Charolais Summer Magazine 2014

SUMMER 2014

AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CHAROLAIS SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA LTD.

CHAROLAISMAGAZINE

What Charolais do Best!

Minnie -Vale Charolais

ESTABLISHED 1972

www.minnievalecharolais.com.au

Minnie-Vale Charolais would like to thank all bidders and underbidders for a

successful 2013 sale

Why Minnie-Vale Bulls are an

Important Investment!

Minnie-Vale CharolaisJason, Doug & Sue Salier “Bexley”, Back Creek Road, Narrabri NSW 2390 Phone: 02 6783 4272 or 02 6783 4166

www.minnievalecharolais.com.au Email: [email protected]

2014 Sale

July 25

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We wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy

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Contents

CHAROLAISMAGAZINE

Message from the President 5

Vale Peter Bondfield 6

Office Update 7

BullSELECT Workshop 8

Upcoming Events 9

Vale Jack Henry 10

Australian Genetics Export Review 11

Benefits of BIN and Results 12-15

Royal Sydney Show 2013 16-17

NSW Youth Stampede 18

Charolais Carcase Competitions 19

Lachie McKenzie - Securing supply of quality beef 20-21

Charolais Sales 2013 23

Beef Production in France 24-25

World Congress France 2014 25

Ashwood Park Dispersal 26-27

Royal Melbourne Show 2013 28

Victoria Regional Report 29

Royal Adelaide Show 2013 31

Victorian Weaner Winners 33

WA Youth Camp 2014 34

Royal Perth Show 2013 35

Barbaro Brothers Butchers 37

EKKA Royal Brisbane Show 2013 38

Queensland Regional Report 39

Outstanding Regional Service Award 40

Royal Canberra Show 2013 41

New England Girls’ School 42-43

Beef Central Advertising 45

Bev Adams - Country Character 46-47

New Horn Poll Test 48

Sweden Technical Conference 49

Three Ridges Beef 50-51

St John’s College 52-53

Advertiser’s Index 54

12

18

20

37

46

CHAROLAIS SUMMER 2014 MAGAZINE 3

Con

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Cover: Lachie McKenzie secures quality supply of beef using Charolais bulls.

Charolais Society of Australia LimitedPO Box 772, Armidale, NSW 2350.Suite 6, 188-196 Beardy Street, Armidale, NSW 2350.T: (02) 6771 1666 F: (02) 6771 1561International T: (+61) 2 6771 1666W: www.charolais.com.au

General Manager:Terence Farrell [email protected]

Registrar: [email protected]

Finance Manager:Hayley Clark [email protected]

Member Services Manager:Lucy Main/Kristy [email protected]

Honorary Life MembersAnthony Hordern (deceased)Harry Wadds (deceased)J. Martin Lenthall (deceased)Rick Pisaturo AM

David DixonBill HayesJohn Sullivan (deceased)Harold Seeley AM

Trevor Cottee (deceased)Helen TrustumLesley MillnerRob MillnerMichael HargreavesAlex McLachlan AM

Gary NollerDavid Bondfield

Federal CouncilPresident:Keith Glasson“Kialla”, 189 McNally RoadGreenmount, QLD 4359M: 0418 716 476E: [email protected]

Vice Presidents:Chris Knox “Borah Station”, Borah Creek Road,Coonabarabran, NSW 2357T: (02) 6842 9101 M: 0427 600 278E: [email protected]

Heath Dobson567 Cluan Road, CLUAN, TAS 7303T: (03) 6393 1330 M: 0409 176 228E: [email protected]

Honorary Treasurer:Gary NollerPO Box 4695, Toowoomba East, QLD 4401M: 0408 700 949E: [email protected]

Councillors:David Ellis318 Fishermans Road, Coolup, WA 6208T: (08) 9530 3225 M: 0427 170 965E: [email protected]

Warren Miller250 Sheepwash Rd, Glenquarry, NSW 2576M: 0423 396 014E: [email protected]

Michael Osborne“Ryeview”, Box 387, Millicent, SA 5280M: 0408 838 568E: [email protected]

Graham Smith40 Stephensons LaneYarra Junction, VIC 3797.T: (03) 5967 1320 M: 0412 621 102E: [email protected]

Regional Office Bearers

NEW SOUTH WALES:Chairman: Gavin O’BrienM: 0427 359 447E: [email protected]: Kristie O’BrienT: (02) 6369 0600E: [email protected]

QUEENSLAND:Chairman: Jim WedgeT: (07) 4667 3999E: [email protected]: Penelope HindmanT: (07) 4627 6398E: [email protected]

VICTORIA:Chairman: Chas ArmytageT: (03) 5354 1248 E: [email protected]: Gwen RobinsonT: (03) 5156 6397E: [email protected]

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:Chairman: Michael OsborneT: (08) 8733 3393 E: [email protected] Secretary: Rob MartinT: (08) 8210 5229E: [email protected]

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:Chairman: Robin YostT: (08) 9574 2035E: [email protected] Secretary: Jan GaffneyT: (08) ) 6263 3100E: [email protected]

TASMANIA:Chairman: Heath DobsonT: (03) 6393 1330E: [email protected]: Samantha DobsonT: (03) 6393 1330E: [email protected]

SBTS Technical OfficerChristian DuffT: (02) 6773 2472E: [email protected]

Opinions expressed in articles in this publication are notnecessarily those of the Editor or the Council of theCharolais Society of Australia Ltd. Neither the Editornor the Charolais Society of Australia Ltd takes anyresponsibility for the accuracy of the informationcontained within this publication, nor for the outcome(including consequential loss) of any action taken byreaders or other based on information contained therein.The publishers reserve the right to refuse or cancelwithout notice any advertisement in a publication issuedby them.

Designed and produced by: Susan Pike ProductionsPublisher: Charolais Society of Australia Ltd

Year Letter for

2014Born Calves: K

4 CHAROLAIS SUMMER 2014 MAGAZINE


President’s R

eportMessage from the PresidentI am sure that most of us would agree that 2013 is another year that we are pleased to see theback of. Unfortunately the widespread drought continues to take its toll on our industry with pricesand female numbers down and they are expected to continue falling with no prospect of aturnaround in the near future.

These conditions are impacting the financial affairs of many members and also your Society andwe are expecting a further reduction in HMF income, registration numbers and transfer activityover the next few years. Council has been working through our 2014/17 budget with a fine toothcomb to not only balance our budget going forward but to also rebuild our finances following theheavy expenses around progeny tests over the last three years. As a result we are implementingsome significant adjustments to our budget on both the revenue and expenditure sides to ensurewe manage for a balanced outcome and therefore positive (rather than negative) cash flow eachyear going forward.

I am pleased to advise that Council has made a decision not to increase HMF or Membership fees until 2015 whenit is expected that both will need to be indexed to inflation from the previous year. However we have decided thatthe Society can no longer continue to subsidise the cost of BREEDPLAN and provide it free to members. FromJanuary 2014 the Society will revert to the previous fee structure for BREEDPLAN so members will need to payan annual fee of $350 (indexed to inflation) beginning January 1 of 2014 which will cover most service costs withthe exception of extracting data for catalogues.

The expected continuing reduction in Society income will also impact further on staff services at our federal office.Staff services will continue to reduce and have been cut from 2.5 full time employees in 2012 to 1.7 (FTE) fromFebruary 2014.

Other cost cutting measures have already taken place with the change to electronic newsletters earlier this year.We understand that this affects members who do not own a computer but this measure saves vital funds for otherpromotional work.

Council will also reduce the number of face to face council meetings held in 2014 (and going forward) from threeto two which will further reduce costs.

Further a majority of our breed promotional activity will now be channelled through Beef Central. The reason forthis move to electronic media is not just financial but also due to the shift in how producers are using technology,including smart phones and iPads to search for information and to receive feeds daily from news websites.

Council has also implemented cuts to most general expenditure lines including (but not limited to) Promotionalactivity (ensuring all trade shows, field days and workshops etc are cost neutral), office equipment and ensuring allmagazine costs are cost neutral.

The BIN project will be completed by August 2014. The data from this project has enabled the Society to movefrom a purebred EBV analysis to a crossbreed EBV analysis and has increased the accuracy of all of the carcasetraits. The research work itself has also provided the Society with valuable data to show proof of profit fromproducing Charolais cross progeny.

By the end of 2014 all the data from the three years of BIN projects will be aggregated and analysed together andthis will enable the Society to use genomic assisted EBV’s (GEBV’s). The move to GEBV’s will assist studs that havestruggled with smaller contemporary groups.

As this is a Council election year please ensure that you cast your vote in the prescribed manner over the New Yearperiod.

2013 has been another tough year but there is no doubt that we are a year closer to a recovery in the beef industryand therefore better bull prices. We need to continue managing our affairs so that we are in a position for ourCharolais brand to gain maximum benefit from that recovery when it comes.

I would like to thank my colleagues on Council for their input during the year and to thank the office staff for theirwork. Congratulations to Hayley and Gavin on the birth of Lexie, and we wish Lucy all the best for the safe arrivalof her new addition in February. We were sorry to see Kylie Costello leave the position of Registrar in December.Kylie had been with the Society for 18 months and worked on a number of improvements to the animal searchinterface and a new Excel sheet to upload animals. Her friendly manner with members will be missed

Finally I would like to wish all Members and their Families a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and thereforewet 2014.

Keith GlassonPresident - Charolais Society of Australia

Keith Glasson - President Charolais Society of Australia

Vale Peter Bondfield OAM4th July 1928 ~ 13th November 2013

Peter Bondfield, the former principal of Palgrove, Dalveenpassed away peacefully with family and friends by his side. Ourcondolences go to the Bondfield family.

Peter was amongst the first to import Charolais genetics toAustralia and has been instrumental in the breed’s developmentsince that time.

Peter had a passion for cattle and horses and excelled in leatherwork. Peter was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australiafor service to Stanthorpe Agricultural Show Society and the PonyClub Association of Queensland in 2011. He served on theCouncil of the Charolais Society from 1980 to 1985.

Former presidents of the Society, David Dixon and Bill Hayes,provide these recollections:

Peter's contribution around the Council table between 1980-1985 was his practical knowledge of cattle breeding; seasonalconditions; markets; and general perception of where the Breedwould "fit into" the overall cattle industry.

It was always a challenge to keep the theoretical view point ofestablishing a new breed along side the practical - what will workin the paddock -view. Peter provided that viewpoint.

Peter chaired the Newsletter and Promotional Sub Committeewhilst on the Council and during his chairmanship the CharolaisPromoter of the Year was inaugurated, designed to involve agreater percentage of members in the active promotion of thebreed. Also during this time a change in the style and directionof advertising was effected with greater emphasis on themarketing aspects of the Charolais rather than just Show results.Another highlight of Peter's era was the introduction of the verysuccessful Australian Charolais Convention which enabledmembers to meet annually, attend an AGM and Sale, discussCharolais business and experience great fellowship with like-minded people.

Peter's lighthearted manner and infectious laugh provided muchenjoyment at the end of a day of meetings. His ability to lead thesinging around the piano at the Wentworth Hotel was always ahighlight - Danny Boy being his favourite!

Peter and Val engendered a wonderful feeling of hospitality inthe Society and opened their home and property on manyoccasions to promote the breed. Palgrove has continued on tobecome an icon in the Charolais Breed.

Well done Peter!

David Dixon and Bill Hayes


STAFF UPDATE

Congratulations to Hayley Clark, our long serving Finance Officer,and her partner Gavin on the birth of their little girl Lexie on the9th of October 2013. Hayley is now working from home and isbest contacted via email [email protected] or call theoffice to chat with one of the other staff.

Lucy Main will be commencing maternity leave in mid January andKristy Ford will be taking over the reins of member services. Kristycan be contacted via the [email protected] email addressor via the office number, and will be in the office between 10amand 2.30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Kylie Costello has resigned as the registrar after 18 months. Thenew registrar will be appointed before the end of the year.

Members are advised that if they have issues with the service orrules of the Society then you should speak to Terence and not takethe issue out on staff. Our staff are required to enforce rules andprocedures but they do not make them. We have also cut staffhours to minimise costs to members so your patience with staffavailability will be appreciated.

WHAT’S NEW?

