg, with an ema 128 sq cm, scrotal of 40.5cm, with a p8 fat score of 11, and 8 in the rib, and an 80 per cent semen motility,” Mr Haviland said.

“The sale group is 100pc focussed on providing commercial Droughtmaster breeders with industry relevant bulls,” he said.

In 2017, 96 of the 100 bulls offered sold for for a 96pc clearance and an average of $8651.

He said the sires sourced from the vendors’ female lines for the sale offer stable genetics, fertility, temperament and real beef values.”

Last year’s Bullzeye Droughtmaster Bull Sale $$22,500 top price bull Rondel Unspoken with buyer Ken McKenzie, Yaralla, Blackwater, Zach Muntelwit and Landmark Biloela’s Ross Jorgensen.

SEYMOUR LOT 183 - 186 SEYMOUR

R+T

SELLING AT:

LOT 4 - 7

LOT 187 - 189

AW3555802

DN SALE

CONTACT: ROB ORPHANT 0407 616 247 DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

August 2018

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Lot 283 – SYLVAN SPRINGS Mustang 964

Lot 301 – RSVP Lu mberjack

DROUGHTMASTER NATIONAL SALE GRACEMERE SALEYARDS 11th September 2018

Offering 8 bulls RSVP Lots 301 to 308 FIRST UP DAY 2 Lot 301 – RSVP Lumberjack Sire: Billabong Armstrong

DROUGHTMASTER NATIONAL SALE GRACEMERE SALEYARDS 12th September 2018

Offering 6 bulls SYLVAN SPRINGS Lots 283 to 288 Lot 283 SYLVAN SPRINGS Mustang 964 Sire: Ianbrae Wanted

Lot 32 – RSVP Mac qu

arie

BUNYA BULL SALE COOLABUNIA SALEYARDS KINGAROY Saturday 1st September 2018

Offering 9 bulls Lots 32 to 40 Lot 32 – RSVP Macquarie Sire: Sylvan Springs Cowboy

JBAS 7 WA HERD, POMPES TESTED FREE, PESTI TESTED NEGATIVE, HORN / POLL TESTED

Steven Pickering 0419 730 836 Graham Brown 0427 779 707 www.rsvpdroughtmaster.com.au

SALE PREVIEW

Prepared for a Future not a Sale

T

he CAP Droughtmaster Bull Sale will be held at CQLX Gracemere on Monday, September 3 commencing at 10am.

The Flynn family will offer 100 big, growthy, fertile bulls at the Valera Vale sale being held near Augathella on September 7.

Valera Valeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ready for Selling Season

T

he Flynn family, Valera Vale Droughtmasters, will offer bulls at four auction sales in 2018.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be taking 11 bulls to the Fitzroy Crossing Sale in WA being held on August 24, the DN. Sale on September 11 and 12 where theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll offer 4 bulls and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll sell 10 bulls at Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale on October 19.

John Atkinson, Glenavon Stud, and Duncan and Karen Geddes, CMC Stud, will be offering 100 quality bulls comprising of 53 registered and 47 selected herd bulls at the sale.

The bulls come with a powerful reputation for going out and performing under a range of climatic conditions across Australia.

Bulls are paddock reared under commercial conditions and prepared for a maximum of 100 days on a light silage and hay ration.

With many bulls today being over-prepared for a lot of sales both Glenavon and CMC are determined to present bulls that are prepared for a future not a sale.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be keeping the majority of their bulls aside for their on-property sale held at Valera Vale near Augathella on September 7. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The 100 bulls drafted for the Valera Vale Sale and our other three sale teams are the usual big, growthy, fertile animals, that thrive in our environment,â&#x20AC;? says stud principal Michael Flynn. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As usual all bulls from the Valera Vale On Property sale will be delivered free throughout Queensland and freight rebates are on offer to WA and NT ($250/hd) and NSW ($150/hd) buyers.

Glenavon Springbok the $15,000 top price bull of the 2017 sale with vendor John Atkinson and purchaser Karen Geddes, CMC Droughtmasters, Springsure.

$OVR RIIHULQJ EXOOV LQ 5RPD WK 2FWREHU

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

August 2018

45

SALE PREVIEW

Artesian Celebrating 10 Years

T

he Artesian vendor group will have been providing top quality genetics direct to western Queensland for 10 years, when the annual sale takes place in Blackall on Monday, October 8.

“We bring quality bulls to the sale to meet their needs,” he said.

The vendor group of Medway, Yaralla, Glenlands, Clonlara, Locarno and Western Red will be presenting 80 bulls in Blackall on Monday, October 8, with the sale commencing at 1pm.

All bulls selected for the sale are JBAS eligible for entry into WA, and the selling agent for the sale is Landmark.

Once again they vendors will be supporting the Royal Flying Doctors Service with Mr Allen saying they’re keen to add to the $15,200 that they’ve already contributed to the organisation over the last 9 years.

Over that period more than 800 bulls have been catalogued and sold into commercial and stud herds throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Sale coordinator Dean Allen said all gratitude for the ongoing success of the sale “must go to the continuous support we get from central and western buyers”.

“They’re some of the most astute cattlemen in the country and they know what they want,” Mr Allen said.

The $34,000 Medway Xcursively with vendor Hamilton Donaldson, his daughter Mikeely Donaldson, and Landmark’s Trent McKinlay, at the 2017 Artesian Sale.

New Name but Same Reliable Bulls Set for Roma

By Matt Sherrington

T

he freshly christened Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale will return for its 22nd year on Friday, October 19, with 208 hand-picked commercially-oriented bulls set to enter the Rome Saleyards selling ring.

Sale committee member Sharon Harms, said they’ll be looking to build on the success of the first Droughtmaster-only sale held in 2017, up until which point it was known as the Roma Tropical Bull Sale and was coordinated in conjunction with the Australian Brahman Breeders Association.

“Although the average was down slightly last year due to the inclusion of more than 30 additional Droughtie bulls, we still had a 92 per cent sale clearance and a top price of $30,000 which was a pleasing outcome,” Sharon said.

“Vendors always send robust, beefy and active sires to Roma, with the requirements of commercial producers in mind. Testament to this goal, are the high number of progeny from past sale sires which are sold as steers and heifers through the weekly Roma sales.

She said the sale, which will begin at 10am, will feature bulls from 36 vendors, including four first-timers, scattered between northern NSW and Central Queensland and all points in between.

She said the location of the sale is a big drawcard for many prospective buyers.

“The Roma Saleyards is like the crossroads to the north, east, south and west, making it a very convenient location to purchase at.

“Transport out of the centre is also very efficient, with bulls beating their buyers home at times.”

Pre-sale inspections of the draft will available from mid-afternoon on the day prior to the sale. All bulls will be scanned, vet checked and vaccinated as well.

Following the inspections a meet and greet evening sponsored by Midwest Rural Traders will be held at the saleyards, providing vendors and buyers with a chance to discuss the bulls available over drinks and nibblies.

High numbers of progeny from sires sold through the freshly minted Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale are sold as steers and heifers through the weekly Roma market sales.

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August 2018

Sharon said the sale catalogue will be available online at romadroughtmasters.com. au in September and suggests liking the sale Facebook page to stay up-to-date with news and updates.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

SALE PREVIEW

Kenlogan Joins Central Reds Vendor Group

T

he Central Reds Droughtmaster Bull Sale will be held at the Emerald Saleyards on Tuesday, September 4, with the sale action kicking off at 10am.

This year the sale committee will welcome new vendors, Kenlogan Stud from Clermont, who along with Fernleigh, Christmas Creek, Wolfang, Wolfang TJ and Mostyndale studs will proudly present a catalogue of 75 bulls.

Sale committee president Cec Pelling said they “once again we invite buyers to join us for a complimentary hot breakfast commencing from 7.30am on sale day courtesy of our Gold Partner, Central Isuzu”.

All sale bulls will be offered with an accredited cattle veterinarian bull soundness evaluation, semen test and structural assessment prior to the sale and a supplementary sheet will be available on sale day providing semen test results, scrotal circumference, saleyard weight, eye muscle area and IMF scans and poll gene test results.

Top priced bull at the 2017 Central Reds sale Wolfang Victory with Elders’ Brian Wedemeyer, purchaser Rick Ford, Fossil Downs, Western Australia, and vendor Greg Edwards, Wolfang.

All bulls come from properties with a JBAS 7 and are eligible for entry into Western Australia and are pre-treated for ticks.

Bulls will be available for inspection at the Emerald Saleyards from 4pm on Monday, September 3.

Further details can be found on the website www.centralreds.com.

The Central Reds sale committee thanked their major partners, Central Isuzu, Rees R & Sydney Jones, Clipex, and Farm & Garden for their ongoing support.

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DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

August 2018

49

SALE PREVIEW

Outstanding Draft Ready for Clonlara Sale

C

lonlara will offer an outstanding lineup of 70 commercially focused rising two-yearold bulls at their 30th annual on-property sale being held on Wednesday September 19, at Dilga, Glenmorgan.

At Beef Australia this year 18-month-old grainfed Clonlara steers weighing 711kg sold for 316c/kg to return $2247 per head, highlighting the early growth potential and market acceptance of the Clonlara type.

