Over the past five years, the Ben Nevis Angus stud at Walcha, NSW has sold an increasing number of yearling bulls to Queensland graziers, particularly into Brangus and Santa herds.
When asked why, Ben Nevis Angus stud principal Stuart Halliday explains that these herds are seeking to improve fertility and meat quality, while maintaining easy care cattle.
When selecting bulls, they are choosing the Angus with the slick-coat gene that the Hallidays have bred for, along with bulls who have hit weight and fat targets earlier than their contemporaries.
Graziers transferring these traits into their own herds achieve an earlier puberty onset, with the ability to calve and rebreed quickly.
The bonus, according to Mr Halliday, is to have a flat back and black skin, with both features in demand.
He said these factors could have a huge effect on a business’s bottom line, both in terms of turnover and price.
“Given that Walcha is one of the coldest places in Australia it can be difficult to understand why the breeders would select a slick coat,“ Mr Halliday said.
“However, slick-coated animals have more than enough coat for a Walcha winter, maybe not a Canadian one, but we definitely do not see them adversely affected here.
“They still grow a thicker coat in winter but the key is that, that coat sheds quickly coming into the spring leaving a fine, silky skin.“
In the Halliday’s experience – and now with the latest Angus research EBVs as evidence – they find that those animals that “slick off“ earliest cycle quicker.
Furthermore, they have found those who record with a finer skin type scan higher for ultrasound marbling.
One reason Ben Nevis produces only yearling bulls (12 months and 18 months) is that research has proven they have lower incidence of breakdown than those sold and put to work for the first time as two-year-olds.
“Quite simply, this is because they are lighter and more agile when they are learning their trade,“ Mr Halliday said.
“The other bonus is that they adapt easier to differences in environment.“
To help the process further, the Hallidays sell their bulls in spring so the animals move to Queensland and the NT before the heat hits and they have time to acclimatise.
All are blooded and vaccinated for three-day sickness.
Stuart and Erica Halliday sell 120 bulls a year, with 80 to be auctioned on 11 September.
A feature is progeny of Ben Nevis Rambo, a trait leader for both marbling and tenderness (Shear Force) EBVs and the sire of the $230,000 Banquet Tom Cruise sold earlier this year.
Other sire lines include some of the first sons sold of Alpine Real Deal, a fine-coated, easy-doing, heavy-muscled bull with extra carcase quality under the hide.
Inspections are welcome by appointment and the sale, along with photos and videos, will be interfaced with Auctionsplus.
