WALLAN Creek Herefords and Charlevue Brangus were the delighted winners of the 2009 interbreed competition. Queensland Country Life found this report originally titled, Hereford, Brangus in finale triumph, in the archives.
AN outing at Beef 2009 to ‘test the water’ after almost a decade out of the show game proved a smart move by southern Queensland Hereford breeders, the Nixon family of Wallan Creek Herefords.
Out of more than 30 breeds, their 17-month-old bull Wallan Creek Dimbulah C261 was sashed grand champion interbreed bull at the big finale of the stud cattle judging program at Beef 2009 on Thursday.
In front of a crowd in excess of 2000 people, US interbreed judge Dr Jim Sanders, a professor of animal breeding and genetics at Texas A&M University, whittled the initial field of 30 bulls down to 10, selecting the Angus, Brahman, Brangus, Charbray, Droughtmaster, Limousin, Murray Grey, Hereford and Santa Gertrudis bulls in his final line-up.
But when the tall Texan did a final circle around the Hereford bull and shook the hand of Toby Nixon, his decision was sealed and Mr Nixon was flocked by a rural paparazzi of sorts.
Leading the bull from the ring, a beaming Mr Nixon, who runs Wallan Creek Herefords with his wife Jane and parents Bob and Anne, said he was overwhelmed.
“We came to Beef 2009 because we just thought we needed to get out and see where we stood, not just in the breed but in the industry, and it’s good to see we are not dead in the water up here,” Mr Nixon said.
The interbreed gong provided the trifecta for Wallan Creek Dimbulah in his first showing after the 17-month-old, 846kg bull won junior and grand champion titles in the Hereford/Poll Hereford judging.
Sired by Wallan Creek Dimbulah X096 and out of Wallan Creek Necklet X162, the bull will now be offered for sale at the Wallan Creek on-property sale on September 11.
Prepared by Weetalabah Cattle Services, Chinchilla, his scan figures showed an eye muscle area of 116sq cm, and P8 rump fat of 7mm and rib fat 5mm.
The win was not only a triumphant return to the show ring for the Nixon family, but a major shot in the arm for the Hereford breed.
Herefords Australia Limited (HAL) chairman Bruce Lester said it was fantastic recognition for the breed, which had received a lot of interest from cattle producers at Beef 2009.
“I think there are fads and fashions and in the era when Herefords were king in the north, Bos Indicus genetics were not available or recognised, but they were not available or recognised, but they (Bos Indicus cattle) have proven to be a wonderful thing for the north since their introduction,” Mr Lester said.
“But I think to a certain extent, you will see a greater Hereford influence in the future, particularly in the northern cross-breeding programs.
“We think they are ideal for crossing with Bos Indicus cattle because Herefords are good sires, good feed converters, good foragers and they have predictable genetics.
“Every breed is doing their best to improve their market share and we’re no different.
“I think we’ve been there in the wings for a while and as a breed we’ve made a concerted effort to evolve and improve and offer producers an animal that can give them an edge.”
Jane Saunders was left shaking when a Brangus female from the Charlevue Brangus Stud at Dingo she operates with husband Brad was named interbreed champion.
“We are in this business to produce beef, so Beef Australia is the ultimate competition for us. This is as good as it gets,” Jane said.
Jane and her husband Brad run the Charlevue Brangus Stud at Dingo in Central Queensland, running 2000 commercial breeders and 500 stud breeders.
The stud was established eight years ago.
Charlevue Bella is a 28-month-old cow with her first calf, a heifer, at foot.
Beef 2009 was only Bella’s second show and followed her debut at the Baralaba Show.
“She calved very young so we were concerned whether the calf would be good enough.”
There were no complaints about the calf from international judge Dr Sanders, who was impressed with the frame of both the calf and the cow.
Dr Sanders said Charlevue Bella was “not too big and would suit any operation in the world”.
He added that he would like her a little stronger.
Bella is from a homegrown bull – Charlevue Xfactor – out of a Greendale cow.
Jane said it took a lot of work to prepare her for the country’s premier beef event but it was worth it to promote the breed and “show how good they are”.
