A commercial grain growing operation is the primary focus for the Goondiwindi-based McDonald family, though working and improving their Santa Gertrudis-influenced breeding herd, is the family’s other passion.
Trading under Jack McDonald Pty Ltd, they run 2500 head including 500 breeders, across five properties totalling 11,000ha in the Billa Billa district, on slightly undulating Brigalow and Belah scrub country.
From the home block Goondooee, Luke and Allana McDonald, along with their boys Amos, Isaac, Boaz, Josiah, and Jared, run the operation in partnership with Luke’s brother Callum, his wife Louise, and their children Emily and Alasdair.
Luke and Callums parents John and Raelene live nearby at Balmoral Farm, while their grandfather and business namesake Jack, is now retired and living in Goondiwindi. Other family-owned blocks include Tigabon, Monte Cristo, and Glenray.
The family join Santa bulls with their pure Santa, and Brahman/Santa-cross breeders, from August to November, with the progeny fattened, finished and sold into the feedlot market.
As a rotational crop for their grain operation, the McDonalds also grow oats and sorghum which is used internally as feed for their herd.
Luke said the family has been using Santas for close to 60 years.
“Pa started using them in Victoria, and continued with the breed when he moved here 39 years ago; his knowledge regarding Santas has proven to be very helpful for us.” Luke said.
“We’ve had a great head start due to the hard work he put into getting the breeding operation up and running, and his constant improvement of the herd right up until right up to now,” he said.
“I think we all caught our passion for cattle from him.”
He said they like the breed for their style, bone, and growth rates.
“Their ease of finishing is also highly desirable for us, as our objective is to breed, fatten and finish the progeny at 14 to 16 months.
Steers are sold at 400 to 500kgs live, and cull heifers at 350 to 500kg live to Noel Cook at Moruya feedlot, Moonie, or through Ashley Loveday at Elders Dalby.
“Fertility in our breeders is crucial, and as the feeder market is paying well, we’re hard on our maiden heifers, so if they aren’t performing, they’re culled and sold.”
To diversify the Santa bloodlines in their herd, the family has been attending the Wandoan Santa Gertrudis Bull Sale for four years ago.
“Our family friends Nigel and Toni Sharpe, from Bunda stud, are vendors at the sale, and each year we’ve picked up a really handy bull there, from the Sharpes, and the other vendors who offer first-rate drafts there.”
