Export market stays strong for Droughtmaster cattle

International Livestock Exports buyer, Brian McGlinchey, based out of Darwin, said there had been a strong demand for Droughtmaster heifers from a Vietnam buyer over recent months.

"I think the Droughtmaster cattle suit Vietnam, as they are hardy and can handle the conditions. They need animals that can survive over there and Droughtmasters fit the bill," he said.

"Vietnam is the main destination for Droughtmasters, and we have sent between 10,000 and 15,000 heifers over recently.

"They were wanted mainly for crossbreeding, as the Vietnamese prefer red cattle."

Mr McGlinchey said he had sourced cattle from all over Queensland for the boats to Vietnam.

Producers, Tennille and Tim Hughes, of Gympie, have just last month sent their first load of Droughtmaster females to Vietnam.

Trading as H and H Pastoral Company, Mrs Hughes said they sent 90 yearling heifers, averaging 330 kilograms, and received a premium of 50-60 cents/kilogram ahead of the export game.

Mrs Hughes said her parents, Brian and Yvonne Heck, have a Droughtmaster stud, Bryvonlea, at Gympie, and fostered her admiration for the breed.

"We purchased a line of Droughtmaster females back in the drought of 2013/14, and we kept the best of them, put them in calf, and sold them as PTIC's topping the Woolooga female sale," she said.

"From there we discovered there was a gap in the commercial market for really good quality females, and because we have access to top bulls through the stud, we developed our business to focus on breeding and sourcing top commercial Droughtmaster females."

Mrs Hughes said this was their first decent export load to Vietnam, but she felt confident the Droughtmaster breed would make a name for themselves over there.

"Hopefully we will get more orders for that article, and with the premium it makes it worthwhile," she said.

"We have agistment country from Gympie, Tiaro and through to Rockhampton, but those heifers came out of our Rocky country where we run about 200 commercial females."