Issuu

The 2017 Australian

Speckle Park Journal

Cel ebrating 10 Years

Note from the Editor When I first asked Dale Humphries what his overriding view of breeding with Speckle Park Cattle was, he said something that resonated with me: “Fun times and good people”. It has been a privilege to put this journal together. I have, in the process, met enthusiastic, dedicated fun loving people. That was the easy part of being the Editor of the Australian Speckle Park Journal. The difficult part was to condense the encyclopaedic volume of information into 60 pages of Journal. There are so many people who have made a significant contribution to the breed and its development, it’s been impossible to mention them all. Similarly, there are so many champions that have formed the backbone of the breed in this country, they are too numerous to mention. We have received a great volume of spectacular photographs of farms and animals. Clever erudite and experienced people have provided us with information about the breed, its measurement, management and progress. If, for one reason or another, important information is not in this journal, about any reader, breeder or producer, that in no way is intended to diminish your important contribution or not acknowledge your efforts, it is simply a function of time and space. I sincerely regret that it has not been possible to open up the Australian Speckle Park world in the manner it deserves. All I can say in mitigation is that there will be other Journals. Let us hope that this is the first of an annual journal and that the next editor will have a year (rather than five months), to contact you all and draw the community’s attention to your efforts and achievements. I would like to thank my wife, Marilu for her exceptional performance in relation to the organising of the content for this journal and her dedication and drive to get this journal published. Thanks also to Kristine Randall for the organising of the advertising for this journal work, maintaining records, making endless telephone calls and ensuring the data collection was seamless. I would also like to thank all of the contributors for the time they have made available for interviews and discussions in relation to both the structure and the content of the magazine. Thanks also to Carol Timothy from Milkyway Speckle Park for data collection and Melissa from SPI who assisted us with notifications to members. Rhonda from Central Commercial Printers, our publisher, is a slick and efficient operator that did excellent work on tight turnaround deadlines. Finally, this publication would not be possible without the support of the advertisers, we hope that the Australian Speckle Park Journal will be of great benefit to you. I hope you enjoy this journal and that, upon reading it, the many worthy, cautious doubting Thomas’s of the Australian farming world will become committed disciples of this magnificent breed. Martin Luitingh

Contents Note from the Editor...........................................................1

Speckle Park International Inc........................................30

Letters from the Joint Chair............................................2

Breed Plan and EBV’s What Is It and Why Is it Important..................................................................................34

A Brief History Of Speckle Park Cattle.......................4 Ten years of Collaboration..............................................7

The Impact of Speckle Park Cattle in the Australian Commercial Cattle Landscape.......................................40

The Australian Speckle Parks from a

The Rise and Rise of The Speckle Park Breed.......44

Canadian Perspective.........................................................8

Speckle Park’s - The Next 10 Years.............................52

The Last Ten Years..............................................................16

Advertising Index..................................................................60

Cover Photo from “ Below Sea level “

Letters from the Joint Chair

It is a pleasure and privilege to welcome you to the 10th Anniversary edition of the Speckle Park International Journal. It has been an amazing 10 years of growth for the breed in Australia and New Zealand. From what was perceived as a novelty in the first few years to now having a firm foot hold in the world beef market. We have enjoyed success in carcase competitions and the show ring. Standing up well against all other breeds. Our continuing strong relationship with our fellow breeders in Canada also creates a worldwide perspective. It is an exciting time to be part of the Speckle Park breed. As a Board, we are committed to the sustainable growth of Speckle Park to improve and promote the breed for the benefit of all our members and the breed as a whole. A huge thanks goes to the team who put this celebration Journal together. A lot of work has gone into providing you with this insight into the last 10 years of Speckle Park. Enjoy reading about the rise and rise of Speckle Park in Australia and New Zealand. Dale Humphries Co Chairman, Speckle Park Inc.

Below Sea Level Speckle Parks

The 10th SPI Inc. Journal. Wow, how those 10 years have flown by! I was part of the first membership and a Board Director since the inception of the breed here in Australia and New Zealand. So it’s not only a privilege for me to welcome all Speckle Park enthusiasts to this historical publication but it’s also personally an honour and a proud day to do so. What has been achieved by dedicated breeders since 2007 (and the two years prior, when we sourced the first genetics from our great friends in Canada to import here) is simply AMAZING. Gone are the days of being asked “What are those thick, soft, black and white coloured cattle over there?”. Now the breed is being recognised instantly as Speckle Park. The continued success in carcase competitions throughout the country and overseas, has thrust the Speckle Park breed right to the front of the minds of cattlemen and women, the length and breadth of this country and afar, who are looking for a true BEEF breed and that, my friends, is exciting! What a great breed we have and this Journal gives us, one and all, a great insight into the past 10 years of the breed here in Australia and New Zealand. 3

I would like to thank all who have gone before in this breed. It has been a hard slog to get the recognition we now have. So much time, effort, hard work, knowledge and financial input has gone into getting us to where we are today. Without the help of those dedicated people, we would not be sitting here, reading this publication today. The Speckle Park breed is on the cusp of greatness and the next 10 years, I’m sure, will have us genuinely entrenched as a mainstream breed. I thank all of you who looked at the fine attributes of our breed and decided to become new members and breeders and part of the Speckle Park family. You will not regret a moment of it. To the team who have compiled this beautiful journal, a huge thank you from the Board and breeders. I know it has taken an immense amount of time and effort to get this out and onto our coffee tables where it will stay as a keepsake for years to come. Well done and congratulations. Good luck to all in your future with this great breed. Read on, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls and enjoy the story of the First Ten Years of SPECKLE PARK here in Australia and New Zealand. My kindest regards Greg Ebbeck, Co Chairman, Speckle Park Inc.

A Brief History Of Speckle Park Cattle The history of the Speckle Park breed is not without controversy. There are conflicting versions of events with strong common threads. It is perhaps not necessary, for the purposes of this journal, to analyse the exact history of Speckle Parks, rather it has been drawn from personal contributions and will, therefore suffer from differing subjective perspectives. This article will not, by its nature, applaud all the many important breeders who have made contributions to the breed and for that, I apologise. Rather, it will simply plot the course most commonly printed. In 1937, Mary Lindsay, a farmer’s daughter with a keen interest in cattle, purchased a roan Lineback speckled heifer. Her father had bought from the Formo family in Saskatchewan Canada, largely because of its unique colours. I have not been able to establish whether it was a Randall Lineback or American Lineback or whether it was simply assumed to be a Lineback because of its speckled colours. It was said to be a “roan” Lineback and may easily have been an Irish Moiled heifer or one of the many other roan speckled breeds. A simple review of the Lineback and the Randall Lineback will quickly confirm their peculiar colour association with the Speckle Park breed as we know it today. As to the exact origin, we are left in the dark, with the exception that the breed emanated from Mary Lindsay’s heifer. As a bonus, breeding with the heifer produced consistently good calves with low birth weights and the same speckle colouring which appeared to be a dominant gene. The illustration below is of Randall Linkbacks which have the characteristic “Skunk” white stripe down the dorsal section of the animal. The picture of the calves (at that stage without horns) would show a strong similarity to the latter-day Speckle Park calves. Linkbacks already had the ‘Black Points”