The McCormack Family continue to have a heavy focus on fertility, calving heifers at two years of age and requiring every female to produce a live calf annually to stay in the breeding herd.

They are also committed to providing semen morphology results on every bull offered in the sale, and see this as a valuable tool in improving overall fertility in the herd.

The McCormack family will offer 70 commercially focused rising two-yearold bulls at the 30th annual Clonlara on-property sale.

Once again a large proportion of polled sires will be offered including sons of exciting new sires Clonlara 1365, Hamadra Energiser and Redskin Gator. Other proven sires represented

in the sale include Clonlara Ace, Locarno Gus, Medway Up to Date, Glen Fosslyn Houston, Huntly Kane and Clonlara 13352.

The 70 bulls to be offered for sale have been vet checked by Adam Wise and vaccinated for vibriosis, 3 day sickness, botulism and 5 in 1 vaccine. They’re also tested PI negative for Pestivirus, and DNA tested for the horn/ poll gene. Free delivery is available to Roma, Dalby, Goondiwindi and en route to Gracemere Saleyards.

Inspection of sale bulls and the entire Clonlara operation can be organised any time leading up to the sale. The sale catalogue along with photos of most lots will be available online at clonlara.com.au from early September.

A Breed First at Glenlands

By Kent Ward

I

n a first for the Droughtmaster breed, the entire catalogue at this years annual Glenlands Sale, will have been identified through sire verification.

This innovative and technical addition will only add to an even greater list of comprehensive data and information available to all buyers at, Glenlands, Bouldercombe, on Friday, September 21.

This years offering of 200 ‘commercially and industry relevant’ males will again be offered with homozygous/heterozygous polled, semen morphology, group Breedplan figures and reproductive matrix (RM) figures.

These test results will be in addition to the most comprehensive set of fertility and clinical tests on a group of bulls that have been prepared and presented with a massive set of nutritional, scientific and technological additions.

Commenting on the new data available Darren Childs added, “we believe accuracy in breeding is fundamental”.

“Pedigree information is certainly paramount when you’re seeking accurate information, it’s crucial in that it aids and assists in the calculation of EBV’s from genetic evaluation programs,” Mr Childs said.

“We’re endeavoring to provide our clients the most comprehensive set of data available, it

50

August 2018

The 2017 Glenlands Sale $65,000 top price bull Glenlands Vintage (P) with Jason Childs, Glenlands, Bouldercombe, and buyer Hastings Donaldson, Medway stud, Bogantungan.

brings more certainty and security in our end product.,” he said.

and a breeding nucleus of in excess of 2100 registered females.

Features synonymous with the Glenlands sale drafts include a silage preparation, carcase ultrasounds and performance recorded data. Dam breeding histories will also be available. “We continue to subject and challenge our cattle to the most thorough, stringent, rigorous and procedural tests when it comes to fertility and data collection.”

The 2018 draft is the youngest yet presented by the vendors and early indications are that even bigger gains have been achieved in the fields of performance, raw data, phenotype, genetic strength, potential sire material, commercial relevance, consistency and strength.

The 2018 team is selected from the largest performance recorded Droughtmaster prefix in Australia and is sourced from a genetic pool that is in excess of 50 registered sires

Many of the highly successful 2017/2018 show team will kick off the catalogue offering.

These individuals have performed well at feature show, regional, interbreed and Royal show levels over the past two years.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

& Kenmay Studs Are selling 10 bulls at DN and 40 coastal bred paddock bulls available now

Lots 159-160 • Lots 248-251 • Lots 552-555

st e r bu lls a re n g, D rou g ht m a ed wit h lo p m u h ly e t m od e ra t rop ica l k e le s a d n a point ed ea rs g d e w la p, g ood win coat wit h f lo g a n d la rg e s hin d e pt h o f f le in g o n m od e rat e nd t e st icle s st a d bo n e, t h e h ea d oo f ra m e wit h g s cu li n e wit h we ll a st ro n g a n d m d st ro n g ja w, an h ood ed e y e ... cile a le rt but d o 3 decades of focussed genetic selection for the Standard of Excellence

www.parawanga.com • 0404 725 902 parawanga droughtmasters

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Lot 249 Parawanga Curtis (Billabong Alexander)

SALE PREVIEW

Excitement Building for First Scenic Rim Sale

T

he inaugural Scenic Rim Droughtmaster Bull and Female Sale will be held this year on Saturday, October 13, at the Boonah Showgrounds, Macquarie St, Boonah, Queensland.

The sale offering will include 50 registered bulls and 56 registered females together with a small number of commercial heifers. All cattle have been inspected and meet the Droughtmaster Standard of Excellence.

Nindethana, Seymour, Valley-View, Waringle, Yellowood and 3D. The catalogue and photos will be available in late August. For enquiries please contact sale organisers Greg Anderson, Grandview, on 0429 440 886, or Andrew Percy, Cribrum, on 0408 335 951.

The cattle can be viewed from 9am with the sale commencing at 12pm.

As the sale will run under the Helmsman System, bidding on all lots will run for two and a half hours. Food and refreshments will be available throughout the day.

The studs represented are: Clayfield, Cribrum, Dugandan, Farogan Valley, Goomburra, Grandview, Imbil, Ironhide, Jackoben, Jasanda, Kengoon, Lake Moogerah,

A bull typical of the quality of those selected for the sale draft bound for the inaugural Scenic Rim sale.

Bull Numbers up for High Country

T

he High Country Annual On-Property Bull and Female Sale (formerly Performance Plus Sale) will showcase 66 bulls and 20 females representing 22 sires and offering superb genetic diversity.

The sale is set for 11am, Saturday, August 25 on-property at Eskdale with inspections welcome from 2pm the day prior.

Last year saw High Country genetics achieved the sale top price of $27,000 for First Rate which sold to Munda Reds, as well as the top average.

Stud principal Paul Laycock said High Country cattle are sold locally, and throughout Queensland, NSW, WA and SA.

“Bull numbers have been increased this year to continue our goal of offering a range of bulls to suit all markets and budgets,” he said.

Bronwyn Betts and Michael Hawkins, Nindethana, with the $12,500 top price bull of the sale Nindethana Incredible (P) and buyer Tom Howard, Benjamin Droughtmasters at the 2017 Bunya Bull Sale.

Draft of 115 Quality Bulls Bound for Bunya

T

he 5th annual Bunya Bull Sale will be held on September 1 at the Coolabunia Sale Complex, Kingaroy.

Buyers should be marking the calendar and planning to attend if they are serious about their breeding programs.

To ensure bidders can have complete confidence when purchasing, all cattle will come with the following data – Horn/Poll status, negative Pompes and Pestivirus test, JBAS 7 WA eligibility, semen morphology and weight and scan data for bulls, full vaccination history, Breedplan figures and of course our 100 per cent customer satisfaction guarantee.

A total of 115 quality bulls from 28 vendors will showcase the genetic diversity available at this offering.

For enquiries please contact Paul Laycock on 0438 788 201 or sale agent Jack Fogg 0488 192 107 and visit highcountrydroughtmasters. com.au

This sale is again covered by the Droughtmaster Society “Endorsed Sale” status giving buyers the confidence that these bulls have met strict selection and performance standards. This years offering will contain more than 100 polled/scurred bulls and over 90 per cent of the yarding are eligible to travel to WA.

The Bunya Bull Sale is the sensible choice when purchasing bulls this season.

It offers the largest selection, most diverse gene pool and is easily the best value for money bull sale in SE Qld.

As in previous years the sale draft will be inspected for ticks prior to sale to allow for ease of movement to clean areas on sale day.

Free delivery to Gympie, Biggenden, Eidsvold, Toogoolawah and Dalby will be available following the sale.

Last year’s sale topper High Country First Rate $27,000 with Steph Laycock, buyers Ben Wright and Olivia Dewar, Munda Reds, Gingin, WA, and auctioneer Jack Fogg.

52

August 2018

All bulls will be penned and available for inspection from 3pm, Friday August 31, and prospective purchasers are invited to stay on for food and refreshments from 5pm.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

RESPECT

BEEF

RECOGNITION

2018

RIBBONS

REWARDS

Grand & Senior Champion Bull (Voltage) • Junior Champion Bull (Whiskey) • Calf Champion Female (Wishful) Reserve Senior Champion Bull (Velocity) • Reserve Junior Champion Bull (Winchester) Reserve Senior Champion Female (Vanetta) • Reserve Junior Champion Female (Whitney) Exhibitors Group – 1st, 2nd, 3rd • Sire Progeny Stakes – 1st (Glenlands Pacific)

2 9 C L A S S P L AC I N G S

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I N C L U D I N G 2 1 P L AC I N G S I N T H E T O P 3 P O S I T I O N S

WHISKEY (P) Junior Champion Bull Beef 2018

VOLTAGE (P) Senior & Grand Champion Bull Beef 2018

ANNUAL SALEE FRIDAY 21 SEPT SEPTEMBER 2018 200 REGISTERED & PUREBRED BULLS GLENLANDS BOULDERCOMBE

SIRE VERIFICATIONS PERFORMANCE GENETIC DIVERSITY STATISTICAL DATA HOMOZYGOUS HETEROZYGOUS TESTED GROUP BREEDPLAN SCANS & IMF PERFORMANCE RECORDED REPRODUCTIVE MATRIX SEMEN & FERTILITY TESTED SECURITY DAM HISTORIES CLINICAL DATA SOUNDNESS EVALUATED SILAGE PREPARED CERTAINTY PROFITABILITY PROGRESSIVE COMMERCIAL RELEVANCE CONSISTENCY & STRENGTH The Childs Family Darren Childs 0427 158 569 • Jason Childs 07 4987 3033 0427 873 033 www.glenlands.com

COMMERCIAL

Atkinson’s Paddock to Palate Feedlot Success

O

ne of the many beef competitions held in the lead up to the Ekka is the Paddock to Palate Challenge.