• Quick Guide to the Charolais Society - A new document hasbeen created as an easy reference tool for basic Society activitiesand services. It covers registering calves and AI sires, tattoo format,donor dam application process, transferring animals, HMF andmore. You can download a copy from the website or [email protected] for a copy to be sent to you.www.charolais.com.au/aboutus/our-society/

• Online semen catalogue - The Society has launched a newonline Semen Catalogue. This is a perfect opportunity to eitherlist your AI sires with semen for sale or search for semen topurchase. The catalogue links through to pedigree andBREEDPLAN information on the ABRI website. You can view thesemen catalogue via the Society website or [email protected] for more information.www.charolais.com.au/ai-sires-list/australian-ai-sires/

• Registration spreadsheet - A new Excel document has beencreated to make calf registrations that little bit easier. It isformatted like the C1 form, but allows you to complete multipleentries in the one document which can then be emailed throughto the Registrar. This now means members have 4 options forsubmitting calf registration details – C1 form, online registration,batch download from your on farm computer program or by theExcel document. A copy can be found on the Society website oremail [email protected] for a copy to be emailed to you.www.charolais.com.au/member-services/register-cattle/

• Silver Calf Brochures - If you are looking for some Charolaispromotional material to distribute at shows or sales, we have thething for you. The Society’s new brochure entitled “Charolais SilverCalves, Your Golden Opportunity” encourages commercialproducers to cross breed with a Charolais sire. A northern andsouthern version have been produced. The brochure is available topurchase through the Society office or download your copy fromthe website or email [email protected] for a PDF copy tobe emailed to you. www.charolais.com.au/charolais-cattle/crossbreeding-for-profit/

• Facebook- The Charolais Society is now on Facebook! We aimto keep you up to date with exciting news and announcementsas they happen, for instance show results and news from eventssuch as AgQuip. Search for: Charolais Society of Australia

• Charolais Express E-Newsletter - The Society is no longerproducing hard copy newsletters and has instead launched theCharolais Express E-Newsletter. In 2014 the e-newsletter will bedistributed once a month keeping members informed of Societydevelopments, show results, BIN progress, upcoming events andmore. If you don’t have your email address registered with theSociety you could be missing out on important news, so pleaseemail [email protected] and ask for your email addressto be included. (If you have an activ8 email address you willalso need to whitelist the Society so we don’t get blockedby your firewall). Copies of the E-Newsletter will also beposted on the website. www.charolais.com.au/aboutus/newsletters/

In addition, members have the opportunity toadvertise in the E-Newsletter. Please [email protected] to find out how.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Year Letters - It is important to confirmthe current year letter before tattooingyour calves. Over the next few years, acouple of letters have been left out tohelp reduce confusion as they could looktoo similar to a number. They are theletters L and O. Below is a summary of theyear letters up to 2017.

• 2014 - K • 2015 - M• 2016 - N • 2017 - P

If you incorrectly tattoo a calf, please contact theRegistrar via [email protected]

• ET Calves - To register an ET calf the Society requiresa flush sheet and an implant sheet to be submitted withthe calf details. A flush date must be recorded, along withan implant date.

If you sell an embryo the Society requires a copy of the flushsheet as well as a completed transfer sheet which can be foundon the website. The transfer sheet will ask you for buyer details aswell as a transfer date.

For more details or clarification please contact the Registrar [email protected] or call the office.

DON’T FORGET!

The Society has a range of branded merchandise available tomembers from clothing and caps to pens and badges. The fullrange can be viewed on the website.

The Society can also help you to produce custom merchandiseincluding advertisements, signs & banners, brochures, postcards,sale catalogues, pens, caps and more.

Email [email protected] to find out how.

Office U

pdate

Office Update


Host a BullSELECT WorkshopCattle producers purchase bulls on only one or a few days of the year, but the effect of their bull selection decisions will last for generations within their herd.

With an increasing range of technologies and information available on sale day, selecting the right bull may seem a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. The BullSELECT workshop educates beef producers about how to use the available tools to select the best bull for their enterprise.

> Understanding the value of genetics

> Interpreting and understanding BREEDPLAN EBVs and Selection Indexes

> Using online searches and smartphone apps to source the right genetics

> Practical bull selection exercises using demonstration cattle, including a Mock Auction

THE WORKSHOP COVERS:

INTERESTED IN HOSTING A WORKSHOP?

> Complete an Expression of Interest form available from the SBTS website (under Workshop Information).

http://sbts.une.edu.au

Hosting a BullSELECT WorkshopThis workshop is available to:1/ Individual seedstock producers who wish to educate their clients.2/ Breeder and producer groups who wish to educate their members.3/ Private consultants and State Government Departments who wish to educate clients or local producers.

CostStakeholder Breed Association Member Rate: $1500 (inc. GST) *Non-Stakeholder Rate: $3500 (inc. GST) **

SBTS & TBTS will: Provide experienced facilitators to undertake the workshop. Organise the workshop program. Consult with you on the cattle for the exercise sessions. Supply resource material for your clients. Provide all the necessary field day equipment.

The Host is responsible for: Providing the venue including a presenting area and suitable yards for the exerise sessions. Catering including morning tea, lunch and refreshments. Event Promotion. Supplying cattle for the practical demonstration sessions with suitable BREEDPLAN EBVs.

* The BullSELECT Workshop is subsidised by the Stakeholders of the SBTS & TBTS Projects, being participating Breed Associations, Meat & Livestock Australia and the Agricultural Business Research Institute. This subsidized rate is available to members of Breed Associations that are stakeholders in either the SBTS or TBTS projects.

** The BullSELECT Workshop is also available to organisations that are not current members of a stakeholder Breed Association (eg. private consultants, State Government Departments).

For more information contact Southern Beef Technology ServicesP: 02 6773 3555 E: [email protected] W: http://sbts.une.edu.au

16 - 19 January NSW Charolais Youth Stampede, Bathurst NSW

17 January Federal Council Elections – Voting Concludes

28 January - 5 February Stock & Land Beef Week

21 -23 February Royal Canberra Show

10 - 23 April Royal Sydney Show. The Charolais Society AGM will be held during the show. Details TBC.

24 - 26 April WA Youth Cattle Handlers Camp

1 May May HMF posted to members

31 May May HMF paperwork and payment due

8 - 17 August EKKA

19 - 21 August AgQuip

26 August - 5 September Charolais World Congress – France

5 - 13 September Royal Adelaide Show – Charolais is the feature breed for 2014.

20 September - 1 October Royal Melbourne Show

23- 25 September Henty Field Days

27 Sept- 4 October Royal Perth Show

16 - 18 October North Coast National

1 November November HMF posted to members

30 November November HMF paperwork and payment due

2015

4-9 May Beef Australia 2015

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the online Sales & Events Calendar for upcoming sales and events. To add your sale details to the online Sales& Events Calendar www.charolais.com.au/sales-events-calendar/sales-events-calendar/ email the details to [email protected] We encourage members to send us a report on sales which can be posted the website. There is no cost associated with this service.

Upcoming Events 2014


Vale Justin Angus Henry (Jack)13th May 1967 ~ 25th July 2013

Jack was the General Manager of the Charolais Society from13/2/2009 to 3/12/2010. He was a gifted photographer, cattlefitter and judge of cattle.

Justin Henry (Jack) was born and raised in an area called Ceresnear Geelong in Victoria. After leaving school he took a keeninterest in showing cattle. He received the Victorian premiersAward for Excellence in relation to his excellent cattle skills andsuccess in showing. He attended Marcus Oldham College inGeelong in the early 1990’s. In the mid 90’s Jack purchased asmall farm called ‘Killarney’ near the Rock in southern NSW andhe started a shorthorn stud, CJH Shorthorns with his dad, Colin.Jack and Colin bred some great Shorthorns – ‘the right ones’Jack would say.

While living at Killarney Jack worked at Ashleigh Park feedlot inCulcairn. He later moved to Brisbane. In January 2009 he wasoffered the role as General Manager for the Charolais Society.Shortly after he accepted the role he had also been diagnosedwith bowel cancer and underwent treatment for six months.Jack was in his second term on the boards of Shorthorn Beefand Durham when he accepted the position with the CharolaisSociety. He was instrumental in establishing the BIN project withMLA during his time with the Society.

Jack left the Society in December 2010 and went to work at theArubial Lillyvale Feedlot at Condamine in Queensland. In January2012, he received the news that the cancer had returned and hesought treatment in various places including Germany and theUnited States.

Jack Henry passed away peacefully Thursday 25/7/2013 withfamily and friends by his side. His friends say that Jack kept hisrenowned humour right to the end. Jack was a devoted familyman who adored his wife Heidi Austin and children Rachel, Louisand Thomas and will be sadly missed.


Australia can dramatically improve its exports ofgenetic materials according to an industry reviewby Don Nicol which was released in June 2013.

The report says that Australia could earn as much as $326million from exports. During 2012 the United States exportedbovine genetics to the value of $142 million and Canada’sexport value for genetics was $88.7 million. Australia’sestimated export value was only $1.5 million. Exports of bovinegenetics are dominated by the trade in dairy genetics.

The majority of the countries that export large volumes ofbovine genetics have large scale dairy industries and theseindustries provide the critical infrastructure and know-howrequired to produce and market large volumes of geneticmaterials. The trade in beef breed genetics is much smaller andfragmented.

The study points out that Australia has no major exporter orgroup to promote the multitude of beef breeds to overseasmarkets. Beef cattle breeds in Australia do not traditionallytend to work together and this has been identified as animpediment to export growth. The US has a well funded not-for-profit association called US Livestock Genetic Export Incwhich brings together livestock industry participants dedicatedto exports. Canada has a similar group called the CanadianLivestock Genetics Association. The majority of the bovinegenetic marketers in Australia represent companies that areowned in either the United States, Canada or Europe. Themajor four companies are ABS Global/Genus, CRV/CRI, ALTAand SEMEX. Given that the existing companies operating inAustralia are owned and operated by overseas exporters thenthere is little incentive for these companies to push Australiangenetics in their home markets.

Other impediments to trade include the DAFF exportcertification process and the variation around the paper workthat exporters faces when using the different centres. Anadvisory group was established with AQIS and BiosecurityAustralia in 2009 but this group has been more focused on liveanimal exports since its inception.

The paper also argues that the Federal Government has notprovided enough financial support to develop the sector. MLAdoes not have a strong mandate to focus on genetic exportsand there are very few industry associations that have pushedfor funding for this sector.

Australia has been measuring performance on beef cattle formany years; however, some breeds including Charolais, haveonly recently collected phenotypic data on top rankinginternational sires and top Australian sires to providecomparative data for marketing purposes.

The study’s author recommends that the Australian industryestablish an export hub in Melbourne and capitalise on thedairy industry infrastructure that is already in place. This actionwould reduce overhead costs and reduce certification issuesand streamline export processes. The major markets forAustralia are likely to be North America, South America,Europe and Asia (particularly China). Some Australian studs arealready working in these markets and more work needs to bedone to consolidate and focus resources to promote Australianbeef genetics in general.

Don Nicol plans to hold a meeting in the next few months todiscuss options to develop the beef genetics export industryand to get participants who are already working in overseasmarkets together. It will most likely be held in Brisbane. Thedate of this meeting will be made available to members via theSociety’s website.

Australian Genetics Export Review


Benefits of BIN Research Project

BIN Results 2011 Drop, Charolais x Brahman Progeny The results below are for Charolais Brahman cross progeny that were run at Ashvale Station in Queensland. These progenywere slaughtered in 2013 and the carcase results are attached. The animals were fed at two different feedlots and slaughteredat one of two abattoirs. The final weight prior to feedlot entry is represented in the 584 day graph and the final weight afterfeed lotting is represented in the 740 day graph. The 470 animals were all fed on grain for 100 days.

The Beef Information Nucleus (BIN) project has already had a significant positive influenceon the genetic gains made within the Charolais breed. Benefits are measured by changesin the three market indices over time. Over the past 20 years the breed average dollar increase perbreeding female has been 48 cents. During the past five yearsthis has increased to 88 cents and the increase in the first yearof the BIN project was $1.43 which is 54 cents more than theprevious 5 –year average. The BIN project will provide anindustry benefit of $2.10 for every one dollar invested.

Another major benefit of the BIN project is the increase inaccuracy of meat quality EBV traits. The addition of thiscrossbred data has enabled the Society to switch to acrossbreed EBV which it did in October of this year. The datawill enable the Society to move to a genomic assisted EBV orGEBV which will assist with the estimation of EBV predictionsfor animals in small contemporary groups.

The BIN data has been useful for proving the information thatis used in breed marketing. The largest benefit is that we cannow confidently state that Charolais do not have a calving easeissue. We know that Charolais progeny reach target weightsat and younger age and this reduces ossification and meattoughness. We have dispelled the myth that animals need alot of marbling and fat to each well. Very few other breed canmatch the meat quality and retail yield produced by a Charolaiscross animal.

Finally the BIN results are providing us with information on theperformance of Australian sires versus leading internationalsires and this will assist us to promote Australian sires to therest of the world.

The BIN project is clearly providing the breed withopportunities that would not have been possible without theproject. Members can benefit from these gains by using semenfrom one of the BIN sires in your herd. You will need at least8 calves to a BIN sire to achieve a strong link. This link sire willimprove the accuracy of animals in your herd.



BIN Results 2012 Drop, Charolais x Angus Progeny The results below show the results for the progeny of pure Angus and Charolais Angus cross. The first six sires are Angus andfollowing 11 are Charolais. Baroola D903D is the link sire between the 2nd and 3rd year projects. The steer progeny haveentered the Tallimba Feedlot for feed efficiency research and methane measurement. The names for Booroomooka WarwickW245 and Winchester Davey Crockett have been truncated in the graphs.