In 1959, Bill Lamont, a Canadian farmer from Maidstone, bought speckled heifers from Mary Lindsay and started to breed those heifers with his purebred Angus Bulls. The result was an enhancement of the original traits due to the excellent Angus breeding. It is almost impossible not to underscore the gargantuan role played by Bill and Eileen Lamont in transforming the Speckle Park from a hobby breed to a commercial success. It was Bill who started to keep meticulous records and introduced Angus blue blood genetics to the breed. It was also during his era that the four colours of the Speckle Park Breed emerged: the Speckled colour, Leopard, White and Black. In fact, one of his documented bulls, Bull B is photographed showing a white colour and structure not too different from one of the important latter-day sires, A &W 15 R. Bill Lamont’s excellent breeding program, record keeping and watchful eye attracted a group of farmers from Neilburg all of whom progressed the number of Speckle Park cattle As the speckled herds grew in Saskatchewan, other farmers started to take an interest and there appeared to be a fair amount of cross breeding with a view to continue to produce a well-structured, high yield animal with good temperaments and low birth weights with the characteristic speckled colours. The girth and thickness of the breed became a popular feature and some would say that Shorthorn, Angus and Park animal traits were reliably reproduced. Interest in the speckled animals became popular with cattlemen and the press and finally three steers were entered in the 1972 Toronto winter fair and were featured in Case International under Minority breeds in Canada. Speckle Parks were still affiliated to Angus breeding and were included in Lloyd Piccard’s “100 Years of Angus Breeding in Canada” in 1983. The power, skill and expertise of the Neilburg farmers resulted in the Canadian Speckle Park Association being formed in 1985. In 1993 approval was obtained to register the breed under the Canadian Pedigree Act for the purposes of a “Developing Breed” and finally in 2006 the breed became a distinct recognised purebred breed under the Canadian Pedigree Act. In Calgary, in 2010 Speckles stole the limelight winning the carcass competition in places 1-4, 7 and 10th place, - 6 out of the top ten places. This performance has not been equalled or bettered in 100 years of cattle history in Canada by any breed. The carcasses weighed between 711-734 kgs, AAA marbling of between 40-50 a rib eye average 90sq cm and fat cover of between 8-11.3 mm In the past twelve years the Speckle Park breed has won the renowned Calgary Stampede Carcass Competition and the Stampede Taste and Tenderness Test seven times.

The heifer was reputedly crossed with a Teeswater Shorthorn and a British Park (British White). The name of the breed apparently emanated from the speckled colouring and the role apparently played by crossing the Speckles with Park cattle. The progeny of this these crosses produced good udders and were sound in structure. There is literature that suggests that even a highland bull was used and the result of the cross breeding appears to have introduced hybrid vigour.

The development in Australia will be dealt with elsewhere in this journal but the history of this breed as demonstrated by the articles in this journal shows a meteoric and unmistakably upward trend in which Speckle Park is demanding a place in the showring and carcass competitions amongst the major breeds. Martin Luitingh Bigwig Speckle Park Stud.

Better ways to do Beef Business Contact Dale Humphries 273 Oâ€™Connell Road, Oberon NSW AUSTRALIA Phone +61 429 360 419 Email dale@Wattle Grovespecklepark.com.au

www.wattlegovespecklepark.com.au

Ten Years of Collaboration Great cattle, great people and good times. That has been my experience working with Canadian Speckle Park breeders over the past 10 years. Visiting Canada as many times as I have, I am still surprised and humbled by the generosity of the Canadians to share their hospitality and their cattle. The friendships that have been created, along with leading genetics are a testament to the dedicated people of the breed who believed in Speckle Park from the beginning. They take great pride in showing us Aussies and Kiwis the origin of the breed and where they have taken it since purebred status was gained in 2006. New Speckle Park breeders across the globe are forever in the debt of the Canadian Speckle Park breeders. Put simply, without Canada, Speckle Park does not exist. It is a fantastic experience to walk through the pastures of our fellow Canadian breeders and see the stalwarts of the breed still performing and their progeny winning ribbons and carcase competitions on the global stage. The Speckle Park breed really has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years and has made an impressive impact in the beef industry. Recent show and sale results show just how much the breed has grown internationally. The quality of the cattle and genetics has improved on both continents. Carcase competition results have given the breed traction in the commercial market and butchers and consumers are chasing the beef. This all means stronger bull sales and higher demand. Many a hangover has been created and cured whilst talking about and eating Speckle Park beef. There is a real collaboration between Canada, Australia and New Zealand to promote and improve Speckle Park worldwide. With Speckle Park International having two Canadian Board members, this link creates the opportunity for a unified approach to promotion, consolidation and quality across the breed. We look forward to the collaboration to create even more growth and consistency for us all. With so many younger people loving Speckle Park, it is exciting to think of a youth exchange between the countries, where the next generation can learn and improve their skills whilst still working with the breed they love. The relationship with the Canadian Speckle Park breeders is as special as the cattle and we salute them.

Dale Humphries Wattle Grove Speckle Park Cattle

The Australian Speckle Parks from a Canadian Perspective Congratulations to the Speckle Park breeders “down under” on a decade of exceptional efforts that have contributed greatly to the advancement of the breed. Canadian and Australian breeders have enjoyed a tremendously strong relationship over the years, with mutual enthusiasm for the traits that Speckle Park offer the beef industry in our two countries: efficiency, carcass quality and maternal strength. We’ve also learned from each other, even in our language. We’ve become ‘bilingual’ in a way; both Aussies and Canadians can now convert kilograms to pounds and vice versa in their heads. Canadians have also learned some new technical terms: fields, pens and pastures are now paddocks; ranches can now be studs; a pastoral company is more than sheep and includes cattle; PTIC (pregnancy tested and in calf) is a great deal more accurate than the simple Canadian “pregnancy tested”; joining/joined is so much more delicate than breeding/bred or even “mated”. And, of course, we never heard ‘Speckle Parks’ in Canada until the Aussies arrived; the plural was always the same as the singular – “I own 20 sheep and 20 Speckle Park” – just as the plural of Angus is still Angus. By the way, the “20” in front of sheep is a Canadian-ism; I didn’t lose any zeros! A concerted commitment in your country to prove Speckle Park against well-established breeds in feeding and carcass trials has generated not only extensive media coverage but also wide commercial interest. Speckle Park have repeatedly topped the competition in terms of marbling and dressing percentage – a desirable combination that supports the industry’s need to reduce waste while maintaining consumers’ enjoyable eating experience. Having the data to back this claim is key and for that, we can all thank the Australians. Your breeders have also done an outstanding job of creating interest in Speckle Park through local, regional and national fairs and exhibitions. Australia’s breeder base and youth exhibitor numbers continue to increase rapidly, thanks to the orchestrated approach taken to ensure a Speckle Park presence at events across the country. As the breed continues to grow on three continents, the opportunity to continue working together toward common goals of breed improvement and promotion will ensure the sky is the limit for Speckle Park!

Sincerely, Rod Remin, Canadian Speckle Park Association Business Manager Laura Bodell, Canadian Speckle Park Journal Editor

Photo: Kurudui Speckle Parks 9

MILKY WAY SPECKLE PARK STUD

CAROL & CRAIG TIMOTHY | RYANSTON VIC 3992 | MOB 0407 896 141 milkywayspecklepark.com.au | info@milkywayspecklepark.com.au

Photo: Deeargee Speckle Parks

Minnamurra Speckle Parks

Breeding for Quality & Performance “Mount Mill”, Coolah Creek Rd, Coolah. NSW

Dennis Power 0427 734 254 | www.minnamurra.com.au 11

YOUR SUCCESS

I S O U R R E P U TAT I O N

AVERY CREEK 01B

Banjo

2016 NATIONAL CHAMPION SIRE: ZORRO MATTERS 1Z • MGS: CODIAK WILLY 15W

AUS SEMEN RIGHTS OWNED BY MINNAMURRA PASTORAL COMPANY

AUS SEMEN RIGHTS OWNED BY WATTLEGROVE

Putnam SIRE: Codiak Oscar 8S MGS: Flatlake Buzz 60K

So Long George SIRE: Codiak Oscar 8S MGS: P.A.R. Nigel 111N •

•

PARTNERED WITH WATTLEGROVE SPECKLE PARK STUD TO PROVIDE SUPERIOR GENETICS TO AUSTRALIA

WWW.SUMMIT3SALE.COM SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2018 12

Michael 0439 858 569 Meg 0429 186 961

ACKUNGAH SPECKLE PARK Pine Lodge, Victoria

Sales@BeefLamington.com.au Beef Lamington Speckle Park

Foundation Female Six Star 50S Eileen D102 Progeny Sells RASV Speckle Park Sale

Jackungah Madonna M2 (E11 x D102)

First Mainstream Eldorado E11 progeny to be auctioned in Australia

Dan & Heather Brundige Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada Tel 780-573-2597 www.wolflakespecklepark.com

Maternal Sister: Jackungah Koda k01 Reserve Senior Champion Melbourne 2016 Supreme Beef Exhibit Bendigo Feature 2016 Jack Nelson: 0447775244 Sam:0408386491 13

Five generations of cattleman, breeding for 110 years.