The initial feedlot stage of the 2018 competition was judged in mid-June at Grassdale Feedlot near Dalby.

Commercial Droughtmaster breeders, Rob and Donna Atkinson from Atkinson Pastoral Co won the award for the Highest Individual Weight Gain with an Angus x Droughtmaster steer with an average daily gain of 3.446 kg/day.

They also placed second in the same class with another steer recording 3.445kg/day.

Overall their pen of steers placed fourth in the entire competition.

Droughtmaster Society CEO Neil Donaldson said what makes the win even more fulfilling is that the Atkinsons “won the same class last year with their three pens taking out first, second and fourth place”.

This year the Atkinsons entered only the one pen of seven steers with the worst performing steer in each pen eliminated from calculations. All steers were milk tooth.

Entry weight for the pen was 316kg with the final average weight of 601kg for the pen.

Their overall average daily gain for the pen was 2.86kg. The class winning steer had an entry weight of 351kg and after 100 days its final weight was 696kg.

The Atkinson’s won the class with this gem of an Angus x Droughtmaster steer which had an average daily gain of 3.446 kg/day during the challenge.

The steers were all bred on the Atkinson’s, western Queensland property, Katandra, via Hughenden by Eaglehawk Angus bulls out of Droughtmaster cows and were selected from their DNA herd that they have been developing for 16 years. Angus was added to their breeding program in 2013.

When asked about the success of the crossbreeding program, Rob Atkinson said, “the DNA selection program is based on specific traits based around guaranteeing eating quality”.

“Not many cattle carry the traits we select for, so we decided to try some leading Angus genetics,” Mr Atkinson said.

The particular traits we’re chasing don’t occur in all Angus either, so DNA testing before purchasing bulls was a high priority when selecting new sires,” he said.

“We were fortunate to find an Angus herd that clicked with our Droughtmaster herd.

“Fertility, temperament and udders are traits not compromised in the cross.

“Obviously there are many tropical traits that our Droughtmasters bring to the table that complement the union of these two breeds.”

Commercial Droughtmaster breeders, Rob and Donna Atkinson, Atkinson Pastoral Company, were all smiles after winning the Class 37 - Zoetis Highest Individual Weight Gain ribbon in the Ekka Paddock to Palate Challenge.

54

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The Paddock to Palate competition now enters its second phase which is the carcass competition with the winners and placegetters to be announced during the Ekka.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

NEWS

Droughtie Power in the Towers

By Jessica Johnston

Q

UALITY cattle drawn from across North Queensland impressed judges at the Northern Beef Producers commercial cattle competition held in June at Charters Towers.

It was the first commercial cattle competition to be held at the Dalrymple Saleyards for many years and organisers were impressed with the turn out.

The cattle competition drew entries across 13 categories, with Robert Rea, of Lisgar Pastoral Company, Home Hill, taking out the title as the Most Successful Exhibitor of the competition after winning numerous categories.

Mr Rea’s Droughmaster cattle received first place ribbons for the Pen of Five Bullocks; Single Bullock; and Pen of Five Trade Steers classes, and was runner-up or third in several other classes.

Robert Rae, Lisgar Pastoral Company, Home Hill, was named the Most Successful Exhibitor at the Northern Beef Producers commercial cattle competition. He’s pictured with Jack McLean, representing major sponsors Appleton Cattle Company.

New Caledonian’s Visit Amberwood

R

osevale Droughtmaster breeders, Bill and Win Catlow recently opened their gates to a New Caledonian farming group en route to Beef 2018.

The guests stopped over on the Scenic Rim area in early May as part of a Queensland beef industry tour culminating at the triennial Beef 2018 in Rockhampton.

Bill led the group on a tour of his 320ha property, Amberwood Stud, including stockyards, machinery, grain silos, sheds and nearby paddocks.

Established in 1983, today Amberwood runs close to 100 breeders.

“We purchased our prized Glenlands Thunder in 2016 and the timing of the visit meant the group was able to see some of his weaned calf progeny,” Mr Catlow said.

“The group was greatly interested in the breed so the visit gave them a great opportunity to see a Droughtmaster stud, firsthand,” he said.

This isn’t the first time the Catlows have hosted a tour group, with a Brazilian contingent stopping by in 2012 on their way to Beef Australia in that year.

Bill Catlow led the group on a tour of his 320ha property, Amberwood Stud, including stockyards, machinery, grain silos, sheds and nearby paddocks.

56

August 2018

New Caledonian farming group had a ball with Rosevale Droughtmaster breeders, Bill and Win Catlow during the preBeef Australia 2018 tour of Amberwood Stud.

“It was a great exchange as we answered their questions about the breed, and discussed our on-farm management practices and marketing strategies, though we did keep tour manager Jim Diaz busy translating between French and English,” he said with a laugh.

“We finished their visit with a cuppa on the verandah.”

The group from New Caledonia’s North Island continued their journey to Central Queensland via the Darling Downs and Biloela.

Mr Catlow said the tour provided a great exchange as they answered the groups questions about the breed, and discussed on-farm management practices and marketing strategies.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

Selling Day Two lots 448-457

Oasis Bushwacher

Oasis Iron Jack

Oasis Eagle

www.oasisdroughtmasters.com ADAM & NOEL GEDDES 0409 698 578

AW3547085

NEWS

Explore Opportunities for Droughties in the USA

I

n late October early November 2018, the Droughtmaster Society are staging a trade mission to the Southern states of the USA, taking in Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Droughtmaster Society CEO Neil Donaldson said the mission will provide Droughtmaster breeders with a chance to obtain an understanding of the opportunities that exist for expansion of the unique Australian breed’s genetics into the USA’s beef herd.

The trade mission will include the Beefmasters Breeders United Convention in Franklin, Tennessee and will also visit a number of Beefmaster Studs in Texas and Missouri, as well as a number of other leading cattle breeders who will be keen to share their knowledge of the US industry.

“The Beefmaster breed has many similarities to the Droughtmaster breed, so this tour provides a great chance to compare breeds and operations,” Mr Donaldson said.

There will also be time to see some of the major tourist sights during the 14 day tour.

The route will take in places such as Memphis (on the mighty Mississippi River), Nashville (home of Country music), Oklahoma City, Dallas, etc.

The tour will depart Sydney for Dallas on October 21 and arrive in Sydney from Dallas on November 3.

The trade mission will depart Sydney for Dallas on October 21 and arrive in Sydney from Dallas on November 3.

The pre-convention on-property visits will be hosted by the Beefmaster Breeders Association and the tour will be organised by renowned Agricultural Travel company, Quadrant Australia.

Costs will be determined when approximate numbers are known. At this point Droughtmaster Australia are calling for expressions of interest from members and non-members alike.

Please email your expression of interest (with number of travellers) to office@droughtmaster.com.au

The trade mission will include the Beefmasters Breeders United Convention in Franklin, Tennessee, and will also visit a number of Beefmaster Studs in Texas and Missouri.

22ND ANNUAL ROMA SALE 10AM FRIDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2018 ROMA SALEYARDS

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208 DROUGHTMASTER BULLS

58

Meet & Greet afternoon prior to the Sale sponsored by Midwest Rural Traders

Catalogue & Information romadroughtmasterbullsale.com.au August 2018

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

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6HOOLQJ EXOOV DW WKH 5RPD 'URXJKWPDVWHU 6DOH )ULGD\ 2FWREHU Roger and Jenny Underwood • Eversleigh & Wallace Vale Droughtmasters, ‘Pine Hills’ Wallumbilla | Ph 0488 417 385 or 0428 417 120 |

WWW.EVERSLEIGHDROUGHTMASTERS.COM.AU

SALE REPORT

Heness Takes Top Pair at National Female Sale

By Peter Lowe

S

TRONG demand for quality females pushed the average to $3238 at the National Droughtmaster Female Sale at Gympie on March 10.

Droughtmaster Society CEO Neil Donaldson said it was a well-deserved result for the sale vendors whose offering of outstanding quality Droughtmaster females met with enthusiastic bidding by buyers from all points of the compass.

“The sale result once again demonstrated the popularity of the Droughtmaster breed,” said Mr Donaldson.

Overall 130 females averaged $3238 which represented a clearance rate of 98 percent and a sale gross of $421,000.

another solid Gympie result after they sold 10 joined and unjoined heifers for a $4833 average.

The $3500 top-priced cow and calf unit, Benjamin Naarrah (P) was offered by Leslie Howard, Benjamin Droughtmasters, North Aramara and was bought by the Hansen family of Maclagan.

