LAST year's Red Angus National Show and Sale was the first time Jason Black had purchased a Red Angus bull - but he knew the bull he was after would be of top quality and be a true performer.
As such, the decision to purchase this particular bull was not one made in the heat of the moment, but rather, he said, a decision with a lot of planning and consideration as to the specific traits he was after.
Mr Black ended up taking home GK 2R Greenback G6 for the second highest price at the sale - $12,500 - and not far behind the overall sale top of $13,000.
That top was for the show's reserve champion bull, Bolton Girls Grenade, which had been jointly purchased by IBR Red Angus, Toowoomba, Queensland, and Richard and Kate Shaw, "Ox Hill", Bell, Qld.
While unable to attend the National himself last year, instead bidding over the phone, Mr Black spent a lot of time and researching - as well as consulting with vendor, Gavin Iseppi, of GK stud, Dalby - into the lead-up to purchasing Greenback.
The quality of Greenback was recognised by others at the National last year, with the bull declared the reserve senior champion.
Greenback, born in July 2011, was by Red Corner Creek Cash 2R and from Trevone Park P Rose.
Mr Black said he had been particularly impressed by the bulls from GK Livestock - operated by Gavin and Kirrily Iseppi - and Greenback in particular had fitted the bill in terms of what he was seeking.
Mr Black himself operates a Santa Gertrudis herd on his property, "Colanya", Oakey, Qld.
"We also run Santa cattle on properties out further west," Mr Black said.
"I was looking to purchase a Red Angus bull in order to add a bit more stockiness as well as early maturing into the Santa breeders."
He said he believed Red Angus possessed those qualities and would bring much benefit to his own herd.
He set out by using the bull over Santa Gertrudis breeders, to breed bulls for his commercial herd.
As for Greenback specifically, Mr Black said the bull really appealed to him at the time and had presented well on his hindquarters.
"We had been thinking about the purchase for quite a while," Mr Black said.
He has not lost any of his appreciation for the bull in the year since the purchase, and he says he has performed very well in the herd.
For the moment, Mr Black said he was not planning to purchase more Red Angus bulls, believing Greenback would add just the right amount of extra growth he was seeking out of his breeders.
He said he would continue to focus on his Santa Gertrudis/ Charolais herd, but the Red Angus influence through Green- back would prove very valuable in achieving the gains he was seeking.
That desire for more growth, he said, had been driven by his marketing; he currently sells his cattle to Coles, and so was seeking to maximise on 60- to 70-day feedlot gains.
He said both Angus and Red Angus offered the ability to add more growth, and he was seeking that greater growth in a shorter period of time.
Nick Heydon
The Land's property editor.
The Land's property editor.
