Simmentals withstand the Queensland heat

Darryl Humphrey and his son Adam with some of their cattle in the yards at their property near Jericho in Central Western Queensland. PHOTO: Alexandra Humphrey

The Humphrey family said increasing the amount of Simmental in their Simbrah cattle had added more softness and length as well as improving temperament and weight gain. PHOTO: Alexandra Humphrey

Darryl and Alexandra Humphrey paid the sale top of $34,000 for Yerwal Est Rockhampton from Yerwal Estate Simmental Stud at the Queensland Simmental Bull Sale in July. PHOTO: Jacinta Cummins

Laura and Adam Humphrey are registering their Simbrah stud, 3HG, and aim to produce a grading 2 or 3 animal which is 90 percent Simmental and 10 percent Brahman. PHOTO: Alexandra Humphrey

Simmentals withstand the Queensland heat to deliver excellent growth for Jericho graziers

By Jacinta Cummins

DARRYL and Alexandra Humphrey have bred Simbrah cross cattle on their operation near Jericho in Central West Queensland for close to 20 years but started to focus on increasing the Simmental ratio in 2016.

Darryl explains the move is twofold: to take advantage of the Simmentals weight gain as they usually turn their cattle over direct to feedlotters and because of the limited amount of suitable Simbrah bulls.

“We’ve used other breeds which haven’t done as well in the dry heat out here; the Angus wound up in the troughs most of the time and they just didn’t perform for us,” he said.

“We are usually looking at mid to high 30 degree days in summer and can get heatwaves up to 45 degrees, but the heat just doesn’t worry them [Simmentals].

“Our cows have gone from averaging 260 kilograms dressed weight to 320 kilograms since we started using purebred Simmental sires.”

The Humphreys run their 30,000 acre property with son Adam and daughter-inlaw Laura and have used bulls from Gowrie Simbrah and Simmental Stud and Meldon Park and Clay Gully Simmental studs.

The Simmental bulls have improved the progeny’s softness and given them a smoother look with more length while getting rid of the Brahman hump.

Wanting to increase their gene pool as they rebuild their herd back up to 1400 animals after the drought, Darryl and Alexandra looked at bulls from interstate studs.

They paid the sale top of $34,000 for 27-month-old Yerwal Est Rockhampton from Regan Burow and Concetta Maglieri’s Yerwal Estate Simmental Stud at the Queensland Simmental Bull Sale in July.

Alexandra picked the 1014 kilogram beast with his length, breadth and his temperament appealing to both her and Darryl.

“We work well together looking at bulls and temperament plays a big part; we want quiet cattle to reduce accidents in the yards and he just looked like the right fit,” Darryl said.

The bull was put over Simbrah females in the paddock from August to October with the calves expected in July with an anticipated 95 percent conception rate.

The calving window was moved five years ago to avoid the summer heat.

Moderate calving size is key to management because while the family keeps an eye on the cows during calving, it’s physically impossible to cover the entire property.

They’ve found the Simmentals develop quickly when they hit the ground because of their impressive growth rate and frame size.

Weaning usually starts before Christmas depending on the season and the self replacing herd is grassfed as it goes through a four paddock rotation ranging from six weeks to a maximum of three months with supplements used when needed.

Steers are usually sold to Teys Australia’s Condamine feedlot at 18-to-20 months weighing 460-470kg for their 400-500kg bracket.

Cows are turned over from nine-to-10 years old with one lot which averaged 648 kg selling for 380.2c/kg to return $2465/head at Blackall Saleyards in September.

Other cattle are opportunity sold when the market is strong with some of their Simbrah cross heifers making 468c/kg, to reach $1391/head through Roma Saleyards in February, 2021.

Nutritionist Adam Brahim has worked with the Humphreys on supplementation for 15 years.

Adam has increased sulphur in the lick to control lice and flies and Darryl credits him with making such an improvement to their operation that he have followed him as he’s moved across the state during his career.

Adam now works for Nutri-Lick in Mitchell with 90 percent of the business’s output custom blending supplements to meet the needs of each clients’ different environmental conditions.

The Humphreys’ annual rainfall of 500 millimetres usually falls in spring and summer. They had received 600mm by early November, which is the highest rainfall in the last 11 years, so the season is promising heading into 2023.

This will affect feed availability and quality and determine how Adam blends and changes in the supplements for the Humphreys’ herd.

“When the cattle are on green feed over the wet season, there’s plenty of protein and the minerals will be the most limiting then so we increase the mineral component,” he explained.

“As the grass dries off, we’ll step the minerals down and increase protein.

“Darryl’s a good operator and what sets him apart from others is that he continues to invest in improvement just as much during a good season with plentiful feed as during a tough one.

“And it shows because if you look after your cow and give her everything she needs, it has a flow on effect.

“She makes more milk, mothers better and she gets back in calf quicker.”

With the prospect of a good season, Darryl, Alexandra, Adam and Laura are looking forward to seeing the progeny of Yerwal Est Rockhampton in July.

“He’s a totally different bloodline to the rest of our stock so we are hoping some of his best traits are passed on,” Darryl said.

“The Simbrah have worked well for us over the years, but with the Brahman being a bit stronger in the genetics, introducing purebred Simmy bulls has helped add a bit more softness and improve temperament to help us breed cattle which work well in our country and make a good profit.” Darryl and Alexandra will head to South Australia in 2023 to inspect a greater range of Simmental bulls in person rather than online.

Adam and Laura are registering their Simbrah stud, 3HG, and aim to produce a grading 2 or 3 animal which is 90 percent Simmental and 10 percent Brahman.

They hope to use some of the cattle in the commercial operation and sell the others into the growing Simbrah bull market once the stud is established.