ON FARM NORTHERN CATTLE slaughter to assess their weight (at weaning of the calf SNAPSHOT: carcase data for the project, at foot) of between 450 and LESSONS but Kate said that will depend 550kg. To stay in the herd, LEARNED Peter and Kate on seasonal conditions. these breeders need to Moloney, ‘Wetlands’, “There’s no doubt we’ve reconceive within the same > There can be huge Augathella & ‘Glenba’, three‑month joining period variation in breeder Morven, Queensland had a hunch that our (November to January) best‑performing cows arethe moderately framed cows,without supplementation.> An improvedprofitability. l with the ability to lay down Starting young conception rate fat early,” she said. Kate said the yearling from yearling joining “However, what we really joining program makes a makes a considerable want to know is whether considerable contribution to contribution to yield in those efficient cows are their beef yield/ha. kilograms of beef/ha. also providing us highly “Our heifers are conceiving > Raising livestock in market‑compliant progeny. as yearlings, at up to 100kg natural conditions less than the industry without supplements Area: “There’s a fallacy recommendation of 360kg, enables observation Wetlands: 13,765ha out there that and calve unassisted as of genuine indicators Glenba: 6,073ha two‑year‑olds,” she said. of profitability. bigger‑framed cows Enterprise: produce bigger “We’re now seeing Organic beef production, conception rates in excess natural resilience to any parasites, eyes, structure and seedstock calves and this must of 90%, compared to 60% when we started yearling pizzle. We’re really looking Livestock: be more profitable, joining 20 years ago. This is for the bulls exhibiting Wetlands 1,200 breeders: yet the research has one of the most profitable early maturity and with the Glenba: finishing block for shown the contrary. genetic advancements within best ability to lay down steer portion and cull heifers the herd. We also have fat in a completely natural “With the higher nutritional the benefit of not carrying environment,” Kate said. Pasture: demand of bigger‑framed those heifers for an extra “With these measurements Wetlands:Wynn cassia, cows (given a set amount of 12 months, before they taken between April and buffel, Seca stylo, burgundy resources available), not only become productive.” October, our period of beans and sorghum do you have to run fewer of TheMoloneys selec thet oorest nutrition, we’rep in rotation them, but they often wean majorityof their bull calves able to observe genuine Glenba: Wynn cassia, buffel smaller weights of offspring fromthe progeny stofan elite genetic indicators, not ju per hectare. mobof breeders that are four phenotypic (physical) ones.” Soil: years and older, conceive in Wetlands:variable with “Adding to this, when While the project was fragile light sandy soils, the higher maintenance cycle one or two each year. completed in September range country to heavier requirements of a Theymust be of good 2018, and calf carcase scrub soils, red loams and large‑framed cow are not temperament,polled have, data won’t be available to black soils met, the first consequence aorrelate with the breeders’good coat, not be affected c Glenba: red and sandy soils is often for them to byflies, exhibit an early results until next year, the stop ovulating.” maturingpattern and loneysMobeable are still inspired Rainfall: The couple’s herd is based to lay down fat. to continue their journey. Wetlands: 600mm on an Angus composite with Bull calves are weighed “I feel like this is only the Glenba: 550mm about 30% Brahman content and scrotal measurements beginning,” Kate said. to ensure hardiness. are taken at weaning and peteandkate@activ8. 12 months. “Thanks to what we’ve net.au Kate said her father, learned in the project, Steve (who started the “We look for a 30cm we want to continue mla.com.au/fasttrack herd 20 years ago), put scrotal circumference by upskilling ourselves in a lot of thought into their 12 months and, within our technology to measure breeding objectives to own seedstock selection, not only performance arrive at a consistent type bulls are appraised within indicators within our herd – a mostly black, polled, their peer groups, off grass, but to also incorporate moderate‑framed animal for age, weight, scrotal better pasture and grazing with an average mature cow measurements, temperament, management tools.” ■ 19