Droughtmaster Magazine: August 2023

DROUGHTMASTER august

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DROUGHTMASTER STUD BREEDERS’ SOCIETY

ACN 010 129 683

40 Thorn Street | Ipswich, QLD 4305

Phone: 07 3281 0056

Email: office@droughtmaster.com.au

Patron John Gardner

Board PRESIDENT Todd Heyman 0448 725 060 DIRECTORS

Front cover image: Shortcutting a Droughtmaster mob through a saddle in the hills, Warrawagine Station, Western Australia.

Photo: Jack Poplawski, Whirlybird Photography

Staff

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Simon Gleeson

SALES AND EVENTS MANAGER Leigh Eleison

REGISTRAR, MEMBER SERVICES & DNA COORDINATOR Leah Wall

MARKETING AND EVENTS COORDINATOR Carley Stieler

OFFICE SERVICES & MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Jacinta Brown

TECHNICAL OFFICER Paul Williams 0427 018 982

www.droughtmaster.com.au

Disclaimer: The Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society takes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained within this magazine. Historical information has been sourced from previous versions of the Droughtmaster Digest which has not been verified.

@droughtmaster_australia

At the time of compiling this publication, National Director positions are under election.

@droughtmasteraustralia

The opinions expressed in the Droughtmaster Magazine are not necessarily the opinions of the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society Ltd. This publication is protected by copyright and articles or photographs may not be used without authorisation.

229

(PP)

SALE

LOT 226 OAKMORE VALENTINO (PP) NATIONAL SALE OAKMORE VLADIMIR (PP) ROMA SALE

CEO’s REPORT

Simon Gleeson | Chief Executive Officer | Droughtmaster Australia

BUSY MONTHS AHEAD AS OPPORTUNITIES RAIN DOWN

AS I WRITE THIS REPORT, there are forecasts of possibly good rainfall across many parts of Australia in late June.

While unseasonal, it is timely given that some members have encountered dry spells and have had to lower their stocking rates over recent months. We hope that those who need it most will be under those rain clouds and it provides welcome relief.

During January and February, we were busily planning for the upcoming year which included preparing budgets, our sales, events and activities calendar, and general office requirements.

As we rolled into March, we started with the Droughtmaster Futurity, followed by the National Female Sale and then I attended the 38th annual Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association (NTCA) Conference.

Toogoolawah triumph

The Droughtmaster Futurity was held in Toogoolawah this year and was well attended. It was very well organised and I thank the committee and staff for their involvement in running a successful event.

A real standout was the participation of several schools and juniors. The support and direction provided by established Droughtmaster studs and breeders to our next generation is to be commended.

Furthermore, the Toogoolawah Show Society did an exceptional job catering for the event and the dinner provided was sensational. I would encourage more members and schools to either support or participate in this event next year as it seems to be going from strength to strength.

Gympie females shine

The National Female Sale in Gympie again delivered strong results for the breed. The growth in this sale is very satisfying and the participation from studs and buyers both far and wide

has increased which now truly stamps it as a national sale. In the last five years, it was the largest female sale in terms of numbers and there was a record top price of $37,000. Again, I think the committee for the assistance in contributing to the organisation of this sale.

Top End talks

In mid-March, I attended the NTCA conference, the biggest annual beef industry event in Northern Australia. It is attended by delegates from across Australia and overseas, attracting local pastoralists, national industry leaders, MPs and senior ministers from the NT and Federal governments.

to a project funded by Meat and Livestock Australia focusing on profitability and bull selection for Northern WA beef producers.

Given the large commercial Droughtmaster female herds in northern WA, there was a real Droughtmaster focus within Matt’s presentation.

Following this, we attended both the Fieldhouse Bull Sale and the Munda Reds Bull Sale. It was very interesting to witness the many different buyers from various geographical areas and the demand for Droughtmaster bulls. Both sales were extremely successful, and it appears that the growth in the Droughtmaster breed in WA is on an upward trajectory.

Qld events

The conference is an opportunity to address challenges and offer assistance to industry participants. The presentations focused on global markets and the economic effects of rising cost pressures, carbon farming, marketing risks and opportunities, political considerations, and general industry debate. With the Northern Territory being a hub for live export, and the softening in the live cattle trade, it was obviously a well discussed topic along with recent political decisions in the live sheep trade and the potential ramifications for the beef industry. Furthermore, Droughtmaster Australia was a sponsor of this event which provided good exposure for the breed.

Western focus

In April, several Board members and I visited Droughtmaster members in Western Australia. We hosted an information session in conjunction with Matt Woolcott from the Animal Genetic Breeding Unit (AGBU) in Armidale relating

In early June, we sponsored and attended the Northern Beef Producer’s Expo in Charters Towers. The expo was very well supported by Droughtmaster breeders who participated in the competitions and auctions.

The competition results were overwhelmingly positive for the breed considering this area has more recently been focussed on other breeds. Having such a presence was a coordinated approach to promote the benefits of the Droughtmaster breed and was timely with the bull selling season just around the corner.

During the middle of June, we turned our focus to Farmfest. This year we allocated some additional funding to this event to upgrade some of the facilities. We experienced very good interest in both our display and our cattle, resulting in a win for the best display at Farmfest.

Furthermore, our participants showcased the breed in a positive light, and I would like to thank all involved and to the committee for their contributions in making it a success.

“… the growth in the Droughtmaster breed in WA is on an upward trajectory”

LIFE MEMBERSHIP STAN AND LYNN TOMPKINS

year. The ‘workshop’ evolved to be formally recognised as the Gympie Handling School. Stan and Lynn were keen participants in these events and ultimately became actively involved with the Handling School and were facilitators of the sessions relating to the preparation of cattle for the showring, parading, judging and showring etiquette.

Their support of fellow members, particularly junior members, extended beyond field days and handling schools. Stan and Lynn provided hands-on assistance to members attending their first Futurity, agricultural show, feature show and expo, and would help them at the event by reinforcing what was learnt during formal sessions and providing much needed encouragement to build their confidence.

Stan possessed a comprehensive understanding of the Standards of Excellence and fiercely defended it. He was committed to educating other members about the standards and the importance of compliance. His words, delivered during countless educational sessions and informal discussions, continue to resonate among the members that were fortunate to hear him speak.

Stan was a classifier with the DSBS, a role that he executed with great pride and commitment. Stan assisted many new members to grow their stud herds by classifying and upgrading their commercial Droughtmaster herds. Stan was member of the Droughtmaster National Female Sale (NFS) Committee, a role that he held for 36 years.

SINCE THE INCEPTION of the DSBS, there have been many people who have selflessly given of their time, knowledge, and skill to promote the Droughtmaster breed, and to support and mentor fellow members. Stan and Lynn Tompkins’ commitment to the Breed and its members has transcended several decades.

Stan and Lynn Tompkins joined the DSBS in 1982 and operated their highly successful stud, Cedar View Droughtmasters at Gympie for 40 years. They were, and remain, passionate about the Breed and would promote Droughtmaster at every opportunity.

Stan and Lynn devoted their lives to helping others, including fellow Droughtmaster members and particularly, young people. For almost four decades, they acted as teachers and mentors to so many members and spoke at countless field days, zone meetings, workshops and handling schools, covering a range of topics, most notably the Droughtmaster Standards of Excellence, selecting animals for show and sale and the preparation of cattle for shows, grooming, and exhibiting.

In 1985, a group of Droughtmaster members were instrumental in establishing a Droughtmaster ‘workshop’ with the Droughtmaster Futurity commencing the following

Stan and Lynn Tompkins have served the Droughtmaster Society and its members for almost four decades and have done so with distinction. They have actively promoted the Droughtmaster Breed and contributed to its growth in Southern Queensland. They have done this through service on formal committees and in formal roles, and informally through their commitment to the education, support, mentoring and development of countless Droughtmaster members during this time. Their enduring contribution to the breed and its members is now recognised through them being awarded Life Membership of the DSBS. Congratulations.

Stan and Lynn Tompkins, Cedar View Stud, were awarded Life Membership in recognition of their decades of dedication to the Droughtmaster breed and in particular the annual National Female Sale.

L-R Todd Heyman (President), Brian Heck (Chairman, Female Sale Committee), Stan and Lynn Tompkins.

DROUGHTMASTERS ‘NATURALLY’ DOMINATE NORTHERN BEEF PRODUCERS EXPO

Northern Beef Producers Expo

exceptional performance of Droughtmaster on grass.

Overall results

Class 1: Pen of 5 Export Bullocks:

Neil and Narelle Angus, Dawson Vale, Belyando Crossing

Robert and Donna Rea, Lisgar Pastoral Company, Home Hill

Class 2: Best Single Bullock:

Robert and Donna Rea, Lisgar Pastoral Company, Home Hill

Class 3: Pen of 5 Cows:

Robert and Donna Rea, Lisgar Pastoral Company, Home Hill

Neil and Narelle Angus, Dawson Vale, Belyando Crossing

Class 4: Best Single Cow:

Cliff and Sasha Mylrea, Needmor Cattle Co, Gogango

Cliff and Sasha Mylrea, Needmor Cattle Co, Gogango

Class 5: Pen of Trade Bullocks:

Mac and Gayle Shann, Cantuar Park, Clermont

Neil and Narelle Angus, Dawson Vale, Belyando Crossing

Class 6: Pen of Trade Heifers:

Mac and Gayle Shann, Cantuar Park, Clermont

Robert and Donna Rea, Lisgar Pastoral Company, Home Hill

Robert and Donna Rea, Lisgar Pastoral Company, Home Hill

Class 7: Pen of Feeder Steers:

Neil and Narelle Angus, Dawson Vale, Belyando Crossing

Steven and Claire Farmer, Mt Elsa, Yaamba district

Class 9: Pen of Feeder Heifers:

Neil and Narelle Angus, Dawson Vale, Belyando Crossing

Class 10: Pen of Weaner Steers

Ken and Kerry McKenzie, Yaralla Droughtmasters, Blackwater

Class 11: Pen of Weaner Heifers:

Alex and Maree Power, Debella, Julia Creek

Class 12: Pen of 5 Replacement Heifers

Donaldson family, Old Corry, Bogantungan

Haviland family, Sugarland Droughtmasters, Capella

Mac and Gayle Shann, Cantuar Park, Clermont

Class 13: Most Successful Exhibitor:

Neil and Narelle Angus, Dawson Vale, Belyando Crossing

Most Successful New Exhibitor:

Mac and Gayle Shann, Cantuar Park, Clermont

By BRAD COOPER

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND stud and commercial cattle producer Mellissa Angus agrees that anyone who saw the spread in this year’s event at Charters Towers may well have seen grassfed cattle at their “absolute peak” after big summer rains charged the region with a coverage of grass not seen in decades.

“You could say the cattle had the best opportunity to show their growth potential for the last 18 months,” she said.

“And that goes for most of the cattle in the competition. The season was mostly widespread so most of the cattle were all on a level playing field, resulting in an incredibly even line of quality cattle across many different breed types.”

This year marked the fifth time the Angus family entered cattle in the event’s commercial competition from their Dawson Vale Station at Belyando Crossing, 150 kilometres south of Charters Towers.

The draft, Mellissa said, received no special treatment prior to being selected, making the result even more satisfying when the family was declared this year’s most successful exhibitor.

“Our approach is to muster paddocks in the weeks before competition and pick out those that we think will do well,” she said.

“They don’t get any assistance outside our usual commercial grass backgrounding and finishing operation.

“We were very pleased with the result this year as it provides us with feedback that our cattle are achieving optimum weight gain and growth rates and meeting the requirements of what processors are looking for, just by going about their natural business.

“The fact Droughtmaster dominated so strongly across all the classes speaks volumes about the breed’s adaptability and its capacity to not just survive but thrive in challenging environments and well exceed expectations when seasons are good.”

Of the seven classes the Angus family entered, there were only two in which they didn’t record a place.

They won pen of five export bullocks and pen of five feeder steers and placed second in the pen of five cows and pen of five trade bullocks, while placing third in the pen of five feeder heifers. While running a line of about 3000 pure Droughtmaster females across three adjoining properties, Mellissa and her husband Kurt do some crossing with British and Euro terminal sires.

Their premium Shorthorn x Droughtmaster bullock offering, which won best pen of five export bullocks, averaged 736kg to equal $2060 a head.

Strong seasonal conditions leading into this year’s

provided opportunities in equal measure to demonstrate the

Up to 24 vendors from across North Queensland and as far south as Blackwater and northwest of Julia Creek penned 578 head of cattle comprising 390 listed for sale, which included 119 ox, 74 cows, 45 trade heifers, 24 feeder heifers, and 66 weaners.

The competition was a triumph for many Droughtmaster breeders including Robert and Donna Rea , Lisgar Pastoral Company, Home Hill; Cliff and Sasha Mylrea Needmor Cattle Co, Gogango; Steven and Claire Farmer, Mt Elsa, Yaamba district; Mac and Gayle Shann , Cantuar Park, Clermont; Ken and Kerry McKenzie , Yaralla Droughtmasters, Blackwater; Alex and Maree Power, Debella, Julia Creek and the Donaldson family, Old Corry, Bogantungan.

“Given the quality of the cattle presented this year as a whole, it makes this win even more special for us to walk away with, because it was an exceptional yarding of cattle this year,”

Kurt Angus told Queensland Country Life after the event.

Kurt told QCL the Northern Beef Producers Expo was a showcase not only of cattle from the Charters Towers region, but also further north and back down into Central Queensland.

“The NBPE is just a great opportunity to showcase your cattle, whether it’s through a stud exhibit or a commercial cattle competition,” he said.

“This event is cementing itself as the spot for producers to showcase and benchmark their herd.”

Kurt and Mellissa Angus at home at Dawson Vale Station, Belyando Crossing with children Ben and Gracie and their 3000 strong Droughtmaster commercial breeding herd. Inset pic: Mellissa and Kurt with Kurt’s parents, Narelle and Neil Angus, accept the most successful exhibitor title for 2023. Picture: Ben Harden

WARRAWAGINE CATTLE CO’S BEST PERFORMERS DESTINED FOR BIGGER STAGE

Historic Warrawagine Cattle Co in northern Western Australia is planning to supply consistent quality lines of Droughtmaster females to keen interstate buyers, while building the breed’s profile at home and expanding throughput in the local feedlot market.

By BRAD COOPER

Droughtmaster Magazine has previously reported on the high demand for Droughtmaster breeders, particularly in Queensland and northern and central NSW, where producers are seeking highly

functional, fertile animals with exceptional mothering abilities.

Warrawagine Cattle Co under the management of Lux and Belinda Lethbridge and owner Rob Jowett have recognised the opportunity in the market, starting last year with the delivery of

large drafts of heifers to most mainland states in Australia.

