Hybrid vigour pays off

Live weight: 740kg. Dressed weight: 420kg. Dressed: 55.4%. Age: 2yo.

Dentition: Two teeth. Breeding: Shorthorn x Brahman.

This two-year-old bullock is proof in the pudding when it comes to showcasing the benefits of using Shorthorn bulls over Brahman-based cow herds.

Melrose Station at Morinish near Rockhampton has been producing a string of of these quality steers and F1 females since it began integrating bulls from Tallangalook Shorthorns on the Atherton Tablelands into its Brahman breeding program.

The Mills family bought Melrose Station in 1893. Today it is run by fifth-generation descendant Jeff Mills and wife Karen and is a 600-head operation.

After many years of breeding Brahman cattle (including 20 years running a stud), the Mills introduced Shorthorns into their herd over the past decade in pursuit of greater market flexibility.

The Mills have long believed in investing in quality sires and have paid up to $13,000 for Tallangalook bulls.

Mr Mills said they now had a strong contingent of 80 Shorthorn cross breeders within their herd.

“This crop of calves from the Shorthorn cross breeders that are coming through are the best crop of calves we’ve had here,” Mr Mills told the Queensland Country Life in a recent feature article.

The bullock pictured above suffered a dog bite as a young calf soinstead of sending him to the meatworks, the Mills turned him out with the breeding herd to fatten for their own use.

“He just got better and better - when he was butchered I was amazed at how much he dressed,” Mr Mills said.