Best for beef still ahead

The 25-year-old was a recipient of the Edgar Hudgins Memorial Scholarship, and spent as much time as he could focusing on stud, commercial and lotfeeding operations in Texas and Florida.

Angus, who holds a bachelor of production animal science degree, works with his parents John and Leanne in their Leajon Brahman Stud, as well as his own stud AJC Brahmans and off-farm.

His off-farm business includes contract artificial-insemination programs and pregnancy testing.

Angus says he is very impressed with the success rate of IVF reproduction in the US, as they are getting far better results than here in Australia.

"The Americans are getting 65 to 70 per cent conception rates, against Australia, which enjoys about 50pc," Angus said.

He also concentrated on the marketing of Australian genetics back into the US.

"I really made some valuable contacts, and it will result with American cattlemen looking to Australian genetics.

"The protocol for exports back to the US is now more beneficial, and [it is more] economical to export Australian genetics and semen."

Angus said he saw first-hand some of the genetics that had been imported from the US to Australia.

"I really was very impressed with some of these genetics, and wasn't with others.

"We, as breeders, place more emphasis on structural soundness, fertility and longevity here - where in the US they tend to focus on size and volume."

However, Angus said Australian beef producers held the advantage of being able to produce grassfed beef.

"For producers to sell cattle, they have to either consign stock to the saleyard or direct to the feedlots.

"Cattlemen cannot consign direct to the processor, as we do.

"It also really reinforced my theory that we are in a safer position with more market avenues, such as targeting for PCAS, MSA or the organic market."

The US has just come out of a drought, and currently producers are receiving record prices for cattle.

"A weaner steer in the 200-300kg weight range is currently selling from $1200 to $1300, which equates to a hefty $5.20/kg live weight."

Angus predicts that once the drought breaks in Australia, beef producers can expect similar money.

In terms of cell grazing, he says the Americans are certainly ahead of Australia, but they have been doing it for so much longer.

"We can certainly learn from them in terms of pasture management, such as resting periods.

"They do, however, have the luxury in most parts of predictable climatic conditions, and receive higher rainfalls than much of Queensland."

One of Angus' first jobs was showing cattle for JD Hudgins, and he found the show circuit to be very competitive.

"Although I saw some great examples of the breed, there was a proportion with structural issues and questionable fertility."

Angus spent several weeks at several of the JD Hudgins divisions in Hungerford, Texas.

And it was there that Angus saw some of the great sires that have been used prolifically in Australia.

He then spent time with Kelvin Moreno and family at Moreno Ranches, Florida, where they produce 300 female-sexed calves by IVF each year from some of the top donors in the country.

Also while in Florida, Angus stayed with Billy, George and Henry Kempfer from Kempfer Cattle Company.

"It was great to see such diversification in agriculture, as this family operated a stud and commercial cattle, turf farm, sawmill harvesting timber from their property and hunting leases.

"Their cattle were very functional and they ran a seasonal, three-way cross mating program similar to those in Australia."