South western beef producer Binny Pegler, Goodline Properties, Aramac operating as Copai Pastoral bought 10 females for a $3000 average for his herd bull breeding operation based at Wharf Farm, Bli Bli.

Mr Pegler said he wanted good, functional females to breed bulls for their Aramac and Quilpie properties, Politic, Patricia Park and Wallyah which had benefited from good rain. He manages their 3000 head pure Droughtmaster herd running across all three properties.

The 2018 Gympie Droughtmaster National sale was well up on last year’s results where 115 head sold from 136 offered for a 85 percent clearance rate to average $2780.

There was also a big increase in the number of registered buyers with over 100 on the books.

In the breakdown a pair of cows and calves averaged $3250, 19 joined heifers averaged $3868 and 109 unjoined maidens averaged $3128.

Central Queensland vendors played a pivotal role in the overall result with two studs sharing top money honours for their unjoined heifers.

First-time vendors Will and Ingrid Haviland, Sugerland Droughtmasters, Coowonga via Rockhampton sold their 13-month-old, double polled, maiden Sugerland Jingle (P) for the $11,000 equal top price.

Fellow Central Queensland vendors Andrew and Kerri McKenzie, Hamadra Droughtmasters, Bluff made it a back-to-back Gympie sale topping performances after their home-bred heifer, Hamadra Hazel (P) attracted $11,000. Hamadra was one of the largest vendors and sold all nine unjoined heifers for a $5583 average.

Chris Heness paid $11,000 equal sale topping money for Sugerland Jingle (P) from Will Haviland, Sugerland Droughtmasters.

Both sale topping unjoined heifers were bought by Chris and Hailey Heness, Ridgie Didge stud, Goomeri as part of a major herd building upgrade. Mr Heness said both heifers were exceptional individuals with great breed character, plenty of style and good bone and fleshing. Ridgie Didge was also one of the major buyers securing eight females for a $6563 average.

Sale chairman and long term vendors Brian and Yvonne Heck, Bryvonlea Droughtmasters, Glastonbury via Gympie topped the joined heifer market at $8000 with Bryvonlea Edian (P), a quality daughter of Skye Wilfred (P) which was in-calf to Billabong Fergus. She was also bought by Chris and Hailey Heness of the Ridgie Didge stud.

The Heck family celebrated 20 years of successful Droughtmaster breeding with

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

Vendor Kerri McKenzie, Hamadra Droughtmasters, buyer Chris Heness and Landmark’s Mark Scholes with the $11,000 equal top-priced heifer of the National Droughtmaster Female Sale, Hamadra Hazel (P).

August 2018

61

SALE REPORT

Rolex Ticks to $19,000 at Feb All Breeds

By Kent Ward

O

ppressive heat and conditions prevailed throughout the annual February All Breeds Bull and Female Sale at Gracemere on February 13 - 14.

Culminating in a $1.22 million gross, the sale across the board saw male values average $4748 to achieve an 80 per cent clearance at auction.

Sale honours went to the Droughtmaster breed on the second day of the sale.

Bryvonlea Rolex (P) a 26-month-old Droughtmaster offered by Glastonbury breeders, Brian and Yvonne Heck, Bryvonlea Stud, sold for $19,000 to Terry and Catherine Piggott, Aldinga Droughtmaster Stud, Rolleston.

Aldinga also secured the $9000 24-month-old, Wantmore Cool Cat (P) offered by Andrew Welsh, Wantmore Stud, Kingaroy. Wantmore averaged $5417 for their six bulls.

Nick Dudarko, Kangarin, Biloela sold a herd bull by Angle Zed Butch for $10,000 to the Jones family, The Caves. The Kangarin trio averaged $5500.

David and Alice Schloss, Glenn Valley Stud, Goovigen took with them a $6750 average for their four topping at $8500 for a 27-month-old

by Calioran Gavin (P) selling to Ken Lang, Narweena, Moura.

George Sanderson, Brigalow Park Stud, Murgon sold bulls to $7500 to average $6750, while Rob Scanlan, Parawanga Stud, Flaggy Rock sold his draft to a $5000 high.

Bryvonlea Rolex (P), a 26-month-old Droughtmaster bull, offered by Brian (pictured with son Josh) and Yvonne Heck and family, Bryvonlea Stud, Glastonbury, topped the market on day two of the annual February All Breeds Sale selling for $19,000 to Rolleston breeders, Terry and Catherine Piggott, Aldinga Droughtmaster Stud via phone.

© kentbward.com © ruraldesign.com.au

Some of my best friends never say a word to me.

ARTESIAN SALE 12 BULLS 1pm Monday 8 October Blackall Saleyards Dean & Julie Allen ‘Tarcombe’ Longreach Qld 4730 07 4658 5315 0427 962 439 62

August 2018

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

BIG GROWTHY FERTILE ANIMALS THAT THRIVE IN ANY

ENVIRONMENT

For buyers’ convenience we welcome inspections at “Muan”, Biggenden, prior to our On-Property Sale. If you can’t make our On-Property Sale, phone bidding is available. We will deliver the bulls at no charge throughout Queensland and are offering generous freight rebates for WA and NT buyers ($250 per head) and NSW buyers ($150 per head).

Michael & Tracey Flynn - 0427 705 760 www.valeravaledroughtmasters.com.au

AW3540952

SALE REPORT

Oasis A Makes a Mint

Lauren Finger, La Shae Droughtmasters, said his EMA of 125sqcm impressed, along with his structure and temperament.

By Sally Cripps

“We’ve bought Strathfield bulls before – they go well over our cattle and stand out in our country,” she said.

T

he “complete package” is how purchaser Colleen Smith described the top-priced bull of March’s Highlands Droughtmaster Sale, Oasis A Mr Mint.

Colleen and husband David secured the bull for their Vale View Droughtmaster stud for $24,000. The 24-month-old son of Oasis Dollar and Oasis A Miss Sunshine was carrying 845kg, had an EMA of 127 square cm, and a scrotal circumference of 38cm.

Third in the judging undertaken prior to the sale, Colleen said they were impressed with the power and scale of their new sire.

“He was a true standout on the day – we feel we were very lucky to secure him at that price,” she said.

Second top price paid was $20,000, by the Finger family, Dysart, for Strathfield 9JE Irresistable, a 28-month-old bull sired by Glenaubyn Detroit out of Strathfield Sunglow.

Irresistable will become a new herd sire and will be shared with the family’s wider commercial herd.

Jumba Holdings, Charters Towers, was one of the volume buyers on the day, taking home six bulls, from Oasis, Karragarra, Redskin and Huntly studs.

donating 10 per cent of the proceeds of one of their bulls to the cause.

According to director, Katie Hobbs, the money would go towards purchasing new lockers and chairs for the children as as part of the ongoing renovations at the centre.

On the evening prior to the sale at the meet and greet, auction items donated by the Clermont community raised $8150 for Tie Up the Black Dog charity.

Highlands Droughtmaster Sale secretary, Alex Donaldson, said it was only the second time the auction had been held but it was already a popular event.

Also active in the sale ring were Andrew and Sam Bulger, Serento, The Willows, filling their truck with six bulls from Medway, Amalfi, Warrina, Strathfield and Mt Oscar studs.

Selling agent, Brian Wedemeyer, Elders, said while the sale was down from last year’s red hot $8683 average, it was still a very pleasing result.

“There are still some dry patches and it doesn’t rain instant breeders,” he said.

Some $8500 was raised for the Clermont Kindy and Daycare, thanks to each stud

The $24,000 top-priced bull at the 2018 Highlands Droughtmaster sale, Oasis A Mr Mint, with vendor Adam Geddes, and purchaser, Colleen Smith, Vale View Stud, Manumbar.

Karragarra’s $9000 Top at ‘Entire Drop’ Sale

By Kent Ward

U

njoined Droughtmasters heifers topped at $9000 while their joined counterparts hit $6000 and semen fetched $300 per straw at the Karragarra ‘Entire Drop Female Sale’, Emerald, in February.

Wayne and Ingrid York, Karragarra Stud, Emerald, saw their future breeders sell to a wide area of Queensland.

The market topper was the 16-month-old, Karragarra Olga (P) (Glenlands Quill) which sold to Paul and Lisa Laycock, High Country Stud, Eskdale. High Country claimed two for a

The $6000 yearling heifer, Karragarra Oneta (P) with her purchaser, Stephanie Laycock, High Country S Stud, Eskdale, after the Karragarra ‘Entire Drop Female Sale’, Emerald in February. Photo by Kent Ward

66

August 2018

$5750 average while Stephanie Laycock, High Country S Stud, Eskdale, purchased the $6000, yearling, Oneta (H) (Glenlands D Pattern). Eight Quill daughters set a $4813 average while six by Pattern set a $3784 medium.

Rob and Carly Johnstone, Dawsonvale Stud, Banana, added a great deal of support accounting for 11 for a $4314 average topping at $7000 for a Fernleigh Grande daughter. Cec and Elaine Pelling, Fernleigh Stud, Theodore, invested $8000 for Olga (P) (17-months) (Fernleigh Grande) and also the equal top selling joined entry, the $6000, N910/6 (P) (Glenlands Pistol) (27-months).

Emily Pelling, Fernleigh Stud, also picked up two for a $4250 medium. Twelve by Grande in the offering averaged $3833.