Graig Price of Kilcoy Pastoral Company and Jake Phillips of MSA with BIN carcases


BIN Results 2012 Drop, Charolais x Brahman Progeny The results below show the results for the progeny of pure Angus and Charolais Angus cross. The first six sires areAngus and following 11 are Charolais. Baroola D903D is the link sire between the 2nd and 3rd year projects. Thesteer progeny have entered the Tallimba Feedlot for feed efficiency research and methane measurement. Thenames for Booroomooka Warwick W245 and Winchester Davey Crockett have been truncated in the graphs.

Ashvale Charolais Brahman Calves


Royal Sydney

FeatureShow

2013

Charolais features at Sydney 2013 Show!

The Society’s Charolais Silver Calf promotion was launchedduring the week, which included a new range of targetedmaterials, including a brochure and posters, which encouragecommercial producers to cross breed with Charolais. A copyof the brochure entitled “Charolais Silver Calves, Your GoldenOpportunity” was posted to all members and approximately3000 commercial producers after the show. Copies are alsoavailable to members via the Charolais office for a small fee tocover printing and postage.

Also at the Charolais display, a ‘Guess the Weight’ competitionwas run and required entrants to guess the average weight ofthe two silver calves on display. The winning weight was 610kgwith 3 people correctly guessing this weight. As there can onlybe one winner, a name was drawn out of a hat and that wasYouth Member Kate Loudon who won a $250 RM Williamsgift voucher. All proceeds from ticket sales went to theMcGrath Foundation.

Prior to the commencement of the show, members wereasked to nominate heifers being entered in show competitionsas a McGrath Heifer. During the Charolais female judging,onlookers were asked to select their favourite McGrath Heifer,with the winner being auctioned off during the McGrathFoundation auction that night. Monument Valley Hope wasselected and sold for $12,000 to a syndicate comprising ofMoongool, DSK and Kindara Charolais. All proceeds from theauction went to the McGrath Foundation.

The Charolais Topline Helmsman Sale was held after theCharolais bull judging with 38 animals going under the hammer.Of the 19 bulls on offer, 6 were sold and averaged $5,125. The

top priced bull was lot 1, Airlie Fiable (A1S F726E) which soldfor $9,500. Of the 19 females on offer, 10 were sold andaveraged $3,272. Two lots received the top price of $5,000,which were Lot 25B Elgin Park Californian Girl 2 (EP7 H2E)and Lot 27 Airlie Stonehut (A1S H1E).

During the week various youth events were also held, includinga judging competition, paraders competition, State of Originand the Calf Classic. Approximately 45 Charolais Youthmembers participated in these activities.

Congratulations to the NSW Region for putting on a fantasticevent, in particular to chairman Chris Knox, Helen Alexanderand Mark Ickinger for their tireless work prior to and duringthe week.

A big thank you also to the many sponsors who helped madethe Charolais Feature Show a success.

PLATINUM - Ascot Cattle Company

GOLD - McLachlan Group

SILVER - Bayer, DSK Charolais, Elders, The Land and WaterfordCharolais

BRONZE - 4 Ways Charolais, Ashlin Charolais, Bentley DownsCharolais, Better Value Bulls, Blaweary Charolais, Bovine ScanningServices, Caloona Charolais, Crathes Charolais, Elgin ParkCharolais, Elstow Charolais, Gunnadoo Charolais, Herdlink,Kenmere Charolais, Minnie-Vale Charolais, Moongool Charolais,New England Girls’ School, Palgrove Charolais, Practical Systems,Quicksilver Charolais, Rangan Charolais, Semex, VenturonCharolais, Wakefield Charolais and Whitestone Charolais.

Charolais was the feature breed at the 2013 Sydney Royal Show andthe NSW Region put on a fantastic week-long event.

Throughout the week a large and informative Charolais display wasset up in the cattle pavilion that invited passersby to learn more aboutCharolais, in particular, the benefits of Charolais Silver calves. TwoDSK silver calves were on display as part of the Charolais stand andthey attracted a lot of attention.


Royal Sydney

FeatureShow

2013

ROYAL SYDNEY SHOW 2013 CHAMPIONS:The Urquart Perpetual TrophySupreme Beef Breed Palgrove Gallivant D & P Bondfield, Palgrove CharolaisMost Successful Beef Exhibitor(Overall winner all breeds) DSK Charolais C Knox & H Alexander, DSK CharolaisPremier Beef Breeder Award (All breeds) DSK Charolais C Knox & H Alexander, DSK Charolais

Best Charolais Exhibit Palgrove Gallivant D & P Bondfield, Palgrove Charolais

Most Successful Charolais Exhibitor DSK Charolais C Knox & H Alexander, DSK Charolais

Grand Champion Bull Palgrove Gallivant D & P Bondfield, Palgrove Charolais

Senior Champion Bull DSK AC F33E (P) C Knox & H Alexander, DSK Charolais

Intermediate Champion Bull Palgrove Gallivant D & P Bondfield, Palgrove Charolais

Calf Champion Bull DSK BD Goldstrike G102E (P) (R/F) C Knox & H Alexander, DSK Charolais

Grand Champion Female DSK DK Wendy F30E (AI) (P) (R/F) C Knox & H Alexander, DSK Charolais

Senior Champion Female DSK DK Wendy F30E (AI) (P) (R/F) C Knox & H Alexander, DSK Charolais

Junior & Intermediate Champion Female Palgrove Felicity 92 (AI) (ET) D & P Bondfield, Palgrove Charolais

Calf Champion Female Monument Valley Honey (AI) (ET) (P) (R/F) D Conte, Monument Valley Charolais

Grand Champion Carcase & The Coghlan Pure Bred Carcase Perpetual Trophy C Knox & H Alexander, DSK Charolais

Champion Charolais Steer Hurlstone Agricultural College Bred by: D, K & S Jenkins, Violet Hills CharolaisChampion Trade Steer & Champion Virtual Taste Test Trade Carcase St Joseph’s High School, Aberdeen Bred by: G & L Ball, Grenell Charolais

Champion School Parader Abbie Robertson Youth Member

Heifer Fitting Challenge Winner Chloe Ickinger Youth Member

The Urquhart Perpetual Trophy (Supreme Beef Breed Animal), Palgrove Gallivant, D & P Bondfield, Palgrove Charolais

Champion Charolais Steer, Hurlstone Agricultural College

Champion School Parader,Abbie Robertson

Champion Trade Steer,Charolais x Angus by Greg and Leonie Ball


Australia Day Weekend 2013 saw 39 CharolaisYouth converge on the Bathurst Showgrounds for another NSW Youth Stampede. Competitorscame from various states and this year alsoincluded a visitor from Canada spending time in Australia during her Gap YearThis Stampede had the theme of breeding and breeding selection.Discussions were held on breeding selection and types of joining,heat detection, etc. The practical side of heat detection wasdiscussed and the participants had remained focus on the heifersand cow that were synchronised to cycle while at the Stampede.

When heat was detected the animal was artificially inseminatedand the participants were shown the procedure and theequipment. Breeding Betsy (the AI practice unit) was also on handfor all the Youth Participants to have a go at the AI procedure.Breeding Betsy was made available to us by Hurlstone Ag HighSchool. A very big thank you.

Show ring preparation demonstrations were held, and paradingpractice with experienced support, gave the participants theopportunity to gain confidence, fine tune their skills and preparefor their Junior Parading Competition. The two major eventsincluded the Junior Judging Competition and the HerdsmanCompetition.

The formal dinner was held on the Saturday night with an auction.Money raised went to assist in running this event.

We would like to gratefully thank our generous sponsors, aswithout these sponsors our youth would not have an event fromwhich to learn, gain experience, meet industry experts and alsoto have fun & build friendships.

The Stampede organisers would encourage all members tosupport our sponsors and show our thanks for their assistance inrunning our Stampede.

The major awards for the event went to:

CHAMPION JUNIOR JUDGEKeiley O’Brien

RESERVE CHAMPION JUNIOR JUDGEHannah Powe

CHAMPION JUNIOR PARADERHannah Powe

RESERVE CHAMPION JUNIOR PARADERTroy Kylstra

CHAMPION HERDSMANKieran Martin

RESERVE CHAMPION HERDSMANGeorgina Murdoch

NSW YOUTH AMBASSADORTom Noonan

ENCOURAGEMENT AWARDAngus Allitt

BREEDERS ENCOURAGEMENTChris Ickinger, Chloe Ickinger, Duane Wilson, Tom Noonan

The next Stampede will be held again in Bathurst 16th-19th of January 2014. We look forward to seeing you there.

WHITESTONECHAROLAIS


NSW YOUTH STAMPEDE - JAN 2013

Bronze Sponsors: • Elstow Charolais • Landmark • Peter Doyle – TNN Products Special Sponsor: • Governor Macquarie Motor Inn

Charolais prove their qualityin carcase competitions Charolais and Charolais cross cattle have again dominated the major 2013 carcase competitions.

Rosedale started the year in good form by winning the NSW BeefSpectacular Feedback Trial in January. The Milner family’s championpen of Charolais Angus steers won by 1.5 points. The Rosedaleteam beat 76 teams from across NSW, Victoria and Queensland.The team won with a total of 801.5 points from 1000, and was$489 more profitable than the average of all trial teams.

Rosedale also won the 2013 Sydney Royal Beef Challenge. TheCharolais-Shorthorn export pen of six received 790/1000 pointstopping the live assessment and profitability sections to win thechampion pen. The individual animal class was won by Peter andRob Vickery, Dobikin Pastoral, with their Charolais Santa cross.Rosedale also did well topping the live assessment scores in thedomestic competition with a Charolais Angus cross and camesecond in the domestic pen of six live assessment section.

Chris Knox and Helen Alexander, DSK won the heavy weightgrand champion steer and the Gold Medal at the Sydney Royal.They also won the purebred hoof and hook competition and thereserve champion middle weight carcase.

The Queensland RNA Paddock to Palate Competition was wonby Acton Land and Cattle Co with a pen of Charolais Santa cross.To win this competition the animals need to do well in all 4 phasesof the competition including feedlot, carcase, MSA and the beeftaste off.

There were a total of 69 teams representing all the major cattlebreeds in this competition. David and Penny Sullivan fromRiverglen Pastoral Co won second place overall. Their pen gainedan impressive 2.72 kg/day in the feedlot section. Rosedale won theMSA Eating Quality section with Charolais Angus cross steers.

Ashwood Park won first place with 90.5 points in the VictorianShow Steer Bonanza with a Charolais Angus cross and came insecond with 89.9 points with a pure Charolais.

In Western Australia, Bruce Campbell of Cooara, won thechampion heavyweight and supreme steer of the Perth Royal. Thesteer sold for $3750.00 to Harvey beef and Coles. Fred Granthamof Coolup, won the champion steer on the hoof at the Waroonashow in October with a silver Charolais yearling which sold for$2,800.00 to Harvey Beef.

Mark O’Dwyer, Bentley Downs and Calmview won the championteam of 3 steers in the North Coast National hoof and hookcompetition. Mark’s steer won the Champion Carcase with87.6/100 points and Bentley Downs won the Champion Charolaiscarcase with 87.41/100 points.

Calmview Hussy won the Jackpot at the inaugural Landmark BeefChampionship that was held at Tamworth this year. Hussy, whowas fed by James Dockrill, won second place in the carcasecompetition. n

Jenny & James Millner, Rosedale Charolaiswith the 2013 Paddock to Palate Trophy

James Dockrill, Calmview Charolais and Allan Trustum of Bently Downs Charolais won 'Champion team of 3 steers'

Peter Stacy, Alicia Kemp, Chyvana Wright and Roger Evanswith the Supreme Led Steer

Peter and Rob Vickery, Dobikin Pastoral, Bellata, won with their Charolais Santa cross at Sydney Royal Beef Challenge


Charolais Bulls used to secure supply of quality beefOne of Victoria's specialist suppliers of grainfed European-cross calves to the domesticmarket has now begun a breeding program using Charolais bulls.

By Jenny Kelly

Lachie McKenzie, who farms with wife Maryanne and childrenLauren, Hugh and Patrick, said the move was designed tostreamline their operation and give them greater flexibility ofsupply and better control to pre-condition weaners for lotfeeding.

The overall aim being to improve performance and profitability ofthe feedlot arm of their business which is based at Birregurra inthe south-west of Victoria.

In the late 1990’s Lachie, who has an Ag degree majoring inruminant nutrition, began grain finishing cattle and over the nextdecade became a major player in the market for Charolais,Limousin, Simmental and Belgian Blue-cross calves.

At its peak the feedlot operation was turning off up to 50,000cattle a year, buying from all the major store sales as well as weeklyprime markets.

Lachie said it was an interesting run, and like all other feedlots,they experienced the highs and lows associated with an industrythat rides on a fine balance of cattle and grain input costscompared to slaughter beef returns.

It really can be a feast or famine with grain finishing livestock, andwe had our good times and we were happy enough to ride outsome of the tough years but by 2011 the fundamentals just weren'tadding up and we had to re-evaluate,'' he said.

