ON FARM SOUTHERN CATTLE Three steps to better bull buying For SA producer Scott follows three steps Scott Harlock, the to prepare for buying bulls work to achieve each year. genetic gain in his herd 1. Match production begins long before he goals with EBVs purchases a new sire. His first tip is to know what While he knows there’s merit you want to get out of a sale, in visual inspections, Scott and then match selections to does his homework before your business goals. he heads to bull sales to “Before we go to a sale, make sure he’s investing we work out what our in the right genetics for his requirements are during production goals. the period of weaning,” SA producer Scott Harlock uses genetic selection to breed more consistent lines of Hereford cattle. The value of this research Scott said. was reinforced to Scott whend “We review what’s working 2. Shortlist sires “By that stage, everything he attened a MLA Bred best for us and areas else you’re looking for in Wlel Fed Well workshop four Once he’s set and prioritised where we’d like to see EBVs, Scott shortlists sires a sire should already have years ago. He came home improvements. been determined.” w a clear direction of howith based on these parameters to select bulls which will “We then use Hereford as well as other factors such As a result of using EBVs work most successfully in BREEDPLAN to work out as calving ease and retail to focus his decisions for his business. the best EBVs to target our beef yields. buying bulls, Scott’s seeing key traits.” This means he doesn’t have improvements in his herd. “I didn’t really use Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) a Scott said it’s important for to sort through 90 bulls “Over the past four years lot until I attended Bred Well producers to know their when he heads to sales. I’ve started to see a more Fed Well,” Scott said. individual priorities when “By the time we get there consistent style of cow selecting sires, as each we’ve got a short list of 10–12and calf. Milking ability has “ThereI learned to centre improved and a stronger onthe key traits I wanted to business will have different bulls we’re interested in. genetic requirements. structure is coming up bringtomy operation. “We’ll cull this down to through the herd. “Using tools like His top criteria are: around 6–7 animals and then “This means I can cull harder BREEDPLANand Bred • EBV for 400‑day rank what’s left to match on the older cows, resulting in weight in the top 20% of our budget.” a younger herd which leads Well Fed Well, and the breed 3. Visual back‑up to the opportunity for new really paying attention • EBV for gestation length Once he’s at the sale, Scott’s genetics to come through.” ■ to the genetic merit and milk in the top 35% of final step is to visually ofan animal, is the breed inspect his top picks to make Scott Harlock E: office@hpco.com.au helpingus meet our • Mature Cow Weight sure they’re physically up long‑term goal of EBV to be less than the to standard. MLA Bred Well Fed Well 600‑day weight. workshops achieving a fertile, “We want to make sure our mla.com.au/ easy‑calving herd with “Depending on where you shortlisted bulls are well put bredwellfedwell are and what you’re running, together, have a strong gait a great temperament,” your focus EBVs will be and a good temperament,” MLA’s genetics hub he said. different,” Scott said. Scott said. genetics.mla.com.au SNAPSHOT:Scott Harlock, Bool Lagoon, SA lS Area: Enterprise: Livestock: Pasture: Soil: Rainfall: 970ha Commercial cattle 240 Hereford cows, Improved pasture Sandy loam 630mm and sheep 1,550 first‑cross ewes mix of fescues and phalaris 19