BRED ON THE HILLS FOR THE HILLS PROVEN STUD SIRES BRED BY MAUNGAHINA SPKNZ Falcon

MSM Eldorado E11

Maungahina Kidmans Cove

SPKNZ Edwardo E31

SPKNZ Extreme E27

MAUNGAHINA BULL SALE HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2017 $24000 for Royal Flesh son out of H2 Eldorado daughter $3200 for 5 embryos of Eldorado full sister MSM E7

UPTO Specs Ulysses 25U

Record Price for F1 unjoined Hereford/ Speckle Park Heifers at $2900

Avery Creek Banjo

2 Yr Old Bull Sale, June — Yearling Bull Sale, September DONOR DAMS SPKNZ E7

Mainstream EO7

Maungahina J5

NEW STUD SIRES

Embryos sold to AAA Speckle Park for $3200 at the Maungahina bull sale

Exportable Embryos and semen available

Codiak Oh My Gosh - Codiak Putnam Avery creek Banjo - Upto Specs Ulysses. River Hill Line Drive

www.maungahina.co.nz Mark McKenzie, Maungahina Stud, New Zealand P: 06 378 6896 • M: 027 415 8696

PREMIER CATTLE CO.

Combining Sire Selection & Cow Power! Avery Creek Banjo 01B 2016 Agribition Grand Champion Banjo first impressed us in the bull pen at Codiak Acres then confirmed our belief when we saw him pre show at Agribition as a 2yr old. The combination of his outcross pedigree with his growth and carcase traits makes Banjo a powerful addition to our programme. To see him on the move is to appreciate the structural correctness he has, semen rights owned with Maunghina.

Premier 101Y Logic L11 (Royal Flesh x SPKNZ H2) Tremendous length and carcase with an IMF of 6.4 @ 18mths. Structurally correct with perfect feet, 900kgs @ 24mths on grass only, full brother topped the Maungahina Sale at $24,000, his dam has produced 3 “Top of the Crop” daughters. Semen will be available.

Other Sires in use Maungahina Lord Stars Codiak Oh My Gosh Upto Specs Ulysses Riverhill Line Drive

 @PremierCattleCompanyLtd

The Last Ten Years One of the early Australian bulls was Six Star Legendary. He was bought by a then new breeder, Dale Humphries. Legendary was an embryo out of Lacerta and Riverhill Redneck Girl. The sale took place at the first property sale of Speckle Parks in the world.

In Australia, the rise and success of the Speckle Park breed, like all new breeds, had a slow and dubious start. The one distinguishing feature between Speckle Parks and many of the other new breeds lay in the fact that its beef traits are commercially orientated. So, apart from introducing Thickness, Yield and Marbling, the breed has all the attributes to become a stand-alone breed amongst the big five breeds.

2006

A group of Australians agreed with Canadian studs Notta Ranch, Starbank, Riverhill, Spots and Sprouts and Codiak Acres to flush cows for the purpose of exporting them to Australia. None of those studs had embarked upon that activity before. Don Miller had been flushing eggs for Greg Ebbeck for 20 years and attended the meeting to explain the advantages of flushing. An agreement was reached between the parties and that year, about 450 embryos (at a cost of approximately $600 per embryo) were exported to Australia. The first cow flushed was Pretender 64P.

Legendary was a speckle, frame 6, thick, good feet.

2009

The embryo import count rose to 2000 embryos. In addition, Waratah stud came on board and Almarlea and Wattle Grove studs all became major breeders in the industry. Almarlea had two or three grand champions at Sydney – mostly of the Lacerta blood line.

2010

Four years from commencement, membership had increased to 27 members. At that stage, semen sales started to play a significant role from the likes of Traffic Jam, King George, Samson and A&W 15 R. Both stud breeders and commercial breeders became heavily involved with AI programs.

2011

The first multivendor Speckle Park annual sales were held at Holbrook in 2011 and were attended by growing numbers of the breeding public. The number of SPI members rose to 45.

All of the embryos belonged to the Speckle Park Cattle Company which owned the stud name “Six Star”. The board of that organisation included Greg and Kerry Ebbeck, George and Marilyn Kusely, Mark Baker and Mike Todd.

Champagne Pretender, owned by July Knight was another Moo Fassa and Notta Pretender 64P embryo calf that did exceptionally well. He won Reserve Junior Champion at Sydney and Supreme Champion Bull at Melbourne.

Speckle Park International (SPI) was formed to register Speckle Park cattle in Australia, however it became an international collaborative and now has members from Canada, NZ, The US and Qatar.

That same year, Six Star contacted Mark McKenzie of NZ and the Australia-NZ connection was conceived.

2012

Speckles started to feature in the steer competitions. Thousands of dollars were spent in getting the animals to the various shows and field days to increase the profile of the breed.

Recipient cattle were owned by parties individually and a cooperative owned a herd. Three hundred embryos were implanted and about 150 were sold to cover costs. About 200 calves hit the ground the following year. Six Star repeated the exercise, this time, 1300 embryos were bought and the group bought the Starbank herd of 57 females as well as the legendary Lacerta. Six Star also purchased King George and John Wayne.

2007

The general observations at that time were that Speckle Parks were a cute “hobby farmer breed”. Slowly however, some serious people started to remark on the animal traits, mentioning the thickness of the animals.

2008

2013

The pure-bred breeding program slowly but surely started taking root. The reference sires were predominantly Lacerta, John Wayne, King George, Baker and Moo Fassa. Lacerta proved to be a pre-potent bull both in Australia and Canada. His calves were exceptional and distinctive.

Dennis Power, the manager at Minnamurra Pastoral Company (owned by the Reid family - an Angus stronghold), visited the Calgary stampede in 2011. In 2012, Minnamurra bought Six Star Anchor for $20k and over 100 bulls from Six Star in the following years. It was the first big commercial operation and took Speckle Park to a new level.

Dominant breed sires emerged in the industry. Wattle Grove produced Action Man, Almarlea produced Kingsley H60 and Lacerta F156.

After negotiations with the RAS, cattle were shown in Australia. The breed was initially shown at smaller shows like Mudgee and at field days.

in a very tense standoff with an Angus bull. Perhaps tradition rather than animal quality won the day.

2016

Speckle a plethora of smaller breeders and new breeders were finding their way into the Speckle Park landscape. Competition was tough and a variety of new sires appeared in the show ring. Shows were held at Adelaide (Six Star Premier) Brisbane (Codiak Magic), Melbourne (Fish Creek Thunderstruck), and Sydney (Wattle Grove TNT). The multi-vendor sale at Scone was attended by 300 people with a 70% clearance. Knockout from Dingo Creek on the Mid North Coast got top price at $21,000. Average bull price was $6,187 and average female price was $6,113 and a clearance of 73%.

Action Man

The commercial impact of Minnamurra joining the Speckle Park community was huge and added an important dimension to the growth of Speckle Park in Australia. Minnamurra grew exponentially, becoming the largest Speckle Park operation in the world. This ignited commercial interest and soon, JAD Agriculture threw its hat into the commercial ring, becoming Australia’s second largest commercial operation.

2014

Rare Commodity placed in the top 5 in the Sydney inter breed. The notion of the “Zoo Breed” had not disappeared but for the first time, Speckle Park cattle were being paraded with the big five in the show ring as a worthy competitor.

2015

The original Speckle Park Cattle Company disbanded and Greg Ebbeck kept the name Six Star as a stud name. Speckles exploded onto the carcass competition landscape. As a small breed, it was disproportionately represented in the top echelons of the carcass competitions. Abattoirs and feed lots were beginning to notice the value of the breed due to its exceptional carcass traits. Six Star Eagle won third place in the RAS interbreed competition in Sydney

The Wattle Grove sale in October 2016 was a five star event with online bidders, televised sales and exceptional performance the average Bull Price was $10,822 and 100% clearance. F1 heifers sold for a top of $5,800 and top bull went for $30,000. In New Zealand, excellent bulls were being bred and semen and embryos were imported from bulls like Extreme and Eduardo. Maungahina and Premier Speckle Park were showing results in a very tight and traditional cattle market in the Shakey Isles and commercial studs such as the Below Sea Level Stud made significant investments in the breed and were showing promise.

