When Glenn Murray began purchasing the family property 31 years ago, Hereford cattle had been the mainstay for the family operation since the original selection was taken up in the 1890s.
“My father was a diehard Hereford breeder, but I bought some Angus bulls and started to breed black baldies,” he said.
Mr Murray operates the 485 hectare property, “Groveview”, Adelong, in partnership with his wife Heather, and together they are joining 165 females for an August/September calving.
He said he was attracted by the extra growth of the black baldy calves, and he looked further into cross-breeding cattle which would be suitable for his country.
“Shorthorn’s seemed to fit the bill, and appealed to me,” he said.
“I wanted to keep the black colour so the theory was, if I purchased light red coloured Shorthorn bulls the black from the females would dominate.
“We want to keep the black colour as best we can, because of the price premium.”
Mr Murray grows his late winter drop steers out to feedlot entry weights of 450 kilograms which he is able to achieve on the improved sub-clover based pastures of his softer country.
He targets the feedlot market because he can put together good even lines of steers which is what the feedlots appreciate.
“I also know the price we are getting before they leave the place,” Mr Murray said.
“The buyer inspects the cattle in our yards and the price is agreed upon.”
Maintaining the black colour of his herd is therefore of paramount importance because of the price premium, and Mr Murray is embarking upon a cross-breeding program, combining the hybrid vigour of the Shorthorn Angus cross with the accepted black colour.
Shorthorn bulls are selected from Sprys Shorthorns, with emphasis on conformation and depth, but acknowledging low birth weight and 400-day figures.
“At calf marking we could see the difference with the Shorthorn cross,” Mr Murray said.
“The calves had impressive growth and that is what I am looking for.
“It is money for nothing!”
