Paul and Jodie Ritter took over Rosevale four years ago, with a goal in mind to increase the profitability of the Greenlands property, north of Singleton, NSW.
The Ritters run 71 Angus breeders on 220-hectares of grazing country and purchased the top-priced bulls at Pentire Angus stud's annual sale in 2019 and 2020.
Already, their investment in quality genetics is reaping rewards.
The Ritters target the saleyard market and vealers are sold when they are 6 to 10 months of age.
"We sold steers and heifers a few weeks ago and the heavier ones averaged 297 kilograms," Mr Ritter said.
"We came away with a fairly good price, topping the sale on the day at $6.40/kg with the calves sired by Pentire bulls.
"We got the top price at the same sale when we sold cattle last year.
"I rang Justin after that sale to tell him what we got for the cattle and thanked him for what his bull had done for us.
"The calves from the last bull I purchased have started to hit the ground and already I've noticed a few crackers, which is a really good sign."
Rosevale has been in the family since 1912 and before the Ritters took over in 2016, the property was leased.
"My grandfather worked on the farm all his life running cattle and sheep," Mr Ritter said.
When selecting bulls, they look for traits that suit their breeding objectives.
"I try and bring my heifers online a little bit sooner than what most people probably do, but by doing that you run a risk, so I want bulls that predominantly give you lower birth weight calves, yet a higher 400-day weight gain," he said.
"Some people measure by 200-, 400-, 600-day weight gain, but I don't keep them that long.
"As long as I can see a 400-day weight gain and a rapid growth rate, that's what I'm looking for as well as low, lengthy, bulls with general composure, balance, muscling and a good temperament."
Mr Ritter admits to being a little "picky" when it comes to his breeding females.
"Obviously I look for quality bloodlines, general appearance and once again good low, lengthy cows," he said.
This year, they turned off 25 vealers, deciding to keep almost all of the heifers as replacement breeders, plus a dozen steers.
"Our goal is to turn off about 100 steers and heifers each year for the market," Mr Ritter said.
"We kept a lot of the stock for our own meat supply and to build up our own herd."
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Currently, the cattle on Rosevale are running on native grass species, however, Mr Ritter has plans to change that.
"We used a plane to drop a substantial amount of superphosphate not long ago, with the ambition to improve the pastures over the next 12 months and sow oats and ryegrass in winter and perhaps some lucerne in summer,' Mr Ritter said.
"In a nutshell, everyone says this place is good for about 50 breeders, I intend to run 100 to 120 breeders depending on the season.
"To get to that, obviously you have to sow good quality pasture and have a good water supply. We have put in another seven dams, so that's part of the whole process of getting this place to higher output levels.
"The cattle are all grass-fed, which is great considering the weight of the cattle I sold, and I didn't have to supplement them with anything, so what I am doing is working and the bulls have proven themselves with the quality of the offspring we are producing."