Today Lachie is CEO of the Ballarat Racing Club, one of the busiestturf racing venues in the state.

It's a demanding hands-on job which takes priority, however hestill has a passion for the beef industry and grain feeding

The way my work life is now structured, it is no longer feasible tobe buying small mobs of cattle week-in and week-out and dealingwith all the administrative, transport logistics and animal healthissues that involves,'' he said.

Instead Lachie said they would now concentrate on supplying acore client basis with grain-fed European-cross carcasses betweenthe months of March and September when supplies of milkvealers and grass finished cattle traditionally decline.


Cross into P

rofit

Lachie McKenzie (centre) talks to Victorian Charolais beef producers at a field day held on his property in May 2013.

Earlier this year they bought a 485ha property called“Bruanlea” near Coleraine in the Western District, andit will be the supply base for calves into the feedlot atBirregurra.

Lachie said they were in the midst of putting togethera herd of 500 Angus cows, which will be joined toCharolais bulls. They recently purchased 8 young siresfrom the Delamere stud.

He said practical experience from a decade of feedingEuropean calves had shown them the Charolais offeredthe best package of carcass performance andtemperament.

“They are good cattle to handle, they performconsistently, the performance of heifers is very closeto steers, and you can get enough fat cover on them,''he said.

Lachie said their clients, meat wholesalers and butchershops, wanted lean and high yielding carcasses, milkteeth 220-260kg carcass weight, with 4-8mm of fatcover.

He said they would have spring and autumn calvingcows at Coleraine, to help give them a continual supplyof suitable weight and age Charolais-cross calves forfeeding. They will also continue to buy lines ofEuropean-cross calves from the major weaner saleswith the aim of feeding about 3000 head over theautumn and winter period.

With his business experience, Lachie is keen to trysome different strategies with his cattle program andmonitor the results.

He said they would look at weaning calves early atabout 250kg liveweight, and then backgrounding themon a light ration to train and prepare them for a feedlotenvironment. It would also give them the ability to runmore breeding cows.

Weaning at a younger age and supplementary feedingis an exercise we are keen to try, and if it works theway we think it will, we would then be prepared tooffer a premium to Charolais breeders who couldprepare lines of calves in a similar way,'' he said.

He said it came down to performance on grain, and ifthey could avoid the setbacks from having animals takeup to 2-weeks to become accustomed to a new dietand eating out of bunkers it represented a big saving.

“If we could achieve a conversion rate of 6:1 (6kg offeed for 1kg of weight gain) by having calves whoserumen's have already been adjusted to a high starchdiet and are happy to put their head in a feed bunkerstraight away, compared to an average conversion rateof 6.5:1 for cattle coming out of saleyards it representsa significant saving,'' he said. n

From left: Chris Tuck, Anne Abbott & Chas Armytage From left: Ken Manton & Vern Wilson


White Gold

Top Grade

Free Lunch

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Request a catalogue:

[email protected]

WWW.PARINGALIVESTOCK.COM.AU

PARINGA 2014 AUTUMN PRODUCTION SALE

Paringa Charolais Bulls:• Feed efficient • Progeny proven• Polled • Good fat cover• High marbling • Fast early growth

Enquiries:

Office Phone03 5797 3003

Tom Lawson0434 146 795

Paringa Charolais Females:• Calve unassisted at 2YO• One of the highest ranked herds in Australia• Top 1% Domestic Index

10th annual autumn

sale

Tuesday 1st

April 2014

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ON PROPERTY96 Creeds RdMurrindindi

Victoria

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Charolais Sales 20132,026 bulls were offered through auctions in 2013 and 1518 head or 75 per cent were soldfor a total of $6.36 million. The clearance rate was down from the higher 93 per cent rateof last year.

The average price of bulls sold at auction was $4195 in 2013 versus$5210 in 2012 which was a decrease of 19.5 per cent.

The top price bull was Palgrove Gusto (PK G609E) which was soldby Palgrove at their Dalveen on-property sale in August for$40,000.

The five highest sale averages went to Palgrove at Dalveen ($6724),Palgrove at Scone ($5600), Ascot at Warwick ($5346),Minnie-Vale at Narrabri ($5330) and Moongool at Yuleba ($5120).

Despite the season Queensland studs still produced the highestclearance rate at 78 per cent. This was followed by Victoria at 74per cent, NSW at 72 per cent, Western Australia at 63 per cent,and South Australia at 55 per cent.

OUTLOOK FOR 2014

The female slaughter number has increased by 23 .7 per cent toSeptember 2013 and that means that the female breeding herdwill be down by approximately 761,000 head on last year. During2014 the female numbers are expected to be similar to the levelsin the years 2007 and 2009. This reduction in breeding femaleswill mean that total bull demand will be down approximately19,000 head.

The lower female numbers alone will therefore decrease bulldemand by 5.6 per cent next year. But we need to consider thefact that stock prices are likely to remain low as most of thewestern districts of VIC, NSW and QLD are still dry. Thereforewe are anticipating at least a further 7-10 per cent reduction inbull sales in 2014 in most states and possibly a 12-15 per centreduction in QLD if western grazing regions do not get significantvolumes of rain in the next three months.

MARKET GRAPHS

The slaughter graph shows the steer and bull (S&B) and heifer andcow (H&C) numbers slaughtered annually to September 2013. Theperiod 2006 to 2007 produced a 12 per cent decrease in thefemale herd. During extended dry periods we also see a reductionin the female herd through a higher level of mortality in thepaddock which need to be added to the slaughter numbers.

The results indicate the number of females available to be joinedin 2014 will be down by at least 20 per cent on 2013 numbers.The Eastern Market Indicator Price reflects the inverse of thefemale slaughter graph and both indicators point to similarconditions to the market in 2007. n

Source for data: ABS Livestock and Meat, Sept 2013 No. 7218.0.55.001 and Meat & Livestock Australia, Weekly Cattle Market Indicators Prices.


Beef Production in FranceFrance has the largest population of Cattle in Europe with approximately 19 million head.This includes dairy and beef cattle. Germany is the next largest producer at 12.5 million,then the UK at 9.7 million and Italy at 6 million head.

Figure 1. The French cattle population has been decreasing since 2008. Figure 2. Beef production in France has been decreasing over the past decade but therewere higher slaughter numbers in 2010 and 2011 which pushed beef production up.

Figure 3. Agricultural Regions in France Figure 4. Beef producing regions in France

Figure 5. Cattle number by region in France 2012

Source: Arfa, Rodriguez, Daniel and Shonkwiler 2006(http://www.oecd.org/agriculture/44740353.pdf)

The regions of Auvergne and Limousin are predominately beefcattle production regions. The Western regions of Pays de la Loire,Basse-Normandie produce beef cattle along with other agriculturalenterprises including dairy and cereal cropping. The Central regionof Bourgogne specialises Beef cattle, wine and cereal while theSouthern region of Midi Pyrenees produces cereals, beef cattle andfruit.

France is the fourth largest beef producer within the EuropeanCommunity. The majority of the income from beef product comesfrom coupled payments. In 2009 French producers were paid 382Euros per head. This level was higher than the support to mostEU countries. Beef cattle gross margins have been decreasing in France for the

past 9 years which has been due to a rise in costs and a loweringof coupled payments. Beef output has been increasing butexpenses have been rising at a faster rate and therefore the grossmargins have been decreasing.


Figure 6. EU Beef producer returns from 2000-2011

French Genetics

France like most other countries in Europe is facing numerousenvironmental and animal welfare restrictions on its productionsystem and it will not be long before de-horning is no longerpermitted. The French Society has commenced a research projectto identify homozygous polled animals within its herd book.

The Society is also structurally scoring animals more carefully toselect animals that exhibit easy care features including skin, footand hoof health.

Markets Charolais is the dominant beef breed in France and the breedsupplies meat to most European markets. In 2011 McDonalds inFrance introduced a Charolais beef mini-burger to provide localcontent in its burgers. The burger also features cheese and otherlocally produced products. Beef from pure Charolais is preferred inFrance because the animals are younger at slaughter weightsrelative to other breeds and the fat cover is minimal which increasescarcase yield. France also imports beef from Ireland and other partsof Europe. It is expected that as coupled payments for beef andmilk production are phased out then beef imports to France willincrease. n

Source: The Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) Report 2012, Page 10.http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rica/pdf/beef_report_2012.pdf

Charolais World CongreSS FRANCE 201426 aug-6 sep 2014

PrograMMeAUGUST 26 Delegates welcome and overnight in Chantilly area.

27 Visit Chantilly Castle then drive to Burgundy. Overnight in Nevers-Magny Cours area.

28 & 29 Morning: Farm visits and tourist activities in Nevers area. Afternoon: National Charolais Adult Show in Magny Cours.

30 & 31 Vichy, its race course and Vulcano Park.

SEPTEMBER 1 Farm visit in Morvan. Discover several tourist assets

in the heart of Burgundy, including Sully Castle in Autun. Overnight in Beaune, one of the most beautiful vineyard areas.

2 Meeting in Conference Hall of Beaune around the theme of “Food Efficiency of the Charolais Breed”. Guided tour of Beaune then dinner and overnight in Beaune.

3 Auction market in Saint Christophe en Brionnais then visit L’Institut Charolais, whose principal objectives are to promote Charolais meat, to undertake research and development, and to encourage innovation in the industry.

4 Visit Jalogny experimental farm. Overnight in Nevers.

5 National Charolais Calf Show and Gala Dinner at Le Ferme du Marault, both in Magny Cours.

6 Delegates depart.

THERE IS ALSO A PRE CONGRESS TOUR IN PARIS FROM SUNDAY AUGUST 24TH TO TUESDAY AUGUST 26TH.

Once the booking forms become available members will be able

to book their congress registrations and travel through the Society.

The Society’s travel agent is Jacqui L’hostisfrom New England Travel.

Jacqui can be contacted on (02) 6772 1722 or email [email protected]

The Charolais Society will be providing a tourfleece jacket to members that book their travel

and registrations through the Society. The Society benefits from Federal Government grantsfor members who book their registrations and travel

through the Society.

end of an era!Buyers from five states paid to $10,000 for foundation cows and herd improversin a fitting end to one of southern Australia's most noted and long-standingCharolais studs, Ashwood Park Charolais at Flowerdale in Victoria.

By Jenny Kelly

Ashwood Park Charolais, founded by Harold Seeley AM in 1967,was dispersed at the Yea saleyards in Victoria in November 2013.

A passionate supporter of the breed, Harold told the crowd ina pre-auction speech that while his heart was still in the studhis body wasn't co-operating.

“This is a sad day in some ways, but life goes on and there is nopoint in hiding physical disadvantage or old age,'' he said.

Ashwood Park was a serious player in the stud game, with theSeeley's prepared to invest money in sourcing genetics not onlyfrom Australia but from the UK, Canada, the USA and France.

Just three years ago at the Brisbane Royal they paid a thenrecord price of $24,000 for a young bull at the Elite CharolaisSale.

Harold said his aim had always been to produce practical cattlefor the southern beef industry that could calve unassisted, finishon grass, and produce a top eating carcass.

The stud was prepared to back its breeding program byregularly entering cattle in carcass competitions, and its recordof multiple wins at the prestigious and fiercely contestedRoyal Melbourne Show is unlikely to ever be repeated.

Tim Hayes from Ruffy in Victoria, bought seven cows and calves to start a new stud pictured with Ashwood Park principal, Harold Seeley AM.


Ashwood Park was also a leader in promoting Charolais-crosscattle through saleyards, and by regularly topping the noted Yeaweaner sales in January with Charolais Red Angus-cross calves theywere able to showcase the weight gain ability of the breed.

Duncan Newcomen, who managed Ashwood Park for 30-years,said the property's commercial focus and work in promoting thebreed to stock agents and farmers was one of the things he wasmost proud of.

“I honestly don't believe the breed would be where it is today ifstud's like Ashwood Park hadn't stuck with the cattle through thedifficult 1980's and 90's and then really worked to promote theirweight gain and crossbreeding ability,'' Duncan said.

“We went from selling Charolais-cross weaners over the hooks toputting them in saleyards to get the message out there, and it wasone of the best marketing things we ever done.

And I think it is one of the reason we have seen so much buyercompetition at this dispersal as people recognise the commercialcredentials of these stud cows and calves.'' n

THE DISPERSAL

A field of 75 buyers from five states - Queensland,NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania -registered to bid for the catalogue of 162 lots.

The cattle were penned in the under-cover Yeasaleyards, and the auction was held indoors withvideo footage of each animal shown as it was beingsold.

The top price of $10,000 was paid by Graeme Cook,Rangan Park Charolais, for lot 15 - an eight-year-olddaughter of LHD Cigar with an impressive bull calfby Ashwood Park Rio.

But rather than a top price, it was the consistency ofthe sale which was impressive.