With a pastoral pedigree stretching back to the late 1800s that started as a wool station, the modern era of the enterprise as a beef cattle operation began in 1992 with the purchase of the

WARRAWAGINE DROUGHTIES WITHSTAND CYCLONE ILSA

WEATHER INSTRUMENTS positioned off the coast of Western Australia estimate Cyclone Ilsa was generating winds close to 300 kilometres an hour when it bore down on communities between Port Hedland and Broome in April 2023.

The late developing cyclone, which had formed north of Darwin two weeks prior, had been closely and somewhat anxiously monitored by locals in its possible path.

Tensions weren’t helped by the reputation that the Pilbara coast enjoys as “cyclone alley”.

Two days before it crossed the coast, Ilsa looked destined to roll over Wallal Downs in a direct hit, before it suddenly lurched further south, just scraping the

bottom portion of the property on its destructive path.

Wallal Downs Station escaped, but Warrawagine Station further inland took a direct hit.

Even with weakening winds near 200 kilometres an hour, the now downgraded category 4 storm still packed a punch, ripping rooves off buildings, trashing dongas, smashing sheds and 400 solar panels.

It also knocked out several solarpowered water points, damaged vehicles and equipment and shredded trees and gardens.

It also delayed the annual muster. “We’re still licking our wounds, as the damage was extensive so it will take some time to rebuild

405,000-hectare Warrawagine Station southeast of Marble Bar in the Pilbara region, which created the Warrawagine Cattle Co of today. Suffering from successive years of drought the station was virtually destocked at the time of acquisition, requiring a concerted herd rebuild that involved buying in a Shorthorn breeder base of 2500 plus calves which were mated to Poll Hereford bulls, an operating strategy that eventually proved short lived.

As the live export trade grew, the pull towards Bos indicus animals increased, moving the direction towards Droughtmaster bulls by 1997.

In the early years of the herd’s transition, Warrawagine Cattle Co was annually buying up to 100 Droughtmaster bulls from selected Queensland

studs such as 7L, Comanche, Valera Vale and Glenlands.

In more recent years the preference has been to buy bulls locally, first purchasing from the Fitzroy Crossing Bos Indicus sale and in the last five years from Munda Reds at Gingin in Western Australia.

Comprising 14,500 breeders, Warrawagine Station is the hub of the breeding program, and Wallal Downs Station the sales and marketing depot.

Between the two operations, the company is positioned to maintain a pipeline of quality cattle for local and interstate buyers amid ever present seasonal challenges.

Irrigation infrastructure on Wallal Downs is a major factor that will help the business meet these objectives.

When weaner cattle from Warrawagine are trucked 250 kilometres to Wallal Downs they enjoy swathes of irrigated pasture consisting mainly of Rhodes grass under a 12 x 50-hectare centre pivot that is used for hay, silage and stand to graze.

In addition, Wallal Downs is furnished with large coastal areas where nutrient-dense buffel grass grows in abundance.

Water for the irrigation operation is from the Canning Basin aquifer from bores 400 metres deep, with flows of 250 litres a second and at a head pressure of 54 psi requiring no pumping.

lost infrastructure,” station manager Lux Lethbridge said.

“Despite the damage, we are thankful we didn’t lose any livestock. A week after the cyclone, we flew over the place and couldn’t see any fatalities among our livestock, not even the little calves, which says a lot about the mothering ability of the Droughtmasters.

“I guess they just put their backs to the winds and rode it out.”

While Ilsa brought a highly intense weather system to the community, the ferocity was short-lived.

“It started about midnight and was at its strongest about 3am and then by 7.30am she was gone and, on her way, further inland, leaving 100 mm of rain in her wake,” Mr Lethbridge said.

“It was a great finish to what was a good season; the country looks a picture, but it was a hell of a way to end the wet season.”

In 2013 Warrawagine Cattle Co purchased the 202,000-hectare Wallal Downs Station, located between Port Hedland and Broome and fronting what locals call ‘the 80-mile beach’.

Weaner steers and mickey bulls arrive at Wallal Downs between 150–250 kg where they commence on the buffel grass country before moving onto the centre pivot irrigation for 120 days, where they will leave between 350-400 kg at an average daily weight gain of about 0.8 – 1 kg.

“This is an extraordinary development and testament to the breed’s versatility and quality.”

Despite damage to buildings (pictured below, left) Cyclone Ilsa brought welcome rain to Warrawagine Station at the end of the wet season.

Warrawagine owner Rob Jowett (right) and station manager Lux Lethbridge are building a pipeline of quality Droughtmaster commercial females to bring to market.

“The performance of our Droughtmaster cattle is allowing us to accelerate our program to fast track our channel to market,” Lux Lethbridge told Droughtmaster Magazine

“First of all, we are ahead by six to nine months, turning off in February when most stations up here haven’t even started mustering.

“It’s generally the high point of the market, when demand for Top End cattle is high but supply is low, so in recent years we’ve been able to get a premium for our cattle, which are at an age where they still have milk teeth but are in the ideal weight range for southern trade or live export.

“And because Wallal Downs is on the Great Northern Highway, we have an all-weather road, even during the wet season that enables us to send cattle south 12 months of the year.” Originally developed to supply the live export trade, Warrawagine Cattle Co hasn’t sent any cattle on ships to traditional markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia or Vietnam so far this calendar year.

Instead, cattle are trucked south to Fremantle where Warrawagine steers and mickey bulls are going to Israel. So far this year there have been two shipments in February and May and a third scheduled for July at the time of writing.

“This is an extraordinary development and testament to the breed’s versatility and

quality that they are now going to a market which usually only took British type cattle such as Angus,” Mr Lethbridge said.

Mr Lethbridge said the establishment of a reliable southern supply chain route down the West Australian coast, nearly 1500 km from Wallal Downs, creates the opportunity to access feedlots through the inland wheatbelt to finish cattle on grain ahead of going to abattoirs for slaughter.

“The feedlot people are telling us they don’t want cattle with big ears and big humps,” he said.

“What they want is a flatback Droughtmaster and this is the direction our breeding program is taking.”

After 30 years of selective breeding, the Warrawagine Cattle Co herd now constitutes almost purebred Droughtmaster content. Since the Lethbridges assumed management of Warrawagine Cattle Co in 2016, the focus has been on tightly managing the fertility of the breeding cows.

Weaner steers and mickey bulls arrive at Wallal Downs between 150–250 kg where they commence on the buffel grass country before moving onto the centre pivot irrigation (pictured) for 120 days.

“

Droughtmaster cattle have a level of fertility far beyond our expectations …”

Noels Dam on Warrawagine at full capacity in February this year before the arrival of Cyclone Ilsa.

Mustering takes place at the Eighty Mile Yards, Wallal Downs Station, June 2017.

An extensive weaning program is in place to support breeders getting in-calf each year. All breeders are pregnancy tested annually and recorded to measure success.

“Droughtmaster cattle have a level of fertility far beyond our expectations and consistently return us 80 per cent plus weaning rates year in year out in our harsh conditions,” Mr Lethbridge said.

“In April we undertook a major AI (artificial insemination) program with 400 of our best heifers to further improve the quality and quantity of the breeding herd.”

Mr Lethbridge said he was confident the investment in AI would pay dividends, assessing the Droughtmaster breed had the potential to access many different markets and observing that its reputation was gaining more recognition among breeders in Western Australia.

2022 ROMA DROUGHTMASTER BULL SALE

“And not just in the pastoral areas,” he said.

“At the recent annual Munda Reds bull sale at Gingin, it was interesting to see Droughtmaster bulls being sold into areas such as Esperance, Denmark, Busselton and Serpentine in the southwest of the state.

“The Droughtmaster is seen as a tropical breed, but they are going into temperate country further south. It tells me there’s a lot of opportunity for the breed in Western Australia.”

The 80-mile beach that fronts a portion of Wallal Downs Station.

Water from the Canning Basin aquifer flows at 250 litres a second at Wallal Downs, as shown by owner Rob Jowett.

BLOCKBUSTER! MUNDA REDS BULLS AVERAGE $13,470

Mr Wood also purchased four bulls on behalf of Smoothy Cattle Company, Newman. Another very highly rated bull Munda Reds Golden Goose 4774 which was also sold three quarter share and possession lived up to its lofty expectations when it was knocked down for the sale’s $40,000 second top price to return stud buyer Paul Laycock , High Country Droughtmaster stud, Toogoolawah, Queensland.

The double polled late February 2021-born bull was described as the best son of exciting new sire Munda Reds Commander 1643 (by Garthowen Velocity 2) and was out of Comanche 4226/2.

BUYERS HAVE CLEARED the entire sale catalogue of 116 well measured and tested Munda Reds stud bulls and Mundabullangana commercial herd Droughtmaster bulls in Gingin, WA, to gross more than $1.4 million at an outstanding average of $12,228, with values reaching $42,500. This improved last year’s overall average by $1181 where all 129 bulls sold at auction for an average of $11,047.

In the breakdown, 84 Munda Reds stud bulls bred at Glencoe, Gingin, sold for a mighty average of $13,470, up $489 on last year’s average of $12,981 from 78 bulls, while 32 commercial herd bulls bred at Mundabullangana station, Port Hedland, averaged $8969, up $881 on last year where 51 bulls recorded a $8088 average.

Described by Munda Reds stud principal Mike Thompson as a “celebration of the Droughtmaster breed in WA”, the huge result hinged on the back of positive widespread buying support from throughout WA and Queensland studs.

There was strong representation from Nutrien Livestock and Elders agents, with bulls also selling into the Goldfields regions and to southern stud and commercial graziers with several Queensland studs also active.

Leading into the sale Munda Reds Golden Boy 4779 was among the more fancied bulls with Munda Reds selling three quarters share and possession and it didn’t disappoint when it entered the sale ring in lot seven.

Following an exciting bidding duel, a round of applause

ensued to acknowledge the sale’s $42,500 top price bid by Nutrien Livestock, pastoral agent Daniel Wood representing the Paull family, Davis River Pastoral, Nullagine via Newman. Golden Boy was a double polled early May 2021-born bull by Oasis A Hudson and an Aldinga Grove daughter, Munda Reds Duchess. The classy bull tipped the scales at 762kg and recorded raw measurements of 81pc semen morphology, 14mm P8 fat, 12mm rib fat, 118cm2 eye muscle area (EMA), 5.6pc intramuscular fat (IMF) and 1.09kg daily weight gain (DWG). Davis River Pastoral sourced an additional three bulls including two commercial bulls paying to the section’s $16,000 equal top price for a 2021-born, double polled bull by Kapalee Alexis.

The 891kg bull was among the heavier bulls in the catalogue and measured excellent raw data of 91pc morphology, 15mm P8 fat, 11mm rib fat, 125cm2 EMA, 6.3pc IMF and among the highest growth bulls at 1.16kg (DWG).

High Country stud paid the new $60,000 record WA Bos Indicus bull price at last year’s Munda Reds sale and when it secured Golden Goose a lot cheaper than anticipated, it reloaded the bidding card deep into the sale and paid the sale’s $35,000 third top price for Munda Reds Ground Breaker 4762.

Catalogued in lot 68, the big late February 2021 born poll/ horn bull by top performing sire SC Glencoe and a Glenavon Nathan daughter Comanche 4428, impressed with its scale and structure.

At 898kg it was the heaviest bull in the catalogue and recorded raw measurements of 91pc morphology, 11mm P8 fat, 10mm rib fat, 133cm2 EMA, 5.4pc IMF and the highest growth in the sale of 1.17kg DWG.

Munda Reds Glencoe manager Ben Wright (left), Gingin buyers Paul Laycock and Katrina Wallis, High Country Droughtmaster stud, Toogoolawah, Queensland and Nutrien Livestock, pastoral agent Shane Flemming with the $40,000 second top-priced bull Munda Reds Golden Goose 4774 (PP) (by (Munda Reds Commander 1643).

Munda Reds Glencoe manager Ben Wright holds the $42,500 top-priced bull Munda Reds Golden Boy 4779 (PP) (by Oasis A Hudson) at the Munda Reds Droughtmaster second annual on-property bull sale at Gingin, WA.

The next highest price of $30,000 was paid on two occasions with both bulls heading for stud duties.

First to pay was Dani Giles, Quicksilver Droughtmaster stud, Newdegate, who took a liking to Munda Reds Gold Star 4781 in lot 10 with Munda Reds retaining a semen share.

Gold Star was an early June 2021 born son of Oasis A Thurston and an Aldinga Glove daughter Munda Reds Extra. The 662kg bull tested 80pc morphology and scanned 12mm2 P8 fat, 10mm rib fat, 112cm EMA, 5.4pc IMF and 0.99kg DWG.

Half a dozen lots later and John Atkinson , Glenavon Droughtmaster stud, Yaamba, Queensland, took ownership of Munda Reds General 4316 with a winning $30,000 bid. General was an early March 2021 born bull by Oasis A Hudson and another Aldinga Glove daughter Munda Reds Debra.

The double polled 800kg bull tested 89pc morphology with scan results of 10mm P8 fat, 9mm rib fat, 121cm2 EMA, 4.7pc IMF and 1.05kg DWG. Other high prices paid included outlays from the Ryan family, Minnie Creek station, Upper Gascoyne, who rounded out a big week of buying bulls with

five Munda Reds bulls at a strong average of $16,400.

The Ryans paid to a $22,000 top price for a 708kg double polled late April 2021 born son of Commander 1643 testing 90pc morphology. Even with a category five system cyclone tracking toward his pastoral properties, it didn’t deter strong Munda Reds supporter Rob Jowett , Warrawagine Cattle Company, Warrawagine and Wallal stations, Port Hedland, from adding another 13 Munda Reds bulls to the sire battery and paying strong values to a $21,000 top on two occasions and averaging $15,231. Another Queensland stud to acquire a new Munda Reds sire was the Janke family, Crimson Ridge Droughtmaster stud, Rockside, in the Lockyer Valley region, Queensland, which paid $21,000 for Munda Reds Glenfiddich 5219, a 24-month-old 752kg double polled son of Oasis A Hudson and a Garthowen Velocity 2 daughter Munda Reds Chookie. Alan Browning, Elders pastoral east/ southern rangelands, purchased 22 bulls (15 Munda Reds bulls and seven commercial bulls) costing all values between $8000 and $17,000. This team was divided evenly between two Wiluna pastoral

BREAKING NEWS:

accounts and first-time buyers at Munda Reds CD & C Ward , Lake Violet station and RW, CD & NE Ward , Millrose station.