Four head were purchased by Alan Foot, Karin Downs, Capella, for on average $4125 and topping at $5500 for a joined daughter of Pattern. Kellie Pickersgill, Geneva, Theodore picked up two topping at $7000 for a Glenlands 13581 (P) daughter. New sire, 13581 (Glenlands Macquarie) had nine sell for a $4195 average. Operating online, Chris and Hailey Heness, Ridgie Didge Stud, Goomeri, secured five topping at $6500 to

average $3800. Black Gully Stud, Wallumbilla, operated by the Cormack family signed off on five for a $2600 average. The Hampson family, Kurrawong Stud, Thangool, were in the market selecting five for a $2500 average. David and Anita Torrisi, Vitwood Stud, Pialba, claimed the $5000 Quill (P) daughter while Lacey Polkingholme, Belview Stud, Mackay, picked up three for a $2033 average.

Semen packages topped at $3000 ($300/ straw) on two occasions. Darren and Helen Childs, Glenlands D Stud, Theodore, picked up the package in Glenlands Quill (P) while the Pelling family, Fernleigh Stud, Theodore, took the other at the same money to acquire a parcel in their product, Fernleigh Grande (P).

Allan and Nardia Gillies, Gillmara Stud, Monduran, parted with $1000 ($100/straw) in the Karragarra retainee, Matador (P) (Glenlands Pioneere).

BMC Rural Services, Mt Julian, claimed two for $3000 each while young breeders, Josh and Brodie Perry, Strathfield 9JE Stud, Clermont, ending with three for $2033 average. Taking heifers at $1800 each were Sabina Mills, Ironside Stud, Laidley and Jason and Chris Hall.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

DROUGHTMASTERS

BILLABONG JC GAGAI (P) LOT 254 BILLABONG JC GALAXY (P) LOT 253 S. KAPALEE GOLDFINGER

BILLABONG GRAYSON (P) LOT 335

S. BILLABONG BELYANDO

SELLING AT DN SALE LOTS 252-255 & LOTS 330-335

S. BILLABONG BELYANDO

Email: billabongbulls@bigpond.com.au | /billabongdroughtmasters Phone: 0428 971 212

AW3507400

CONTACT: JOHN & CATHERINE HICKS ‘BILLABONG’ MOURA

SALE REPORT

Fieldhouse Bests their own Narngulu Sale Record

By Kane Chatfield and Courtney Walsh

D

ry conditions in some pastoral areas of Western Australia were certainly noticed at the WALSA Invitational Narngulu Bos Indicus bull sale at Geraldton in April where the numbers cleared at the fall of the hammer were substantially down on the previous year.

One bright moment shone through on the day however, with a new sale record price set when the Mutton family’s Fieldhouse Droughtmaster stud, Wickepin, sold a Droughtie for $16,000, besting the $15,500 sale record set by the stud last year.

A total of 144 head strode through the sale ring on the day, with 73 (51 per cent) selling under the hammer to reach a gross of $283,500 and averaging $3884.

Landmark auctioneer Tiny Holly said the hindrance provided by seasonal conditions in some pastoral areas had the expected impact on the sale result.

“The overall result was probably close to where we thought it was going to be, given the conditions some of the pastoralists are dealing with at the moment,” Mr Holly said.

Fieldhouse 82 sold for $16,000 to Giovi Cattle Company, Dongara. Giovi livestock manager Geoff Crabb, is pictured with Fieldhouse stud co-principal Ben Mutton and Landmark Wickepin agent Ty Miller.

“That said, it was an excellent result at the top end, achieving $16,000 for a Droughtmaster bull.”

Giovi secured another two Glendlands D Ritual sons at the sale for the $9500 second top price and $5500.

This year’s sale saw a total of 69 Droughtmaster bulls offered at auction, with the majority offered and sold by the Fieldhouse stud, Wickepin.

Giovi livestock manager Geoff Crabb said Glendlands D Ritual was a new bloodline to their Droughtmaster herd and the bulls would go to their top cows.

Fieldhouse’s new $16,000 record breaking bull was purchased by the Giovi Cattle Company, Dongara. Fieldhouse 82 was a red coated early August 2016-drop son of Queensland sire Glendlands D Ritual and out of homebred cow 1897.

In regard to the $16,000 record price bull, Geoff said it was well put together and ‘everything about him I liked.’

The overall volume buyer was Hammersley station, Tom Price, who finished the day with a total of 18 Fieldhouse bulls at an average of $4167.

CONDAMINE

Droughtmasters, Chinchilla Selling sons of former Brisbane grand champions – Condamine Ivanhoe and Condamine Icon at Droughtmaster National Bull Sale, September 11 & 12 Condamine Master Key

Condamine Merlin (P)

by C Icon

by C Ivanhoe

A limited number of females available

• DN sale – 6 bulls • Roma Tropical Breeds sale – 5 bulls – October 19 Dal Kroll (07) 4665 4150 • 0427 095 988 • J-BAS 6 AW3542559

68

August 2018

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SALE REPORT

Buyers Market at X-Factor Sale

Primaries auctioneer Jay Macdonald said seasonal conditions were the main concern.

By Courtney Walsh and Kane Chatfields

“The lack of rain in pastoral areas including the Gascoyne made for a lot less pastoral buying action and that always has an impact on sales like this.”

M

uchea was the place to bag a bargain in April if you were in the market for a Bos indicus sire.

The Elders and Primaries teams did their best to encourage competition at the annual X-Factor production sale but unfortunately the registered buyers list needed a few more names to help the results along.

All up 91 Droughtmaster, Santa Master and Santa Gertrudis bulls were offered at auction with 31 selling under the hammers of Don Morgan, Elders and Jay Macdonald, Primaries to an overall average of $2919.

Elders auctioneer Don Morgan said it was a disappointing sale result on the day.

“There was nothing wrong with the bulls up for sale and the cattle market is strong so people should have been jumping at the opportunity to buy bulls at the sort of money we saw on the day,” Mr Morgan said.

“It was a tough sale,” Mr Macdonald said.

Top price honour was set at $5000 which was achieved by a Merryup Droughtmaster sire sold early in the action to Preston Clarke, Elders, bidding on behalf of Kookabrook Grazing Co, Pinjarra.

The sale top-priced bull was an April 2016 drop calf sired by Wajatryn Hunter D5 and out of Merryup 25/13.

First to go under the hammer on the day was the presentation of Droughtmaster bulls from Merryup stud, Mt Barker.

This year Bill Sounness offered a couple more than last year, bringing up 37 sires for the sale, up on 34 last year.

By the end of the run, 19 Merryup sires were on their way to new homes.

The result was an average of $3092 paid per head, which was down on the $3789 average achieved last year, with the slight come back in line with general trends in the 2018 bull selling season.

“We were looking for a well-grown polled bull and this one fit the bill,” he said.

Two volume buyers operating on the Merryup Droughtmaster line-up had an impact on the sale with Wanna station manager Arthur Taylor, Gascoyne Junction and Barry Hutcheson, Primaries Esperance, operating on behalf of Gunnadorah station, East Rawlinna, filling orders.

“He had a lot of depth, volume and was good on his legs and feet, as well as having a good temperament.

Wanna station finished the sale with a team of eight Merryup Droughtmaster bulls paying from $2750 to $3250 for their selections.

“He’ll go down to the Kookabrook operation at Pinjarra and will go in over some Droughtmaster heifers.”

Barry Hutcheson, Primaries Esperance, landed a total of eight Merryup bulls, including a top of $3000 (twice), averaging $2812.50.

Mr Clarke said he’d looked through the line-up of bulls pre-sale and the top-priced bull stood out.

“The Day family at Gunnadorah station run a Santa Gertrudis cross herd of about 4500 breeding cattle,” Mr Hutcheson said.

“They bought some bulls from Merryup privately last year and were happy with how they’ve gone so far so that’s why we’re back buying again.”

Bill Sounness, Merryup Stud, Mt Barker, with Wanna station managers Gwenva and Arthur Taylor, Gascoyne Junction, at the Muchea Livestock Centre during the X-Factor Beef Production Sale.

Mr Hutcheson said it was very good value buying on the day for bulls that will go out and do the job.

WEDDING BELLS!

Sarah Birch married Jarred Petersen on November 4, 2017 at the Bunya Mountains. Pictured are Amy, Melissa and Megan Birch, with Jarred and Sarah Peterson, and Juanita and Douglas Birch. According to Juanita the weather was perfect on the day and a lovely time was had by all in attendance.

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August 2018

Justin Bowman and Kelly Fagan from Bowman Park Droughtmasters were married on May 19 this year surrounded by family and friends, with their ceremony being held at the couples Thornton property south of Laidley.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

TECHNICAL

Reap the Benefits from the Information Available

By Tim Emery and Paul Williams

W

producers in-depth and challenging questions and they don’t make the most of objective information available in their decision making.

Most people are guilty of this, however when it comes to buying bulls, for some bizarre reason, buyers appear to be afraid to ask seedstock

Given that your selections ultimately drive the direction of your herd and influence your profitability for the next 10 to 15 years, it is imperative that you give bull buying the attention it deserves.

hen buying a new car, are you someone who asks the dealer every question under the sun about the vehicle so that you feel certain it can do exactly what you want it to?