Overall the dispersal grossed $538,000 from the following results:

• 92 cows and calves aged 6-8 months av: $4073

• 45 heifers averaged $2733

• 4 stud bulls sold averaged $5750

• 15 semen packages averaged $671

• 6 embryos averaged $1241

Most in demand were proven bloodlines, particularlyfemales which traced back to one of the stud's granddams Miss Universe, while on the sire side LHD Cigar,Dbar Synergy and Gaugin were particularly soughtafter.

Buyers such as Russel Menzies, Manogplah in NSW,said the dispersal had offered a rare chance to securegenuine stud cattle with a long history.

A lifetime's work has gone into these cattle and youare buying genuine females, so from that perspectivethere is a fair bit of value,'' he said after paying $4000and $3250 for two cows and calves for the family'sWirra Park stud.

A volume buyer was Ron Johnstone, Beaudesert inQueensland, who paid to $6000 for 14 cows andcalves. The north was a buying hot spot with twosemi-loads of Ashwood Park cattle sent toQueensland.

Victoria was also well represented, with MichaelTurra, Dimontee Charolais at Buchan, buying eightfemales to a top of $8000; while JNP Charolais,Health Hill, bought five lots at up to $4000.

Staying close to home in Yea were eight females atup to $8500 selected by Duncan Newcoman for hisTambo River Charolais stud.

A large crowd attended the Ashwood Park Female Dispersal Saleheld at the Yea Showgrounds.

Russel Menzies, Wirra Park Charolais at Mangoplah in NSW, bought two cows and calves for $4000 and $3250


Royal Melbourne

Show2013

ROYAL MELBOURNE SHOW 2013 CHAMPIONS:Supreme Charolais Exhibit The Anna McCarthy Memorial Trophy Winchester Net F22E (AI) (ET) (P) (R/F) G.O’Brien, Winchester Charolais

Grand Champion Bull Rosedale Hero (P) JM, MJ & JL Millner, Rosedale Charolais

Senior Champion Bull Waterford Gibraltar G82E (P) D & S Halliday, Waterford Charolais

Reserve Senior Champion Bull Airlie Gallic (AI) (ET) (P) McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Junior Champion Bull Rosedale Hero (P) JM, MJ & JL Millner, Rosedale Charolais

Reserve Junior Champion Bull Rosedale Harry (AI) (P) MJ & JL Millner, Rosedale Charolais

Grand Champion Female Winchester Net F22E (AI) (ET) (P) (R/F) G. O’Brien, Winchester Charolais

Senior Champion Cow Winchester Net F22E (AI) (ET) (P) (R/F) G. O’Brien, Winchester Charolais

Reserve Senior Champion Cow Airlie Rebecca G10F (AI) McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Junior Champion Heifer Rosedale Golden Girl H410 (AI) (ET) JM, MJ & JL Millner, Rosedale Charolais

Reserve Junior Champ Heifer Waterford Harmony H7E (P) D & S Halliday, Waterford Charolais

Best Three Head Rosedale Charolais JM, MJ & JL Millner, Rosedale Charolais

Sire’s Progeny Waterford Charolais D & S Halliday, Waterford Charolais

Best Two Bulls under 20mths Rosedale Charolais JM, MJ & JL Millner, Rosedale Charolais

Best Two Females under 20mths Waterford Charolais D & S Halliday, Waterford Charolais

The Anna McCarthy Memorial Supreme Exhibit Winchester Net, Winchester Charolais.

Rosedale Hero, Junior & Grand Champion Bull

Waterford Gibraltar,Senior Champion Bull

Photo courtesy of Wayne Jenkins.

Rosedale Golden GirlJunior Champion Heifer


VICTORIA REGIONAL REPORTDespite a tough year with a very dry summer and autumn, a severe drought in Queenslandand the Top End, dismal cattle prices and tough bull sales, the outlook in Victoria is positive.We continue to see constant demand for lines of Charolais cross cattle, while the numbersgo on increasing. The North East, around Yea's new covered saleyards, continue to yardquality Charolais cross cattle throughout the year.

Plenty has happened during the year, and in no real order;

January Weaner Sales - The Victorian Region once again conducted the Stock & Land -Merial Weaner Competition at selected weaner sales throughout the state. Judgesselected a winning pen at each sale based on a set criteria. Wodonga, Yea and Hamiltonwere the venues and it creates enormous interest. The promotion of the breed is fantastic.We thank Merial and Stock & Land for their ongoing support.

Victorian Region AGM - 26th May saw the Victorian Region conduct their AGM atBunninyong (near Ballarat). The meeting was preceded by a visit to Lachie McKenzie'sproperty to see his Charolais cross cattle on feed. It was a most informative morning with Lachie explaining his entire operation andwhy Charolais cross cattle suited his enterprise.

The AGM saw many new younger members elected to our committee. We welcomed Sapphire Halliday, James Waddell, Colin Pickering,Edwina Wiltshire , Ken Manton and had Noelene King re-elected after an absence. Already Sapphire has been elected a joint VicePresident and Youth Representative, and James is set to take over from Chris Tuck as Treasurer next year. It is most pleasing to havethese younger energetic people involved.

Sue Pike retired from the committee in December 2012, and Bernie Lamers did not seek re-election. We thank them sincerely fortheir outstanding contribution over many years. Lastly, I will definitely be stepping down as Chairman before our next AGM.

Celebration Dinner - The 7th Annual Charolais Celebration Dinner, held on the 13th of July at Hilton on the Park, was again a greatsuccess. Bob Katter made the trip from QLD, Bryan Dawe entertained brilliantly and Australia's six time Junior Whip Cracking Championwowed guests with his skills. Our guest Auctioneer, Anthony Delaney of Rodwells & Co., conducted a great auction and raised over$7,000.

The dinner organiser and principal sponsor, Sue Pike, was presented with an award for “Outstanding Service to the Region” presentedby President Keith Glasson, on behalf of the Federal Council, for her outstanding contribution to promoting Charolais in the Victorianregion. It was the first time the Federal Council has presented such an award and it could not have gone to a more deserving servantof the Charolais breed. Well done Sue!!

Melbourne Show 2013 - A good lineup of cattle were judged at the Royal Melbourne Show in September when we welcomed backinterstate studs Winchester, Airlie and Rosedale alongside our Victorian exhibitors including the final showing of Ashwood Park cattle.In a year where entries in the cattle classes were down considerably our entries of 36 head were most credible. Michael Ireland fromBuln Buln officiated as judge and we welcomed to the ring Associate Judge Kane Sparks.

The Grand Champion awards were won by interstate exhibitors – the Milner’s Rosedale Charolais stud won Grand Champion Bull withRosedale Hero, and Gavin O’Brien of Winchester Charolais won Grand Champion Female and Supreme Charolais Exhibit withWinchester Net. Whilst we had a good lineup of cattle, unfortunately Charolais did not feature in the Interbreed, but it was good tosee sales being made during the Show. The judging was followed by trophy presentations and a social get together for exhibitors,Charolais members and friends. A very big thank you to all our trophy donors for their generosity in supporting this show yet again.

Graham Smith - Many thanks to our Federal Councilor Graham Smith. Graham has not enjoyed great health of recent times and wethank him for performing this arduous task and acknowledge his contribution to Federal Council over many years and his years asChairman.

Brien Bourke and Peter Green - Sadly during the year we recorded the passing of two great former members of the Victorian Regionand supporters of Charolais. They were both wonderful characters and will be sadly missed.

H.A.Seeley AM. - It would be remiss of me not to mention Harold Seeley's retirement from farming and breeding Charolais cattle. AsI write, the Ashwood Park Herd is set to be dispersed at auction in the covered yards at Yea. No doubt this sale will be reported beforethis but on behalf of all Members, thank you Harold, for a lifetime contribution to Charolais.

You have been there from day one and ridden the highs and lows, but have remained always dedicated to how this breed performs. Itis wonderful to see your dedication vindicated by how well Charolais cross are sought after, with a reputation of great performanceunder any conditions. I have forgotten how many times your calves have topped the Yea Weaner sales, but your record of 13 GrandChampion Carcasses at the Royal Melbourne Show sits right alongside Bart's twelve Melbourne Cups! We wish you and Annie a longand wonderful retirement.

Chas ArmytageVIC Region Chairman


M O U N T W I L L I A M S T A T I O N , W I L L A U R A , V I C T O R I A

For further details contact: Rob Abbott Tel: (03) 5354 1265 or 0417 502 692 Email: [email protected]

15THANNUAL ON PROPERTY PRODUCTION

BULL & FEMALE SALEFRIDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2014 AT 1PM• 50 rising 2 year old Bulls • 25 PTIC Heifers

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Royal Adelaide

Show 2013

ROYAL ADELAIDE SHOW 2013 CHAMPIONS:Supreme Champion Charolais Exhibit Chenu Rebecca 3 (AI) (ET) (P) Chenu Holdings

Most Successful Charolais Exhibitor Chenu Holdings Chenu Holdings

Grand Champion Charolais Bull Boulview Gardiner (P) A J, T R & E J Fogden

Senior Champion Charolais Bull Boulview Gardiner (P) A J, T R & E J Fogden

Junior Champion Charolais Bull Boulview Hudson (P) A J, T R & E J Fogden

Reserve Junior Champion Charolais Bull Chenu Harley (AI) (P) Chenu Holdings

Grand Champion Charolais Female Chenu Rebecca 3 (AI) (ET) (P) Chenu Holdings

Senior Champion Charolais Cow Chenu Pussycat 18 (AI) (ET) (P) Chenu Holdings

Reserve Senior Champion Charolais Cow Blaweary Emogene (ET) (P) Elgin Park Charolais

Junior Champion Charolais Cow or Heifer Chenu Rebecca 3 (AI) (ET) (P) Chenu Holdings

Reserve Junior Champion Charolais Cow or heifer Chenu Kelly 2 (AI) (P) Chenu Holdings

Charolais will be the feature breed at the 2014 Royal Adelaide Show. The dates for the show will be 5th and 6th of September. Final dates and times have not yet been determinedfor events as yet. Rob Martin, the SA Society Breed Advisor, may be able to prove more information in early2014. Contact Rob on 08 8210 5229 or email [email protected]

From left: Chenu Kelly 2, Reserve Junior Champion Heifer, led by Lisa Kirk, and Chenu Rebecca 3,Supreme Champion, led by Beck Keeley with judge Hayden Green

Chenu Rebecca 3, Grand Champion Female From left: Boulview Hudson, Junior Champion Bull with Thomas Fogden, and Boulview Gardiner, Grand Champion Bull with Alizah Fogden

Photo courtesy of Wayne Jenkins.


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Maranoa Charolais Bull Sale 2013

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50% of Bulls either polled or poll scurred

Charolais weaners are winners in Victoria!The Victorian Region held for the fourth year their very successful Charolais Weaner Competition.

The competition is aimed at promoting the excellent prices Charolais and Charolais cross calves achieveat weaner calf sales throughout the state. Calves are judged on suitable weight range, information suppliedby vendor at point of sale, type, butt shape, length, condition, temperament and muscle pattern of calves,and presentation and evenness of the pen.

The competition is sponsored by Merial Australia and Stock & Land. Each sale winner receives a 2.5 litrepack of Eprinex Drench from Merial and two tickets to the Celebration Beef Dinner. A quarter page adappears in the Stock & Land the following week with a photo of the winner and listing the top Charolaisresults from each sale.

Winners Yea - 9th January 2013Tarrawarra Abbey , Yarra Glen.18 Charolais/Red Angus steers sold for $670 each.

Winners Hamilton - 9th January 2013

Jodie & Richard Page, “Glenayre”, Hamilton

30 Charolais/Angus steers

averaged 369kg @192¢/kg for $708 each.

Winners Wodonga - 11th January 2013Cook Family, Rangan Charolais, Sandy Creek18 Charolais/Angus steers averaged 437kg sold for $780 each.

Winners Yea - 11th January 2013Peter & Gerard Hauser, Yea20 Charolais/Angus steers averaged for $740 each.

The WeanerCompetition for 2014

is going to be BIG,with a huge drop of

Charolais calves listedfor sale across

the state!

WA YOUTH CAMP 2014The WA Youth Cattle Handlers Camp would like to welcomeCharolais Society youth members to attend our 10th annual campto be held on the 24th, 25th and 26th April 2014 at the BrunswickShow Grounds.

The purpose of this camp is to educate young people from all agesof 8 -25 years in various aspects of the cattle industry. The aim ofthe camp is to ensure cattle handling skills are not lost within theindustry.

Under direction of the committee who has extensive experiencein the cattle industry, the participant’s will gain knowledge andhands on experience in:

1. Handling skills in and out of the show ring

2. Safety

3. Cattle health and nutrition

4. Public speaking

With having nine successful camps under the belt, the committeeis pleased to see previous participants grow into the agriculturalindustry by being employed within livestock firms, stud breeders, arural newspaper firm and being Western Australia’s first femalelivestock auctioneer.

In 2008 a junior WACharolais member, MathewFairbrass participated in thecamp and was awardedHighest Beef Achiever whichwas a sponsored trip toattend the QueenslandCharolais Muster byDownunder Charolais Stud.Since then Mathew has goneon to win Interbreed Seniorfemale and Junior Championfemale at recent Perth RoyalShows with his Charolais stud,Fairbrass Park.

