Widgeegonga

Michael Carroll established the Widgeegonga herd at Derrinallum with Team Te Mania heifers from Scott Mackay at Habbies Howe.

The focus is on finding the optimum combination of pasture production and cattle genetics to maximise the financial return. Various systems were initially modelled on the CSIRO program Grassgrow with the assistance of Lisa Warn at the Mackinnon Project.

The system currently in place is one where calving occurs in August / September with steers carried through a second spring and sold as feeders at as close to upper weight limit of 500kg as possible at around 15 months of age. The following chart shows the growth patterns of the last 9 drops of steers which are usually sold to Rangers Valley.

Weights are closely monitored and processed through Breedplan and the herd uses the latest genetics from Te Mania as part of their progeny testing program. Te Mania was the obvious choice for genetics given the accuracy of their EBVs and their focus on tracking performance on feed and in the chiller.

The following photo is of steers in October, weighing just over 400kgs at 13 and 14 months of age.

Supplying Ranger's Valley provides a clear focus. The steers go into two of their brands. Marble scores of 5 and above go into the premium "Black Market" product. Marble scores of 3 and upto 5 go into "Black Onyx". Over the last few years an increasing proportion of the steers have graded 5 plus and a decreasing proportion have failed to make a 3 marble score.

To maximise the rate of genetic progress virtually all heifers are retained and joined through a synchronised AI program to minimise the labour required to supervise calving. This results in a very young herd with surplus breeders sold on at around 5 years of age.

Enquiries for these surplus breeders are always welcome. Michael Carroll 0414 444 218

The stocking rate typically peaks at 20 DSE’s / Ha in Spring and a falls to around 10 DSE’s / Ha in Autumn.

Grow 8.5 tnDM / ha p.a. and assume 20% wastage of growing pasture and 30% wastage of carry over, then:

The minimum feed on offer is 240 kg / ha in April
Should be no deficit
Rely on 1.34 tn/ ha of dry carry over feed to get through
35% wastage of carry over, then:
The minimum feed on offer is 150 kg / ha in April
There is a deficit in Mar & Apr
Produce 320 kg of beef / ha p.a.
Utilise 54% of the pasture grown

Around 300 kg / ha of beef is sold each year and with an average rainfall of 570 mm this equates to just over 50 kg per Ha per 100 mm of rain.

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