Mr Browning also sourced four bulls at $10,000 each for Breakaway Beef, Windsor station, Mt Magnet. The largest individual account was 19 bulls (16 Munda Reds and three commercial bulls) collected by Bill Biggs , Wanna station, Upper Gascoyne, represented by Clint Avery, Elders Gascoyne/Pilbara, operating from $7000 to $14,000. Other larger multiple bull buyers were:

PJ Piercy, Waroona, with eight bulls (two Munda Reds and six commercial bulls) costing from $6000 to $11,000; Nutrien Livestock, pastoral agent Leon Goad , collected eight bulls at the sale from $9000 to $16,000 with six going to Ethel Creek Pastoral Company, Newman and two for Haseley Stud, Wandagee and Boolathana stations, Carnarvon; Minara Pastoral Holdings, Leonora, represented by Nutrien Livestock, Esperance/ Goldfields agent Barry Hutcheson purchased six Munda Reds bulls from $9000 to $12,000.

• Story courtesy of Farm Weekly

DROUGHTMASTER BREED EXPANDS TO AFRICA

A DECADE-LONG PURSUIT to have

Droughtmaster recognised and registered as an official cattle breed in Africa has been won, building momentum for further international expansion and collaboration.

In delivering news of the development to Droughtmaster Australia members, president Todd Heyman described the achievement as “fantastic news” that would present the opportunity to “refresh our relationship” and establish a template for further expansion in other world regions.

“On behalf of the Board, I recently contacted Africa Droughtmaster to congratulate the organisation on its recognition as a registered breed and indicate a willingness to offer support to grow the breed further at an international level,” Todd said. Todd highlighted that building closer ties with Africa

Droughtmaster could involve sharing strategic planning exercises, marketing and promotion, standards of excellence and rules and regulations, and sales and events that are aimed at promoting the breed.

“Much of our advice would very much relate to the Australian context, and some may be

of limited benefit, but we are keen to share,” he said.

“We would also be very keen to hear from African Droughtmaster breeders about the strategic direction of the protein and beef industry in Africa, so that we might consider it in an Australian context.”

Todd said the most important item requiring clarity during the next phase of international expansion was achieving consistency across the two organisations’ respective ‘Standards of Excellence’.

“Over the past 60 years, there has obviously been much change – market demands continue to change, supply chains want

greater yield, and there is always the desire to implement the next big thing,” he said.

“It is a credit to our original Droughtmaster breeders and those that have followed that our cattle – and the Standards of Excellence that define them - have continued to meet this change as an iconic allrounder, perfectly placed for the future.

“I am sure I speak for all Aussie Droughtmaster breeders in saying that we look forward to seeing the continued growth in Droughtmaster numbers across all of Africa and we look forward to working with them to grow the breed even more.”

FAREWELL ALI BULL, WELCOME CARLEY STIELER

► From Page 7

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Ali Bull for the enormous contribution she made in her capacity as Marketing and Events Manager over the past few years.

We wish Ali all the best in her future endeavours. There is no doubt she certainly made an impact at Droughtmaster Australia. At the same time, I would like to welcome Carley Stieler to

the team as the new Marketing and Events Coordinator and I am sure many of you will interact with Carley at some stage.

As we enter bull sale season, the workload in the office really ramps up.

We are looking forward to another successful sale season and hope to catch up with you all during the remainder of the year.

– Simon Gleeson, CEO

FIELDHOUSE DROUGHTIES SKYROCKET TO $42,000 RECORD

A TOTAL CLEARANCE of 93 bulls offered at the Fieldhouse Droughtmaster sale, Jurien Bay, WA posted a top-price record of $42,000 and a solid average of $6683 across the catalogue.

Local and pastoral buyers, both new and returning, were among the sale’s attendees to support and purchase the quality catalogue from the Mutton family

Last year’s inaugural sale saw prices reached a top of $15,000 and averaged $6586 for the same number of bulls and a 100 per cent clearance to match.

The $42,000 stud record top-priced bull, Fieldhouse BC7#127 (PP), catalogued in lot 78, dominated the sale ring from start to finish, with the bidding war won by returning top-price buyers Tim D’Arcy, Lyndon station, Minilya and manager Scott Keilor, Regans Ford/ Cataby.

The late July 2021-drop, 646-kilogram bull was a polled son of Glenlands J Voltage and out of Fieldhouse 1117.

Fieldhouse BC7#127 recorded 96pc motility and morphology and had a 38cm scrotal circumference.

The second highest price in the Fieldhouse offering was $30,000 for Fieldhouse BC7#44 (PP). The 726kg sire is a son of Glenlands J Voltage and out of Fieldhouse 1195 and recorded a 75 per cent motility and 86pc morphology with a 40-centimetre scrotal circumference.

The winning bid was placed by Nutrien Livestock, midwest agent Craig Walker on behalf of Lewis Harvey Meeberrie station, Murchison.

The $20,000 third top priced sire, Fieldhouse BC7#7 (PP) got the sale off to a flying start when it sold from the first pen of the day to the Ryan family, Minnie Creek station, Upper Gascoyne.

The early May 2021-drop, 816kg bull is a Glenlands J Agreement son and out of Fieldhouse 1443 and is eligible for registration.

It recorded 80pc motility, 66pc morphology and a 39cm scrotal circumference.

Dean Ryan said Fieldhouse BC7#7 was a well-muscled sire, high growth sire with a lot of presence.

“He is also a quiet, double polled bull which we want and he has a good hindquarter and a tight sheath,” Mr Ryan said.

“He also has a good flat back which we chase. “We are happy to buy top end bulls as we are wanting to lift the genetics in the herd at the station.”

The Ryan family went on to purchase a second bull from the last pen to sell in the sale for $3500.

Fieldhouse BC7#1186 weighed 652kg and was sired by Sevenell Mandrake and out of Fieldhouse 840. Both bulls will head to Minnie Creek station to be used in their breeding herd of 3300 DroughtmasterSanta Gertrudis cross females.

“The Droughtmaster bulls cross well with the Santa Gertrudis breed, which we also use at the station,” Mr Ryan said.

He said the family liked the Droughtmaster breed as they were hardy and performed well in dry conditions.

“They are great cattle and have great temperaments,” he said. “We also like that they have good polled heads as we believe this is important going forward.”

Also having an influence on the sale at the top-end were three buyers who purchased bulls at more than $10,000.

Russell and Janette Macpherson , Miljanna Grazing, Bolgart, placed the $18,000 winning bid on the lot 25 beauty, Fieldhouse BC7#124.

The late June 2021-drop bull weighed in at 686kg and was sired by Glenlands J Voltage and out of Fieldhouse 1187. It recorded 70pc motility, 90pc morphology and 45cm scrotal circumference.

The Macphersons have previously purchased five bulls from the stud and run about 50 Droughtmaster breeders at their property.

Also paying more than $10,000 was TW & AE Dowling , Wongee Farming, Cuballing, which purchased Fieldhouse BC7#26 for $14,000.

The polled bull weighed 728kg and is a son of Glenlands D Winchester and out of Fieldhouse 1276.

JL & JC Pumba , Yalgoo, weren’t far behind, paying $13,000 for the lot two bull Fieldhouse BC7#8, which had a sale weight of 776kg.

The lot two bull is a Glenlands J Agreement son and out of Fieldhouse 1504. A major fan of the Glenlands J Agreement sons and not afraid to bid strongly was Rocklea station, Paraburdoo, which was the sale’s volume buyer.

Buying on behalf of the station were Rio Tinto pastoral representatives Davey Green and Rob Morgan

Together the pair put together a large team of 29 Fieldhouse bulls for an average of $6276. Mr Green and Mr Morgan paid a top of $9000 three times for three double polled bulls. They had motility figures from 70-90pc with the morphology ranging from 76-90pc. The three bulls were by Sevenell Mandrake, Vale Hitman and De Grey Park Danzig. The Fieldhouse bulls were also popular with Northern Rural Supplies, Broome, which was purchasing for its Kimberley clients. Northern Rural Supplies secured 17 bulls during the auction, paying $3500 for each of them.

• Report courtesy of Farm Weekly

Fieldhouse BC7#127 (PP) (by Glenlands J Voltage) fetched a new stud record high of $42,000 at the second annual Fieldhouse Droughtmaster on-property bull sale at Jurien Bay with Nutrien agents Richard Keach (left), auctioneer Dane Pearce, and Shane Flemming with buyers Tim D’Arcy and Scott Keilor, Lyndon Station, Minilya and Regans Ford/Cataby and Fieldhouse stud co-principals Ben, Kerryn and Ken Mutton.

CLONCURRY BOILOVER! GLENLANDS HERD BULL SETS $46,000 RECORD

By KENT WARD

A DROUGHTMASTER herd bull has set a new breed record top price of $46,000 at the Cloncurry Bull Sale in March. Setting the new benchmark was Glenlands D 363 (P) selling to Len and Sue Bode, Percol Plains, McKinlay.

Staged at the Cloncurry Bull Selling Complex, the sale involved 115 poll or ‘PP’ bulls from two prefixes, Glenlands D and Eddington Droughtmaster Studs.

Resulting in another complete clearance, a sale top of $46,000 and a bottom-line average of $9460, vendors recorded a sale gross of $1.088 million.

In a breakdown of the catalogue, 44 registered bulls sold to $12,000 on four occasions to average $8800 while 71 herd bulls made to $46,000 to set a $9873 average.

On offer were 57 bulls from Darren and Helen Childs , Glenlands D prefix, Theodore that averaged $11,825 and 58 catalogued from the Eddington Stud, Julia Creek operated by Anthony and Rachael Anderson which achieved a $7148 average.

Apart from the quality on offer, the effects of recent widespread rain in the north and central west of the state, and continual strength of all cattle markets, helped cement the result.

Buyers attended in-person and virtually from local areas through to many parts of north and central western Queensland, the Central Highlands and into the Northern Territory.

Pacesetter for proceedings was the $46,000 Glenlands D 363 (P) going to Percol Plains, McKinlay.

The record breaker, in the 19 to 21 months age bracket at a weight of 776 kg and scans of 10/7mm, 146 EMA and 4.8 IMF, was the only purchase made by the Bodes on the day.

Next best at $22,000 was Glenlands D 380 (PP), a herd bull aged 19-21 months (746kg) (12/8mm) (133 EMA) (4.6 IMF) selling to Colinta Holdings , Huntly, Clermont. Colinta Holdings ended with a trio for an average of $15,000.

The Eddington team topped at $10,000 on four occasions with sons of Lazy A 456 (P) (Hamadra Bender), Eddington 1571 (P) and Glenlands D Avondale (P) (Glenlands Quartermaster). These sold to Thunderbolt Grazing , Clentbury Enterprises , BD Fegan and The Nobbies Grazing Company

Major supporter of the sale was Bill Darcy, Mallapunyah Springs Station, Borroloola. His haul of 16 averaged $6000 topping at $7000 on three occasions.

The Fegan family, Clentbury Enterprises, Penola Downs,

McKinlay signed off on 13 for a $11,462 average to top at $15,000. The Hoch family, Thunderbolt Grazing, The Springs, Aramac put together 10 bulls for a $11,200 average.

These saw a ceiling of $13,000 on three occasions. Charlie and Jackie Hawkins and family, Herbertvale Station, Camooweal returned to take nine for on average $10,444 topping at $12,000 for four acquisitions.

Lindsay and Margaret Miller Undilla Station, Camooweal signed off on nine for on average $8000 while Ray Scott Pastoral , Carso Gowrie Station, Charters Towers purchased eight for a $10,125 median topping at $13,000. Spreadborough Pastoral Company Spoonbill Station, Julia Creek picked up eight for an average of $6250.

Anne Webber, Mellish Park Station, Cloncurry took six for a $9000 average.

BD Fegan, Milgery Station, McKinlay took seven for a $8857 average topping three times at $10,000.

Burnett Holdings , Taldora, Julia Creek operating through Elite Livestock Auctions bought a trio for on average $8667.

Brisbane Valley Holdings Coominya secured a pair for $11,000 each while the Scholes family, Mena Park, Blackall took a pair for on average $10,500.

The Cloncurry based Winsper family secured a pair for a $11,500 average. The Muller family, FR Livestock, Maronan Station, Cloncurry purchased a pair for an average of $11,000.

Millaa Millaa district breeders, the Shephard family, Dinner Creek Stud claimed the $12,000 IVF lot, Glenlands D 9164 (PP) (AI) (Glenlands Orient) (25-months) (806kg) (10/7mm) (126 EMA) (6.3 IMF) as their only purchase.

Also taking a single lot was the Jonsson family, Maranie Stud, Prairie. Their selection was the $13,000 Glenlands D herd bull aged 18-20 months.

• Agents conducting the sale were Hourn & Bishop Qld Pty Ltd., TopX with the simulcast on Elite Livestock Auctions.

Record breaker and top seller at the 2023 CBS Sale, the $46,000, Glenlands D 363 (P). The 776-kilogram lot aged between 19 to 21 months sold to Len and Sue Bode, Percol Plains, McKinlay.

ONLINE AND ON-BRAND: DROUGHTIE FEMALES STILL CLICK WITH BUYERS

The Commercial Female Sale recently introduced by Droughtmaster Australia to reach a wider spread of buyers with quality, in-demand females is paying handsome dividends once the numbers are more heavily probed.

By BRAD COOPER

Despite a rapid downturn in the commercial cattle market over recent months, Droughtmaster females sold strongly in the online sale, fetching prices well above the figures paid for similar lines of other breed types offered through the saleyards and online cattle auction platforms within the same early May timeframe.

Wallumbilla district Droughtmaster breeders Roger and Jenny Underwood , Eversleigh and Wallace Vale Droughtmasters, sold the top-price lot – a pen of 12 Droughtmaster PTIC heifers for $3210/head.

As reported by Queensland Country Life , the heifers, comprising half stud registered, and commercial bloodlines, were in-calf to Tomawill Eastwood and Valera Vale Nickel.

They sold to repeat buyers Rob Brown and Pete Thompson Dalmally Droughtmasters, Bowenfels, Kingaroy.

The Underwoods also offered a line of 11 PTIC heifers of which were all stud registered, bar one, for $2610/head.

They too had been joined to the same sires and were bought by repeat buyers, Eddie and Sharon Maxwell , Julia Creek.

A pen of eight weaned heifers which represented the first drop of calves by Tomawill Eastwood and Valera Vale Nickel sold for $1610/head to

Heather Currie, Maclagen, looking to establish her own Droughtmaster stud, according to the QCL report. While not all vendors were able to clear their lots, prices paid for PTIC females and weaner heifers, described by one vendor as the “stars of the sale”, highlight the confidence commercial and stud cattle producers continue to have in Droughtmaster breeders. Such confidence is further illustrated by the different selling environment of the AuctionsPlus format, where vendors can set higher reserves than what would normally be acceptable in the saleyards. For example, 10 NSM future breeders as lot 17 sold off an already higher reserve for almost double their starting price.

After spirited bidding, Fortrus Pastoral , Bell’s Bridge, near Gympie paid $1650 for a line of 18 weaned heifers, on account Roger and Jenny Underwood, Wallumbilla with the price per head equating to 618c/ kg, more than twice what was paid for heifers in the same weight category in several Queensland saleyards the same week.