Entries to the WA Youth Cattle Handlers Camp open in earlyMarch 2014 with forms and entry conditions posted on thewebsite, www.wacattlecamp.com.

Entry fee to attend the camp is $160 along with a $30 fee to loanan animal if required. If you require any additional informationabout the WA Youth Cattle Handlers Camp please contact AimeeCourt on 08 9755 9038 or [email protected].


Royal PerthShow

2013

ROYAL PERTH SHOW 2013 CHAMPIONS:Supreme Champion Downunder Aqua Regent (P) L.I. Millner, Downunder Charolais

Most Successful Exhibitor Liberty Charolais Kevin Yost, Liberty Charolais

Grand Champion Bull Liberty Hawkeye (AI) (P) Kevin Yost, Liberty Charolais

Junior Champion Bull Liberty Hawkeye (AI) (P) Kevin Yost, Liberty Charolais

Reserve Junior Champion Bull Sinagra Mac (AI) (ET) (P) LM & KE Giglia, Sinagra Charolais

Grand Champion Female Downunder Aqua Regent (P) L.I. Millner, Downunder Charolais

Senior Champion Female Downunder Aqua Regent (P) L.I. Millner, Downunder Charolais

Reserve Senior Champion Female Blaweary Emogene (AI) (ET) (P) J & B Quilty, Elgin Park Charolais

Junior Champion Female Venturon Hannah (P) M. Fairbrass & A. Court, Fairbrass Charolais

Reserve Junior Champ Heifer Liberty Herseys Kisses (P) (R/F) Kevin Yost, Liberty Charolais

Progeny Group Of Three Liberty Charolais Kevin Yost, Liberty Charolais

Breeders Group of Three Liberty Charolais Kevin Yost, Liberty Charolais

Landmark All Breeds Supreme Senior Champion Interbreed Beef Female L.I. Millner, Downunder Charolais

Breeders Group of Three Bulls Interbreed Competition L.I. Millner, Downunder Charolais

Landmark Breeders Group of three Heifers Interbreed Competition - 3rd place DA & AE Thompson, Venturon Charolais

All Breeds Supreme Junior Champion Beef Bull - 2nd place Kevin Yost, Liberty Charolais

All Breeds Supreme Junior Champion Beef Female - Equal 4th place M. Fairbrass & A. Court, Fairbrass Charolais

Supreme Champion, Downunder Aqua Regent (P), L.I. Millner, Downunder Charolaiswith from left judges Donald Patch & Annette Walker, Lesley Millner, judge Roger Evans,

handlers Nikki Ford & Crystal Hansen, judge Peter Collins, Landmark WA Livestock ManagerLeon Giglia (Landmark sponsored the class)

Liberty Hawkeye (AI) (P),Junior & Grand Champion Bull

Venturon Hannah (P), Junior Champion Female

Interbreed Group of Three Purebreed Bulls,Downunder Charolais

Photos courtesy of Farm Weekly


Lesley and Rob MillnerRobley Park Grazing

3205 Bailup Road, Woorloo WA 6558Phone: 08 9573 1018 Fax: 08 9573 1508Email: [email protected]

HOME SIRED BULLS AND FEMALES FOR SALE

Downunder Aqua Regent: Grand Champion Charolais Female & Senior Interbreed Champion Female at Perth Royal Show 2013

Downunder Charolais Team at the Brunswick Sale 2007

DOWNUNDER CHAROLAIS STUDOWNUNDER CHAROLAIS STUDOWNUNDER CHAROLAIS STUDOWNUNDER CHAROLAIS STUDOWNUNDER CHAROLAIS STUDOWNUNDER CHAROLAIS STUDOWNUNDER CHAROLAIS STUDDOWNUNDER CHAROLAIS STUD

HOME SIRED BULLS

Email: [email protected]

AND FEMALES FOR SALEHOME SIRED BULLS

Phone: 08 9573 1018 Fax: 08 9573 15083205 Bailup Road, W

Robley Park Grazingnd Rosley aLe

Email: [email protected]

AND FEMALES FOR SALE

Phone: 08 9573 1018 Fax: 08 9573 15086558AA oorloo WWA3205 Bailup Road, W

Robley Park Grazingrb Millnend Ro

AND FEMALES FOR SALE

Charolais is the order of the day for Barbaro Brothers QualityButchers owner Ralph Barbaro. It’s the breed with the rightspeed for laying down muscle mass and producing a tender andtasty steak with the ideal proportion of fat.

And for a butcher, that’s what it’s all about.

“If a steak eats well, that’s the most important part for a butcher,”Ralph said. “You want your customer to enjoy that experience andhave confidence in returning the next week and receiving thesame product. The Charolais has given us that consistency andconfidence. Since using beef with a Charolais infusion, I have seena noticeable difference in the end result. The meat is justmagnificent.”

Situated in the suburb of Greenwood, northern Perth, WesternAustralia, the Barbaro brothers have been synonymous withquality since they opened their doors in 1987.

Ralph said both he and his older brother Dominic had bothcompleted their butcher apprenticeships and wanted a bit of abreak, but their father insisted they start their own business.

Thankfully for the meat lovers of Perth, they took their father’sadvice and purchased the Greenwood premises they are stilloperating out of today.

In the years they have been butchering, the Barbaro’s have seen ahuge shift from the standard steaks and sausages to a moregourmet approach.

“It’s not just steaks and sausages anymore, even though they arestill a large part of our business,” Ralph said. “There’s been a bigshift toward gourmet products and people wanting to know moreabout their meat. It got to the point where you had to getcreative or get out, because you had to find a way to keep yourclientele interested. So we refined what we did.”

Part of that process was taking a more active role in the selectionof the animals they used through the shop and Ralph decided heneeded to learn from those in the know.

He started taking notice of what breeds other butchers werebuying and regularly chatting to people in the saleyards, with oneperson in particular outlining the benefits of buying cattle bredwith a European influence.

It was The Beef Shop’s Kevin Armstrong, who now buys all thelivestock used by the Barbaro family to be put through aMogumber feedlot.

“I wanted to become more knowledgeable about cattle, so a fewyears ago I set out to have a bit more control over our product,”Ralph said. “Kevin is a strong supporter of the Euro-cross cattleand he recommended we buy the Charolais-cross animals. Andnow we prefer that Charolais cross because we’re getting a betterend result every time.”

Most of the cattle Kevin now purchases for the Barbaro brothershas a Charolais influence, usually combined with the English breedssuch as Angus or Murray Grey.

The combination of the‘silver calf’, the result ofusing Charolais bulls overAngus or Murray Greycows, was producing someoutstanding progeny withthe balance of traits everybutcher wants in theircabinets.

“You’re getting tendernessand muscle mass togetherin one product, it’s a win-win combination,” Ralphsaid. “From what I can tell,if you’ve got that crossthen they’ll just keepputting on muscle in thefeedlot, rather than excessfat. And I can’t sell fat, I sell the meat.”

The higher yield and quality of meat produced by an animal withCharolais breeding also made way for better quality trim that canusually be used in mince, rather than sausages, giving butchersbetter returns.

This year Ralph said he will be targeting the Charolais cross animalsto purchase for the feedlot, hoping to get his hands on as manyof the ‘silver calves’ as possible.

The silver calf initiative had been gathering momentum evenbefore the Charolais Society of Australia began to conduct trials acouple of years ago.

They wanted to quantify the hybrid vigour, retail beef yield andbenefits achieved by using Charolais bulls over other breeds suchas Angus, Hereford or Shorthorn females.

General manager Terence Farrell said so far they have found theCharolais cross calves were reaching their target weights up tothree months earlier than a pure British calf, with an extra 10 percent carcase weight as well.

By using a Charolais bull over other breeds, they also reportedcalving difficulties to be less than one per cent.

“Surprisingly, a lot of people were already doing the cross with aCharolais bull and had experienced the weight gains and calvingease that came with it,” Terence said. “Butchers have also caughton quickly, as animals with a Charolais influence produce highermeat yields and they make more money out of it. Not only doesit yield higher, the meat eating quality is much better.”

This is why Ralph Barbaro will be searching the saleyards acrossWA this season, in order to get his hands on as many calves thatcontained the Charolais component as he can.

“The meat is so tender, it’s beautiful,” Ralph said. “When you’recutting a steak for a customer and know you can sell it withconfidence, that’s when you know you’re on the right track.” n

Barbaro Brothers strike silver in WA!By Caitlyn West

Story compliments of Farm Weekly.


Royal Brisbane

Show2013

ROYAL BRISBANE SHOW 2013 CHAMPIONS:The Bassingthwaighte Trophy Champion of Champions Bull Moongool Gunsmoke (P) IB Price, Moongool Charolais

The Warby Trophy Champion Moongool Gunsmoke (P) IB Price, Moongool Charolaisof Champions Breed Pair Airlee Rebecca G10F (AI) McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Supreme Matron of Australia Airlee Rebecca G10F (AI) McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Reserve Supreme Matron of Australia Advance Treasure E98 (R/F) SB Hayward, Advance Charolais

Grand Champion Bull Moongool Gunsmoke (P) IB Price, Moongool Charolais

Senior Champion Bull Moongool Gunsmoke (P) IB Price, Moongool Charolais

Reserve Senior Champion Bull Moongool Fairfax (P) IB Price, Moongool Charolais

Junior Champion Bull Advance Hercules H1 SB Hayward, Advance Charolais

Reserve Junior Champion Bull DSK BD Goldstrike G102E (P) (R/F) CR Knox &HD Alexander, DSK Charolais

Grand Champion Cow/Heifer Airlee Rebecca G10F (AI) McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Senior Champion Cow/Heifer Airlee Rebecca G10F (AI) McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Reserve Senior Champion Cow/Heifer Advance Treasure E98 (R/F) SB Hayward, Advance Charolais

Junior Champion Heifer Palgrove Cherry Ripe 57 D & P Bondfield, Palgrove Charolais

Reserve Junior Champion Heifer Monument Valley Hope (AI) (ET) (P) (R/F) G Waldron, Elite Charolais

Champion Junior Led Steer Holy Trinity School, Inverell Led by Tom O’Brien

Champion Junior Led Heifer St Joseph’s High School, Aberdeen Led by Lauren Parkinson

Champion Junior Heifer Hook & Hook St Joseph’s High School, Aberdeen Bred by Greg & Leonie Ball, Grenell Charolais

Champion of Champions Bull Moongool Gunsmoke (P), IB Price, Moongool Charolais.

Supreme Matron of Australia,Airlee Rebecca G10F (AI),

McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Junior Champion Heifer,Palgrove Cherry Ripe 57,

D & P Bondfield, Palgrove Charolais

Champion Junior Led Heifer,St. Joseph’s High School Aberdeen


QUEENSLAND REGIONAL REPORTThe extreme drought conditions throughout Western & Northern Queensland are takinga severe toll on the cattle market & cattlemen. Cattle prices are generally down but onlybecause of the flood of cattle from drought stricken areas in Qld & NT. Having said thisthere are still tremendous opportunities in the industry once the drought breaks withexports and export demand at all time highs. The sale prices for Charolais bulls have beengenerally down on last year but clearance rates have been reasonable.

I feel there will be great demand for Charolais bulls in the new year and years to comewhen the weather breaks. There is a definite lift in the profile of Charolais in Qld withmany commercial sales having Charolais cross cattle topping the markets. I think this hascome about by the Society & individual breeders promoting the breed strongly. TheCharolais commercial magazine I think lifted the breeds profile well.

The Brisbane Royal show was a great success for the breed in tough times with theCharolais winning the interbreed competition. There was a good roll up for drinks at theshow from Charolais members.

Jim Wedge, QLD Region Chairman

AYR The Beefy Charolais Thank you to everyone that supported our Annual Sale

Top Price

$18,000

Sold To Ian & Del Price

Moongool Yuleba

106 Bulls Av $3933

Annual Sale

15 Sept 2014 Paddock Bulls & Females For Sale

George , Ruth & David Cass . Mungabunda Moura Qld

Ph/ Fax 07 49963127 Est 1972 Email [email protected]

11045 kg

EMA of 148 sq cm P8 9mm Rib 6mm

Holly Pender, QLD Youth Ambassador 2013My time as Charolais Youth Ambassador has offered me numerous opportunities within the cattle industryand has opened my eyes to the direction in which the Charolais breed is headed. I have enjoyedopportunities such as stewarding at the Sydney Royal Easter Show where the Charolais feature showwas held this year and attending a judging clinic held at Rosevale Santa Gertrudis Stud. At the SydneyRoyal this year a number of events were put on for the Charolais Youth including junior judges andparaders competitions.

The opportunities of stewarding and judging have given me insight into the effort and expertise thatgoes into the shows that I attend throughout the year. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerelythank everyone who has assisted me during this time. Through seeing the different campaigns by theCharolais Society to promote cross breeding with Charolais Cattle I am confident that this is a breed Iwill continue to be involved with in the future.


