West’s battle of the breeds - spousal rivalry puts Dromore Station to test

While they agree to disagree which breed performs better, the couple run both Poll Hereford and Shorthorn herds on their property, Dromore Station – trading as Glenalbyn Props – between Wilcannia and Ivanhoe, in the State’s far west.

Until 1992 the Bennetts ran Merino sheep on the station.

However, when the wool market eased, they made the switch to producing just cattle in 1992.

While the Poll Herefords marked their territory years before, Shorthorns were introduced about 15 years ago.

Now, 400 breeding females of each breed – totalling 800 breeders – run on the 80,970-hectare property, an understated stocking capacity, according to the Bennetts.

Having just emerged from the decade long drought – at one point the couple were doing 1000 kilometres a week just feeding cattle – the country is looking exceptional.

While Dromore Station was covered in normal western division grasses, like spear grass and blue bush, there were also so many different varieties of grass and pasture emerging that there were many the Bennetts didn’t recognise – and couldn’t even find in an encyclopedia of western division pastures.

At full capacity the property could run close to 2000 cows with progeny – at its peak they were running 30,000 sheep – however, with just the two of them running the place they preferred to keep the numbers as they were.

While the western division has been known as “sheep country” in the past, more and more producers have turned to cattle for easier management.

Originally starting the Hereford herd on Heatherdale Poll Hereford bloodlines, they had used both Yarram Park and Courallie genetics in recent years and had been buying predominantly Tycolah bulls for the past four years.

While they had switched between using Poll Hereford bulls and Hereford bulls, Mr Bennett said they had moved back to polled cattle because of the convenience of not having to dehorn.

Although they had the two breeds, Mrs Bennett said they were aimed at different markets and were both fairly tough breeds.

The Shorthorn breed were aimed at the Japanese export market, or the feeder steer market, while the Herefords were more suited to the weaner steer market.

This is where the rivalry kicked in.

Mrs Bennett said they consistently achieved about $100 a head more for a Shorthorn steer than a Hereford, just because of the marbling influence sought by the Japanese.

While they each had their strong points, Mrs Bennett said Shorthorns were good mothers and had high milk, while Mr Bennett said the Herefords had a calm temperament, were easy to handle and had good weight-for-age.

But in the long run, the Bennetts agreed they were trying to produce commercial steers, which they could get as heavy as possible as quickly as they could.

“The Shorthorns and Herefords both have good weight-for-age, so technically they grow the same, but the only difference is Hereford meat doesn’t marble.”

To produce two separate lines of cattle – in order to spread risk and help cash-flow – one-third of the herd calved in autumn, while the rest calved during spring.

Mobs of about 40 cows were single-sire mated for 10 weeks, which helped ensure the bull was “doing its job”, and also helped with data recording.

“We sire identify all calves, so we can hopefully then follow them through past the feedlot to check on their performance.”

The Shorthorn steers were aimed at the feeder steer market, and were generally sold weighing between 400 and 500 kilograms, which they got to at around 12 months old, directly into a feedlot.

The Hereford steer progeny were usually sold as weaners through annual weaner sales, however they could be kept and sold into the feedlot depending on which gave them the most advantage.

However, the weaner market has turned out to be more attractive for the Bennetts in the past few years, with a recent consignment of 20, 10- to 11-month-old steers sold through Wodonga store sale, making $865, while a line of 40 Hereford steers, nine to 10 months old, weighing 370kg, sold for $815.

Most of the heifers were kept as replacements – in both breed herds – while the 10-year-old cows were sold to keep the herd young.

While they didn’t regularly pregnancy test the females, if they didn’t produce a calf, they were sold.

Heifers were joined four weeks before the cows to give them more of a chance to get in calf, and were joined to calve at two years old.

While it could be more difficult to manage livestock on such a large amalgamation, the Bennetts still chose to yard wean for 10 days.

“Yard weaning is essential to get them quiet and teach them to feed.”

Herefords and Shorthorns side-by-side at Wilcannia

BREEDING Hereford cattle for as long as they have been producers, Tony and Lyndall Bennett of Dromore Station, Wilcannia, added a Shorthorn herd into the mix about 15 years ago.

And as they were aiming to breed a steer suitable for the feeder market, they wanted a beast that could put on weight as quickly as possible.

Originally based on Weebollabolla blood, the couple have been using Spry’s Shorthorn bulls for years, as they continued to do the job.

Purchasing the top-priced bull at the Spry’s Tamworth sale in 2009, Mrs Bennett said the now four-year-old bull was possibly the best they had ever bought.

“His progeny are so consistent,” she said.

The Bennetts have just selected Shorthorn steers to enter into steer trials at either Rockhampton or at the NSW Beef Spectacular and Trade Expo next year.

At this year’s Beef Spectacular, the Dromore Station steers came third in the trade hook section and second in the trade hoof category, while in 2010 they took out first place for the trade hook competition.

“I like to enter steer competitions to see how our steers perform – and it is a bit of fun,” she said.