Larry and Rebecca Farquhar Calco Pty Ltd, Rolleston sold 66 PTIC females 28-33 months for an average of $1556 to a top of $1610.

Mel and Graham Brown , managers of RSVP Droughtmasters, Windera were first-time vendors in the sale, having only ever used AuctionsPlus to sell semen.

They joined the sale due to poor seasonal outlook and felt it was a good opportunity to sell quality females and support the Droughtmaster breed.

RSVP offered 14 unjoined heifers which sold for $1700/head, while 10 future breeder heifers offered sold to $1240/head.

Melinda Downs , Cloncurry, sold 44 PTIC cows for $1300/head, 16 unjoined heifers for $825/head and 18 backgrounding heifers for $550.

Compared to last year, when eight vendors booked in 100 head, strong support from vendors for the second annual sale helped swell the inventory to 32 lots, comprising 581 head of cattle which sold under the hammer and after the sale. Vendors came from Camooweal and Cloncurry in northwest Queensland, inner Central Queensland and coast, Burnett, Southern Queensland, Scenic Rim and northern and coastal NSW.

Jenny Underwood told QCL she and Roger were delighted with the results.

“We would have liked to have retained these genetics, but our season dictated otherwise,” she said.

“We are delighted they went to repeat buyers, and it also was support of all the other underbidders, which helped make the sale such a success.”

• Additional reporting: Helen Walker

The pen of 12 Eversleigh and Wallace Vale Droughtmaster PTIC heifers which topped the Droughtmaster Commercial Female Sale at $3210/head. (Inset: The future breeders which sold at double their starting price).

DROUGHTIE BULL CRACKS $42,500 RECORD AT FEB ALL BREEDS

By KENT WARD

A new breed event record of $42,500 was posted at the Annual February All Breeds Bull and Female Sale, CQLX, Gracemere.

Droughtmaster bulls saw an 87 per cent clearance at auction, setting a bottom-line average of $9384 for the 69 lots sold.

Averages slipped by $1685 a head over the previous year, while clearance levels dipped by 10 per cent over the same period. Counterbalancing these figures was the fact that an extra 33 bulls sold through the ring as compared to the 2022 sale.

The breed recorded the second highest price overall at the sale with Bryvonlea Wallace (PP) offered by Brian and Yvonne Heck and family, Bryvonlea Stud, Glastonbury.

Wallace (Redskin Kalahari) (27-months) (785kg) (12/8mm) (144 EMA) (5.1 IMF) sold to Mac and Gayle Shann , Lamont Stud, Clermont.

Under bidder on the record breaker was Ken and Debbie Rutherford , Redskin Stud, Morinish.

Five lots from Bryvonlea posted a sale average of $18,100. Other buyers of the Bryvonlea draft were Shane and Cassye Eden , Kilmore, Springsure and Jellinbah Pastoral Company, Cotherstone, Dysart.

Andrew McKenzie , Hamadra Stud, Bluff came away with a $16,429 average for his seven.

These topped at $22,000 for a 23-month-old son of Vale View Arizona 2 (P), Hamadra Lex (PP) going to Steve and Vicki Bottomley, Monash, Blackwater.

The Hamadra draft included two others at $20,000 sired by Arizona and Hamadra Hunter (P) selling to Gavin and Anna Winten , Kalbar Pastoral Company, Alpha and Greg and Vicki Lawrence, Kendah, Wowan respectively.

Wayne Barnes and family, Waylanbar Stud, Emerald posted a $12,833 average for their six. These topped at $16,000 for a PP son of Glenlands Utopia aged 26-months selling to the Keitley family, Monto.

Gunalda prefix, Seymour Stud, operated by Rob and Kirstie Orphant and family scored a $9250 average for their four topping at

$12,000 for a 28-month-old by Seymour Go-Pro (Calioran Callum).

Chris Turner, Maunsell Park Stud, Gympie secured a $9667 average for his trio of Glenlands D Quart (P) sons that topped at $14,000 with that entry selling to John, Angela, Charlie and Liz Frith , Glen Arden, Esk.

Roger and Carol Webber, Tajana Stud, Cloyna took a $10,333 average for their three by Rockdale Marvelous (P) (Glenlands Quicksilver (ET) (P)) that topped at $13,000.

Doug and Juanita Birch , Birch Stud, Eidsvold averaged $8200 for their six topping at $10,000 for a two-year-old herd bull.

Glenn Valley Stud principals, David and Alice Schloss , Goovigen averaged $7000 for their four topping at $10,000 while Allan Gillies , Gillmara Stud, Gin Gin averaged $4500 for his four.

Doug Miles, Trafalgar Stud, Morinish South set a $4667 average for his three while Rob Scanlan’s , Parawanga Stud, Mount Tom averaged $5500 for a pair.

Leona Smith , Lorandale Stud, Belli Park sold three at $4000 each while David and Anita Torrisi, Vitwood Stud, Harvey Bay took a $8750 average for four that topped at $13,000 for a son of Vitwood Sherlock (PP) (Glenlands Oliver) aged 29-months.

Don and Robyn Roberton , By-Mingo Stud, Coalstoun Lakes sold their single entry for $11,000 in the form of a 26-month-old by Wajatryn Landrover (P) (True Blue Lordz).

Sally Terry and family, 3D Stud, Haden sold a 3D Jefferson (P) son for $6000 while Andrew and Jessica Welsh , Wantmore Droughtmaster Stud, Kingaroy averaged $10,000 for a trio topping at $16,000 for a herd bull by Needmor 688 (Locarno Elvis) aged 24-months. That entry sold to Allingham family, Fletcher Vale Station, Charters Towers.

Nick and Rhonda Dudarko Kangarin, Biloela took with them an $8000 average for their three herd bulls that topped at $15,000 selling to Keitley family, Monto.

John and Bianca Collins , Annandale Acres Stud, Calliope averaged $7500 for their pair of sons of Craiglea Hercules (PP) (Fairhaven Casanova) that sold to a top of $9000.

One of the biggest supporters of the section was the Wight and Sibson families , Jellinbah Pastoral Company, Cotherstone, Dysart. Their haul of five head averaged $12,600 topping at $18,000 for a 22-monthold from Hamadra. Their other purchases came from Bryvonlea, Maunsell Park and Tajana.

• Agents: Elders, Nutrien Ag Solutions and Stocklive.

Top selling $42,500, Bryvonlea Wallace (PP) with Josh and Brian Heck, Bryvonlea Stud, Glastonbury with Alison Atkinson, who represented buyers, Mac and Gayle Shann, Lamont Stud, Clermont.

DROUGHTIE VENDORS REGISTER HIGHLANDS BULL SALE SCORCHER

By CLARE ADCOCK

Highlands Droughtmaster group set record sale average at 2023 sale

AT THE FALL of the hammer of the 32nd annual Highlands Droughtmaster bull sale in Clermont, 57 of the 60 bulls on offer sold to a clearance of 95 per cent at an average of $11,912, surpassing last year’s average by $1128 and equalling the top price of $26,000.

Ten vendors achieved a record overall sale average.

Top price honours once again went to the Geddes family of Oasis Droughtmasters, Rockhampton, selling Oasis Sovereign to the Carter family Jemcar Droughtmasters, Widgee for $26,000.

The 23-month-old poll son of Glenlands Altitude weighed 825 kilograms, posting an eye muscle area of 134 square centimetres, a scrotal circumference of 41 centimetres, and rib and rump fat measurements of seven and 10 millimetres.

Maddy Carter was there on the day to buy the bull on behalf of her brother Ethan, who had the sire picked out in his catalogue.

“We need a bit more bone and a bit more flesh, so we were looking for that, and he’s got plenty of loose skin, a nice top line and excellent bone,” she said.

“He’s put together really well and was exactly what we were looking for.”

Maddy said the bull would go back into their Droughtmaster stud herd and get straight to work.

The top priced Oasis Sovereign, with vendor Adam Geddes, Oasis stud, and buyer Maddy Carter, Jemcar Droughtmasters. Pictures: Clare Adcock

“He’ll go over a run of heifers who are musclier, so we’re hoping he’ll put a bit more softness back into the calves,” she said.

The Geddes family also offered the second top seller, Oasis Maverick, which sold to the Schloss family, Goovigen, for $25,000. There was plenty of action from commercial buyers, such as Nebo outfit, Wotonga Grazing which secured nine bulls at an average price of $12,555, and Stratford Pastoral which took eight bulls home to Mt Coolon for an average of $7750.

The Caldwell family, Ironpot, also purchased two bulls at $22,000 apiece, from the Perry family,

Clermont, helping them to an impressive average of $16,125.

Elders agent Randall Spann said the record average was a strong result, delighting vendors.

“I thought it might have been back a bit this year with the correction in the cattle market, but it’s certainly proven to be a very strong sale again,” he said.

“A lot of people were a bit worried with the correction, which you’d expect to flow through into this job, but it certainly held strong with a very good lineup of bulls.”

• Courtesy of Queensland Country Life

Vale View, Manumbar: four sold, $12,250 average.

Calco, Rolleston: three bulls sold, $6000 average.

Almafi, Dingo: two bulls sold, $9000 average.

Cairo, Clermont: nine sold, $9777 average.

Redskin, Mornish: four sold, $13,500 average.

Medway, Bogantungan: six sold, $12,333 average.

Huntly, Comet: nine sold, $11,111 average.

Strathfield, Clermont: eight sold, $16,125 average.

Oasis, Rockhampton: three sold, $22,333 average.

Kenlogan, Clermont: eight sold, $10,250 average.

• Selling agents: Elders, GDL & Nutrien simulcast on Stocklive.

RECORD MONEY PAID FOR FEMALE ICON

A National Female Sale record top price of $37,000 was paid on March 11 at the Gympie Saleyards for Oasis A Miss Icon. The 14-month-old daughter of Glenlands D Arbor, out of Miss Lace, sold to Troy Mitchell, THEG Droughtmasters Emerald Beach, NSW.

The sale’s second top-price honour went to a first-time vendor as Tomawill Giggles was knocked down to Simon Kinbacher, Garthowen Droughtmasters, Biggenden for $35,000, on behalf of Tomawill Droughtmasters, Templin. A full post sale report is available on the Droughtmaster website www.droughtmaster.com.au

All buyers, under-bidders and vendors are thanked for contributing to a successful sale. Next year’s 43rd National Female Sale is scheduled for March 9.

Buyer Wayne Caldwell, Ironpot, with one of his $22,000 purchases from vendor Shane Perry, Strathfield.

DROUGHTMASTER BREEDERS SOW SEEDS OF SUCCESS ON LYNDON STATION

By BRAD COOPER

With a cow-calf enterprise spanning almost 5000 square kilometres in country where the climate is best described as “erratic”, Western Australia’s D’Arcy family have built a resilient beef business by combining agility with flexibility, supported by the adaptable Droughtmaster breed. Third generation producer Sean D’Arcy has run the Lyndon Station operation for about 20 years, a family enterprise that started with his grandfather who took up management in the 1930s. His parents Tim and Christine purchased the property in the 1970s and remain active in the business.

In the 1990s, the sheep and wool operation stretching across the Gascoyne and Pilbara transitioned to cattle, first supplying animals to the live export trade before shifting focus towards onshore processing. To access southern WA abattoirs, the D’Arcys acquired farms two

hours north of Perth, where cattle are finished on grass and selffeeding grain rations to between 400 and 500 kilograms liveweight.

“We get them as heavy as we can, as fast as we can, before they cut teeth,” Mr D’Arcy said.

A Droughtmaster breeding herd of about 4000 head is mated to both Droughtmaster and Red Angus Droughtmaster cross sires for 12 months of the year.

With no set joining or calving season, Mr D’Arcy must manoeuvre his management around the seasons and the market.

“The Gascoyne can be very unreliable in terms of rainfall, with equal chances of summer and winter rain,” he said.

“Some of our cattle go direct to the farming properties following weaning, others spend six months on the station and then a further six months on the farms depending on where the feed is.

“When you live in one of the least reliable rainfall climates in Australia you must be very flexible and have a breed that flexes with you.

“You need to be very open and agile in your decision making and always stock conservatively to maintain body score and rangeland health.”

Achieving consistency and quality is supported by a feeding program for cull heifers in the tagasaste paddock on one of the farms.

“It works really well, it’s a great model,” Mr D’Arcy said.

“They’ve got access to pasture and browse as well as a grain ration.

“Our heifers are gaining about 1.7 kg per day, very acceptable for a non-intensive operation.”

After arriving at the farm, cattle are backgrounded on perennial pasture such as Rhodes grass and panic grass, tagasaste (otherwise known as tree lucerne) and annual pasture before some are inducted into an off-farm feedlot usually between 400-500 kilograms.

The D’Arcy family on Lyndon Station, from left: Dean, Cath, Arabella, Leslie, Saphina, Sean and Griffin.

“We have a fantastic team, both on station and on farm which makes our flexible management approach possible,” Mr D’Arcy said.

With reliable rainfall always in doubt, and market dynamics somewhat fluid, Mr D’Arcy is thankful for choosing Droughtmaster as their foundational beef breed.

“The decision to go with Droughtmaster was pretty simple - it’s a dual-purpose animal with all the survivability of a Brahman but gives you access to more markets with higher weight for age,” he said.

Lyndon Station maintains stability in its Droughtmaster content with bulls that are run with females at a ratio of between 3-4 per cent.

About 100-120 Droughtmaster and Red Angus cross bulls are kept on the property each year.

The Droughtmaster sire battery derives from the influence of Leichhardt Droughtmaster stud, which the D’Arcys purchased in 1995, launching their own stud breeding operation.

The stud is no longer registered but continues as a bull breeding herd.

“The Leichhardt stud was founded on fantastic genetics and in recent years we have bolstered those with bulls mainly from Glenlands and Fieldhouse Droughtmaster studs over the past 30 years,” Mr D’Arcy said.

“Our Droughtmaster cattle offer fertility and functionality and have ability to cover large distances between watering points.”

With an average annual rainfall of about 250 mm, and the biggest rainfall months in February and June, Lyndon Station will complete one muster each year, usually in August-September.

Mustering is completed using fixed wing aircraft, sometimes a helicopter, horses and motorbikes.

“We are focussed on stress-free stock handling and put a lot of emphasis on weaner training, ensuring they continue to be easy handling even with low levels of human interaction throughout the year,” Mr D’Arcy said.

“We train our staff in stressfree handling techniques prior

to mustering, investing in the future behaviour of our herd.”

Droughtmaster cattle in the Gascoyne calve very easily, with a long-term turn-off ratio at about 83 per cent at Lyndon Station.

“That’s the most meaningful number in my opinion, the number of calves you can get to sale,” Mr D’Arcy said.

“We focus very heavily on fertility and we’re careful with our stocking rate. This helps us to be sustainable and consistently productive in a challenging environment.