Outstanding Regional Service Award to Sue Pike Sue Pike was presented with the inaugural Outstanding Regional Service Award at the VictorianRegional Dinner held on Saturday 13th July 2013 by the Society’s President, Mr Keith Glasson.The Victorian Region Chairman, Mr Chas Armytage, provided the following recommendation:

Sue Pike was employed at Harold Seeley’s ‘Woodlands’ Charolaisstud in 1988. She worked in the advertising industry and later setup her own business, ‘Susan Pike Productions’ in East Melbourne.

Sue started helping the Victorian Region with advertising prior tojoining the committee in 1998. Since that time she has directedthe advertising and promotion for the region. She took theregion’s advertising from virtually none and only done on an adhoc basis, to become the envy of other breeds with clearlyfocussed and targeted, professional advertising.

Sue has also organised the Victorian Region Celebration Dinner.It was entirely her idea and she has personally organised all of thesponsors. This annual dinner has been so successful over the pastyears with fundraising (auction) that Victoria has been able tospend in excess of $10,000 annually on breed promotion.

Sue has been responsible for providing members with banners andpromotional material which has provided extra income for theVictorian Region. Her flair for design and efficient organisationwas evident in the displays she has done for our cattle on show atthe Royal Melbourne Show. Charolais are now recognised as oneof the leading breeds for cross breeding cattle in Victoria and thisposition has been achieved in part, or more because of, excellentpromotional work.

She has travelled extensively throughout the state attendingWeaner Sales, Field Days, sponsorship meetings, liaising withcommercial cattle producers and assisting stud producers withcatalogues.

When we think of Sue’s contribution we think of: her drive forsuccess, outstanding vision of a promotional strategy; ability toexecute all aspects of the vision, which includes raising the funds;favourable negotiations with suppliers; carrying out the design andsupply of artwork to suppliers on time; and the outstanding qualityof the finished promotional articles.

When Sue announced her resignation from the Victorian RegionCommittee last December due to her heavy business and personalcommitments, she indicated that she was prepared, if required,although she is no longer on the Victorian Region Committee tocontinue to organise our advertising and the Celebration Dinner.

Sue Pike being presented with the inaugural award by Federal President Keith Glasson, with introduction to guests at the

2013 Celebration Beef Dinner by Chas Armytage.

Royal Canberra

Show2013

ROYAL CANBERRA SHOW 2013 CHAMPIONS:Supreme Champion Airlie Fiable (P) (R/F) McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Grand Champion Bull Airlie Fiable (P) (R/F) McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Senior Champion Bull Airlie Fiable (P) (R/F) McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Junior Champion Bull Rangan Park Homer H24 (AI (ET) (P) Cook Family, Rangan Charolais

Reserve Junior Champion Bull Rosedale Grisham (P) Rosedale Charolais

Grand Champion Female Crathes Desire 701 (AI) (P) MC & C Ickinger, Herlo Park

Senior Champion Female Crathes Desire 701 (AI) (P) MC & C Ickinger, Herlo Park

Reserve Senior Champion Female Rosedale Beatrix E83 (AI) (P) Rosedale Charolais

Junior Champion Female Airlie Stonehut H1E (AI) (P) McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Reserve Junior Champion Female Rosedale Candy G304E (AI) (ET) (P) (R/F) Rosedale Charolais

Champion Led Purebred Steer Rosedale Bandit St. John’s College, Dubbo

Supreme Champion Charolais, Airlie Fiable (P) (R/F), McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Senior & Grand Champion Female, Crathes Desire 701 (AI) (P), MC & C Ickinger, Herlo Park

Junior Champion Female, Airlie Stonehut H1E (AI) (P), McLachlan Group, Airlie Charolais

Junior Champion Bull, Rangan Park Homer H24 with Claire Cook

Champion Led Purebred SteerRosedale Bandit, St. John’s College Dubbo


New England Girls’ SchoolLivestock TeamMark Fisher is the new agriculture teacher at NEGS and is working to develop the cattle club.Lyall Cameron (agriculture assistant) started the cattle club in 1994. The Charolais stud has beenvery kindly supported by the Clonan family – Cobrabald Charolais and more recently Rob and KylieCostello – Moona Plains Charolais.

Cattle club (now Livestock Team) provides students with theopportunity to enhance self-confidence and personaldevelopment by working with young stock, which are preparedand presented at shows and competitions. The team also providesan excellent basis for students to develop their knowledge ofscience through the study of animal psychology and behaviour, theimplications of feeding and housing strategies, the impact of pestand weed management and the use of technology.

Cattle handling skills, cattle and meat judging and assessment,nutrition and breeding is taught with the intention to utilise andteach more innovations such as EBV's alongside AI and ET. Thiswill all contribute to excellent beef industry education for ourstudents.

The team has provided a strong social network for members anda support base for the junior students as they move into theSenior School.

The future plan for our school stud is to breed quality commerciallyviable stud bulls and females for our very keen student base tocompete with at various livestock competitions.

Where possible, the aim is to sell a handful of quality bulls. Thosecattle that don't meet our selection criteria will be destined for'hoof and hook'/carcase competitions. Our aim is to breed smallerframed, earlier maturing, easy doing cattle and still try and holdon to that muscle and weight gain that the breed is renownedfor.

The great thing we find with well muscled Charolais is that ourheifers are also competitive in carcase competitions. With smallcattle numbers, we need to be 'keeping up with the breed' soartificial breeding programs will be of great importance.

We would like to source competitive Charolais and Charolais crosssteers for next year's Sydney Royal Show and would be happy topromote breeders with our school. If you think you could be ofassistance in any way, this would be greatly appreciated.Please contact me at [email protected] or phone0408 952 644.

We have a very successful Livestock Team at NEGS with verycapable students, staff and parents involved in the beef industry.


HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST 12 MONTHS INCLUDE:

Sydney Show 2013

Three NEGS students and Charolais Youth members competed inthe junior judging and parading competitions held as part of theCharolais breeds feature show activities. Emma Costello placedfirst in both the junior judging and parading competitions in herage group. Isobel Robertson placed second in the paradingcompetition for her age group. Abbie Robertson placed in bothjunior judging and parading in her age group.

Abbie Robertson led a purebred Charolais steer named Fluffy, bredby Chris Knox and Helen Alexander of DSK Charolais to win theChampion School Parader competition.

Armidale Show 2013

Emma Costello - 1st place intermediate and overall Championjudge out of 170 students.

NEGS was 1st place out of 7 schools in the herdsman award whichthey have now won 3 year's in a row.

Steer competition - 1st and 2nd in light weight class, 1st and 3rdin heavy weight class, out of 22 steers, and Champion steer.

Wingham Beef Week 2013

Amelia Ghiggioli, Emma Costello and Abbie Robertson all 1st placejunior judging classes.

Emma Costello went on to win the overall Champion junior judge,Champion cattle handler and overall most successful competitorout of 260 students.

Abbie Robertson – 1st place senior cattle paraders.

Two out of our 3 steers won their class, and Grand Championsteer of show.

Tamworth Beef Championships 2013

In the 12 - 14 years Junior Judging Competition, Olivia Carter wasHighly Commended, Kathleen McPhie received third place andOlivia Fenwicke second place.

In the 15-16 years Junior Judging Competition, Kate Canningtonwas Highly Commended.

In the 15-16 Years Junior Cattle Handling, Kate Cannington andIsabella Ghiggioli were both finalist.

In the 12-14 years Junior Cattle Handling, Amelia Ghiggioli wasawarded the overall winner. n

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The UQ Animal Genetics Laboratory has been providing diagnostic genotyping services to Australia’s livestock industries since 1993. An agreement between The University of Queensland and Neogen’s GeneSeek subsidiary in 2012 has delivered cutting edge agrigenomic solutions to the forefront of Australia’s beef breeding industry.

Our success story is simple:– High quality results– Fast and reliable turn-around time– Excellence in customer service

What can the AGL do for you?1. DNA typing and parentage verification for cattle2. Genetic disease testing for cattle3. Whole genome SNP profiling

For more information please telephone (07) 5460 1960 or visit uq.edu.au/vetschool/agl

UQ ANIMAL GENETICS LABORATORY

Emma Costello, a member of the NEGS Livestock Team.


Charolais Beef Central Advertising 2014During the 2014 season the Society will be moving towardconnecting the Charolais breed with more commercial producers.Research indicates that over 60 per cent of producers now goon-line to seek information on topics of interest. BeefCentral.comis a beef cattle news information site that provides fresh newcontent daily. The site sends out a news feed to over 7000subscribers daily and this feed carries the advertisements that areon the site’s home page.

The site records 650,000 hits per month with the marketdistribution matching commercial cattle production percentageacross Australia.

The Society has booked advertising space during the autumn andspring peak selling periods and we will be tracking response hitrates on our website to measure the effectiveness of thepromotion.

Members are encouraged to advertise on this site as well toincrease your market exposure. A media kit is available from theCharolais Society office or members can contact Beef Centraldirectly via their contacts page on the website.

The dates for the Society’s campaign are below.

Autumn Sales 1. Home Page 13 - 19 Jan 2014 2. Home Page 20 - 26 Jan 2014 3. Production Page 27 Jan - 2 Feb 2014 4. Home Page 3 - 9 Feb 2014 5. Home Page 10 - 16 Feb 2014 6. Production Page 17 - 24 Feb 2014

Spring Sales7. Home Page 7 - 13 Jul 2014 8. Production Page 14 - 20 Jul 2014 9. Home Page 21 - 27 Jul 2014 10. Production Page 28 Jul - 3 Aug 2014 11. Home Page 4 - 10 Aug 2014 12. Home Page 11 - 17 Aug 2014 13. Production Page 18 - 24 Aug 2014 14. Home Page 25 - 31 Aug 2014


Reprinted courtesy of Country Living magazine46 CHAROLAIS SUMMER 2014 MAGAZINE


On Property Dispersal Sale: Feb-March 2014 100 Reg Cows & Calves, 30 Reg H Heifers (70%Poll), 20 Reg G Hfrs, 30 Yrlng Bulls (70%Poll)

www.granvillecharolais.com FURTHER DETAILS OF DISPERSAL SALE LATER IN THE YEAR OR CONTACT:

Gavin and Diane Arneil, Granville, Baralaba, Queensland Phone (07) 4998 1285 or 0427 981 285.

(P), Branch View Eldorado(P), Ascot Gold Rush(P) & Ayr Stern(RF)

Calves at foot by Palgrove Florida (P) $19,000 (2011 Sale), Branch View Eldorado (P) $12,500 (2011 Sale), Ascot Governor (P) $9,000 (2012 Sale) & Ascot Gold Rush (P) $9,000 (2012 Sale). 90% of CAF are Polled!

Also selling: 150 Quality Charbray cows with calves at foot & running with Cordelia and Granville Charbray Bulls.

New Horn Poll Test availableA new test is available to record the horn-poll status of animals.This new test is a refinement of the one that was first introduced via the BEEF CRC in 2010. The test can now predict a“true” poll (or homozygous poll) with greater accuracy (89 % in Charolais). Demand for polled cattle has increased substantiallyduring the past three years. Large scale commercial cattle producers in western and northern regions claim that the expenseand time associated with dehorning cattle which miss marking musters is high. If horns are not removed then bruising canbe a substantial cost to these producers and the processors who purchases the animals. Similarly commercial producerswith smaller operations find it difficult and inconvenient to remove horns and there are also occupational health and safetyissues that arise from handling horned animals.

The test works by counting the number of alleles that are associated with horn or poll markers. In some breeds thesemarkers were very distinct with strong poll or horn associations; however, in Charolais the markers did not clearly indicatea horn or poll result and therefore the test was less accurate relative to some other breeds. The new test counts moremarker points and provides a more accurate prediction relative to the previous test.

The Society now has a record field to indicate that the animal has been poll tested. The field records the percentage resultfor the probability of homozygous polled (PP), heterozygous polled (PH) or homozygous horned (HH). The Society stillaccepts a visual poll or poll/scur recording and this is shown separately to the test results and is still entered via the C1 form.

The poll test can be done in conjunction with standard DNA tests (recommended) or independently analysed. Hair, bloodor semen samples are sent to the Society’s office in the same manner as a DNA sample and the test results are thenreturned to the Society and uploaded into the herd book. The test can be done via Australian Animal Genetics at theUniversity of Queensland or Zoetis Animal Genetics. The cost of the test varies according to the provider and any othertraits measured in conjunction with the poll test. n


Sweden Technical Conference 2013The 2013 Charolais technical conference was held in Sweden. This year’s conference wasfocused on environmental regulations, animal welfare, genomic measurements andinternational collaboration to share genomic data. Sweden, Denmark and Norway combine resources to run anannual Nordic Bull testing program. Members of dairy and beefbreeds offer bulls to be tested in the program. The bulls areinspected and 75 bulls from all breeds are selected by a committee.The bulls are fed a standard ration for six months and evaluatedfor their performance. At the end of the trial period the top twoor three performing bulls are retained by the research group andare sent to Viking Genetics where semen is collected.

