Straightbred Hereford steers were in the top five teams for average daily gain at the second weighing in for Australia’s biggest grass-fed trial, Lardner Park Steer Trial at Warragul Victoria.
The overall average for the first period recorded on 9 August was 1.12kg per day with a few steers exceeding this at 1.89kg to 2.03kg per day.
The trial began in July with 70 mixed breed steers entered by 26 producers from around Victoria.
Purebred entrants in trial are Tarcombe Herefords, Tarwin Poll Herefords, Charellen Poll Herefords and Moorville, while those with infused cattle include Riverbend (black baldy) and Hillridge Farm (Limousin/Simmental/Hereford).
David Miekle, Tarwin Poll Herefords, Meeniyan, is leading the straightbred and Hereford infused teams with an overall average daily gain of 1.57kg for his top team and 1.21kg for the second pair. His top steer gained an average of 1.6kg per day, starting on an entry weight of 371kg.
Poll Hereford steers from Steve Robinson, Moorville Poll Herefords, Moorooduc, recorded an overall average daily gain of 1.17kg and 1.4kg, or an average of 1.29kg for the team.
Purebred steers entered by Stan Walker, Charellan Poll Herefords, Pearsondale, recorded an overall average daily gain of 0.97kg and 1.17kg.
Tim Hayes, Tarcombe Herefords, Ruffy, has two teams of purebred steers which had an overall average of 1.21 and 1.23kg.
Barb Stewart, Riverbend, Kernot, has a team of black baldies which recorded an overall average daily gain of 1.29kg and 1.31kg, or an average of 1.3kg for the pair.
With the onset of spring, organisers are anticipating continued good weight gain. The top team is Amphitheatre Pastoral’s Angus at 1.81kg per day, followed by Karn Station’s Red Angus on 1.76kg and 1.74kg per day and Delatite Station’s Angus on 1.59kg/day.
Nathan Fenby, Zoetis, dispensed their second dose of Ultravac 7 in 1 while Larry Cutler, Performance Feeds, and Jacob Cecil, Gibsons Groundspread, were on hand at the weighing to speak with producers on the value and use of their products during the trial.
Focus on quality traits
Hereford breeder David Miekle regularly competes in carcase competitions and the Lardner Park steer trial.
He maintains a focus on traits needed for sound practical cattle, including adequate weight gain, ability to finish, tractability, mothering ability and structural soundness.
The Tarwin team was sired by Tarcombe Homeland P177 and Wirruna Nolan N146.
“I know the steers will be fed optimally in the trial and it gives me a chance to see how our cattle shape up against other breeds. I can’t wait to see the finished product coming out the other end,” David said.
“I find it a good challenge to see how their weights compare with what I’m doing in my home management, and I value the chance to compete with other breeds to see how they compare with our cattle.”
When selecting steers, David looks at the weight range, estimates where the steers will be in six months’ time and works backwards to choose animals of the desired entry weight.
“That usually means the better performing steers are too heavy and at the end of the trial they will exceed specifications, so I tend to find I’m looking at one step back from the top of the draft to get the right weights on entry and exit,” he said.
“There’s also an estimate of how the season will pan out but at Lardner Park the steers are managed at an optimum level.
“Up until this year, we turned off grass fed rising two-year-old steers at 600kg liveweight in a mix of hooks and yard selling.
“This year we swung away from that to selling heavy store cattle rather than taking them through to fats.”
David encouraged other Hereford breeders to enter the Lardner Park trial.
“I enjoy it as a learning exercise as you really focus on what is going on with these steers when it is your own animal in there compared with watching from the sidelines,” he said.
“Hereford breeders are missing out by not being in it – the producers from the other breeds are performance oriented and the trial does give an insight into how these breeds are performing.”
The third weighing will be at Lardner Park on 13 September.