“Keeping our breeders in reasonable condition and in a stress-free state also reduces the risk of dog predation.

“The Droughtmaster cow is highly protective which allows us to have some dog burden as is required in this country to manage total grazing pressure, especially keeping kangaroo numbers in check.

“We are an organic, low input operation in a very uncertain climate.

“The Droughtmaster breed is the obvious choice for our business.”

“ When you live in one of the least reliable rainfall climates in Australia you must be very flexible and have a breed that flexes with you.”

Low-stress stock handling using horses is employed at Lyndon Station.

2023 VENDORS

New Farm Nindethana

Oakmore

Sommer Sugerland

Tafon

Bryvonlea

Bundy

Caldy

Farogan Valley

Garthowen

High Country

Oasis

Oasis A

Palmvale

Parklands

Talaringa

Telemon

True Blue

Trueblue J

Jackoben

Jasanda

Jemcar

Kangarin

Kenview

Kirala

Koota Park

Kurrawong

Lamont

Lazy A

Mungalla Needmor

Pine Valley

Redskin

Redskin R

Ridgie Didge

Rondel

RSVP

Sylvan Springs

Sakensha SC

Sevenangle

Seymour

Seymour R

Seymour T Skye

Smithy's

Vale View

Vale View M

Valley-View

View Field

Vitwood

Wantmore

Waringle

Wisetree

Waylanbar

Waylanbar J

Yaralla

Yimin

Yimin CD

UPCOMING SALES

AUGUST 18

Fitzroy Crossing Invitational Bos Indicus Bull Sale Droughtmasters to dominate WA event

Droughtmaster will comprise the largest portion of the 2023 Fitzroy Crossing Invitational Bos Indicus Bull Sale with 64 bulls from four studs lining up in front of bidders at the Fitzroy Crossing rodeo grounds on August 18.

Long-time vendors Don and Robyn Roberton, By-Mingo Droughtmasters; Steve and Claire Farmer, SC Droughtmasters; LR & LI Philp, Sevenell & Lynsey Park Droughtmasters; and Michael and Tracey Flynn, Valera Vale Droughtmasters have prepared the Droughtmaster draft.

Vendors select bulls for the sale specifically suitable for northern Australia. All bulls are either polled or scurred, clean coated and carry a tidy sheath with a good temperament.

All bulls will be semen and morphology tested and will include a full vaccination history. Bulls will be available for inspection at the Fitzroy Crossing rodeo grounds from August 16 or enroute at Cloncurry on August 9 and Katherine August 11-12. Freight assistance may be available on return route by pre-arranged agreement. The catalogue will be available either on the Droughtmaster website www.droughtmaster.com.au or from the agents NRS Broome. The sale will also be livestreamed via nrsbroome.online.events

• Contact Ken Bryant, NRS Broome 0437 081 468 or Droughtmaster sale co-ordinator Steve Farmer 0428 347 555.

VENDORS SELECT BULLS FOR THE SALE SPECIFICALLY SUITABLE FOR NORTHERN AUSTRALIA.

High Country Bull and Female Sale, Eskdale

Whiskey to star at stud’s 10th anniversary celebration

Bidding is expected to be spirited for the sons of $160,000 Rondel Whiskey appearing in front of buyers for the first time at the 10th Annual High Country Droughtmaster Bull and Female Sale on August 19.

In addition to Whiskey’s progeny, High Country will also offer ample sons from their ‘tried and true’ sires such as their leading EBV performer, Glen Fosslyn Idol.

More than 50 bulls and 30 females with the genetics of 18 different sires will be featured in the catalogue, guaranteeing animals to suit most requirements and budgets.

The depth of High Country’s catalogue reflects their breeding objectives centred on fertility, growth, performance and commercial relevance.

The stud’s 400 Droughtmaster breeding females have been selected to produce quality sale bulls and females as well as crossbred weaners in the commercial operation.

The commercial side of the enterprise allows High Country to create more performance data on their genetics, ensuring the operation remains focused on commercial beef production traits.

177 (AI)(ET)

UPCOMING SALES continued

► High Country Bull and Female Sale, Eskdale cont’d

The sale date on August 19 provides an early opportunity to gain genetics from some of High Country’s quality sires and dams, helping buyers to rebuild herds or improve their current stock.

“Having an efficient and fertile female is critical in obtaining good returns from your business,” stud principal Paul Laycock said.

“Consider buying bulls early in the season that have been comprehensively tested for fertility and soundness with the best guarantees in the breed.

THE OPERATION REMAINS FOCUSED ON COMMERCIAL BEEF PRODUCTION TRAITS

“Bulls are fed to our specifications, which allows us to showcase their capabilities, without overfeeding and risking damage to their semen quality or longevity.

“We look forward to welcoming you on sale day where we will have special 10 year anniversary celebrations.”

• Visit High Country’s Facebook page or website or call Steph Laycock 0428 094 456.

SEPTEMBER 02

Bunya Bull Sale, Coolabunia Burnett fixture ‘brings the firepower’ for 10th event

Bull buyers will be spoilt for choice as 89 bulls from 26 vendors are catalogued for the 10th Annual Bunya Bull Sale at the Coolabunia Selling Complex, Kingaroy on September 2 starting at 11am.

The large and diverse offering of genetics brings the firepower to breed anything from vealers to bullocks or a new stud sire in a ‘value for money’ environment.

Bulls are available for inspection from 3pm September 1 at the selling complex. All bulls will be vaccinated with a minimum of 5 or 7 in 1, 3 germ blood and 3-day sickness.

All registered bulls will be offered with DNA sire verification, horn/poll and pompes testing. They will be weighed, mouthed, scanned and carry a minimum semen motility of 60 per cent.

Bulls will be pre-treated for ticks and pre-scratched allowing immediate delivery to clean country following the sale. There is a clearing dip onsite.

The sale vendors will offer “free freight” on all bulls purchased to saleyards at Gympie, Biggenden Eidsvold, Dalby, Toogoolawah and Beaudesert.

Buyers will have the opportunity to attend the sale in person or alternatively to use the Elite Livestock Auctions online bidding platform.

• Selling agents: Mark Duthie, GDL 0448 016 950; Midge Thompson, ALL 0427 710 018.

• Sale contact: Graham Brown 0427 779 707

UPCOMING SALES continued

SEPTEMBER 06

Piggott Bull Sale

Virile bulls ready for business at Springsure

PIGGOTT BULLS will be fit and firing when they are presented for sale in front of buyers on September 6 at Springsure Showgrounds.

Sires this year are dominated by home bred bulls, notably Aldinga His Nibs (Aldinga Davey Jones); Aldinga Impossible (Davey Jones); Aldinga Kindly (His Nibs) and new standout sire Aldinga Kirk (Sugarland Honda).

Outside sires include the hugely successful and consistent Rosewood Leroy as well as Bryvonlea Rolex, Redskin Kung Fu, Redskin Longbrew and Calco Deputy.

BULLS

FROM THE PIGGOTT OPERATION ARE FED A SELF-LIMITING PROTEIN MEAL

Bulls from the Piggott operation are fed a self-limiting protein meal (cotton seed, copra and canola) based pasture supplement from weaner age to generate consistent growth and development from weaning.

By practising their foraging ability and maintaining their grass gut health - all without a high intake of grain, which has adverse effects on fertility, feet, and longevity – the bulls will maintain their body condition for longer than a grain fed bull post sale.

Bulls are selected on temperament (if he is not quiet, he’s not in the sale), fertility (all bulls are motility and morphology tested) and good conformation (tidy underlines and great feet).

DNA Sire Trace has been used since 2014 and a large percentage of the herd now has full parentage results.

Piggott sells paddock bulls into Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland and have long term repeat buyers. One WA buyer has purchased about 400 bulls over the past decade.

SEPTEMBER 12 & 13

Droughtmaster National Bull Sale Benchmark sale books 500 plus for Gracemere

The 64th Droughtmaster National Bull Sale will take place over two jammed-packed days.

Australia’s largest Droughtmaster multi-vendor sale will see more than 500 bulls offered from 90 vendors.

The National Bull Sale 2023 page within the Droughtmaster website www.droughtmaster.com.au has all sale information including an online version of the catalogue (click on ‘request a catalogue’ button and follow links to photos and videos of all sale lots).

Buyers from the past three years will automatically be sent a hard copy of the catalogue.

Stocklive will be hosting the online bidding platform where you can view pedigrees, photos, videos and access the online bidding platform.

Viewing of bulls will be available from September 10.

Droughtmaster will once again be hosting “Drinks with Droughties” September 11 from 5.30pm.

UPCOMING SALES continued

SEPTEMBER 13 13 Glenlands Female Sale ‘Future-Proof’ females at Bouldercombe

The evening before the Annual Glenlands On-Property Sale, the Childs family’s operations will stage a ‘Future-Proof’ Female Night Sale at Glenlands, Bouldercombe, September 13 at 6pm.

The catalogue of females has been selected in a bid to allow prospective buyers an offering of future-proof animals that will enhance breeding herds. The cattle are backgrounded with time-proven and leading genetics that are relevant now and into the future.

Many of the heifers are regarded as ‘donor level’ animals and represent some of the core breeding families from within the prefixes. Another feature of the offering is the amount of ‘first release’ genetics available throughout the catalogue.

THE CATTLE ARE BACKGROUNDED WITH TIME-PROVEN AND LEADING GENETICS

The 30 females range in age from weanlings through to joined heifers. These animals include progeny from the operation’s leading IVF and AI programmes along with those produced from natural mating.

As per their male siblings, these females are all selected on potential donor material, performance, raw data, phenotype, genetic strength, commercial relevance, maternal consistency, and strength.

All females will be backed by a silage preparation and carry a complete DNA sire verified profile, PP tested data, complete dam breeding histories and where necessary pregnancy tests.

Daughters of leading retained sires such as Pacific, Rambo, Alabama, Waverely, Ulogie, U-Tube, Bite The Bullet, Whodat, Boundary Rider, Virtue, Amsterdam, Adaptable, BB King, Topshelf and Virtue feature in the offering.

Other sires represented in the catalogue include such notable introductions as Rondel Whiskey and Passfield, Ebony Hills Choirboy and Medway sires, Utopia and Umbercollie.

Leading donors represented in the offering include the donors, Bells ‘N’ Whistles, 4077, 2453, 4589, Glenlands Olympia and Ebony Hills Leotard.

Sells...

Lynsey Park Jagarra 4/22 (S)

SEVENELL GATSBY 1229 (P)

SEVENELL DA VINCI 1250 (S)

LYNSEY PARK KYLE 64/21 (S)

LYNSEY PARK JUMBUCK 9/22 (P)

SEPTEMBER 14

Glenlands Annual Bull Sale, Bouldercombe

New date but commercial relevance still king

The key driver behind the 2023 Glenlands Genetics Sale is still commercial relevance. The Childs family’s operations will sell 210 bulls at their annual on-property sale, Glenlands, Bouldercombe, on the new date of September 14 starting at 9am.

The 2023 silage prepared sale team will be one of the most youthful yet presented by the Childs families.

Early indications are that further enhancement and improvement has been achieved in areas such as performance, raw data, phenotype, genetic strength, potential sire material, commercial relevance, consistency and strength.

The Childs family have always maintained their operations are not solely data driven; they run a balanced operation, a performance proven herd through the success and assessment from their clients over many years.

This understanding and adherence to the key basics of fertility, efficiency, adaptability, and market suitability drive this offering of registered and purebred bulls. Comprehensive data and information have been assembled by the prefixes. The list includes a complete DNA sire verified catalogue, PP tested data, EBVs, carcase ultra sounds, performance recorded data, dam breeding histories and fertility tests.

These measures deliver even greater security for buyers with the operation continually subjecting their cattle to some of the most thorough procedural tests when it comes to fertility and data collection. This only enhances the quality of the bulls on offer.

This year’s team of sale bulls is drawn from Australia’s largest performance recorded Droughtmaster prefix and represents a gene pool of more than 50 registered sires.

The 2023 offering will have 33 individuals bred from extensive IVF programmes. These will be accompanied by sale team members bred via AI and natural mating, while including members of the highly successful 2022 and 2023 show teams.

SEPTEMBER 19

Carnarvon Classic, Rolleston

Carnarvon Classic offers leading bloodlines

Quality lines of premium stud and commercial focused herd bulls will be catalogued at the Carnarvon Classic sale held at the Rolleston Selling Complex on September 19.

The four participating studs Calco, Huntly, Oasis and Karragarra have again put together an even and commercial industry focused catalogue of bulls with genetics that are tested, tried and profitable.

Some of the leading bloodlines within the Droughtmaster breed are on offer from the four studs.

These bloodlines are proven in commercial paddocks all over Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia.

Although from four different studs, together they create an extremely even and diverse selection of bulls to accommodate most astute selection criteria.

All bulls catalogued have been selected with profitability in mind. With 80 bulls catalogued, it represents the best selection of bulls the sale has ever offered.

One of the bestselling points is Rolleston’s outstanding sale complex. It offers genuine commercial and seedstock breeders a great opportunity to see bulls in big pens to accurately assess structure, conformation, and temperament in a stress-free environment.

“Buyers love the set up. There’s no disappointment when the bulls get home because the buyers have had great ability to assess their potential purchases,” sale spokesperson Sam Barton said.

• Elders Rockhampton and Emerald are selling agents and the sale will also be live streamed with Auctions Plus.

100 Bulls

1pm Monday 9th October Blackall Saleyards

YARALLA I CLONLARA I LOCARNO I NEEDMOR I WESTERN RED

UPCOMING SALES continued

SEPTEMBER 20

Clonlara Spring Bull Sale, Glenmorgan

Oasis Sugar Ray sweetens Clonlara offering

The McCormack family will offer 75 bulls at their 35th annual Spring Bull Sale to be held on property Dilga, Glenmorgan on September 20.

The 60 Droughtmaster bulls are headlined by an outstanding line of Oasis Sugar Ray and Clonlara 16173 sons.

New season sires Yaralla Arthur, Wirrigai Mountbatten, Clonlara 19216 and Clonlara 19290 are exciting additions, while Clonlara 17253, Clonlara 17299, Needmor Emmett and Garthowen Xavier 2 also have a handy run of bulls in the sale. All Droughtmaster Bulls are Breedplan recorded and will be presented with a full suite of performance data.

The 15 Clonlara composite bulls are again an outstanding line of beef bulls with power, punch and exceptional fertility. These bulls are in use from Kununurra, WA to NSW and are performing exceptionally in a variety of environments. The composite bulls will breed progeny suited to MSA, Woolworths and Coles markets.

FERTILITY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE CLONLARA BREEDING PROGRAM

Fertility is the cornerstone of the Clonlara breeding program. The 60 Droughtmaster and 15 composite bulls on offer come from cows that are required to start calving as two-year-olds and raise a calf every year from a three-month joining period.