2017

Speckle Park shifted into turbo boost. The year started with Six Star Premier being the first Speckle Park to win an inter breed competition. This was the first time in the world a Speckle had achieved this accolade, in this case ahead of an Angus, Charolais and Hereford and Limousin class. The second multi-vendor sale took place in May 2017 with a 100% clearance, Bull sale average $9,984 and female sale of $8,263.

Star Bank Lacerta

Wattle Grove made a clean sweep at Sydney Royal and Minnamurra won the carcass competition at the Ekka with a pen of six steers (all out of Royal Flesh) in a class of over a hundred entrants. The Melbourne show will boast 100 entries the biggest entry of Speckle Parks in any show in the world (another world record )

Maungahina Eldorado

Extreme

The Minnamurra sale at Coolah was even more successful. The top bull price was $35,000, there was 100% clearance with an average just short of $12,000. Royal Flesh, Stand Alone and TNT loomed large as reference sires and online interest became the order of the day. A few months later at Waratah, the top cow fetched in excess of $17,000 and many cows were close to that figure. Straws for A&W15R sold for $900 each. Minnamurra, as part of an international conglomerate, purchased Crusader for $60,000 from Riverhill, which was another world record.

The membership of SPI currently stands at 172 members. Comparatively, this is still small number of members but there is a decidedly upward trajectory. If Speckle Park can do in the next 10 years what it has done in the last 10 and maintain that trajectory, it will become a significant contributor to the Australian cattle industry. It is perhaps pertinent at this stage to talk briefly about cows on the Australian Speckle Park landscape. When it comes to cows, they do not enjoy the same high profile as bulls in the show-ring but any successful stud will tell you that the foundation of a successful stud lies in the quality of the cows. The successful Canadian breed lines have been replicated in Australia on numerous occasions and it is not difficult to find cows from Wildwood Kara (the Kara Lines), the Spanish Angel lines, the Unique lines (Codiak Unique), the Mindbender lines, Teeka, Reba, Amyâ€™s Girl and Pho-Finish lines in any stud of any value. This fine stable of cows and their successive progeny perhaps stand in the shadow of the magnificent reference sires and breed bulls in Australia, however we should acknowledge that they are the backbone of the breed. The enthusiasm with which Australians have embraced this breed and the setting of world records for attendance , showing and carcass competitions bodes well for the future It is encouraging that a wide pool of genetics is being imported by a number of studs (some of them smaller but high end) from all over Canada and the relationship between the Australians and the Canadians continues to flourish.

Six Star Premier 18

Codiak Magic

Knockout

TNT

Six Star Royal Flesh

Stands Alone 19

A&W15R

Codiak Unique

Crusader

Amyâ€™s Girl

Thunderstruck

Wildwood Kara 4K

Photo: Below Sea Level

In the pursuit to create the perfect cow, INC Cattle Company has assembled elite genetics from premier herds worldwide and have become one of the principle purebred, registered, Speckle Park breeders in Canada. Owners of two-time grand champion sire, CAJA Zeppelin 1B, UPTO Specs Willa 17W – dubbed “The Legend” in Canada because of her unparalleled size and power – and Star Bank Witches Brew 16W, an absolutely dominant female that will outsize most cows in the breed, are just three examples of INC Cattle Company’s breeding strategy. Structure, diversity and performance are the cornerstones of INC Cattle Company’s genetic program while focusing on key characteristic such as depth of frame & hip, udder & foot soundness, as well as disposition & maternal qualities. INC Cattle Company truly believes in the motto, “Speckle Park – The Evolution of Excellence.”

Please visit our website at www.inccattleco and contact us for semen and embryos (AUS/NZ exportable) opportunities currently available. Janice Harasymchuk janiceh@maxies.ca or at 306-260-6200. Rob Harasymchuk robh@maxies.ca or 306-290-7040.

notta_aussie17.indd 1

8/10/2017 9:56:02 AM

Photo: JAD Agriculture

purple jumble Speckle Park Stud

PJ Hockings ‘Bendemere’ Merriwa NSW 2329 0429 149 890 ~ pjumble109@gmail.com

PJ Hockings ‘Bendemere’ Merriwa NSW Quality Stud Bulls and2319 F1 Heifers 0429 149 890 pjumble109@gmail.com

Quality Stud Bulls and F1 Heifers

STRIVING FOR THE PEAK OF PERFECTION... SPECKLE PARK BEEF CATTLE

CAYUSE

THE PINES

Producing cattle for cattlemen, Naturally.

SPECKLE PARK CATTLE GUNBOWER, VIC Cayuse specialises in Brahkles Built tough for the harsher Australian conditions. Stud, Commercial bulls and females always available.

Enquiries Welcome Enquiries welcome

Phone Jason 0400 499 117

Phone Jason: EMAIL thepines.speckles@bigpond.com 0400 499 117 Email:

Vince & Samantha Mcauliffe, Manilla NSW 2346 Mobile: 0437 683 423 Email: sportaloosa@bigpond.com

thepines.speckles@bigpond.com 27

Contact: Dennis & Lou Saint Ph: 0419 289 754 Email: sainty@activ8.net.au www.oakeycreekspeckleparks.com.au

Live cattle, Semen & large inventory of Embro's for sale

Bob & Heather Scott 0448 247 099 scott.bobh@gmail.com PO Box 195, Oberon NSW 2787 29

Speckle Park International Inc C/- Agricultural Business Research Institute University of New England Armidale NSW 2351 AUSTRALIA Tel: 02 6773 3056 Fax: 02 6772 5376 Email: specklepark@abri.une.edu.au

The Speckle Park Breed originated in Canada. Nevertheless, Australia has driven the Speckle Park community to new heights. For instance, the two largest Speckle Park Pastoral Companies are today to be found in Australia. In September, the largest show of Speckle Park Cattle in the World (in excess of 100 animals) will be held in Melbourne. Australia is also the first country to produce an interbreed champion, Six Star Premier and started the first and only International Speckle Park Association (SPI). In 2008 Speckle Park started with five members and approximately 124 active registered animals. Today there are close to 150 financial members and more than 4000 active registered animals. The Speckle Park International Inc has a head office located in Armidale, NSW. The activities of SPI are undertaken here and include memberships, cattle registrations, transfers, donor dam and AI permits and administration of the association. The Association has a website which contains information about the constitution, fees, Code of Conduct, DNA procedures, Guide to EBVs, Breedplan, genetic testing and more. Contact details The Secretariat, Melissa Sweeney Speckle Park International Inc. ABRI The Shortrun University of New England Armidale NSW 2351 Phone (02) 6773 3056 Fax (02) 6772 5376 Email: specklepark@abri.une.edu.au Website: www.specklepark.org

Speckle Park International has a range of promotional material available, including marquees, fencing banner rolls, flags and pull up banners. Merchandise is also available for sale i.e. polo shirts and caps. Membership and Registrations Speckle Park membership has increased from 16 members in 2009 to 172 members in 2017. Registrations for animals have increased from 73 in 2005 to 4000 in 2017. Parent Verification. The next most challenging task of SPI will be to introduce and manage the calf parent verification system that applies as from January 2018, where every calf born must be DNA parent verified.

