Wirths ongoing success with Simmentals

David and Helen Wirth run the business with their son Ben in Glen Elgin east of Glen Innes, New South Wales, across three properties consisting of undulating granite soil country: Glengarry (1296 hectares) which the family purchased in 1974; Wattamola (392ha) bought in 2001 and Cloverlea (253ha) purchased in 2006.

David Wirth said they run steers, heifers and when necessary, dry cows on Glengarry while the breeding herd is based on Wattamola and Cloverlea.

"As well as the cattle we breed, we also buy in 200 to 300 steers annually which are backgrounded for the feedlot market," Mr Wirth said.

The family put Simmental bulls over their Hereford x Charolais cows. In all their herd numbers at 1000 head not including calves.

"We're firm believers in the benefits of crossbred cattle. We initially had a Hereford base herd which we put with the Charolais bulls, and we join the Simmental bull with that cross from October 1 to December 20 to produce good growthy progeny, and females with the excellent mothering ability that the Simmental is known for," he said.

While the family is EU Accredited, Mr Wirth said they're currently getting better money by backgrounding steers and selling them into the feedlot market as 18 to 19 month-olds at 500kg.

"Any heavyweight steers we keep are supplementary fed on grain and killed as EU bullocks."

To source reliable Simmental genetics to put through their herd the Wirths have been purchasing one or two top end bulls from the Cook family, Barana Simmentals, north of Coolah on the North West slopes of NSW at their annual on-property sale.

"The Barana bulls produce progeny with excellent weight and yield.

"Peter and Charmaine Cook are very genuine people. What you see is what you get with the article they produce."