HIGHLANDS FOR CROSS BREEDING
Information Source: Australian Highland Cattle Society
— PROOF AND PROFIT —
A TESTIMONIAL FROM THE MARKETPLACE
Alan Cole,
Victoria,
Australia.
1 February, 2002
Dear John and Susan,
I am enclosing information regarding the offspring of the great Tetley Highland bull which you kindly allowed me to use over ten 18 month old Angus heifers from late 1997 until Easter 1998.
All heifers calved safely having lovely energetic calves, there being 7 males and 3 females in solid colours from black through dun to grey. No horns, just a punky topknot to distinguish them from other herd members as not being full Angus.
The calving took place between October and November 1998 and all were totally unassisted events. I still have two of the females in my herd (one black, the other grey) now with their second calf at foot.
The 7 steers were sent off to a steep hill property (Poowong district) where no supplementary feeding is undertaken. Totally grass fed. They were grazed along with their peers from our home property; however, most of their year mob was bought-in breeder lines from Hamilton/Colac districts. These bought-in steers were either Angus or Angus-Hereford cross.
Now the impressive news: In early January 2002 all the steers were rounded up and from the group (about 90 head in that age range) 43 were visually assessed as prime Jap Ox quality. They were dispatched to two meatpacking companies who were offering an average of 312c/kg dressed weight carcass, sight unseen, but assessed by an expert agent dealing in such commodity.
The Highland-Angus cross steers' average dressed weight was 406.1kg @ 312c/kg returning $1267.03/head.
The other (all true beef bred) steers of this consignment had an average dressed weight of 347.8kg @ 312c/kg returning $1085.13/head.
The difference was splendid $181.90/head.
I have some recent photos of the two retained heifers that will be given to you shortly and also attached to this report are the other carcass details as followed through the abattoirs.
Some of the extra carcass weight of the Highland cross may have been due to superior dressing out percentages (less trimming of fat). Certainly these closely monitored Highland cross steers grew to be 10 - 15% all-round larger than their peers with excellent deep hindquarters.
Perhaps you should consider breeding Highland bulls for terminal sire use in commercial herds where hybrid vigour is prized.
Of interest: Used over Angus it appears that the famous Highland horns (coat hangers) are naturally removed. They are definitely small easy calving calves having good solid colours and being slightly longer in the coat than pure Angus. Perhaps a double coat. This heavier longer haired coat may well be an advantage in the cold Gippsland regions of Victoria.
The two retained heifers are decidedly fertile, nice and matronly, have excellent conformation. Their udders are well attached and neat, leading me to think that they may well be in my herd for several years past the normal culling for age that I practice.
These heifers were first joined at 17 - 18 months of age and they have grown to be large proud contented cows, ready to be rejoined 2 months post calving. Proving that they are good foragers in all seasons.
Yours sincerely,
Alan Cole.
MORE BEEF , LESS BONE
|