Financial Members at 31st December 2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Yearly Registrations in Financial Herds 1st January – 31st December YEAR

MALE

FEMALES TOTAL

2005

2006

108

2007

102

2008

124

2014

102

2009

118

2015

113

2010

113

181

2011

108

147

255

2016

146

2012

105

164

2017

172 at 30/6/17

2013

121

220

2014

152

233

385

2015

258

408

666

2016

502

616

1118

2017

141

219

360

The Association contains a Code of Conduct on expected behaviour of members. The liability of the Association is limited under the terms of the constitution. The functions of the Board are identified, membership applications, obligations and voting procedures are set out. The regulations provide provisions about importation of genetic material, natural joining, AI, embryo transfer, animal identification, shows and sales. SPI has an international membership, including members from Canada, New Zealand, the US and Qatar.

at 30/6/17

Current Inventory as at 31/12/16 Males

1484

Females

2517

Total

4001 Writer: Melissa Sweeney. Editited by Martin Luitingh.

Photo: JAD Agriculture

Photo: Sandra Birchmore - Bernborough

Breed Plan and EBV’s What Is It and Why Is it Important. EBV stands for Estimated Breeding Value. The pursuit of genetic excellence in animals is a developing chapter in Animal Science. There have been many studies and there exists a branch of study dedicated to animal husbandry and the determination of predictability of animal traits. This branch of such study in cattle is a methodology of determining predictable and comparative animal traits and is referred to as EBVs. For Speckle Park as a new breed, it is simply not enough to win shows and carcass competitions. For the breed to establish its character, data must be provided to make comparisons with breed performance in a herd, region and other breeds. This system permits cattle breeders to assess the breeding value not only of each individual animal (which will assist in monitoring the stock in any one herd) but will allow breeders to make decisions about the kind of cattle they can most successfully breed in different environments. Breed Plan is a methodology that sets parameters for the collection and interpretation of data so that it can be successfully interpreted to plan the improvement of a breed. EBVs are expressed in the units of measurement for each particular trait. They are shown as positive or negative differences between an individual animal’s genetics difference and the genetic base to which the animal is compared. For example, a bull with an EBV of +30 kg for 400-Day Weight is estimated to have genetic merit 30 kg above the breed base of 0 kg. Since the breed base is set to a historical benchmark, the average EBVs of animals in each year drop has changed over time as a result of genetic progress within the breed. The absolute value of any EBV is not critical but rather the differences in EBVs between animals. Particular animals should be viewed as being “above or below breed average” for a particular trait. The breed averages for the current two-yearold animals are reported with the selected animals’ EBVs. Whilst EBVs provide the best basis for the comparison of the genetic merit of animals reared in different environments and management conditions, they can only be used to compare animals analysed within the same analysis. Consequently, British Blue BREEDPLAN EBVs cannot be validly compared with EBVs for any other breed. While not all Speckle Park breeders will collect information for all traits, the Performance Recording Timeline (Figure 1) outlines the life stage of the animal at which each trait should be recorded. Given that collecting performance information takes time and, for some traits, can be expensive, it is important that breeders collect performance information when the animal is within the correct age range. For example, ultrasound scan data must be collected when the animal is between 300 and 800 days of age. When the animal is not within the correct age range for a trait, then the performance data collected for that trait cannot be used by BREEDPLAN to calculate EBVs. JOINING There are three elements of information that can be collected at joining. These are: (a) Mating program details (b) AI date (c) Pregnancy test results. Mating program details are useful as joining information from natural matings can be used to calculate Days to Calving EBVs.

AI dates are used (along with the birth date of the resulting calf) to calculate the Gestation Length EBV. Pregnancy test results are not currently used to calculate Days to Calving EBVs but as these may be of use in the future, pregnancy test results can also be recorded with BREEDPLAN. BIRTH There are four aspects of information that can be collected at birth. These are: (a) Date of birth (b) Recipient dam information (ET calves only) (c) Birth weight (d) Calving difficulty score. While date of birth is needed to register the calf with your breed society, it is also important for BREEDPLAN contemporary group formation. In addition, for AI calves, recording the date of birth (along with the AI date) provides information for calculating the Gestation Length EBV. Providing recipient dam information for ET calves is also important for BREEDPLAN contemporary group formation. Birth weights are used to calculate a number of EBVs – in particular, Birth Weight EBVs and the Calving Ease EBVs. There are a number of methods which can be used to measure birth weights, including sling and clock-face scales, platform scales, commercial calf cradles and calf catchers (with scales). Please note that BREEDPLAN will only accept birth weights for calves that have been weighed on scales. Do not estimate or guess birth weights and do not use girth or coronet band tapes to estimate birth weight. When collecting birth weights, it is important to weigh calves within 24 hours of birth and to weigh all calves in the herd, including stillborn calves. Birth management groups should be recorded if: (a) the calf is premature (b) cows have had different management conditions prior to birth which may affect birth weight. Lastly, please ensure that you are vigilant from protective mothers when collecting birth weights. The final element of information that can be recorded at birth is a calving difficulty score. This calving difficulty score is useful for the calculation of Calving Ease EBVs. Calving difficulty is recorded on a 1 to 6 scale, where 1 is no assistance, 2 is an easy pull, 3 is a hard pull, 4 is surgical assistance, 5 is mal-presentation and 6 is elective surgery (e.g. surgical removal of calf before the cow has the opportunity to calve). If you are checking your cows each day during calving, then you can consider any cow who calves without assistance between visits as unassisted. As with birth weight, calving difficulty scores should be collected for all calves, including stillborn calves. Please note that when calving difficulty is left blank, then it is considered ‘no score’ rather than ‘no difficulty’. WEANING There are several traits that can be recorded at weaning. These are: 200 day weight, mature cow weight (on the dams), docility and flight time. Two hundred day weight is used to calculate a number of EBVs – in particular, the 200

Day Growth EBV and the Milk EBV. Two hundred day weights need to be collected when the calf is between 80 and 300 days of age. Up to two 200 day weights can be collected per animal and this is particularly useful for the calculation of the Milk EBV. If taking two 200 day weight measurements, ensure you have some time (e.g. a month) between measurements. Mature cow weights are used to calculate Mature Cow Weight EBVs. Mature cow weights must be collected within two weeks of taking a 200 day weight on the cow’s calf. In practice, BREEDPLAN recommends that you take a 200 day weight on the calf and the mature cow weight on the cow on the same day. Up to four mature cow weights can be analysed for each individual cow. Furthermore, mature cow weights will only be analysed if the first valid mature cow weight is taken before the cow is six years of age. In practice, BREEDPLAN recommends that you weigh all cows and let the analysis sort out which mature cow weights are valid (rather than you attempting to work out which cows to weigh as you bring them through the race). There are two sorts of temperament EBVs produced by BREEDPLAN. One is the Docility EBV, which is typically used by Bos taurus cattle breeds in Southern Australia. The other is the Flight Time EBV, which is typically used by Bos indicus breeds in Northern Australia. Docility EBVs are calculated from docility scores, while Flight Time EBVs are calculated from a flight time test. Docility scores must be collected when the calf is aged between 60 and 400 days of age. Docility scores can be collected using either a yard test, where the calves are individually put into a small square yard and the handler attempts to hold the animal in one corner for about 30 seconds, or using a crush test, where the calves are put up a race and individually held in the crush for about 30 seconds. The calves are scored on a 1 to 5 scale, where 1 is docile, 2 is restless, 3 is nervous, 4 is flighty and 5 is aggressive. A detailed description of each score is available in the BREEDPLAN Tip Sheet Recording Docility Scores, available on the BREEDPLAN website (http://breedplan.une.edu.au/).

YEARLING There are two aspects of information that can be collected at yearling. These are the 400 day weight and scrotal circumference. Four hundred day weight information is used to calculate a number of EBVs – in particular, the 400 Day Weight EBV and other Weight EBVs. Four hundred day weight needs to be collected when the animal is between 301 and 500 days of age. Up to two 400 day weights can be collected per animal. If taking two measurements, ensure you have some time (e.g. a month) between measurements. Scrotal circumference information is used to calculate Scrotal Size EBVs and other fertility EBVs. Scrotal circumference should be collected when the bull is between 300 and 700 days of age, although collecting scrotal circumference at around 400 days of age is recommended. BREEDPLAN recommends the use of self-tensioning scrotal tapes such as the Reliabull Tape, as this will ensure the tension applied is consistent across bulls. Lastly, it is important to note that scrotal circumference information can be collected by the producer – you do not need to use an accredited technician or vet. BETWEEN YEARLING AND 18 MONTHS There are three kinds of information that can be collected on animals between yearling and 18 months of age. These are ultrasound scanning information, abattoir carcase data and structural soundness information. Ultrasound scanning information (EMA, Rib Fat Depth, Rump Fat Depth and IMF) is used to calculate Carcase EBVs. Animals must be scanned when they are aged between 300 and 800 days and ultrasound scanning information must be collected by a BREEDPLAN accredited ultrasound scanner (a list of accredited scanners is available on the BREEDPLAN website). The condition of your animals should be the most important factor to consider when deciding when to scan your animals. Animals should be in as good a condition as possible, with a minimum average Rib Fat depth of 3mm and

Photo: Fish Creek Farm Speckle Park Stud

a minimum average Rump Fat depth of 4-5mm. IMF will be further optimised if the majority of animals have between 2% and 8% IMF when scanned. Please note that only one set of ultrasound scan data is currently analysed by BREEDPLAN (e.g. 1 x Rib Fat, 1 x P8 Fat, 1 x EMA and 1 x IMF%).

