The distinct weight gain advantage provided by Charolais bulls has been the driving force behind the Stevenson familys utilisation of the breed in their Springsure-based crossbreeding operation.
Alan and Denise Stevenson breed and background, and occasionally fatten, steers for the EU feeder market on their properties Spring Creek and One Stone, with their eldest son Malcolm and younger son Aiden.
One Stone (540ha), purchased in 2017, is used as a breeder paddock for 100 cows from which calves are weaned straight to Spring Creek (11,600ha), which has been in the family since 1926, where further breeding and all other operational activities are carried out.
The family run a multi-breed crossbreeding operation, using a Sangha/Droughtmaster base crossing to European blood and Angus, and back again.
"We try to keep the Charolais content between a quarter to a half, and as the frame size rises and the coat gets more hairy we cross back with a more slick coated tropically adapted breed, including Droughtmaster, Belmont Red or Senepol," Mr Stevenson said.
"We've recently cycled back to Charolais as the EU content of the breeder mob was cycling down below a quarter on average," he said.
In their current cycle they've only been using Charolais for two years, as they usually have a full Euro breed crossing into the herd for six to seven years, however, they purchased their first Charolais bull 18 years ago.
"Weight gain is where the dollars are and Charolais deliver that very well. There are a lot of quality Charolais studs around, so there is an increasing number of good bulls available to pick from.
They join just under 1000 breeder, while their total stock numbers vary from 2000 to 2600 head depending on the time of year. The family also buy in extra weaners to background.
He said they target the EU feeder market for most of the steers, and the heavy domestic feeder market for the heifers.
"We do keep one paddock to fatten bullocks, again for the EU/MSA spec cattle.
"Depending on the wet season, 420 to 480kg feeder steers are sold at 18 to 26 months, while EU fat bullocks/heifers are sold at 30 to 33 months on average."
The bulls are put in the paddock in the first week of November and are usually pulled out by early February.
"We've found that the most consistent way for us to get 300kg weaners here is to have an August to early October calf.
"Historically first storms can arrive somewhat reliably from late October onward in this area, and the dramatic milk and feed quality increase can be utilised best by the early spring older calf. Also, the cows tend to cycle soon after the season break just when our fresh bulls go in and thus our next early calf is already locked in."
Mr Stevenson said he prefers to use as much data pre-sale as he can to filter our prospective choices when selecting bulls to purchase.
"The Bebbingtons at Mountview Charolais use EBV's and seem to specialise in the softer fleshier and structurally more efficient bulls we prefer. They advertise with good video and information well before their sales and I like to take my time looking through that."
At the 2019 Ag-Grow sale the family purchased Mountview Norton N35 for $11,500.
"He's a soft beefy boy that went out into a terrible season and did it tough yet stuck with the cows as the grass ran out. I was very impressed with how quickly he pulled condition back on after joining was over. His calves will start dropping in a few months and I'm very keen to see them."
He said fertility, fleshing, softness, correct structure and temperament are what they require in a bull.
"We try to buy bulls that will father the daughters we can use here, long term. The steers are a by-product. If we get the cows right they produce steers that work.
"I like to do my homework on figures before we go to a sale, that way we only have to look carefully at the few bulls that fit all our criteria. Then they have to be physically right before we wave at the auctioneer."
Mr Stevenson said after seven very poor wet seasons in a row they've received 340mm from mid January to early March this year.
"We had a further 8mm last week which was the first rain since then. The season is ok currently with good grass levels, though it has all hayed off. Some Winter rain would make life easier."
At present they have no plans to make any drastic changes to their operation in the foreseeable future.
"We're fine-tuning what we already do and staying flexible. We try to have cattle that will fit any market and which looks shiny at any given time. It's working so far."