All bulls will pass a semen morphology test and are vaccinated for vibrio, 7 in 1, 3-day sickness, botulism and 3 germ tick blood. Bulls are also presented free of pestivrus and pompes. Free delivery is offered to most major centres.

The catalogue will be online by the start of September and online bidding will be available through Elite Livestock Auctions. Inspection of the bulls is welcome any time and catalogues will be available through GDL Meandarra or by contacting the McCormack family.

Clonlara will also offer 12 bulls at the Artesian Droughtmaster Bull Sale at Blackall on October 9.

SEPTEMBER 21

The Cap Bull Sale, Gracemere Cap Bull sale offers 75 bulls in peak condition

Seventy-five high quality Droughtmaster bulls will be offered by Glenavon stud and Duncan and Karen Geddes at the Cap Bull Sale at CQLX Gracemere on September 21 at 11am.

All bulls are fertility guaranteed, semen and morphology tested. They have also been pompes tested and declared pestivirus free.

They have been weighed, mouthed and carcase scanned and given 100-day sale preparation with no hoof trimming.

Vendor will assist with freight to selected destinations.

UPCOMING SALES

SEPTEMBER 23

Droughtmaster Diamond Genetics Sale, Silverdale New Silverdale sale sparkles on the calendar

A new multi-vendor Droughtmaster sale will take place at the Silverdale Saleyards in the Scenic Rim in Southeast Queensland on September 23.

The inaugural Droughtmaster Diamond Genetics Sale will be offering registered and herd bulls and registered females as well as lines of commercial females from more than 30 studs throughout the southern corner of Queensland and northern NSW.

The sale, which is set to become a fixture on the Droughtmaster sale calendar, will offer buyers a diverse range of Droughtmaster genetics.

Southeast Queensland and northern NSW are huge growth areas for Droughtmaster cattle.

With demand for quality expanding, the Diamond Genetics Sale allows a range of stud breeders, both established and new members, an ideal opportunity to showcase the best the breed has to offer in a multi-vendor sale.

With endorsement from Droughtmaster Australia, the sale ensures all animals presented to the auction sale will meet stringent fertility requirements and breed excellence guidelines.

Silverdale is a modern livestock selling centre perfectly located to suit vendors and buyers alike.

Located on the Cunningham Highway, the saleyards have a clearing dip which will allow buyers the ease and confidence of transporting bulls and females into clean country in Queensland and northern NSW on the same day as the sale.

The selling agents, Hayes & Co at Silverdale and Shepherdson and Boyd, Toogoolawah, are long-standing, experienced agents who understand southern Queensland markets.

For more information go to the sale website www.diamondgeneticssale.com or Facebook page.

• Agents: Peter Hayes (Hayes & Co) 07 5463 8099 or Vince O’Brien (Shepherdson and Boyd) 07 5423 1284.

• Sale coordinators: Justin Bowman 0407 938 684; Andrew Percy 0408 335 951.

SEPTEMBER 26

Central Reds Bull Sale, Emerald Central Reds offers ‘genetically diverse lineup’

THE 12th annual Central Reds Droughtmaster Bull Sale will be held at the Emerald Saleyards on September 26 starting at 10am.

The Central Reds Bull Sale team of vendors – Mostyndale, Kenlogan, Vale View, Red River, Konjuli, Seymour, Hillside, Wetheron, Molan and Strathfield 9JE – have compiled a quality, genetically diverse line up of 60 bulls for the event.

RBV Rural join Dane Pearce and the Nutrien team as the auction’s selling agents. Online bidding will be available via Elite Livestock.

All bulls are offered with an accredited cattle vet bull soundness evaluation, semen test and structural assessment prior to the sale.

A supplementary sheet will be available on sale day providing semen test results, scrotal circumference, weight, eye muscle area, IMF scans and poll gene test results. All bulls are pre-treated for ticks. Freight assistance will be available to some centres (conditions apply).

Bulls will be available for inspection at the Emerald Saleyards from 4pm on September 25.

• Further details including bull photos and videos can be found on the website www.centralreds.com

SEPTEMBER 27

Valera Vale On-Property Bull Sale, Augathella

Valera Vale

Valera Vale bulls ready for ‘real-world’ action

The Valera Vale on property sale at Augathella offers more than 50 years of selection for fertility and performance in a real-world environment.

With proven performance in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of WA, NT and Queensland, the vendor offers DNA genomic analysis regarding fertility and productivity drivers on all presented lots.

The 2023 sale will be opened by Professor Ben Hayes, co-creator of genomics selection in cattle.

The draft of 150 bulls are all polled, DNA analysed, sire verified morphology tested, silage prepared, and pompes and pesti PI clear.

Weight gain data and dam reproductive history will be provided.

• Free Delivery. Contact Michael Flynn or visit www.valeravale.com.au

SEPTEMBER 29

Medway on-property bull sale, Bogantungan

Decades in the making, Donaldsons launch debut

Ninety Droughtmaster bulls and 15 Beefmaster bulls will grace the stage of the first Medway Droughtmasters on-property sale hosted by the Donaldson family at Bogantungan on September 29 starting at 10:30am.

Feature genetics for 2023 include standout poll progeny by the rapidly rising top sire Medway Boston; Three high-growth January born IVF males that are a blend of Medway Shirtfront x Medway Sammalah (Masterkey) and the first offering of bulls by Glenavon 3679 whose 15 yearling mated keeper daughters just pregnancy tested 100 per cent in-calf.

BUYERS CAN ENJOY THE LANDSCAPE WHERE THE DROUGHTMASTER BREED HAS STOOD STRONG FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS

A penning system where bulls will be presented in larger yards for viewing will enable animals to move freely and exhibit natural disposition.

The Donaldson family encourages pre-sale inspections at Craigywarren, Capella or at Medway from the September 26.

With a vast family history and legacy embedded at Medway, and the new complex set beneath the Drummond Range, buyers can enjoy the landscape where the Droughtmaster breed has stood strong for more than 40 years.

“The consistency in type and commercial relevance that Medway bulls are renowned for will be on display in spades,” principal Hastings Donaldson said.

UPCOMING SALES

OCTOBER 09

Artesian Sale, Blackall Quality bubbles up from 100 quality sires

The 15th annual Artesian Droughtmaster Sale will be held at the Blackall Saleyards on October 9 at 1pm offering 100 quality sires from Clonlara, Yaralla, Needmor, Locarno and Western Red studs.

With genetics suitable for both stud and commercial buyers, the sale has built a solid reputation among Queensland producers in terms of quality, price and location. This year’s draft will prove no exception.

• Selling agent: Nutrien or sale manager Dean Allen 0427 962 439 (Western Red); Follow on Facebook for updates and sale catalogue. Online simulcast and bidding available at www.elitelivestockauctions.com.au

OCTOBER 14

Bullzeye Sale, Nebo

Bullzeye Sale makes a dart for Nebo

Bullzeye is targeting a new location in 2023, heading to Nebo Saleyards to avoid the congestion of sales in the Central Highlands.

Nebo is well located to attract buyers from as far north as Charters Towers, west to Clermont, south to Rockhampton and east to Mackay.

Bullzeye sale will have 80 bulls on offer targeting the numerous, large beef cattle operations in the region.

Industry leading studs returning to Bullzeye include Rondel, Hamadra, SC Grazing, Sugerland and Ramardoo, plus a further three new vendors debuting this year.

ALL EIGHT VENDORS FOCUS STRONGLY ON THE IMPORTANT CRITERIA OF KEEPING FERTILE, FUNCTIONAL AND CONSISTENT COWHERDS

Kalbar, Lazy-A and Waylanbar were chosen due to their consistent performance in the stud sale rings while their purchase history has created strong genetic lines. They will be an asset to the sale as they successfully run large commercial herds and hold some of the best Droughtmaster sires in Australia.

Another bonus when buying from Bullzeye is the female lines that the bulls are drawn from. All eight vendors focus strongly on the important criteria of keeping fertile, functional and consistent cowherds as it is the foundation of any quality beef breeding operation.

Bulls will be available for inspection at the Nebo Saleyards from Friday afternoon with a supplementary sheet and beer provided on arrival. Buyers can utilise the available transport assistance to their closest local centre.

• To keep up to date on further details, photos and videos follow the Facebook page, BullZeye Droughtmaster Bull Sale and website, www.bullzeyedorughtmasters.com

OCTOBER 16

CQ Invitational Droughtmaster Sale, Gracemere

‘Length and scale’ at CQ Invitational

About 75 bulls will be catalogued from nine vendors at the CQ Invitational Droughtmaster Sale at CQLX Gracemere on October 16 at 10am.

The bulls will be listed on the Stocklive platform allowing buyers to view or bid online from the comfort of their own home.

The CQ Sale offers buyers affordability, quality, and versatility. It is a sale that offers bulls with extra Brahman content or lower grade types, all exhibiting length, scale, and genuine breed characteristics.

Buyers can acquire a top-class stud sire, a bull to produce vealers or jap ox and everything in between, whatever their market requires.

• Contact Elders Stud Stock, either Randall Spann 0429 700 332 randall.spann@elders.com.au or Anthony Ball 0428 275 499 anthony.ball@elders.com.au or visit www.cqinvitational.com.au for more information and photos closer to the sale.

OCTOBER 20

Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale

Top genetics for all budgets at Roma

More than 150 bulls from 40 vendors will be offered with top genetics and for all budgets at the 27th Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale at the Roma Saleyards.

The Roma Droughtmaster Bull Sale 2023 page within the Droughtmaster website www.droughtmaster.com.au has all sale information including an online version of the catalogue. Click on the ‘request a catalogue’ button and follow links to the photos and videos of all sale lots.

• Viewing of bulls is from 3pm October 19 and we invite you to stay for refreshments and nibbles from 5.30pm.

• Elite Livestock Auctions will be hosting the online bidding platform – here you can view pedigrees, photos, videos and access the online bidding platform.

UPCOMING SALES

NOVEMBER 10

Monty Atkinson Genetics Sale, Charters Towers Offering northern Australia ‘industry-relevant’ bulls

The 22nd edition of the Monty Atkinson Genetics Sale will be held at the Dalrymple Saleyards on November 10.

Both Mungalla and Lamont studs have continued to invest heavily in genetics to consistently bring northern Australia livestock producers some of the most industry relevant bulls.

They come backed with structural soundness, quality temperament, growth, fertility and a larger percentage polled suited for northern Australia.

This has been evident with both Lamont and Mungalla replacement females attracting above average prices on AuctionsPlus and during the Northern Beef Producers Expo returning to the paddock to be used as future breeders.

Further success has been had with Lamont bullocks winning jap ox at the Northern Beef Producers Expo.

• MAGS is once again proud to partner with Elders with what promises to be an outstanding catalogue of Droughtmaster cattle to help add value to any herd.

NOVEMBER 25

Cream of the Crop Female Sale, Coolabunia

100 females rise to the top for end-of-year event

The Cream of the Crop Droughtmaster Female Sale will be held on November 25 from 10am at the Coolabunia Sales Complex, Kingaroy.

One hundred registered females are anticipated for the 10th instalment of this annual fixture. Inspections are welcome from 3pm November 24.

The sale will be again livestreamed through the Elite Livestock Auctions platform with online bidding available.

Last year’s sale results were in line with expectations, based on the cattle market at the time and seasonal conditions throughout most of Australia. The sale continues to

DAKABIN’S BLATTMAN BROTHERS GET GYMPIE BEEF’S SECOND HELPING

IT WAS A CASE of not one, but two highly valued education bursaries bestowed on Dakabin High’s Blattman brothers, Noah and Lincoln , at the Gympie Showgrounds and Turf Club in April.

The brothers were taking part with scores of other youngsters in the inaugural Gympie District Beef Liaison Group Incorporated Cattle Camp held over three action packed days.

One education bursary of $500, sponsored by Greg and Alison Dakin , would normally have been allocated to a competitor to use for further education or to attend workshops or courses in the agricultural industry.

With the two Blattman siblings in contention and equally worthy of the accolade, the Gympie District Beef Liaison Group Incorporated, matched the Dakins’ contribution to increase the overall purse to $1000.

The decision brought broad smiles to the boys’ faces but none bigger than that sported by Greg Dakin, who was awarded a bursary when he was young from the Gympie District Beef Liaison Group and wanted to give back to young people with a future in cattle.

A panel of judges made the unanimous decision that the Blattman brothers would be the joint recipients. The two young men will soon benefit from additional education.

The bursary was among a string of highlights captured across the weekend with 80 young folk aged 5-25 attending.

The program provided excellent opportunities for personal development and increasing selfconfidence through parading competitions, judging competitions, and public speaking, along with several novelty events designed to keep the camp fun and entertaining. Day one was jam packed with educational sessions, presented by industry professionals who donated their time.

Dr Justin Schooth kept the competitors interested with his reproduction and animal health talks.

Kai Blair from Blair Agri Advisors and Williams Stock Feeds highlighted the importance of good nutrition for cattle.

Barry McIntyre Tom Grady Rural and Emma Franz Nolan Meats enthralled the competitors with an interactive display of meat

cuts. Competitors were given the opportunity to paint the different cuts on a very patient steer.

Sean and Evonne Barrett , Konjuli Droughtmasters presented a livestock handling demonstration.

► to Page 7

GYMPIE CATTLE CAMP CHAMPIONS PANEL

Champion Handler, Isaac Day (Mudloo Pastoral); Reserve Champion, Mac Smith ( Vale View M Droughtmasters).

Champion Stud Judge, Riley Orphant (Seymour R Droughtmasters); Reserve Champion, Sianna Thompson

Champion Prime Judge, Thomas Orphant (Seymour T Droughtmasters); Reserve Champion, Riley Orphant (Seymour R Droughtmasters).

Education Bursary ($500) – Noah and Lincon Blattman

Holiday fun was on the agenda for those attending this year’s Gympie District Beef Liaison Group Incorporated Cattle Camp.

Young parader Sam Butcher leads out Seymour Sarah Nova during day two of competition.

Lot 45

SC 226043 (PP)

Fitzroy Crossing W.A

Shane Perry, Strathfield Droughtmasters held a captive audience of competitors and parents during his informative cattle structure session.

Shane used live cattle and a selection of cattle bones to demonstrate the importance of structural soundness.

Mikaela Ross Tafe Queensland was on hand for shed skills and an informative talk on opportunities for traineeships and apprenticeships in agriculture through Tafe.

Rob Orphant , Seymour Droughtmasters and Dave Smith , Vale View Droughtmasters provided valuable advice and instruction on leading and preparing cattle for the show ring.

Competition heats up

Day two started with informative talks from Terry Nolan Nolan Meats on what to look for when judging prime and stud cattle.

Terry also re-enforced the importance of structure and conformation and the way

it impacts the product and profitability of the carcase. Terry also spoke on marketing and the importance of the agricultural industry.