MATURITY

Abattoir carcase information is also used to calculate Carcase EBVs. Abattoir data is usually collected as part of Progeny Test Projects but in some cases, valid information can be collected by individual producers. A detailed protocol which outlines the requirements for the collection and submission of abattoir carcase information for BREEDPLAN is available on the BREEDPLAN website.

SUBMITTING DATA TO BREEDPLAN

Structural soundness data is used to calculate the five Structural Soundness EBVs. These are: Front Feet Angle, Front Feet Claw Set, Rear Feet Angle, Rear Leg Side View and Rear Leg Hind View. Structural scores must be collected by a BREEDPLAN accredited structural scorer (a list is available on the BREEDPLAN website). Currently, the only breed calculating Structural Soundness EBV is Angus. However, if Speckle Park breeders are collecting structural scores, these can be submitted to BREEDPLAN. 18 MONTHS One trait is collected when the animal is 18 months of age. This is 600 day weight. Six hundred day weight information is used to calculate a number of EBVs, particularly 600 Day Weight EBVs and other Weight EBVs. Six hundred day weight should be collected when the animal is between 501-900 days of age. As with 200 and 400 day weights, up to two 600 day weights can be collected for each animal. If taking two measurements, ensure you have some time (e.g. a month) between measurements.

As mentioned earlier, while Mature Cow Weight is collected on mature females, this trait is collected when taking a 200 day weight on her calf. Cow disposal codes can also be recorded on animals that are leaving the herd. Performance data can be submitted to BREEDPLAN using four methods. These are: 1. Paper performance recording forms 2. BREEDPLAN compatible standard Microsoft Excel format 3. BREEDPLAN program

compatible

herd

recording

computer

4. Internet Solutions facility on Breed Society website (for participating Breed Societies). Performance data should be submitted directly to Speckle Park BREEDPLAN (specklepark@breedplan.un.edu.au). Birth weight and calving difficulty scores are the exceptions as these are usually recorded with the Breed Society when the calf is registered. SUMMARY While you may not wish to collect information for all traits, it is highly recommended that you collect data for the traits that are of interest to you and/or your clients. There are a number of BREEDPLAN Tip Sheets available in the Technical Section on the BREEDPLAN website which explain how to collect performance information for each of the BREEDPLAN traits. Should you have any questions on recording performance information or on submitting performance information to BREEDPLAN, please contact Catriona Millen, SBTS Technical Officer, on (02) 6773 3357 or via email catriona@sbts.une. edu.au.

Table 1. BREEDPLAN calculates EBVS for a number of economically important traits (please note that not all EBVs are available for all breeds). Weight Traits Birth Weight 200 Day Milk 200 Day Growth 400 Day Weight 600 Day Weight Mature Cow Weight

Carcase Traits Eye Muscle Area Rib Fat Depth Rump Fat Depth Intramuscular Fat Carcase Weight Retail Beef Yield Shear Force

Fertility & Calving Traits Scrotal Size Days to Calving Gestation Length Calving Ease Direct Calving Ease Daughters

Other Traits Docility Flight Time Structural Soundness Net Feed Intake

Photo: Black Diamond Speckle Park Stud

Photo: Below Sea Level Speckle Park Stud

Figure 1. The Performance Recording Timeline outlines the life stage of the animal at which each trait should be recorded. Breed Plan is an essential part of the Speckle Park Progressive path, without which the breed cannot hope to compete with the big five breeds in Australia. It requires at least 20 members with herds of more than 20 cattle. At the moment, the Speckle Park Breeders are well short of that target, both in Australia and Canada. Speckle Park Breeders are encouraged to participate in this critical data collection process and to register as soon as possible.

Writer: Catriona Millen, SBTS Technical Officer

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The Impact of Speckle Park Cattle in the Australian Commercial Cattle Landscape. The emergence of Speckle Park cattle in the Australian farming community was first noticed in the showring, where one would have expected the initiation of the breed to take place. The performance of the Speckle Park cattle in the showring has been commendable. As one of the smaller breeds (by numbers), Speckles have shouldered their way in amongst the major breeds to consistently have winners both regionally and in the capital cities. This includes a Best of Breed accolade at the Canberra show (2017), coming in ahead of a fine class of Angus, Hereford and Charolias cattle. The question is, what else needs to be done for this breed to establish itself as a competing breed in the major league? The answer is simple. Cattle breeding is not a hobby as, for instance, it would be the case in dog breeding. Cattle breeding cannot exist in the true sense of the word without having the significant support of and an association with the commercial objectives of the cattle industry. This article proposes to give some perspective to the commercial impact of Speckle Park cattle on the Australian cattle landscape. It is appropriate to perhaps start with what is likely to be the world’s largest Speckle Park commercial operation (approximately 35,000 acres with 1,000 animals). This, oddly enough, is not in the country of origin (Canada) but is situated in Australia at the Minnamurra Pastoral Company (MPC) at Coolah, New South Wales. In an interview with The Land newspaper, David Reid, owner of the stud said Minnamurra Pastoral Company gains performance figures from Speckle Park crossbreeding. “As far as we can ascertain, nobody in the world has done this exercise in the numbers we are. We know that the crossbreds are performers but it takes a number of years to work out where the breed is going to sit, even though we know Speckle Parks make a great crossbred animal. So the only way to get accurate figures on the breed’s abilities is to be able to put pens of 100 or 200 steers into feedlots where they can be followed through to processing and return us the feedback results.” And

“By doing this ourselves, it will prove to us the true benefits of the Speckle Park breed. This has nothing to do with doubt but plenty to do with profitability.” Dennis Power is the General Manager of the Minnamurra Pastoral Company. Dennis has been involved with the cattle industry for over 50 years. MPC has been owned by the Reid Family for 45 years. Dennis and David were and still are dyed-in-the-wool Angus breeders but, after an initiative taken in 2011, they introduced Speckles to their Angus breed, perhaps not unlike Bill Lamont did with Mary’s Lindsay’s Speckle herd in Canada in the 1950s. In an interview with The Land Newspaper, Dennis said: “At the moment, what’s restricting us in the commercial stage is that we are doing all Artificial Insemination (AI) work.” “We have 400 commercial Angus cows out here that are all AI’d to a specific Speckle Park bull as we haven’t enough bulls available at present to naturally join with.” It is important to note that MPC is a commercial business, so the performance of cattle in the commercial arena is key. Dennis says that, in his view, the most crucial factor for commercial breeding is female fertility and sound maternal traits. The second is carcass quality and we will be discussing carcass performance in this article.

