For close to 30 years, Wes and Sue Presho, have been successfully producing pure and cross Santa Gertrudis products for the processors, at their 4856ha commercial breeding property, Utopia Downs, Taroom.
The Preshos run a 2000-head herd, including breeders, replacements and followers on the undulating Brigalow country at Utopia Downs.
“Our breeding herd is entirely Santa, though we produce red and black cattle by putting Angus and Santa bulls over the females,” Wes said.
“We’ve been using Santas since before we purchased Utopia Downs, and have found the breed has performed consistently for us over the years,” he said.
“We find that the adaptability of the Santa, make them a great option for opening up market opportunities for us, especially when crossed with the Angus.”
When seasons are good, the Preshos breed, fatten and finish their cattle, and sell mainly steers on at 330kg dressed, and some cull heifers at 280 to 300kg dressed to either JBS Dinmore or Teys Beenleigh, where they also target the Grasslands market.
“We’ve been getting solid returns lately, especially for the product we sell into Grasslands, we’ve seen a good jump in prices across the board recently as well, which is pleasing.”
The Preshos join the Angus and Santa bulls with the females from October to the end of February, and in the progeny he said they look for softness, doability, and weight for age to fit them into their Grasslands program “which goes hand-inhand with the MSA market”.
To purchase sires which will produce progency fitting these requirements, the Preshos have been purchasing bulls from the Adams familys’ Dangarfield Sale and the Bassingthwaighte familys’ Yarrawonga & Waco sale for many years.
“We’re always excited about the potential of the bulls we purchase at these two sales, the bulls offered there are always very consistent, stand up to our seasonal conditions well, and allow us to continue putting a variety of excellent genetics into our herd each year.”
Wes said earlier in March and June this year they received good, and though it’s a bit dry at Utopia Downs now, he said the country still has “little bit of life in it, so it won’t need a lot of rain to get it going again”.
When they aren’t in the paddock, Wes and Sue enjoy travelling to visit their daughters Roz, Lisa and Amy, who live in Roma, Charters Towers, and the NT respectively.
They also enjoy exhibiting their cattle at the various shows held in the Banana Shire, a highlight last year was when their 668kg Santa x Angus steers won Grand Champion grass fed exhibit at the Taroom show prime and store cattle competition.