JUST try to wipe the smile off the face of South East Queensland beef seedstock producer Mark Noonan.
The principal of Albert River Angus, at the back of Beenleigh midway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, says 2011 has been the stud's best year in more than a decade - and 2012 is shaping up as another ripper.
In a year that's seen commercial buyers vigorously chase Angus genetics to attract MSA premiums for black, flatback cattle, even smaller operators like Mr Noonan are getting caught up in the rush.
"I'd sold all my sale bulls before September this year," he said. "Most of them went into Central Queensland around Monto and as far north as Charters Towers where they'll be joined to tropical females in crossbreeding programs.
"That's where the demand is and, quite frankly, it's running hot."
Mr Noonan sells only about 20 Angus bulls and a proportion of black Brangus bulls out of the paddock annually. He said inquiries were now up for Angus heifers and the stud was in overdrive to build on breeder numbers to meet projected demand.
Running about 60 breeders on 90 hectares, surrounded by residential housing blocks and light industrial estates, Mr Noonan admits the family-owned enterprise is something of an odd fit with the district.
There has been plenty of rain in recent weeks and, while the pasture sown mostly to kikuyu and Callides Rhodes is lush and green, it has very little protein and energy to meet the requirements of next year's sale bulls and breeding cows.
"Despite appearances, our cattle do it tough here," Mr Noonan said.
"We're also very good at growing lantana, ticks and buffalo fly, but that's not such a bad thing because it conditions our herd to perform in harsh environments."
Mr Noonan said that if Angus genetics continue to become more sought-after by Queensland beef producers in the tick zone area east of the Great Dividing Range, it was only logical that cattlemen would focus their attention on sourcing Angus progeny from adapted cow herds.
"We've been breeding Angus in this environment for 14 years, which has given our cow herd the time to adapt to the pressures of a subtropical environment," he said.
"For Angus bulls heading into the north it is the perfect preparation and gives them an advantage over other Angus which might come from the more traditional tick free areas of Queensland and other parts of Australia."