The Speckle Carcass Performance Dennis told us that his first carcass analysis of Speckles was in about 2014. For Dennis, a carcass competition that measures carcass weight, dress percentage, external fat, eye muscle area, rib fat, saleable meat, meat colour, fat colour marbling, dentition, ossification, boning groups and MSA index is a true test of the commercial product. This test allows the judge to remove any notions of unconscious bias and to judge the carcass as is. It is his view that, if the breed can consistently perform in the carcass competitions, it is wellplaced to join the big five on the Australian Cattle Landscape. A group of 300 carcases were reviewed at Casino. The meat quality was excellent, achieving yields of 59% as a group

Photo: Minnamurra Speckle Park Stud 40

Photo: Minnamurra Speckle Park Stud

and marbling was of a high standard. The evenness and the consistency was one of the most obvious and outstanding features. In an extensive interview published in The Land newspaper, Dennis spoke about carcass quality. “Minnamurra has produced the winning Beef Spectacular carcase award three years running. That’s a testament to the quality of our cattle, proving to the industry that there is more to this breed than their distinctive colour. Minnamurra Speckle Park/Angus cross steers have performed extremely well in carcase and eating quality traits at Primex since 2013, at Beef Spectacular 2015 - 2017, at RNA Paddock to Plate 2016 and the 2016 Gympie Classic.” And ”One client last year bought 200 F1 steers at eight months of age and put them straight into a ‘no HGP and no antibiotic’ feed regime for 180 days. When killed they were ’absolutely gobsmacked’ with the results. Ninety-four per cent averaged above ‘2’ marbling and one actually went ‘8’. They were all milk teeth when killed and dressed between 340 and 360kg, averaging 328kg. Young cattle rarely marble but these were 16 months old when slaughtered. That’s incredible for young cattle.” And “A couple of feedlots trialled Minnamurra F1 steers and found the longer fed cattle, particularly with the 120 and 180 days feeders, coming out at two to three millimetres of fat less at the P8 and rib sites. This is where I think their yields are picking up because they are not laying down too much external fat.” “Over a long feed, that’s pretty important because most British breed animals on a heavy feed regime, where they are putting on two to three kilograms a day for 100 days, are hard to keep fat cover under 21mm. Speckle Park F1 cross steers were coming

out better than any of the British cattle. That’s very important and positive for the Speckle Park breed.” Mr Reid said: “As yet, they hadn’t done enough trials to get enough accurate figures but we certainly have proof that when our steers are fed, they out-perform others and results to date are verifying our confidence in the breed.” In relation to cross breeding, Mr Power said Queensland beef producers liked the crosses with their Bos Indicus breeds. “They feel the Speckle Park will improve the cattle’s meat qualities.” Having many successful years as an Angus breeder, Mr Reid said he turned to Speckle Park cattle not just because he enjoyed the breed and its potential. “It was also purely a bottom line decision. For some time, we had gone through a pretty tough period where we were getting $1.80 a kilo. But to make our operation profitable, these animals were giving about another 10pc meat yield and that makes a difference to profitability.” According to The Land, Mr Reid said since “getting involved”, he’d been captivated with the Speckle Park animals themselves. “They are beautiful animals and they are giving all of these different qualities that are making the breed so attractive.” According to Mr Power, the joining program at “Mount Mill” had heifers joined at about 14 months in October/November for an August/September calving when they were two yearolds. “Last year in the stud and commercials, we AI’d nearly 1400 cows and heifers here and at “Cortina.” In 2013, MPC came first and second in Eating Quality,

MSA Score and individual animal and third in the carcase performance in the MSA Score and Yield Individual Animal Competition. In 2014, MPC had their first entry in the Beef Spectacular and came 37th out of 128 teams (six cattle per team) with the Angus breed taking out first position. In 2015, MPC closed the gap at the Beef Spectacular and came first, second and third in the carcase competition and third, 8th and 10th in the team performance out of 95 teams and third and 4th in the feedlot competition. In 2016, MPC took out the MSA Meat-Eating Quality, 70-day trade team and came 10th in the paddock to plate 70-day team overall. MPC also achieved the highest index score award In the Dalton Cattleman’s Choice Award. In 2017, MPC won the group carcass competition of 6 steers in a class of 100 entrants. For a breed in its emerging stages, these results are exceptional if one considers that Speckles probably make up 1% of the numbers of any of the five standalone major breeds in Australia. Dennis Power said to James Wagstaff of The Weekly Times: “Prices for commercial Speckle Park cattle have gone berserk in recent years. Minnamurra’s F1 Speckle Park weaners, weighing 300kg, sold on Auctions Plus last October for $4.82/kg live weight. A month later, F1 Speckle Park heifers, pregnancy tested to calve in March-April, fetched $3800.”

Conclusion What do these performances mean? Dennis says that, on a 100-120 day feed regime, there has been, on average, a 3-5% increase in dressing percentage and saleable meat yield compared to other breeds. The external fat score is being reduced but the intramuscular fat is improved. That means ordinarily that the Processor will pay a premium for superior quality meat because they directly benefit from increased yield and quality. If Processors are confident of performance of the breed, it will pass on the benefits to the grower. If these performances continue in the Speckle breed, it is difficult to imagine that the breed will not take its place as a major player in line up of the Australian cattle industry. Finally, although it has been dealt with elsewhere in this Annual, Dennis is of the view that Speckle Park cattle are an outstanding breed for the purposes of crossbreeding. The qualities of the Speckle Park make it a beneficial crossbreed animal, adding yield, saleable meat and marbling to any of the breeds currently existing in Australia. Cross breeding with Brahman has been very successful (Brahkles) and cross breeding with Limousins, Simmentals and Charolais have also been well received. In addition to being a quintessential crossbreeding animal (unlike many other new breeds), this breed has the ability to become another “standalone breed” in Australia.

Photo: Cayuse Speckle Parks & Brahkles 42

Photo: Cayuse Speckle Parks & Brahkles 43

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www.hangingrock.com.au 50

Photo: Kurudui Speckle Park Cattle

Speckle Park - The Next 10 Years Unfortunately, there is no Speckle Park crystal ball and while farmers and producers are notorious for disagreement on cattle traits and farming methodologies, considered experience points to the fact that there are crucial aspects, essential for the progression of the breed. The Numbers Game In an illuminating interview with Berry Reynolds of Mort & Co he pointed out that for Speckle Park to get to the forefront of superior meat production it needs to ensure continuity and consistency. The fact is that our community at this point is unable to support even one feedlot for the production of superior meat year-round, not to mention a number of feedlots across the country. For the Speckle Park community to be able to fulfil this critical element it will have to work together. The notion that the few, that is 172 registered breeders, are in competition with one another is at this stage a myth, on the contrary mutual support and co-operation is the single most important factor in the progression of the breed. The fact that one person or another may win a competition at the shows is a small almost irrelevant aspect of the big picture. As they say in the classics “it is only one person’s opinion”. It is more important for breeders to maintain high end genetics and for commercial producers to be able to draw on that, to consistently produce good animals. Quality and Assurance How it is that Speckle Park has produced such excellent quality beef in Australia at this point in time, is perhaps less important than the fact that it does. One of the critical factors in the production of excellent carcasses is consistency. The breed standard has evolved over the last 75 years and has been found to be successful. Those that want to alter the breed standard and breed up will be doing the breed a disservice. Speckle Park is not only popular but is appreciated for what it currently is and its ability to consistently and uniformly produce the kinds of animals that have impressed beef producers. It is not only the measurement of the quality in the breed that is essential but it is also the comparative analysis of the Speckle Park carcasses with other breeds that will finally establish Speckle Parks as a carcass of exceptional quality. Without EBV’s this cannot happen and the Speckle Park community will not be able to assert itself amongst the big five breeds without a globally accepted measuring standard. Genetic Excellence It is perhaps fortunate that those who initially started the growth of Speckle Parks in Australia were strongly focused cattlemen that had been breeding for generations and knew and understood the value of genetic excellence. It is a bonus that those that have caused the ranks of Speckle Parks to swell have been converts, intensely interested in the performance of the breed and mostly focus upon perpetuating that excellence. The great challenge is now to maintain that excellence whilst at the same time increasing exponentially the Speckle Park population, it is at this juncture where breeders and producers are likely to drop the ball and they should be ever vigilant against deteriorating standards to the detriment of the breed. It is encouraging that whilst the breed initially started from a relatively narrow base, that relationships are now being formed with smaller boutiques breeders and their Canadian

