Experimentation key to productive breeder herd

Garrett and Kate Kirk,Tallawalla, Bluff are experimenting with a move towards introducing more Bos Taurus genetics into their breeding herd.

The Kirk family currently run a Brahman-based commercial herd of about 2000 head over 7285 hectares of land. 

With a focus on breeding early maturing cattle, Mr Kirk said he’s been testing the introduction of different British breeds into his herd over the past few years.

Initially, the herd was a Brahman-based one but he said crossbreeding was now his focus with a goal to be able to join yearling heifers annually. 

“We’re putting Angus bulls over Brahman and Brangus cows and we’re putting Shorthorn and Belmont bulls over Droughtmaster, Red Brahmans and Belmont cows,” Mr Kirk said.

“We’re really going for early maturity so we can join females earlier, plus get faster growth rates as well.”

The Kirks have stepped up their goal of achieving a more balanced Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus crossed commercial herd and have sold their old bulls.

“The introduction of Angus, Brangus, Shorthorn, Belmont and Droughtmaster genetics into his herd was an effort to improving fertility and growth rates,” Mr Kirk said.

“At the moment, my focus is to increase female numbers with a goal to breed highly fertile, large framed heifers. 

“I’ve really just been turning weaner steers straight-off the cow so I can replace them with buy-in females. I’ve been getting as many females as possible to wait until the drought is over so we can lease more country or buy more country.

”We concentrate on the females and get really strict on their fertility performance and temperament, plus make sure they have correct frame and confirmation.”

Belmont genetics were introduced 12 months ago for carcase traits and growth rates, while Shorthorns were added into the mix late last year to improve meat quality and body frame size. The Angus bulls were purchased two years ago to help improve early maturing traits and meat quality consistency, according to Mr Kirk.

“We just want to get a calf a year earlier with our heifers, the monetary gains are quite substantial and profitable,” he said.

Mr Kirk said he’s currently focused on selling feeder weight cattle at present directly into feedlots.