In purchasing a bull, put simply, you’re purchasing a package of genes. To enable these genetics to be passed on though, it’s a necessity that the bull is first and foremost fertile. Guaranteeing that a bull is fertile is very difficult, however, a veterinary bull breeding soundness evaluation (VBBSE) or BULLCHECK, is an assessment available which identifies risk factors for a bull’s potential to be fertile in the future using a set of standards developed by the Australian Cattle Veterinarians (ACV).

Prior to purchasing a bull, it’s recommended that you sight a BULLCHECK report, which includes an assessment of morphology, so that you have a clear understanding of the level of risk associated with using the bull for a particular purpose.

Keep asking yourself, ‘Have I done all that I can to minimise the risk of females not falling pregnant?’ ‘Have I also included the checking of nutrition, body condition score, reproductive diseases, genetics, etc.?’

If you’re genuinely dedicated to taking your herd forward in the right direction, it’s critical that you make the most of tools such as BULLCHECK and EBVs, as they significantly minimise the guesswork and in turn reduce risk.

Selling Lots 76 - 79

On getting back to the notion of using a bull or a team of bulls for a particular purpose, it is critical that your business has clear, written breeding objectives that everyone in the business agrees on, so that

LOT 76

OAKMORE Quade (P) Sire: Oakmore Kadir (P) Dam: Billabong Ally (P)

Lot 82

OAKMORE QUARRY (PH) Sire: Wajatryn Galilee (S) Dam: Oakmore Melissa (P)

Lot 77

OAKMORE QUADRANT (PH) Sire: Oakmore Kadir (P) Dam: Strathfield Carnation 3rd (P)

Lot 82

OAKMORE QUARTPOT (PH) Sire: Wajatryn Galilee (S) Dam: Oakmore Kayla (P)

Presence, Power & Performance All bulls tested negative for Pesti, Pompes and vaccinated for 7in1, 3 Germ, 3 Day & Botulism

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74

August 2018

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

TECHNICAL CONTINUED

you know where you want to head and what traits you need to place emphasis on.

Being honest though with yourself as to where you’re really at now in terms of reproductive performance and productivity is essential, along with determining what’s actually achievable given your environmental constraints.

Having a clear understanding of your target market is also fundamental.

As mentioned earlier in this article, don’t be afraid to ask your prospective seedstock producers about their breeding objectives, how much pressure they put on their females, what’s their herd health management program, etc.

EBVs Has someone ever asked you, ‘What traits are you focusing on when buying a bull?’ What do you tell them?

As you’ll notice, the percentile bands are located down the bottom of the graph in Figure 2, with the more favourable percentiles being on the right hand side.

A point to note is that if you are someone who is not wanting the maintenance requirements of your cows trending upwards and/or you’re on lesser productive country, be mindful about what percentile bands “mature cow weight” and “milk” fall into, avoiding bars being too far on the right hand side.

By looking at the percentile graph on this particular bull in Figure 2, it quickly becomes evident that this animal has favourable genetics for growth (200, 400, 600 days), scrotal size and retail beef yield, along with favourable indexes (will cover a bit later on). However, this bull has much less desirable genetics for birth weight, milk, fat and IMF. Now, depending on the desired purpose of this bull and the producer’s breeding objectives, he will be considered either suitable (with some possible risks taken into consideration) or not.

It’s suggested that the traits of focus should be measurable, heritable, have variation in the trait and are of economic importance. It’s concerning that big money is still getting paid by producers for traits that don’t actually put extra dollars in the back pocket.

BREEDPLAN, which has been available to Australian producers for over 30 years, generates performance predictors or Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), which can be used by commercial and seedstock producers to evaluate an animal’s genetic merit for particular traits.

The number of traits available to assist with selection will depend on the particular breed in question. EBV traits generally fall under three broad categories: weight, fertility and carcase. These three categories, particularly fertility in northern Australia, have a major influence on the amount of income generated from your beef breeding business.

The emphasis placed on individual traits will be determined by your breeding objectives, however it is suggested that selection be based on a balance of traits and not purely focused on a single trait. Indexes take the hard work out of this process for you.

Remember that when searching for EBVs on the bulls you are looking to purchase (using either the Droughtmaster or BREEDPLAN website in this instance), you want to be comparing the EBVs against the current breed average, which at present is the average for the 2016 born calves.

Figure 2. An example EBV percentile graph.

Getting back onto EBVs 101, it must be remembered that an EBV can be expressed as a positive, negative or zero figure, and it’s important to remember that negative figures don’t always denote undesirable.

For example, with the EBVs currently available to Droughtmaster, it’s more desirable to have more negative figures for gestation length and birth weight.

Now, when looking to compare two animals or two teams of bulls for a particular trait, a very simple process can be followed In Figure 3, Bull A and Bull B will be put over the same line of females and then the progeny weighed at approximately 600 days of age.

Figure 1. An animal’s percentile graph can be displayed by clicking on the graph in the red circle.

Figure 3. The process to compare two animals or two teams of bulls for a particular trait.

The EBV percentile graph is a good visualisation tool for this process.

See Figure 1 to discover where to click to bring up the percentile graph.

In this example, the expected progeny difference will be +10kg, with the progeny of Bull A expected to be 10kg heavier than the progeny of Bull B at 600 days.

Once the button within the red circle is clicked, the EBV percentile graph will display in full and you will quickly get a snapshot of how the animal stacks up for the various traits (Figure 2). The breed average is near the centre of the graph.

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August 2018

Let’s say that both bulls get 30 calves each in Year 1. That means that Bull A will produce 300kg of extra weight due to his better 600D Wt EBV. If these two bulls both generate 30 calves each for five years,

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that means Bull A will produce an extra 1500kg to the business. At $3/kg that’s $4500 more in your back pocket by using Bull A compared to Bull B and this is without considering the benefits of the better growth of his daughters going into the cow herd.

This essentially means that you can afford to pay $4500 more for Bull A at the sale. Time and time again, the Beef Information Nucleus projects, along with other demonstrations nationwide over the past 20 years, have demonstrated an extremely close relationship between the expected progeny difference and the actual progeny difference for weight, EMA, fats etc.

Online searches Searching for bulls online doesn’t need to be a daunting exercise.

Here is a few very simple steps to follow: • Go to breedplan.une.edu.au • Press ‘Database search’ (up the top in the middle) • Click on ‘Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society’ • From here, you’ll likely click on one of following tabs up the top: ‘EBV enquiry’, ‘Sale catalogues’ or ‘Semen catalogues’ • Within ‘EBV enquiry’ you can look up individual animals by typing in their name or Ident. Alternatively, you can search a particular sex and year drop e.g. 2016 (type in) Male (click option available) for a particular herd or the entire database. Now, you need to scroll to the bottom of the page to find a table that looks like Table 1.

This table is extremely powerful. It allows you to quickly identify those animals that are actually suitable for your requirements.

If for example you’re looking for a bull that is better than breed average for 200Day, 400Day, 600Day and Scrotal Size, simply enter in figures like those shown in Table 1.

• If you click on ‘Sale Catalogues’ right back up the top you can quickly draft out how many bulls are in the sale the same way as you did in ‘EBV enquiry’ by clicking on ‘Search/Sort Catalogue’ up in the top left of the screen and then finding the table as per Table 1.

Within a few minutes you can cut a sale catalogue from let’s say 120 bulls down to 20 by simply entering in the minimum/maximum figures you wish to see for certain traits. This will save you a lot of time and allow you to focus on what bulls genetically will improve your bottom line.

• By clicking on an individual animal within a catalogue or on the database, you can then go through the same process as described earlier in the article; look at the EBV percentile graph or look at the EBV figures themselves and how they compare to the breed average. A percentile band table can be found by clicking on ‘Click for Percentiles’ located next to the Breed Avg. for 2016 Born Calves.

• By clicking on the dam of the bull in question, you can see when she was born herself and then if you press ‘Progeny: View’ you can see when she first calved and how many calves she has had and when she had them. If something doesn’t look right, contact the seedstock producer and ask what’s happened.

• To actually see what traits have been recorded on the animal itself, simply look for ‘Traits Observed’, which is just below the breed average EBVs. By looking at this, you soon see what performance data seedstock producers are recording.

Going forward If you’re genuinely dedicated to taking your herd forward in the right direction, then it’s critical that you make the most of tools such as BULLCHECK and EBVs, as they significantly minimise the guesswork and in turn reduce risk.

Spending the necessary time assessing structural soundness and temperament is also a must prior to purchasing any animal.

You’re now in the driver’s seat and have the power to make positive changes this coming bull buying season.

Right now is the time to act – review your breeding objectives, spend the time doing your homework, identify those seedstock producers going the extra distance to provide you with all the information required, evaluate your current and potential sires and be sure to ask for assistance if required.

