Beef Stud Feature Show Is All Bull

An outstanding Field Days attraction every year is the Beef Stud Feature Show, and 2011 is no exception. Countless breeds will be represented at the North’s premier showcase of stud beef stock - from the huge hardy Brahmans to the tiny Dexters, the bovine equivalent of Shetland ponies.

A Feature of the Feature Show this year is the Droughtmaster - and renowned breeder Peter Spies of Pinnacle Pocket on the lush Atherton Tablelands will present his prize bull ’BUTT-HEAD’, winner of ’Best Beast’ at last year’s Cairns Show.

Butthead has quite a story - read all about him in Peter’s own words…

No Butt’s About It…

Butthead Is All Butt.

This years’ Rabobank Far North Queensland Rotary Field Days attractions will include a major display of Droughtmaster cattle. The Droughtmaster is Australia’s own beef breed – well suited to not only survive, but thrive in the harsh environments of northern Australia.

Local breeder, Peter Spies of Pinnacle Pocket Droughtmasters said “Astute northern cattlemen set about crossing the hardy red Zebu cattle, a Bos indicus breed, with traditional British breeds, like the shorthorn, early last century”.

“After many years of selection evolved a highly adaptable, productive, fertile and docile breed in the Droughtmaster”.

“The Droughtmasters’ superior adaptation comes principally from traits of heat tolerance, insect resistance, a short-haired sleek coat, ease of calving and digestive efficiency” Mr Spies said.

Pinnacle Pocket Droughtmasters will include in their showing Pinnacle Pocket Butthead who was awarded Grand Champion stud bull and Supreme Champion stud exhibit at the Cairns show last year.

“He was a 35 month old bull at the time, weighing 918 kilos. He actually beat the Champion Brahman cow, which went on to win Champion Brahman cow of the Brisbane RNA show to be judged Supreme Champion stud exhibit. Butthead had previously also won major ribbons at Atherton and Malanda shows and several ribbons at the Cairns, Malanda, Atherton and Tully shows in 2009. The Show Ring is the shop window to your stud and the breed” Mr. Spies said.

“Mind you he now has been working, covering 70 cows!”

“What he does display is good muscularity, a clean coat, large scrotal size, a tidy sheath and a terrific butt profile so important in our industry for retail beef yield”.

Mr Spies said that “These traits are so typical of the good Droughtmaster bulls that are bred here on the Tablelands. We have very good seed stock producers here and some of the best Genetics in Australia. Buyers don’t need to travel down south to buy their bulls”.

Droughtmaster studs who will be displaying their cattle will include Hideaway Downs (Pereion), Mooma Park (Malanda), Euluma (Julatten), Tully High and Pinnacle Pocket (Yungaburra).

“The Judge in Cairns last year, a Brahman breeder made the comment during the Grand Parade that “…these cattle would stand up well anywhere in Australia and are a real credit to the breeders”.

Droughtmasters are also noted for their well muscled carcasses with optimum fat cover; give Droughtmasters excellent dressing percentages and high saleable meat yields. Recent trial results produced dressing percentages of 58% and saleable meat yields of 76%. With Shorthorn in its background, marbling performance is among the highest of the Bos indicus derived breeds producing high quality, tender beef that grades well under the current MSA Cuts Based Grading System. High growth performance and extended ageing of cuts can produce EQS 5 star grading. Numerous wins in carcass competitions across Australia confirm this performance.

Mr Spies will also show two younger bulls sired by Billabong Ripley, a bull that was popular with crowds in 2009. “These young bulls show the growth rate that can be achieved off grass with the breed”.

The Rabobank Rotary FNQ Field Days and the Beef Stud Feature Show take place at Walkamin Central on Wednesday & Thursday, May 25 & 26.