Allan Williams has been attending the Rockhampton Brahman Week Sale (RBWS) for close to 40 years to source high quality bulls for use in their large-scale breeding program based out of Riverside Station in Nebo.
The Williams have owned Riverside since 1908, and Allan represents the fifth of seven generations of the family to live and work on the 37,250ha property which stretches from creek flats to downs country, and is peppered with belts of Brigalow and Lancewood.
At present, Allan and his wife Jeanette manage the operation with their son Charles and daughters Claire and Holly, across Riverside and another four family-owned blocks situated around Nebo, which include Broadmeadow, Burton Downs, Red Hill and Olive Downs.
On their combined 80,937ha of country across the five properties, the family run a 7000 head, predominantly Brahman, and Droughtmaster breeding herd which are joined to Brahman and Brangus bulls.
"We fatten steers on Olive Downs, breed on Broadmeadow, Burton Downs and Red Hill, and do our weaning at Riverside," Allan said.
He said the Brahman is ideal for their conditions due to their good coats, and natural tick resistance.
"We're currently concentrating on buying in poll bulls as we find it makes branding a lot easier as we don't have to dehorn, which knocks the cattle around a lot.
"Some people say you lose bone with polls but we haven't had that issue."
The Williams are EU accredited producers and in good seasons they fatten and sell grassfed bullocks as two-year-olds to Teys through Landmark, which is where their cull heifers are also sent.
"Unfortunately, we're on red alert with water. We have a lot of dry dams. We received 200mm from Tropical Cyclone Debbie back in 2017 but we've had no runoff rain since."
While the dry remains, they're selling steers at 300kg through the CQLX Saleyards to the feedlots, for which Allan said, they're receiving good prices.
He said they put their bulls in the paddock for five months starting in November. Charles handles the selection process with the priority for culling being temperament.
Allan didn't attending the RBWS last year because of the dry, but he's hoping to return this year.
"We try to go to as many sales as possible, and we find that there is always a good selection of bulls to choose from at Brahman Week.
"We bought close to 20 bulls at the sale in 2017.
"I don't purchase from specific vendors, If I like a bull I buy it.
"All of the bulls we purchased two years ago are producing calves, and we've had no issues with them."
He said a lot of the bulls they buy are in single sire red and grey herds.
"We have about 50 young herd bulls which are used for this purpose along with the bulls we buy in."
When doing his inspections, Allan said he looks for poll sires with bone, length, a good sheath and a nice head.
"I also make sure they have a good eye, as you can tell a lot about a bulls temperament from that."
The family also exhibit their cattle with which they had success at the Mackay Show last year.
"Charles entered two Brahmans in the prime section of the carcase competition which ended up placing first and second."
For the last three years the family has been supplying Mackay Christian College with two steers for students in the the school's Cattle Club to prepare and exhibit at shows held in the region.
"They've won quite a few prizes in the led steer classes."
While rain is at the top of their wish list, Allan said they just have to go with the season and "get on with it".
"We'll just keep doing what we're doing and keep things simple."