When competition began, older competitors mentored the younger competitors in handlers, prime and stud judging.

Brent Evens , Jen-Daview Limousin demonstrated what qualities he looks for in a good cattle parader. Brent then went on to judge the junior handlers competition.

Shane Perry was the overjudge for the stud cattle judging.

Barry McIntyre was the overjudge for the prime cattle judging.

Day three put on a show

A mock cattle show was the centrepiece of day three, enabling the competitors to use the skills and feedback that they had been given during the camp without the added pressure of competing.

EASTER FUN IN 2024

The committee has confirmed the camp will be held again next year in the Easter school holidays. If you would like to be involved or attend the next camp, please contact gdblgcattlecamp@gmail.com or the Droughtmaster Society.

CENTRAL QLD CAMPS AND CLINICS SHARE RARE SKILLS

TWO YOUNG Droughtmaster members have gained valuable cattle handling skills they’ll retain for a lifetime after an unforgettable experience exposed to the techniques of master cattlemen

Nilson Dornellas and Brett Nobbs

Nilson Dornellas, a renowned cattle handler from Brazil, was the special expert guest invited by Brett Nobbs to address participants of his popular NCC Youth Challenge cattle clinic at his home property, Inverrio, Duaringa, in Central Queensland.

The aim of the clinic is to establish healthy relationships between people and cattle, values that young Droughtmaster breeders

Riley and Thomas Orphant , from the Seymour stud prefix, will employ as they break-in future show animals.

The steps towards desensitising sale teams included reducing the flight zone using the throwing of ropes, followed by desensitising the cattle with ropes, canes, and bags from outside the pen, then reducing the flight zone even more from within the pen.

Contact between the handler and the animal is then increased. The preparation for haltering is the next step in the process, this process relies heavily on the use of gradual pressure and immediate relief.

The camp concluded with a sponsors’ lunch and presentations. The organising committee (Barry and Kelly McIntyre, Sean and Evonne Barrett, Rob and Kirstie Orphant) were overwhelmed by the amount of support and sponsorship the GDBLG Cattle Camp received.

“We would like to thank everyone for their support and for the tribe of parent helpers that made the event possible,” Kirstie Orphant said.

“The competitors were treated to pizza and ice-creams while the presentations were held. There was a mountain of prizes to be awarded thanks to our generous sponsors.

“The committee would like to thank the Droughtmaster Society for supporting the camp. Many Droughtmaster Society members also sponsored the camp, and we appreciate all the support received and sponsorship from Vale View, Bryvonlea, Rangeview, Binbirrim, Mudloo Pastoral, Konjuli and Seymour.”

The boys made special rope halters for this process, taking heifers from unhandled to leading and trusting within the four-day clinic.

The Orphant brothers, along with Addison Cooke, of Taruke Droughtmasters, had earlier taken a small team of five head to Junior Beef, a threeday camp at the Rockhampton Showgrounds on June 27.

The young show team represented the Droughtmaster breed well, receiving awards in the handlers, prime judges, and the herdsmen competition.

• Contributed by Kirstie Orphant

Thomas Orphant shows his growing cattle handling skills at the Rockhampton Showgrounds, while (inset) Thomas and his brother Riley, with Addison Cooke celebrate their achievements after the Junior Beef camp.

NEW START NEW VENUE BRINGS NEW LIFE TO FUTURITY’S ENDURING LEGACY

By BRAD COOPER;

Photos: JENNY UNDERWOOD

NOT EVEN THE DISRUPTION of last year’s event cancellation – for the first time in its near four decades long history –could stop the momentum of the Droughtmaster Futurity.

Perhaps it has something to do with the energy and optimism of youth.

The only show of its type in Queensland – exclusively for stud cattle aged 20 months and younger that sets a stage for young handlers to showcase their skills before the show season – the Droughtmaster Futurity has now taken a pandemic and a venue change in its stride.

Held at Gatton Showgrounds since its inception in 1986 until 2021, this year’s relocation to Toogoolawah Showgrounds drew more than 60

entries, comprising participants aged 6-16, to the junior events.

With five schools also sending teams to compete, local support was strong and bolstered by keen interest from exhibitors who came from Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, North Burnett and Gympie to write a new chapter of Futurity history.

It was only fitting that the two women who started the Futurity should also have been at the grounds to turn a new page with the youngsters carrying the Droughtmaster breed into the future.

The March event also marked something of a new beginning for co-founder Val Evans , who at 82 years young will now wear the title as Droughtmaster Futurity Patron. Her co-founder, Margaret Wilson , was on hand to witness the history-making occasion,

Most Points by First Time Exhibitor: won by Yimin CD Droughtmasters, Chelsea and Daisy Burton, with their trophy donated by Droughtmaster Australia.

Co-founder of the Droughtmaster Futurity, Margaret Wilson, Truvalle stud, presents Riley Orphant, Seymour R Droughtmaster stud with the Truvalle Junior Herdsman Award, recognising a junior exhibitor who displays a strong work ethic and dedication to the welfare of their animals, and who has worked tirelessly and to the best of their ability to prepare their cattle for exhibition.

Co-founder of the Droughtmaster Futurity, Ray Phillips presents the Ray and Desley Phillips Youth Encouragement Award to Thomas Orphant, of Seymour T Droughtmaster Stud. The award acknowledges a competitor who competes in both the junior judges and junior parader competitions and displays enthusiasm, passion and skill.

Futurity Patron Val Evans presents the Neil and Val Evans Youth Excellence Award to Mackenzie Taylor, recognising a competitor who competes in both the junior judges and junior parader competitions and displays excellence in their performance across both events.

which Mrs Evans acknowledged as an honour to receive.

The two women started the Futurity with their husbands Neil Evans and Peter Wilson , both deceased, along with fellow stud breeder and inaugural judge, Ray Phillips , Sunny View stud, Kingaroy.

The aim, as Mrs Evans explained to Droughtmaster Magazine was to provide a platform for Droughtmaster breeders to showcase their rising sires and matrons, and to finesse the skills of young people still learning the art of handling and preparing show cattle.

“It’s just been marvellous, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” she told Droughtmaster Magazine

When Margaret Wilson, of the now dispersed Truvalle stud at Blackbutt, was honoured by fellow stud breeders for her contribution to supporting Droughtmaster studs throughout southeast Queensland at the 2021 event, she explained that being a Droughtmaster breeder meant making a lot of friends, “who in time become more like family”.

The legacy Val Evans and Margaret Wilson helped establish and sustain is creating opportunities for the next generation, illustrated by the Toogoolawah Showgrounds venue teeming with young people hungry for more experience in the show ring.

The depth of the catalogue, oozing structural correctness and sound temperament across the classes, tested the skills of judge Steven Farmer, SC Droughtmasters and his associate, Josh Steinhardt , Highstone Droughtmasters.

The two young men had their work cut out assessing the attributes of true-to-type Droughtmasters bearing slick coats that stood well and displayed smooth and strong movements that were quiet to handle and lead around the show ring.

FUTURITY HIGHLIGHTS

THE TWO-DAY EVENT kicked off with a Handlers’ workshop conducted by Graham Brown Toogoolawah Show Society did a fantastic job of preparing the facilities (and keeping them clean all weekend); they kept exhibitors and onlookers well fed with their canteen running during the day and a delicious two-course meal on the Friday night.

Major sponsor was Seymour Toyota – Toogoolawah

In the end there could only be one supreme exhibit, with final accolades bestowed on the grand champion bull Seymour Noah, of Rob and Kirstie Orphant’s Seymour Droughtmaster stud, Paterson.

In the female portion of the catalogue, the event was a triumph for the Nindethana stud of Bronwyn Betts and Michael Hawkins , Camp Mountain with champion heifer claimed by Nindethana Nicky and reserve champion heifer going to Nindethana Natasha.

While the event is about the future, this year’s Futurity was not without solemn reflection, with Dakabin High the first recipient of the Elizabeth Boughen Memorial Most Successful School Award, named in honour of the young Droughtmaster breeder from Rosewood, who died earlier this year after a short illness.

A Droughtmaster Next Gen and junior stud member, Elizabeth was a regular exhibitor on the agricultural show circuit and was the associate judge of the Futurity at Gatton in 2021. Such was her passion for fostering a love of agriculture among young people, Elizabeth was on the cusp of starting a teaching degree at the

Other sponsors and trophy donors included Ariat, Droughtmaster Australia, Muffin Break Ipswich, Exchange Hotel Toogoolawah, Traveston Heights Droughtmasters, Major Droughtmasters, Kammholz Family, Cattle Breeding Services, Truvalle Droughtmasters, Nindethana Droughtmasters, Brisbane Valley Thirsty Camel, Amavale Designs, and Peddlars Rest Boutique Accommodation. Tremendous work put in by the committee, Droughtmaster Australia staff as well as the numerous volunteers (including ring stewards and pencillers) and Shannon Williamson who did a fabulous job on the microphone as the announcer.

University of New England before her untimely demise in January. The Elizabeth Boughen Memorial Most Successful School Award is awarded to the school with the most points accumulated across performance in parader classes, junior judges’ competition, placings in the general competition, herdsmanship, sportsmanship in the ring, student presentation, punctuality and attentiveness, as well as knowledge of their school and the animals that they are showing.

► Results, Page 73

Most Successful Exhibitor: won by RSVP Droughtmasters, with Droughtmaster Australia’s Jacinta Brown presenting the trophy donated by Ariat Australia to Graham Brown.

The Dakabin State High School team, proud winners of the inaugural Elizabeth Boughen Memorial Award.

Bryvonlea Wells

Lot 44

Bryvonlea

Wrangler (PP)

Lot 36

Lot 6

National Bull Sale

National Bull Sale National Bull

12th September 2023

Day 1 - Lots 36 - 47

CQLX Gracemere

Bunya Bull Sale

2nd September 2023

Lots: 6 to 13

Coolabunia Sale Complex

JBAS 7

Pompes Free

Pesti Negative

Horn/Poll Tested

DNA Sire Verified

Bryvonlea Xayden (PP)

(PP)

DROUGHTMASTER FUTURITY 2023 TOOGOOLAWAH SHOWGROUNDS

JUNIOR PARADER

LED STEER OR HEIFER

CHAMPION LED STEER OR HEIFER

Sponsored by: Exchange Hotel

Toogoolawah High

STUD CATTLE

CHAMPION BULL CALF

Sponsored By: Val Evans

RSVP Torpedo – RSVP Droughtmasters

RESERVE CHAMPION BULL CALF

Sponsored by: Seymours Toyota

Smithy’s Falcon – Smithy’s Droughtmasters

CHAMPION BULL

Sponsored by: Muffin Break Ipswich

Seymour Noah – Seymour Droughtmasters

RESERVE CHAMPION BULL

Sponsored by: Grashar Droughtmaster Stud

RSVP Shotgun – RSVP Droughtmaster Stud

CHAMPION HEIFER CALF

Sponsored by: Traveston Heights Droughtmasters

Smithy’s Firefly – Smithy’s Droughtmasters

RESERVE CHAMPION HEIFER CALF

Sponsored by: Major Droughtmasters

Oakmore Wallis – S Harms

CHAMPION HEIFER

Norma Kammholz Memorial Trophy

Nindethana Nicky – Nindethana Pastoral Pty Ltd

RESERVE CHAMPION HEIFER

Sponsored by: Cattle Breeding Services

Nindethana Natasha – Nindethana Pastoral Pty Ltd

GRAND CHAMPION EXHIBIT

Sponsored by: Margaret Wilson, Truvalle Droughtmasters

Seymour Noah – Seymour Droughtmasters

BREEDERS GROUP

Sponsored by: Nindethana Droughtmasters

1st: Seymour PAIR OF BULLS

Sponsored by: Brisbane Valley Thirsty Camel Superstore

1st: Seymour PAIR OF FEMALES

Sponsored by: Amavale Designs

1st: Smithy’s

SIRES PROGENY

Sponsored by: Peddlars Rest Boutique Accommodation

1st: Glenlands D Whinchester – RSVP Droughtmasters

PEEWEE – UNDER 13 YRS

Sponsored by: Droughtmaster Australia

1st: Thomas Orphant

JUNIOR 13 YRS & UNDER 15 YRS

Sponsored by: Droughtmaster Australia

1st: Lahna Hughes

INTERMEDIATE – 15 YRS & UNDER 16 YRS

Sponsored by: Droughtmaster Australia

1st: Mackenzie Taylor

OPEN – 16 YRS & UNDER 25 YRS

Sponsored by: Ray Phillips

1st: Kiara Hughes

JUNIOR PARADER

PEEWEE – UNDER 13 YRS

Sponsored by: Droughtmaster Australia

1st: Thomas Orphant

JUNIOR 13 YRS & UNDER 15 YRS

Sponsored by: Droughtmaster Australia

1st: Lincoln Blattman

INTERMEDIATE – 15 YRS & UNDER 16 YRS

Sponsored by: Droughtmaster Australia

1st: Mackenzie Taylor

OPEN – 16 YRS & UNDER 25 YRS

Sponsored by: Droughtmaster Australia

1st: Emily Anderson

MOST POINTS FIRST TIME EXHIBITOR

Sponsored by: Droughtmaster Australia

C & D Burton

MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR

Sponsored by: Ariat

RSVP Droughtmasters

Droughtmaster Futurity Perpetual Awards

VAL & NEIL EVANS YOUTH EXCELLENCE AWARD

Mackenzie Taylor

RAY & DESLEY PHILLIPS YOUTH ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD

Thomas Orphant

TRUVALLE JUNIOR HERDSMAN AWARD

Riley Orphant

School Competition

ELIZABETH BOUGHEN MEMORIAL MOST SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL AWARD

Dakabin State High School

DROUGHTMASTER DISPLAY JUDGED FARMFEST’S BEST

AN ENERGETIC team effort of measuring, welding, building, and designing new fixtures to improve presentation and upgrade safety for animals and handlers has paid dividends with the result declared ‘best display’ at this year’s Elders Farmfest event in Toowoomba.

An earlier start to allow for the upgrades and renovations gave the enthusiastic band of volunteers the opportunity for an almost total re-make of the Droughtmaster site, starting with the replacement of hessian to improve privacy, and the installation of a bracket and monitor to facilitate the continual screening of Droughtmaster footage.

Lighting upgrades and the installation of additional power outlets and new permanent signage were also completed.

The winning effort could not have been achieved without the support of Scott Malone, Rural Steel who supplied and delivered the steel, Ray White for his welding skills assisted by Stan Sorley, Cranbrook Printing for the signage, and Queensland Electrical Solutions for helping to install the signage, bracket, and monitor.

The team of volunteers who executed the winning result

included: Ray and Theresa White, Marylands; Jenny, Jack and Katie Simmonds , Marylands S; Stan and Cameron Sorley, Alma; Lynsey and Lyn Philp and Inga Hayes , Sevenell and Lynsey Park; Alex Holmes , Semloh; Sharon and Greg Harms and Drew Weller, Oakmore Park.

