For four years, Peter and Sue Hammer, Annavale, north of Charters Towers, have been purchasing powerful polled Brahman heifers from the Rocky All Stars Elite Female Sale to strengthen and diversify the genetics running through their pure Brahman commercial herd.
It was after living in the heart of Charters Towers for 15 years that they decided to take the plunge and form their commercial Brahman breeding herd on the 2630ha property which they've now owned for 22 years.
In the intervening years, the Hammers also purchased the 1821ha Keval Park which joins up to the western boundary of Annavale. Both properties are situated on the Burdekin River and feature heavy ironbark and gum coverage.
"The 164mm of rain we've had over January and February this year has the country looking really good," Mrs Hammer said.
She said they'd always had the intention of creating a pure Brahman herd as they share a great passion for the breed.
"Brahmans make excellent mothers, which easily give birth to small, strong, quick growing calves. The breed also suit our hot, humid climate perfectly," she said.
The Hammer's are currently running 200 breeders in the commercial program, while there are close to 550 head all up at present including followers.
"The bulls are joined with the females from January 25 to April 25 to work in with typical northern seasons.
"All calves are bred at Annavale, while steers and cull heifers go to our 1600 SCU on-property feedlot at Keval Park where they're finished for 100 days on grain and sold to Teys Feedlot at 670kg and 550kg respectively.
"We also grow our own silage for the feedlot with three center pivots and lateral move systems."
To continue working there way towards a pure polled herd, the Hammers have regularly bought two or three heifers at the Rocky All Stars Elite Female Sale, at least one of which is usually from Scott Angel, Glengarry Brahmans, Kunwarara.
"At the 2017 sale, the first we purchased from, we bought a big polly cow from Scott, Glengarry Miss Hannabal 2642 (PS), who has performed very well for us, having produced three calves to date.
"She is by Condor Honeybear Manso 404 (PS) out of Glengarry Miss Hannabal 1783 (H). Her growth, thickness and clean underline is what made her stand out."
The Hammers are well known in the northern beef industry for the stud cattle they produce under the banner of Annavale Brahmans, which was registered in 2002. In addition to their stud and commercial operations, they also enjoy exhibiting pens of cattle at the Northern Beef Producers Expo and the Charters Towers Show.
