AMONG the high quality sires available at this year's Rockhampon Brangus Sale is the most recent winner of the ACM Sire Shootout, which included more than 100 bulls from Australia's leading studs.
Interest in Barronessa Holloway has been strong, and he's set to go under the hammer at Rockhampton, as lot 201.
The Ultrablack bull, bred by the Strazzeri family at Atherton, was judged grand champion against four other bulls which had been named finalists by judge Guy Lord, Walcha, NSW, who selected the bull for his volume, ease of movement and exceptional carcase attributes.
The Strazzeri family - Joe and Sharon, their son Shane and other son Jeff and his wife Jaqueline - breed Charolais, Charbray, Brangus and Ultrablack cattle and they've had plenty of interest, which could bring some new buyers to the Rockhampton multi-vendor sale.
It's the family's second time selling at Rockhampton, and it's a handy outlet, as their location makes running an annual bull sale too difficult.
"The Brangus national sale gives us an opportunity to market and promote our cattle, which we haven't been able to do with the Charolais cattle," Jeff Strazzeri said.
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Holloway is a 30-month-old son of the $400,000 bull SAV International and the dam is also from the well-known 541 cow family, Mr Strazzeri said.
"On both sides, he goes back to some impact breeding, and when we started breeding, come from a background in Holsteins, we knew we had to look for strong cow families," he said.
"He's a bull with unreal growth and he's wide, long, and thick through the front - type-wise, you can't find a better bull.
"SAV (Schaff Angus Valley stud) is really well-known for breeding cattle with good feet and legs, growth, type and temperament."
Mr Strazzeri said the Brangus breed, and Ultrablacks, had shown their value in northern productions, with more breeders looking to lift carcase quality to target more domestic markets, while improving fertility and growth in the herd.
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"The Brangus is quite fertile within the northern production systems so you're going to end up with more calves on the ground, and they're able to meet the markets that have an emphasis on meat quality."
The Rockhampton Brangus Sale is on October 11 and 12.
Ruth Schwager
Ruth Schwager is a journalist with the national agricultural features team.
Ruth Schwager is a journalist with the national agricultural features team.