Blessed with unseasonably warmer weather, the site enabled the staging of a popular marketing seminar that was held on the first day of the event.

Facilitated by Kurt Viertel from Brother and Co, the seminar was

THREE GENERATIONS ON THE PADDOCK!

A special mention goes to Marylands Droughtmasters who had three generations assemble to present cattle at FarmFest. Jenny Simmonds, daughter Katie and son Jack, exhibited three Droughtmaster heifers in the “Fantastic Female” competition under the watchful eyes of Ray and Teresa White who were proud as ever of their progeny!

well attended, allowing the newly renovated space to be used to its full potential as a showpiece for the breed. More events of a similar nature are planned to benefit the Droughtmaster membership.

A steady flow of visitors over the three days kept the shed buzzing. Along with the display, Droughtmaster members were busy launching into the first lead classes with the “Battle of the Bulls” judged in a Tropical, British and European format under the watchful eye of judge Tammy Robinson

Droughtmasters were represented with three entries.

Results

Battle of the Bulls

Junior Tropical Bull

1st Oakmore Wendell

3rd Oakmore Wesley

Fantastic Females were judged on Thursday under the same format, with representation from Semloh, Marylands S and Oakmore Park.

Results

Junior Tropical Female

1st Oakmore Wanita

3rd Oakmore Winona

• Contributed by Sharon Harms

WINNING TEAM: Back, from left: Jenny Simmonds, Sharon Harms, Lynsey Philp, Drew Weller, Alex Holmes, and Inga Hayes. Middle, from left: Katie Simmonds, Stan Sorley, Theresa White, Ray White, and Jack Simmonds. Front: Jacinta Brown and Carley Stieler.

Photo: Jane Lowe, Queensland Country Life.

3D

Billabong

Billabong-JC

By-Mingo

Calaanah

Carlton

Carnudge

Clayfield

Coolibah

Cooly

Condamine

Dalmally

Eversleigh

Fernleigh

Fernleigh Star

Hamadra

Heitiki

Jembrae

Karon

Karragarra

Lynsey Park

Marylands

Marylands S

Mountview

Oakmore

Proline

Ramardoo

Sevenell

Seymour

Smithy's

Sommer

Stonebridge

Thommo

Vet School

Wallace Vale

Walm-ley

Wirrigai

Yackatoon

Yimin

Yimin CD

HOW IS THE NORTHERN BIN STEER PROJECT SHAPING UP

THE JOINT Northern BIN Steer Project between Droughtmaster Stud Breeders Society (DSBS), Australian Brahman Breeders’ Association (ABBA) and a consortium of Santa Gertrudis Breeders with funding assistance from Meat & Livestock Australia started in 2015 and is now in its eighth year.

The project has purchased nine cohorts of steers from Spyglass and seven cohorts of steers from Brian Pastures, providing data which is assisting in the future implementation of genomically enhanced EBVs through the “Single Step” analysis and a future Tropical crossbred analysis.

This is possible as the Brahman and Droughtmaster steers (from Spyglass and Brian Pastures) and Santa Gertrudis steers from Brian Pastures have been run together since birth, having only been split during the joining period of their dams in the Repronomics Project.

To date the Northern BIN Steer Project has purchased 3387 steers, of which 1372 are Droughtmaster. The sires of the project steers are either proven sires with many registered progeny (few of which have been performance recorded with BREEDPLAN) or young rising bulls.

Of these steers, 2586 have been carcase scanned and 2700 have carcase data collected in the abattoir.

2021 Kill Data

Spyglass number 21 steers

Spyglass number 21 steers were weighed, and carcase scanned on March 8, 2023, for P8, rib, EMA at Warraka. The Droughtmaster steers averaged 592 kg with scans of P8 fat 12 mm, rib fat 7 mm, EMA 78 cm2. The steers were slaughtered at Teys Biloela on March 31. Table 1 shows the raw average and maximum and minimum for the Brahman steers. The steers were sired by bulls bred from studs Breffni, Garthowen, Glenavon, Glenlands, Hamadra, Heitiki. Locano, Needmor, Oasis, SC, Seymour, True Blue, Valera Vale and Wajatryn

Brian Pastures number 21 steers

Brian Pastures number 21 steers were weighed, and carcase scanned on November 9, 2022, for P8, rib, EMA at Warraka. The Droughtmaster steers averaged 577 kg with scans of P8 fat 8 mm, rib fat 6 mm, EMA 74 cm2. The steers were slaughtered at Teys Biloela on January 20 with the Droughtmaster steers averaging 337 kg carcase weight with P8 fat 11 mm, rib fat 6 mm and EMA 82 cm2. Table 2 shows the raw average and maximum and minimum for the Droughtmaster steers. The steers were sired by bulls from studs Cashmere, Clonlara, Fairhaven, Garthowen, Glenavon, Glenlands, Oasis. Rondel, SC, Valera Vale, Wajatryn and Yaralla

Warraka

There are about 490 steers backgrounding at Warraka and 60 steers at Gatton made up of Spyglass and Brian Pastures no 22 steers. The no 23 weaners from Brian Pastures were transferred to Warraka on May 15, 2023 and Spyglass with transfer to Warraka after weaning in early July. Season permitting theses steers will be turned off a mixture of grass and Leucaena. If the seasons do not permit the steers will be finished in a feedlot.

Spyglass number 22 steers

Spyglass 2022 steers had their 400-day weight on November 2 with an average weight of 310 kg and a top weight of 378 kg and minimum weight of 234 kg. The steers are sired by bulls from studs Aldinga, Billabong, Clonlara, Fairhaven, Glenavon, Glenlands, Hamadra, Lisgar. Locano, Medway, Oakmore, Oasis, SC, Seymour, True Blue, Valera Vale, Wajatryn and Yaralla

Thirty-one Droughtmaster and 29 Brahman Spyglass 2022 steers are at the University of Queensland Gatton campus measuring Net Feed Efficacy (NFI) on both grazing pasture and feedlot conditions. The steers have had NFI data collected off grass for 26 days. The steers then went into the GrowSafe feeder in the feedlot where NFI was collected for 48 days. The steers will go back to Warraka at the completion of the trial.

Brian Pastures number 22 steers

Brian Pastures number 22 steers achieved their 400-day weight on November 2 with an average weight of 352 kg and a top weight of 418 kg and minimum weight of 294 kg. The steers are sired by bulls from studs Aldinga, Billabong, Bryvonlea, Garthowen, Glenlands D, Lisgar, Needmor, Rondel and Valera Vale

Both the Spyglass and Brian Pastures number 22 steers will be weighed, and carcase scanned in July

New sires for the 2023 steers are from Almafi, Clonlara, Dalmally, Hazelwood, High Country and Yarralla studs

For more information contact Paul Williams at ABRI email paul.williams@abri.une.edu.au

Spyglass number 22 steers held at University of Queensland, wearing NFI collars.

Table 1: Spyglass 2021 Droughtmaster steers slaughter results

Table 2: Brian Pastures 2021 Droughtmaster steers slaughter results

THE GENOMICS EXPLAINER

IF YOU’VE EVER wanted to know what genomics is, how it works, and how the inclusion of genomic information into BREEDPLAN analysis can benefit beef producers, then let this article give you the low-down.

What is genomics?

The genome is the genetic material of an organism –essentially all its DNA. Genomics is the study of the genome, while genomic selection refers to the inclusion of DNA information into a genetic evaluation and selection program (such as BREEDPLAN).

The DNA information (or genotypes) used for genomic selection is in the form of thousands of genetic markers, known as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). Genotypes containing these thousands of SNP markers are generated by analysing a DNA sample from the animal on a SNP chip.

To generate genomic information on their animals, breeders take a hair sample from their animals and request the breed society or a laboratory to do a genomic test on the sample. The DNA gets extracted from the hair sample, and the DNA is run on a SNP chip. The resulting SNP genotypes can then be used, along with pedigree information and performance information, in the calculation of BREEDPLAN EBVs.

How does genomic selection work?

When genomic information is not included in the BREEDPLAN analysis, pedigree information and performance data is used to generate EBVs.

When genomic information is implemented for a breed specific BREEDPLAN analysis, breeders will be able to take a hair sample from an individual animal, send the sample to the lab, and have the sample genotyped on one of the available SNP chips.

The genotype information needs to be supplied to the breed to be included in the BREEDPLAN analysis and used, in conjunction with pedigree and performance information, to generate EBVs.

For genomic selection to work, a reference population is required. The reference population

consists of thousands of animals which have both phenotypes (performance data) and genotypes.

The ideal reference population has phenotypes collected on all traits of economic importance and interest to the breed.

Genomic selection uses the known relationships between the phenotypes and genotypes of the animals in the reference population to calculate genomic EBVs for young animals.

There are several factors that will influence how well genomic selection works. Firstly, the size of the reference population is critical.

For genomic selection to work successfully in Australian beef cattle, a reference population with a minimum of 3000-5000 animals with both phenotypes and genotypes will be needed.

Secondly, genomic selection works best when the reference population is closely related to the young animal population for which genomic EBVs are being calculated.

For this reason, the reference population should be designed to represent the whole genetic pool of a breed, rather than just a subset of genetics within a breed. This is also one of the reasons why genomics will not replace performance recording – there is a requirement that animals from the next generation have both genotypes and phenotypes coming into the reference population over time.

What benefits can beef producers expect from genomics?

When genomics is implemented, a breeder will be able to take a hair sample from an animal and send the sample away for genotyping. The genotype information will be included in the BREEDPLAN analysis and used to generate EBVs. This will have two main applications for seedstock producers: EBVs can be generated for animals which do not have performance data.

Within any breed, there will be several animals which do not have performance information as they are from herds which do not record performance data. There are also several animals which are in BREEDPLAN herds, but do not have performance

information for some traits. This may be because:

• The animal is too young to have been measured for that trait. For example, a 200-day old calf will not have been ultrasound scanned, so is unlikely to have EMA, Rib Fat, Rump Fat or IMF EBVs. Where the 200-day old calf does have carcase EBVs, these are likely to be mid-parent EBVs of fairly low accuracy.

• The trait is hard and/or expensive to measure. For example, Net Feed Intake (NFI) is measured in feedlot trials where the animals are on ad libitum feed for nearly 100 days (including the pre-trial adjustment period). This makes NFI very expensive to measure, and thus NFI measurements are usually only collected on animals in progeny test programs. Retail Beef Yield is another good example; measuring Retail Beef Yield is very expensive because the carcase must be completely boned out and the individual retail cuts trimmed and weighed.

• The trait is only able to be measured in one sex. For example, Mature Cow Weight is only recorded for females.

• The trait can only be measured once the animal is dead. For example, abattoir carcase information, including Retail Beef Yield and Marbling, is only measured on carcases, and not from live animals. The beef industry utilises live animal ultrasound scanning measurements as a way around this problem, but the actual carcase measurements can only be done on dead animals.

• Even when an animal does have performance information, this information may not be able to be used effectively by the BREEDPLAN analysis. For example, when an animal is placed in a single animal contemporary group, its performance information cannot be used by the BREEDPLAN analysis to calculate EBVs. As a result, most animals in single animal contemporary groups have mid-parent EBVs until performance information can be collected on their own progeny or other relatives.

Whatever the reason an animal lacks performance information, the animal will either not have EBVs for the trait in question or have midparent EBVs of fairly low accuracy.

With genomics, such animals could be genotyped and get EBVS for a range of traits (provided that the inclusion of the genomic information into the BREEDPLAN analysis means that the EBVs reach the minimum accuracy threshold required to report).

Animals which are too young to be performance recorded for a trait could be genotyped at a young age (e.g. at birth) and get EBVs that normally they would not receive until they were much older (e.g. rising 2 year olds with scan data).

Similarly, where a seedstock producer wanted EBVs on stud animals for hard to measure traits, genomics would mean that relevant animals could be genotyped and EBVs generated using the genomic information. More accurate EBVs can be generated for animals with limited performance information.

Currently, a young animal with no performance data (either of its own or its progeny) will have mid-parent EBVs with quite low accuracy. With the addition of its own performance data and performance data of its progeny, the EBVs will change (depending on how well the individual and its progeny perform within their contemporary groups) and the accuracy associated with the EBVs will increase.

Genomics will “boost” the accuracy of BREEDPLAN EBVs; this benefit is most pronounced when the animal has EBVs with low accuracies.

For example, a young animal may have an accuracy of 30% for one EBV; with the inclusion of a genomic test, the accuracy for that EBV might become 40%. However, an older animal, which might have an accuracy of 90%

for the same EBV, would likely only have an increase to 92% accuracy for that EBV with the inclusion of genomic information.

In this way genomics can be considered like the addition of progeny performance data into the BREEDPLAN analysis; when the accuracy of an EBV is low, additional data has a large effect, and when the accuracy of an EBV is high, additional data has a small effect. The improvement in the accuracy of an EBV due to the inclusion of genomic information will vary for each trait (depending on the size of the reference population and the heritability of the trait) and for each animal (depending on how closely the animal is related to the reference population).

The applications of genomics as discussed above will allow seedstock producers to identify elite bulls and heifers at younger ages than is currently possible.

For example, consider an ET program where 10 full sibling bulls have been born. As full siblings, these ET calves will share on average 50% of their DNA (e.g. full sibling ET calves are not genetically identical).

These young bull calves, at marking time, will have identical midparent EBVs with low accuracy. Which one(s) should be kept as bull(s) for breeding purposes, and which ones should be steered? This is a difficult decision, because the breeder has limited knowledge of the genetic potential of these young bull calves, and thus has no way of differentiating these calves based on their genetic potential.

Figure 2B shows the Selection Indexes generated after the

inclusion

of genomic

information into the BREEDPLAN analysis.

As illustrated in Figure 2B, following the inclusion of genomic data into the BREEDPLAN analysis, the Selection Index values for these 10 full- sibling bull calves now range from $89 to $114.

As the breeder can now differentiate between calves on their genetic potential, the breeder can identify which of these young full-sibling bull calves has the desired genetics for their breeding program.

The breeder can now use the best young bulls for yearling mating. The use of one Selection Index is for illustrative purposes only; in reality the breeder would need to consider both Selection Indexes and individual EBVs of importance, and do a visual assessment for structure, when making selection decisions.

As the Figure 2 example shows, the power of genomics is the identification of elite bulls and heifers at a young age. This allows cattle breeders to make selection decisions at younger ages than are currently possible, and thus shorten the generation interval.

In turn, shortening the generation interval should increase the rate of genetic improvement, both for individual breeders and the breed.

For further information on genomics, contact staff at ABRI Extension Services.

This article is an edited extract of an ABRI Extension Services Technical Note originally published in 2016.

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