counterparts and that genetic excellence no longer has a single door but that there are many entrances to the Coliseum Looking after the Youth Part of the plan going forward is to ensure that at grassroots level we have an enthusiastic well-resourced youth program. SPI has 11 junior members, the youngest Speckle Park breeder that owns her own Stud is Heidi McMahon just 12 years old. Abby Fouweather made the trek across from Perth to compete in this year’s SA Junior Heifer Expo. Ms Fouweather was in Adelaide for the SA Junior Heifer Expo, where she led Mt Eccles Sahara. Ms Fouweather, 15, won the WA Youth Cattle Handlers competition which granted her the scholarship to Adelaide. (Courtesy of the Stockman Journal). It was the first time a Speckle Park had been shown at the expo and although the duo did not win any ribbons, she loved the experience. When interviewed she said “I had to focus on her more than myself, and I’m going to get more out of her than I would with a normal relaxed cow,” Taylor Hansen from New Zealand is 13 and is a Committed Speckle Park breeder. She will be competing at the Royal Melbourne show with a Fish Creek exhibit. There are others that are enthusiastic about becoming members, we were contacted by Julia Ross and Jessica Rodham, who both expressed surprise and enthusiasm on how easy it was to work with Speckle Park animals in preparing them for shows. Claudia Humphries sold one of her animals Little Grove Black Tie at the Wattle Grove sale as a guest vendor for which she received $8,000. Management and Finance. Whilst the membership of SPI has grown exponentially it cannot be said that the accounts have mirrored that growth. For an organisation of this magnitude to survive, it needs to have a strong Board that can make decisions for the benefit of the breed and its members, weed out aberrant conduct, focus the members on the benefits of the breed, limit disputes and direct resources to items which are most likely to increase the profile of the breed. The Speckle Park community should try to assist the Board by being co-operative and not drawing them away from their core function. Using the regulations to propose meaningful and contributory motions, well within time so that motions can be considered and even-handed decisions can be made. It is all too easy as has happened in so many nonfor-profit associations, that personal agendas become inextricably involved in the management of the association which could lead to its disadvantage. Performance in the Show Ring One should never underestimate the dedication and commitment that is required to put a single animal into the show ring, not to mention the hours of training, fitting and feeding to be afforded a few minutes where one person will decide which is the best specimen. The community should take a bow and support wholeheartedly those breeders that undertake this enormous task and huge financial commitment. Wherever it is possible

Taylor - Image by AM Photography

Max - Below sea level

to make it simple to get rid of the complex web of red tape so as to encourage breeders to take their animals to the shows because undoubtedly this is one area where Speckle Parks gets maximum exposure to the uninitiated. The sheer beauty of the breed is often its most powerful attraction, it draws people to the ringside, it spawns curiosity and appreciation and people are often astounded when on looking deeper to find an animal of magnificence with a bonus of exhibiting a beef trait second to none in the beef world. Genomics Genomics is the study of the complete set of genes found in living things. A genome is an organism’s complete set of DNA, all the information needed to build that organism. The main difference between genomics and genetics is that genetics may look at a single gene, but genomics looks at all genes and how they interact to influence growth and development of an organism.

Little Grove Black Tie

Genomics makes clear what was once unknown. Genomic testing can help predict future profitability potential. This in turn allows producers to optimize the profitability and yields of their herds by making different animal selection and strategic breeding decisions. Bigwig Studs Lancelot was sold to AJM Pastoral company, that own approximately 100,000 head of cattle in the Queensland Table Lands and his performance as a Speckle Park Bull will be measured and recorded by the University of Adelaide. Lancelot was acquired for the specific purpose of being a heifer sire to add girth to and moderate the size of the Brahman progeny Capturing the World. Australia although it only has 28 million bovines and is ranked as the 7th highest producer, producing only 2.78% of the world’s beef and is the third highest exporter of beef, exporting 15% of the world beef exports only five percentage points behind the world’s largest beef export country Brazil at 18.5%. Put in another context Australia can export approximately

5% of its beef inventory (nearly 15% of the world’s total exports) where on a performance level Brazil is the next best performer and is able to export only .5% of its beef inventory. That means that Australia is ten times more efficient in its beef exports than its next best competitor in world rankings. The power behind the statistics is too complex to debate here and relates to cattle quality, environmental controls, genetic management and a myriad of other factors that makes Australian beef attractive to the international markets. The Australian, Speckle Park community has shown exceptional commerciality in their approach to the breed, have quickly developed the world’s largest Speckle Park pastoral company with a few more in the embryonic stage. Australia stands poised to take the Speckle Park gospel to much bigger markets. To do this the Speckle Park community have no room for dissent, they need to stand together to be able to make an impact not only in Australia, the local landscape but also as the leading breeding country for the rest of the world. Together with the Canadians, Australia is at the forefront of Speckle Park embryo production and AI technology. High-end genetics’ reside in these two countries, it is an opportunity, given proper management, to dream of and bring about a significant leap forward for the Speckle Park breed in the next 10 years.

Photo: Kurudui Speckle Park Cattle

HILLVIEWÂ SPECKLE PARKS

s n o i t a l u t a r g n o C Elders congratulates Speckle Park International on its 10 year anniversary. Supporting Beef Cattle business is at the heart of what we do. We are proud to have been involved with the Speckle Park breed since its arrival in Australia and look forward to its continued success. The Elders livestock team works with cattle producers across Australia to identify opportunities for selling, buying and improving production. With a national network of livestock experts, Elders can help to maximise the profitability of your herd.

Robert & Leanne Bendeich Leconfield, NSW

PH: (02) 4938 1196 M: 0421 032 072

Brian Kennedy NSW Stud Stock Specialist

0427 844 047

Paul Jameson

0428 667 998

NSW Studstock Manager

Andrew Hosken North Zone Livestock Manager 0428 657 765

E: hillviewspeckleparks@gmail.com Find us on Facebook!

elders.com.au

Photo: Blacolive Speckle Parks

Photo: JAD Agriculture 58

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Jason and Sarah - Fish Creek Farm

Index of Advertisers Aniwaniwa New Zealand...........................................page 26

Milky Way.......................................................................... page 10

Barkly Speckle Park......................................................page 26

Minnamurra Speckle Parks........................................ page 11

Beef Lamington Speckle Park..................................page 13

Mount Eccles Speckles..............................................page 56

Bellenden Speckle Park Stud..................................page 29

Notta Ranch Canada..................................................page 23

Below Sea Level............................................................. page 55

Oakey Creek Speckle Parks......................................page 29

Big Wig Speckle Park............................. Inside Front Cover

Panorama Farms Speckle Park................................page 13

Cayuse Speckle Park.....................................................page 27

P.A.R. Ranch Canada..................................................page 29

Codiak Acres Canada..................................................page 12

Pinnacle Park Speckles................................................page 27

Elders.................................................................................. page 55

Premier Cattle Company Ltd New Zealand.......page 15

Embryo Life......................................................................page 56

Purple Jumble (Bendemere)...................................page 26

Fish Creek Farm.............................................................page 59

River Hill Farm Canada................................................page 21

Hanging Rock Beef & Speckle Park Stud..........page 50

Rose Hill Speckle Park................................................page 29

Hillview Speckle Park................................................... page 55

Six Star Speckle Park............................................Back Cover

INC Cattle Company Ltd Canada..........................page 22

The Pines............................................................................page 27

Jackungah Speckle Park.............................................page 13 JAD Agriculture..............................................................page 28

Three Way Speckle Parks...........................................page 47

Johner Stock Farm Canada......................................page 46

Tungamah Speckle Park Cattle...............................page 38

Kamarah Speckles........................................................page 46

Waratah Speckle Park.................................................page 39

Kurudui Speckle Park Cattle......................................page 13

Wattle Grove Speckle Park.......................................... Page 6

M & G Speckle Park Cattle.......................................page 29

Winter Speckle Park.....................................................page 38

Maungahina Stud New Zealand.............................page 14

Wolf Lake Speckle Park Canada.............................page 13

Photo: Fish Creek Farm Speckle Park Stud 61

“THE SOURCE”

SIX STAR... the source,where our bulls BREED ON and breed sires and dams who lead the Speckle Park world.

SiX STAR PREmiER l14 Sired by SiX STAR RARE COmmODiTY G61 First Speckle Park Bull in the world to have been awarded Interbreed Supreme Champion of Champions SiX STAR ROYAl FlESH RECORD PRiCED PROGENY

“leander”

Royal Flesh Son

AUST RECORD $35,000 Minnamurra Leander Sold to Te Mooi Speckle Park

“Cadence”

Royal Flesh Daughter

WORLD RECORD $30,000 Notta-Kagar Cadence 221D Sold to Below Sea Level N.Z.

“lawrin”

Royal Flesh Son

NEW ZEALAND RECORD Muangahina Lawrin Sold to Wendy Hume

For your next Sire, Superior Female or TOP end Embryos give us a call and discuss what we have available before taking that all important next step in your program.

GREG EBBECK 0418 286 661 Tim BEll: 0427 709 003 62 www.specklepark.com.au