TEX Pierce from Mudgegonga, Victoria, has always been interested in feedback trials for the purpose of evaluating the performance of his cattle.
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Mr Pierce, and his partner Kim McConville join as many as 600 cows on an aggregation based on the 186-hectare property near Mudgegonga, plus leased country, and stock held on agistment.
“We used to enter the competitions held at the Ashleigh Park feedlot near Culcairn, and we have won four straight,” he said.
“We weren't getting any data on the performance of our cattle, when we sold our cattle through the yards.”
When Mr Pierce saw the advertisement in The Land, he entered two teams of five steers, and was pleasantly surprised by their success.
“We didn’t expect to do as well,” Mr Pierce admitted.
“We would have been happy to be in the top 20 per cent, but to achieve these results is fantastic.”
The mainly black Simmental-cross steers with a touch of Shorthorn were bred by bulls of Mr Pierce’s breeding, and they came second in the carcase section, with the reserve championship in the Riverine Classic Beef champion pen.
They also came eighth in the pen of five steers.
“We have confidence in Simmentals, but we can’t be complacent until we see the true figures from carcase competitions,” he said.
The partnership is developing a small stud, but before they start selling bulls they want to be certain the stock will perform to expectations, and those virtues can be confirmed by taking part in this trial.
Mr Pierce said he selects his replacement heifers and bulls visually, without too much reference to available figures.
“I think people get carried away with figures, but they don’t always add up,” he said.
“People should look at the conformation, the structure of the beast and especially temperament.”
Mr Pierce said traits like length, depth, ability to walk and milk can only be assessed visually, and he also likes soft-skinned, fleshy cattle.
“The industry has gone mad on lean, hard-skinned bulls based on too much reliance on figures,” he said.
“Figures should only be used as a guide.”
He said the value of the Feedback Trial was in how it allowed producers to realistically compare their production aims against others in the industry, and encouraged other cattle breeders to enter.
“If people are not sure about the direction their operation is taking, enter, it is a way of helping you,” Mr Pierce said.
“There is no point in looking over the fence, and thinking your cattle are the best.
“This program helps everyone along the path to increased productivity.”