• If you have any questions in relation to this article, or would like further information, please feel free to contact TBTS personnel – Tim Emery (0408 707 155; tim@tbts.une.edu.au) or Paul Williams (0427 018 982; paul@tbts.une.edu.au)

Table 1. This table allows you to easily find the animals with the desired EBVs

If you also want to put a maximum figure in, let’s say for Mature Cow Weight, you simply enter a number in the ‘Max’ column so the system only selects animals that have a MCW EBV less than the figure you enter. Now press ‘Search’ either up the top or down the bottom and you’ll very quickly be shown the list of bulls that have the EBVs you’re actually chasing. Be aware that if you don’t specify in the table what EBVs you want for the remaining traits i.e. if you leave cells blank, possibly some undesirable EBVs will pop up, so you need to ensure that you’re very specific with what you want in the table.

82

August 2018

Given that your selections ultimately drive the direction of your herd and influence your profitability for the next 10 to 15 years, it is imperative that you give bull buying the attention it deserves.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

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COMMERCIAL

Paine’s Keep Coming Back to Droughties

By Matt Sherrington

J

ohn and Katrina Paine have been feeling the pinch of the dry seasonal conditions impacting their commercial breeding operation on their property, Daintree, for the past three years, but feel that their situation could be a much worse if their herd wasn’t purely Droughtmaster.

“It’s also worth a lot to us that by using Droughties we don’t have to worry about external parasites.

“We had no rain of note from September 2016 until this March when we had five and a half inches,” he said.

“Our cattle are watered using a flowing bore connected to a lot of polypipe which runs out to tanks, troughs and turkey nests, and we also have a number of open dams.”

John and Katrina run the 74,000 acre Daintree, situated 54km east of Winton, which is also their home property, and had been owned by Katrina’s parents, Bruce and Helen Collins since 1973.

John estimated that they’d have 40 water points at present, though it’s still a “work in progress to create more.

John said the Collins’ had been using Droughtmaster cattle at Daintree well before he arrived on the scene.

The pair purchased the 68,000 acre property Cathedral, situated 125km northwest of Winton in 2005, and currently have it agisted out.

“They’ve been using the breed pretty much since they purchased the property, we moved to Daintree in 1996 as a married couple, and although we’ve dabbled with a crossbreeding programs over the years we keep coming back to a producing a pure Droughtie animal,” he said.

Daintree predominantly lies on undulating open downs country consisting of black soil and mitchell grass leading into a smaller area of channel country.

John said they’re on Jessamine Creek which runs into the Western River and then into the Diamantina, though they don’t rely on that for water.

John Paine said heifers at Daintree have to have a minimum weight of 330kg before they’re joined, with the process completed at the first opportunity after weaning in July.

He said the appeal of the breed lies in their excellent growth rate, carcase quality, temperament and fertility.

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August 2018

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85

COMMERCIAL “We’ve noticed that when we have tried to crossbreed the resulting calf is generally a lot more susceptible to lice and pink eye, whereas with straight Droughtmasters you don’t have that problem.”

He said due to the ongoing dry seasonal conditions they’re currently running at a third of their carrying capacity, as numbers have been forced down.

“We’d have close to 1000 head on-property at present as we recently sold some of our fat cattle and feeder steers; we’d like to have about 3000 but the season won’t allow it, and hasn’t for several years.”

He said the March rain has created some patchy areas of good feed, but that rain had turned a lot of the feed black and useless.

The Paine’s control mate with the joining period beginning in mid-January and finishing at the end of March.

“When we joined this year, the situation was pretty grim; feed was scarce and what we had was going off.

“As mentioned we started to get some green pick come through after the March rain, but by that point the bulls weren’t in with the females for much longer.”

He said pregnancy rates are down from where he’d like them to be mainly due to the seasonal conditions.

‘Our maiden heifers were 73 per cent in calf, while we had an 84pc rate with the older cows, which we’d normally expect to be at around 90pc.”

He said heifers have to have a minimum weight of 330kg before they’re joined, with the process completed at the first opportunity after weaning in July.

“We select them in early January on weight primarily, though they also need to have a decent temperament and have no structural problems, we also lean towards using heifers with ample femininity in their appearance and manner.”

at the Bullzeye sale in Capella, the Roma Droughtmaster sale (formerly the Roma Tropical Bull Sale), and the Artesian sale in Blackall.

“We also supported the Diamantina sale when it was held in Winton.”

He said a long-standing objective with the Daintree herd has been to create 100pc polled herd.

They purchased bulls at the Bullzeye and Roma Droughtmaster sales last year.

“Over the last 30 years we’ve had a preference for polled cattle, and we’re continuously trying to breed the horn off them.

“We joined them and preg-tested those breeders a couple of weeks ago and we’re pleased with the results we’re seeing from the new bulls so far.”

“Only about 10pc of the weaner herd is horned now, and we haven’t purchased any horned bulls for 15 years.”

He said when attending stud sales they look for bulls which show competitive statistics, such as weight for age, even fat cover, a larger than usual EMA, above average scrotal circumference, and high motility and morphology figures.

He said another overarching goal at Daintree is to try and be as sustainable as possible.

“We’re always trying to look after, and improve the productive capacity of the land by stocking conservatively and/or shifting stock to agistment when needed.

“We want to leave Daintree in a better state than when we arrived.”

When selling, John said their ‘Plan A’ is to sell bullocks at 620kg, directly to meatworks.

“When the season is less favourable, like it is currently, we shift to ‘Plan B’ which involves selling feeder steers ideally at 450kg and 540kg cull cows directly to works.”

He said market prices have been trending downwards in the last 12 months.

“To give you an idea of the slip in values, we have seen a drop of more than 80c/kg liveweight for feeder steers over the scales locally, during the last 12 to 15 months.

The Paine’s have bought several bulls from the MAGS sale at Charters Towers over the years, and also enjoy attending and bidding

“A good temperament and the poll gene are also a must.”

John commended the Droughtmaster Society for being “such a progressive group”.

“They do an incredible job promoting such a functional breed, around Australia and globally.”

John said while they generally run the operation themselves, their children Ella, Darcy, Lydia and Sam love to help out when they’re home, as they all have a passion for animals.

“Ella, our oldest, is currently working with renowned horse trainer Jon Templeton, and Darcy is working for the Lord family in Richmond.

“Lydia, who’s on a gap year, is working at a thoroughbred stud near Scone, and will begin her Veterinary Science degree at James Cook University in 2019, while Sam, our youngest, is still studying at Toowoomba Grammar School, though he wants to get into the cattle game as well.”

At the time of this interview John was preparing to head off to indulge in one of his other great passions besides his family and cattle.

He was heading off to the Bedourie Campdraft which takes place south of Boulia and north of Birdsville on the Georgina River.

“I grew up north of Hughenden, and from that point on I’ve had horses all my life. I love campdrafting, as do the girls, the boys are more into bikes.

Katrina and John Paine with son Sam on-property at their 74,000 acre Droughtmaster commercial breeding property Daintree, situated 54km east of Winton.

86

August 2018

“I’m looking forward to getting to Bedourie, it gets a good roll-up and everyone has a pretty good time.”

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Alexander Barnett: A Great Crusader

By Kim Barnett

B

orn and raised in Brisbane in the postWar years, Alexander (Alec) Barnett was successful in any venture he entered.

From being a headteacher in The Gulf at the age of 19 years, to developing his own poultry and small crops farm at Deception Bay, from the ground up in the late 1950’s to early 1970’s In that time Alec married Bonnie (nee Eggerling), and they had their children, daughters Kay, and Julie, and son Kim.

Alec was keen to extend his knowledge of cattle, particularly the Droughtmaster breed, and attended as many meetings, field days and handling schools as he could.

Crusader joined Breedplan in 1985. The Crusader Stud relocated to Woodford in 1973 and later to Mally Plain, Abercorn in 1991, (purchased from the Eggerling family). The stud continued to gain success until its dispersal in 2013.

Alec, Bonnie and I (Kim) founded the Crusader Stud in 1969 with a small purchase of heifers, cows and a young bull from the vet school.

Alec’s enthusiasm for life and its challenges was only cut short because of his chronic serious spinal condition and in more recent times, a short battle with cancer.

Subsequent purchases from Charaboon and sires from Alcheringa, Wingfield and Woodlyn set the foundation for future success.

It’s also with further great regret and sadness, that we acknowledge the passing of Alec’s wife and lifelong partner Bonnie (July 9,

1931 to June 13, 2018) just one month after Alec passed away..

Alec and Bonnie are survived by their children, Kay, Julie and Kim, their eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Vale: Alexander (Alec) Barnett. October 1, 1926 - May 13, 2018.

Jennifer Williams: A life to be Proud of

By Tim Cockrem She was thrilled that Amy had a found a wonderful partner in Devon Lee, who has recently relocated from Brisbane to live with Amy in Cairns.

Jenny was equally full of pride for her eldest daughter, Kellie. She and Jeff were able to work alongside Kellie in the development and running of Kel-Lee Droughtmaster Stud, the cattle breeding and showing brand the family have established.

Vale: Jennifer Lee Williams. July 21, 1955 - May 17, 2018.

O

ne of the most vivid memories of my aunty Jennifer ‘Jenny’ Lee Williams, and indeed something that resonated with our family, was her innate sense of mothering.

At the time of her marriage to Jeff, Jenny had three nephews who she adored.

She was a natural with children and the birth of her own two daughters, Kellie in 1986 and Amy in 1996, were without a doubt, her most treasured moments.

On reflecting on her mum, Kellie remembers that Jenny’s greatest wish in life was to see her two girls successful and content. How happy she would have been to see them both get to where they are today.