The Viking Genetics Bull Testing Station near Skara in centralSweden collect semen on leading dairy and beef bulls and sell thesemen worldwide. They sell over 4 million straws to over 50countries. Viking Genetics is owned by cattle producers in threecountries with the dividends are reinvested into research.

Approximately 1000 straws from the top sires are put into dairycattle to test calving ease. Performance data is made available tomembers throughout the trial period and the top 10 bulls arehighly sought after at an auction held at the end of the trial. Thissystem of promoting the top bull ensures that the best bulls areavailable for AI use across the three countries and this has led theSwedish industry to make high rates of genetic gain. Internationalbulls from the United States and Canada have been used in theprogram to evaluate their performance against the Nordic bulls.

The research team has developed a 10 point foot scoring systemto improve the longevity of bulls in the challenging Swedishenvironment. Cattle in Sweden spend up to six months in barnsover winter and on soft wet pastures in summer and this requiresexcellent leg strength and structure. Correct foot and toe structurelead to improved foot health outcomes which is very importantin the wet mushy conditions.

Some of the top performing 2013 bulls in Sweden wereFleetwood, Django, Ferb and Best. Swedish bulls go into bothCharolais and crossbred female herds and therefore calving easein also very important.

The cattle in Sweden are predominantly from Canadian lines withother lines from the United States, France, Ireland and smallnumber from Australia. Some of the well known sires in useinclude High Bluff Hank, Sparrows’ Canadian Made and Durango,and Rosedale Willie. The cattle are predominately polled, withmoderate frame and muscle, and the females have very goodudder structure and capacity due to the strong dairy industrybackground of many farmers. The shoulders are generally smooth.The black lines were very sound. There was variation in the depthof the back end with mostly moderate depth. Biting flies cause alot of irritation to the cattle over summer so white cattle arepreferred as they repel the flies better.

Lars Bjornberg from Mellby Charolais had used Rosedale Willy lastyear but the calf was a little too young at that stage to compareits performance with the other progeny.

One interesting fact about the European industry is that cattle arerecorded from joining on-farm right through to slaughter whichprovides a large pool of slaughter performance data. The systemworks well for small farms with single sire mating. Unfortunatelythe practice of multiple mating in Australia precludes us developinga similar recording system to collect abattoir grading data onprogeny from bulls.

International Collaboration on Data Sharing

The representatives of the countries attending the conferencehave agreed to work on a joint database to store Charolais 3, 10,50 and 700 k genomic profiles to minimise the cost of profilinginternational animals. The initial stage is to identify a list of thetop international sires for the past decade. This project will bedeveloped in the next twelve months with the eventual aim toproduce a Charolais chip for trait analysis. n


Yet it’s the taste that brings those customers back for more -the taste of 30-month-old Charolais and Charolais-Angus crossgrassfed beef.

Their brand, Three Ridges Bio Dynamic Farm, has proven aninstant hit in select supermarkets in Melbourne, featured onthe Park Hyatt showcase menu and is being chosen by specialtyfood stores in Melbourne renowned for stocking the best.

Restaurants and smaller grocery stores want to differentiatethemselves from the “cheap is best” mantra pushed by thesupermarket duopoly.

Superlatives for the Three Ridges beef products flow fromthose whose reputation and livelihood depends on it.

“I’m very impressed with the scotch fillet, it was tender andhad really good flavour,” says Jonathan Stobbs, founder ofSkinner & Hackett, a high-end butcher and food store inMelbourne.

“The more people try the meat, the more it will sell,” saysJason Blake, the manager of Leo’s Fine Food and Wine storesin Melbourne.

Grand Hyatt head chef Dane Clouston was so impressed withthe flavour of the beef, he used it for a steak tartare dish in hisquarterly Harvest dinner in September. It will now be addedto the Park Hyatt a la carte menu.

From their kitchen overlooking their property, Franco says allproducers and farmers should be compensated properly fortheir product. Establishing their brand and sourcing outlets hasenabled them to do that.

The couple purchased their 400 acre (160 hectare) property atCrossover in West Gippsland in 2007, and a few months earliervisited the Melbourne Show where they spent an hour talkingto Paul and Helen Hildebrand, Falls View Charolais, Yea, aboutthe Charolais breed, meat quality and its health benefits.

Further research convinced them to crossbreed and they nowrun 240 head, including 80 breeders – crossbred and purebredCharolais.

The steers are grown out on pasture to 30 months, turned offat 700kg for a carcase weight of 340kg and generally have afat score of 5 mm.

“We spoke to a lot of people in the restaurant trade, includingthose with European and Argentinian backgrounds, who killall their animals at three years in our own country, becausethat’s when the meat flavour is at its best,” Franco said.

“A lot of top end restaurants also source three-year old animalsfor their prime dishes because it’s full of flavour.”

The entire property is run on bio-dynamic principals, and isaccredited under the Australian Demeter Bio-Dynamic system.

Three Ridges beef hascustomer wanting more!Susan Banks and Franco Santucci sell their customers a vision of Victoria’s Gippslandrolling hills and a concept of clean and green through their biodynamic practices.

By Stephen Cooke


“It’s not simply replacing synthetic chemicals and fertilizers with‘organic’ substitutes,” Franco says.

“We use highly energised natural preparations in spring andautumn, which have immense power to increase biologicalactivity in the soil.

“This creates good soil structure, humus content and moistureholding capacity.”

These farming practices are communicated through their socialmedia to provide their customers with further insight on howtheir beef was raised.

“Consumers are more interested in where their food comesfrom – and so we need to help them understand what we aredoing differently and where the product comes from.

“Provenance is becoming a more important buying decisionfor the consumer and the farmer needs to cater to that andwork out how to deliver that economically – we’re learninghow to do that.”

The animals are killed at Radfords in Warragul before beingdelivered to the processor where they are cut and packaged.

Three Ridges began selling 15kg and 25kg packs of differentbeef cuts through their website direct to the customer. “That’sall hard work and we realised the way to go was to get it outto a wider market,” Franco says.

Susan and Franco used to shop at one of the Leo’s stores. Themanager, Jason Blake, supports buying direct from theproducer, part of a move away from the dominance and pricemanipulation of the bigger stores and paying the farmer fairprice for a quality product.

They joked when talking about their property purchase in 2007that he would buy their beef one day – now it has come tofruition. It was stocked in October and 70% sold in the firstweek.

Franco credits the popularity to the combination of the breed,the age, a growing market for biodynamic product and the factconsumers know where the product comes from.

“The Charolais name helps, it is a French breed and hasmystique, but the leanness of the meat is sought after by thosethat know it.”

They are still at the start of their journey, both as beefproducers and beef marketers, but are excited to continue thegiant steps already taken.

“We know there are big producers out there with scale, butwe’re not part of that. We are providing a healthy productchoice to a niche market, whilst building a connection betweenconsumer and farm.” n


A big year for St John’s College!2013 has been a very exciting and rewarding year forthe Agriculture and Primary Industries students ofSt John’s College Dubbo. As in previous years, studentsstudying Agriculture and Primary Industries wereoffered the opportunity to represent St John’s Collegeat several major agriculture shows across Australiaincluding the Canberra Royal Show, the Sydney RoyalShow and the Queensland Royal Show the EKKA.

Students also competed in many local shows including the DubboShow, the Warren Show, Trangie Junior Judging Day, The BeefSpectacular in Parkes and the Northern Schools SteerCompetition in Warialda.

From humble beginnings in 1999 the St John’s College LivestockExhibition Team has grown and earned a place as a highly regardedvery successful team. Starting out with only eight students andtwo steers, the team has expanded over the years in both talentand numbers, having up to 85 students, teachers and parentstravelling to various shows across the country proudly representingtheir school. In a very competitive, high standard industry, theSt John’s College Show Teams have much to be proud of.Not many can claim witnessing history in the making but onseveral occasions the Team has done just that.

In 2009, nine students from the School’s Livestock Exhibition Teamtravelled to the Sydney Royal Easter Show. There they became

the first exhibitor to win all four champion awards in the Purebredsection of the show’s Led Steer Competition. The team took outthe Champion and Reserve Champion Light-weight PurebredSteer, Champion Middle-weight Purebred Steer, overall Championand Reserve Champion. 2009 also saw the team achieving anAustralian record auction result when their Grand Champion Steerwas sold for $20,252.60 at the Brisbane Royal Show.

This year has been a rewarding one in terms of achievements,seeing the Rosedale Charolais Stud combine with St John's toexhibit the champion pure bred Charolais steer at the CanberraRoyal Show. The team then went on to The Sydney Royal Showin April where St John’s College was named champions in thePurebred Steer, Trade Hoof & Carcase division, the ChampionLightweight Steer, and also taking out the Reserve ChampionTrade Steer/Heifer with a Charolais infused heifer bred by Lauraand Cody Kirk of Wilworrill Stud, Rylstone.

One of Australia’s largest Agricultural Shows is the QueenslandEKKA and this year the School results were highly commendable.As well as being awarded with the impressive placement ofReserve Champion Heifer, with a Charolais infused heifer bred byJonathon Toll, the team also exhibited steers which placed thirdin the School Steers, Heavy Weight Class and seventh in the OpenSteers, Heavy Weight Class. Further, congratulations must beextended to the many students who ranked as finalists in theSchools Led Steer Parading and Junior Judging Competitions.


At The Northern Schools Steer Competition the team took 2ndplace in the Class 5 Heavy Weight Steers with a Charolais InfusedSteer bred by the Kirk Family of Rylestone, as well as 1st on theHook with a Charolais Poldale bred by Kim Williams. Smallershows like this allow younger team members an avenue to stepup and take a front line role and the team also excelled in thearenas of Junior Judging and Parading.

The opportunity to attend agricultural shows as part of theirAgriculture and Primary Industries Studies provides students withinvaluable practical life skills which they would not normally attainthrough classroom studies alone. Further, the participation inAgricultural shows including cattle showing, junior judging and ledsteer competitions, by students at St John’s College and otherschools, has heightened student awareness of the Beef CattleIndustry.

Often this has led togreater employmentopportunities in manytiers of the AgricultureSector including, butnot limited to, such fieldsas Veterinary Sciences,Animal Nutrition, Stockand Station Agentpositions, Feed LotManagement, Agri-Businesses, Farm Hand& Abattoir employment.

Even more impressive, a significant number of students haveproceeded to establish their own Agri-Businesses in the formof small mixed breed cattle herds, leading to promising longterm economic entities, which in time, may develop intosuccessful Breeding Studs. One former St John’s Collegestudent who has done just that is Mathew Singh who nowproudly runs his own Charolais Stud, Southern Cross Charolais.

Of course these fundamental opportunities would not bepossible without the invaluable support, sponsorship andguidance of our Breeders, Transport providers, parents andindustry members. n

Douglasdale Supreme Born: 3 Jan 2013

shown at 21 monthsgrass feed only

Nicole Edwards mobile: 0409305195 e-mail: [email protected]

FOR SALE

Three weeks of age

Shiroi Ulysses R/F Sire: Douglasdale Deputy 1 Rosedale Rebecca

Dale UranusDam: Douglasdale Lily’s Girl

Boongatti Water Lily

a few hours old

Progeny


Agri-Gene 03 5722 [email protected] 44

Airlie Charolais Warren Miller/ McLachlan Group 0423 396 014 [email protected] 40

Ashwood Park Charolais Duncan Newcomen0408 579 784 [email protected] 9

AYR Charolais George, Ruth & David Cass07 4996 3127 [email protected] 39

Belle Terre Charolais Nicole Edwards0409 305 195 [email protected] 53

Charnelle Charolais Graham Blanch07 5462 7705 [email protected] 34

Downunder Charolais Lesley & Rob Millner08 9573 1018 [email protected] 36

Driven Creative Ben Maunder07 3831 2801 [email protected] 32

Granville Charolais Gavin & Diane Arneil07 4998 1285 www.granvillecharolais.com 48

Herdlink 02 4654 5975www.herdlink.com.au 51

Minnie-Vale Charolais Jason, Doug & Sue Salier02 6783 4272 [email protected] 2

Mount William Charolais Rob Abbott0417 502 692 [email protected] 30

Nargoon Cattle Co Bob & Sheree McGill07 5484 1629 [email protected] 53

Palgrove Charolais David Bondfield0419 665 971 [email protected] 56

Paringa Livestock Tom Lawson0434 146 795 [email protected] 22

Practical Systems 1800 624 [email protected] 45

Rangan Charolais Graeme Cook0419 429 696 [email protected] 32

Rosedale Charolais Michael & James Millner02 6368 2735 [email protected] 55

Semex Jim Conroy0418 107 863 [email protected] 30

UQ Animal Genetics 07 5460 1960Laboratory www.uq.edu.au/vetschool/agl 43

WA Charolais Bull Sale Robin Yost08 9574 2035 [email protected] 36

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Charolais Summer Magazine 2014