When Clinton and Philippa Rea took the reins at pioneer Braford breeding operation Hillview, 70km north of Rockhampton, in 2009 they decided to pour their energy into the commercial side of the business, which included the integration of Brangus genetics into their herd.
The 3250-hectare property situated on coastal forest country was established 60 years ago as a Braford stud cattle and bullock production operation. Since the change of direction, the Rea’s have incorporated the Droughtmaster and Brangus breeds into the operation.
Clinton said they started purchasing Brangus bulls about four years ago to put over their 450 head of Braford and Droughtmaster breeders to produce commercially viable EU-accredited weaner steers.
“We wean our steers thoroughly, get them close to 220kg and sell through AuctionsPlus,” he said.
“This works well for us, as after they put on the required weight they’re sold to producers with better country, which is a better option than us holding onto them for a couple of years and trying to fatten them ourselves.
"When they’re sold on to an operation with more nutrient rich country they pack on the weight very quickly.”
Clinton said during the CBC sale they know they’re buying from vendors that breed in conditions similar to Hillview.
The Brangus bulls we’ve purchased at the CBC sale have provided us with great value for money and they suit our climate and conditions very well.
- Clinton Rea, Hillview, Rockhampton.
“This gives us confidence that the bulls we purchase will be hardy enough to come home and do the job, perform in our environment, and produce cattle we can sell for good prices.
He said during the sale he looks for bulls with length, bone, meat, good fertility scores, and docility.
“Temperament is a big one for us, we don’t employ staff in our operation so we need quiet cattle that we can handle easily.”
Clinton said when prospective buyers see the high-quality Brangus genetics that their weaners contain, they’re usually willing to pay a bit higher than the average market rate.
“The Brangus bulls we’ve purchased at the CBC sale have provided us with great value for money, they suit our climate and conditions very well, and have given us excellent crossbreeding results across the Hillview herd.”