Jenny was immensely proud of Amy who graduated from tertiary education with a Bachelor of Applied Science and now works as a veterinary nurse in Cairns.

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Kellie has recently become engaged to Russell Kidd, a young man who, over the past few years, Jenny had established a close and jovial friendship with.

Russell said he was too nervous to ask Jeff for his blessing to propose to Kellie so he asked Jenny first.

He thought she, at least, would give her consent immediately and offer some words of encouragement. Her initial response, however, was “what if she says no?”

Thankfully Kellie didn’t.

Kellie and Russell also become parents to little Lachlan almost a year ago. The family only recently returned from successfully showing at Beef 2018 where Jenny, so fortuitously witnessed her grandson’s first steps. Kellie notes that Lachlan didn’t just take steps, he ran with Jenny right behind him. What a wonderful memory for Kellie to share with Lachlan someday. It was no secret that this close-knit family was Jenny’s absolute pride and joy. They will be her legacy and they will keep her memory alive.

Another aspect of Jenny’s life that she treasured was their family property. Jeff and Jenny, along with her parents Barry and Lee, purchased the farm at Upper Barron in November 1991.

This saw the beginning of their longstanding and successful involvement in cattle breeding and showing and the establishment of Kel-Lee Drought masters. Jenny thoroughly enjoyed the land and working with her family to create a successful cattle brand. Despite her involvement in the family business, during the years on the farm she also started a long and valued involvement with the Malanda Show Society, working as their secretary from 1996 to 2009.

She was also instrumental in the organisation and running of cattle handling schools for over a decade as well as the Mount Garnet Recreational Trust - all on a voluntary basis.

Although she was shy in large, unknown crowds, Jenny had a warmth and loyalty to those she knew well. She was never afraid to speak her mind but it was always from a place of sincere goodwill not judgment or maliciousness. She was often the secret or sly mischief-maker and she never shied away from a good yarn.

Rest well, Jenny, in the knowledge that you have left an imprint on this Earth that will remain forever. Until we meet again.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

^ #ALENDAR OF %VENTS 2018 AUGUST 09 RNA Stud Cattle Judging - Brisbane

NOVEMBER 09 MAGS Sale - Charters Towers 24 Cream of the Crop - Coolabunia

09 Droughtmaster Australia AGM - Brisbane 24 Fitzroy Crossing Sale - WA 25 High Country Sale - Eskdale

SEPTEMBER 01 Bunya Bull Sale - Coolabunia 03 The CAP Sale - Rockhampton

2019

04 Central Reds Bull Sale - Emerald

JANUARY

05 Piggott Sale - Springsure

TBC Malanda Female Sale - Malanda

07 Valera Vale Sale - Augathella

FEBRUARY

11/12 National Bull Sale - Rockhampton 19 Clonlara Sale - Glenmorgan 21 Glenlands Sale - Bouldercombe

OCTOBER

TBC All Breeds Sale - Rockhampton

MARCH 02 Futurity Show - Gatton 09 National Female Sale - Gympie

08 Artesian Sale - Blackall

TBC Highlands Sale - Clermont

12 Bullzeye Bull Sale - Capella

APRIL

13 ScenicRimDroughtmasterSale - Boonah

TBC X-Factor Sale - WA

19 Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale - Roma

TBC Narngulu Bull Sale - WA

Request a Sale Catalogue Return this form to the Society via post or email

Name: Address: Please return this form to: Postal Email Droughtmaster Australia office@droughtmaster.com.au 40 Thorn Street, Ipswich QLD 4305

List the catalogues you require

VALE

Graeme Idstein: An Adventurous Spirit

By Robert Babich

H

ow do you sum up the life of someone who has lived a life like Graeme Idstein did? Because that’s what he did, he lived, for every minute, of every day.

Graeme believed that life was like a game, and the people we chose to be on our team, and the choices we made would determine the outcome of the play.

One thing about Graeme is that he never had a shortage of people wanting to be on his team. Wherever he went, and whatever he was involved in, he made an impression on people.

Early on, Diana made the choice of joining Graeme’s team, and so began the wonderful adventure of being married to a supreme optimist, and a continuous searcher of the all the wonderful things life had to offer.

late nights at the club, Graeme spoke the famous last words “Let’s start our own business”.

And Northern Chemicals was born.

You would think that to start up an industrial chemical manufacturing company, you would need some prior knowledge or experience in the industry. But not Graeme, he’d done some high school chemistry hadn’t he? How hard could it be? And do it he did. Graeme ran Northern Chemicals, one of the most successful businesses in Cairns for over 20 years. With the unpaid dynamo, Diana at the helm.

Graeme and Diana met through the YMCA in Toronto where Graeme had worked his way into the role of manager at the ripe old age of 18. Youth work played a large role in Graeme’s early life, and he was rewarded for his efforts by being invited to meet the Queen, a story which he loved to tell right to the end.

Little did Diana know that she was about to undertake the biggest journey of her life, when Graeme said, “Let’s take extended leave, buy a caravan and travel to Queensland”. This extended leave turned into a 25 year adventure in a place they fell instantly in love with.

Vale: Graeme Idstein. April 8, 1947 May 9, 2018.

By this stage their one and only daughter Rebecca had fallen in love, and not with boys but horses. And when it came to Rebecca, Graeme always found a way to make things happen. They packed up their suburban house and lived in a shed on a small acreage outside of Cairns, while Graeme built a house. By the time the house was built they’d pretty much outgrown the place, as Graeme himself had got in on the act, and bought himself a couple of horses.

But in true Graeme style, he made friends with this person and that, and paved his way in Cairns, where he ended up the manager of the well-known Cairns Yacht Club.

“Let’s buy an acreage on the Atherton Tablelands” Graeme said. And thus began the succession of acquiring numerous properties of ever increasing size, finally ending with “Weona” of 25,000 acres.

Having established numerous contacts, and with Diana growing increasingly sick of the

Their love of horses inadvertently led the Idstein’s into the world of cattle. After

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The herd of eight cows and calves, soon grew into hundreds, and within and very short period of time Graeme had established himself on the board of the Droughtmaster Society.

It was while on the board that Graeme discovered the Society was in severe financial trouble. Not one to be afraid to ruffle some feathers, Graeme put his businessman’s hat on and delivered some hard facts. That was, unless some major changes were made, the society would be no more in a very short period of time.

To this day it is acknowledged that Graeme’s efforts played a major role in bringing the Droughtmaster Society back to life, and making it into the hugely successful business it is today. Graeme formed lifelong friendships during his time on the board, and in 2001 he was awarded life membership by the Droughtmaster Society in recognition of his exceptional service.

It was also his involvement with the YMCA that lead him back to Gloucester in later years, as it was a favourite place of his to hold kids camps.

After being told by his new wife, he needed to get a real job, his natural affinity with children lead him into a career as a teacher.

Uninspired by the conventional teaching methods used at the time, Graeme took it upon himself to rework the curriculum and his class found themselves learning the laws of physics for instance, not from books, but from building go-karts to race up and down the school verandah. While this made him a favourite in the classroom, it did not necessarily bode well with the administration, and Graeme decided he needed a change.

spending time on a friend’s cattle station during the school holidays, Rebecca showed an interest in beef cattle. So for her next birthday Graeme bought her eight Droughtmaster cows and calves. Without really knowing much about the breed, and taking a mates word for it that they would do the job for him, he became a cattleman.

For someone whose life has been similar to a roller coaster ride, there has been one constant throughout. His love for his wife and daughter, and after it became apparent that Rebecca was going to marry, and remain in NSW, Graeme said “Let’s sell everything up and move closer to Rebecca”.

The plan was to buy a small acreage and semi retire, but as you all know within a couple of years of arriving, Graeme had 10 leased properties on the go, he’d started a cattle carting business and so the story continued.

On our wedding day, Graeme made a speech, again something he was a natural at, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Graeme said that he had only ever obtained two things of any real value in his life. His wife and his daughter, and that on this day he was entrusting one of them to me. Today I am able to repay the favour Graeme, and let you know that I am honoured to take over the role of caring for your precious wife and daughter. You will be sadly missed, but always remembered in our hearts.

DROUGHTMASTER DIGEST

Scenic Rim Droughtmaster Bull and Female Sale Saturday, 13th October 2018, 12.00pm

Boonah Showgrounds

Showcasing the best the Scenic Rim and Surrounds has to offer, including: 50 Registered Bulls, 56 Registered Females, plus Commercial Females from Grandview Droughtmasters Cribrum Droughtmasters Jackoben Droughtmasters Valley-View Droughtmasters Yellowwood Droughtmasters Goomburra Droughtmasters Dugandan Droughtmasters Nindethana Droughtmasters Seymour Droughtmasters

Farogan Valley Droughtmasters Imbil Droughtmasters Kengoon Droughtmasters Clayfield Droughtmasters Jasanda Droughtmasters Ironhide Droughtmasters Waringle Droughtmasters 3D Droughtmasters Lake Moogerah Droughtmasters

gdalivestockmarketing@gmail.com www.facebook.com/scenicrimdroughtmaster

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Enquiries Greg Anderson 0429 440 886 Andrew Percy 0408 335 951