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FOR many northern herds, South Devons could be the answer for a high performing crossbred herd with terminal and maternal benefits.
It's a breed that will cross well with all other breeds, including other British breeds, and producers using South Devons genetics are turning cattle off earlier, and increasing market possibilities thanks to the breed's arcase attributes.
Among the main traits South Devons are known for their fertility and longevity, a naturally quiet temperament, and mothering ability, but where they really add value to the northern herd is the growth rates and carcase qualities, according to Heather Lindsay, communications officer for the South Devon Cattle Society of Australia.
South Devon-cross cattle have consistently performed well in carcase competitions and productivity trials both in Australia and overseas, with strong results on grass and grain
"In hoof and hook competitions, South Devons regularly top the carcase section," Mrs Lindsay said.
"They have a unique quality of combining British meat quality with muscle and yield, with a natural ability to marble.
"This not only enhances the eating quality of the meat, but also the carcase value."
Queensland producers have been using South Devon genetics to boost carcase quality and feed efficiency, allowing them to target the lotfeeding market.
"Recently, there have been commercial breeders incorporating South Devon genetics into planned three-way breeding programs and paddock to plate operations," Mrs Lindsay said.
Beefing up Burnett herd at Bendemeer
USING South Devons in the mix at Bendemeer, north of Clermont, is allowing the Burnett family to improve carcase quality and target more markets.
John and Jan Burnett, along with their two sons Douglas and Stephen, and their wives Amanda and Lizzie, run 10,000 breeders in a crossbreeding operation using Braford, Brahman, Simmental, and South Devon genetics.
The family has used South Devon genetics, mainly Kildare bloodlines, for almost 30 years.
Difficult periods at the start of Mr Burnett's career prompted him to find a breed that would boost carcase attributes, particularly marbling, while maintaining growth, fertility and mothering ability.
He returned to the farm in 1970 after a severe drought in 1969, which was followed by the beef slump in 1974 when an oversupply in Europe led to decreased demand for Australian beef, with Europe and Japan closing market access.
"Early in my career I realised that we couldn't depend on the overseas trade, and when we went through the family restructure in 1984 and I took over running the family property, we looked at what we were doing and how we could improve," Mr Burnett said.
"We had gone from a Hereford herd to introducing Brahman bulls, and the hybrid vigour was making a big difference to our production.
"We started working on our HGPS program to improve production - heterosis, genetic improvement, pasture improvement and supplements.
"We tried many breeds, but settled on Braford, Brahman and Simmental as they were the most suited to our production, and we looked at genetic improvement and started objectively selecting bulls on growth rate, conformation, temperament and desirable genetic traits.
"We also undertook a major land development program with buffel grass and other improved pastures to avoid what we went through in the 1969 drought."
We've been able to distribute the marbling genetics of the South Devons through the whole herd.
- John Burnett, Bendemeer, Clermont
By the mid-1990s, the Burnetts had tried many other breeds, and they heard about South Devons through visiting US cattleman Jim Leachman.
"He was doing similar things to us with composite breeding, and we were looking for the genetic carcase quality traits we could use to improve marbling, but we weren't prepared to sacrifice growth rate and feeding efficiency," Mr Burnett said.
The commercial cattle are run alongside a composite bull breeding program which produces herd bulls for the family's Burnett Group, which includes 10 properties in Central Queensland covering 195,000 hectares.
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South Devon genetics are also used over red Brahman-cross females to produce high quality females with exceptional mothering ability, which are then joined to Brahman bulls, Mr Burnett said.
"We've been able to distribute the marbling genetics of the South Devons through the whole herd.
"The Jap bullock market is the focus, but we've also moved into selling through live export for the higher Brahman content cattle, and the South Devon-cross allows us to send more cattle into the feeder market and domestic consumption because of the carcase characteristics.
"We learnt from 1974 that we need more than one market, and South Devon genetics allow us to target multiple markets."