SantaGertrudiscattlepennedupforthe EidsvoldLivestock&PropertySanta InfusedShowandStoreSale.Photo:Prue Bygrave,CPBLivestockPhotography.
YARDSAHEAD
WelcometotheMarch2026editionofSantaExpress–news,informationand updatesfromtheSantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia)Associationuploadedon thefirstMondayofeverymonth.
Showuswhat yougot
WelcometotheMarcheditionofSanta Express,yourmonthlyonlinenewsletter deliveringyouquickSantaGertrudis newsinmeatybite-sizechunks–fresh andexpress!
WiththefirstCouncilmeetingoftheyear concludedonFebruary20,wehave plentyofupdatestoshareand importantinformationforyoutomarkin yourdiaries.
Areminder,too,thatSantaJournalis currentlyinproduction.Ifyou’vemissed bookinganadintheApriledition,you canstillsqueezein,withthebooking deadlineextendedtoFriday.March6.
ContactShereeKershawvia media@santagertrudis.com.auorcall 0447429693.
TheAprileditionofSantaJournalwill featureamulti-pagereportonthe NationalYouthCampplusa: Lookbackatthehighlightsofthe 2025RoyalQueenslandShow.
ICMJTeamSelected
TheSantaGertrudisInterCollegiateMeat Judgingteamfortheevent’sNorthern ConferenceinRockhamptonnextmonth hasbeenselectedfromastrongfieldof candidates.SelectedtoattendfromApril 8-11areSamFalls(captain),Lachie Martin,BridgetMadiganandMonique Amadoro.
Previewofthe2026RoyalEaster SydneyShow.
Specialreportonthebottom-line performanceofSantaGertrudis, shiningalightontherealeconomics ofbeefproductionandchallenging assumptionsaboutbreedpremiums andprofitabilityinthebeefsupply chain.
It’sshowandsaleseason Ifyouhaveimagesandnewsofyour Santasdoingwellintheshowringorat thesaleyardspleaseemailmeat gm@santagertrudis.com.ausothese canbesharedacrossourpopular communicationchannels:Santa Express,SantaJournalandtheSanta GertrudisAustraliaFacebookpage,now reachingmorethan10,000followers.
BradCooper GeneralManager
SantaGertrudisBreeders’(Australia) Association
Astrongfieldofcandidateshasapplied forthisyear’sMarcusOldhamRural Leadershipscholarship,withapplications stillbeingassessed.Therecipientwillbe announcedthismonth. MarcusOldham
Westernadvanceleads
Santasalesurge
FourWesternAustralianmembershave joinedforcestolaunchanewsale, respondingtorisingdemandforcattle thatthriveinvariableclimatesfrom producerstargetingdiversemarkets fromliveexporttodomesticprocessing.
TheSantaGertrudisBreeders' CombinedWABullSalehasbeen confirmedforThursday,April23atthe propertyofMelandMatthewLeeds,3 SonsSantaGertrudisstud,Bundarra, Dandaragan,WA.
Thesale,whichfollowsGlennHaselby’s Biaraon-propertysaleatNorthampton onApril21,willalsoinvolvebullsfrom WendyGould,Wendalla,Stephenand DonnaGentle,Morialta,andMarkand ChloeMadew,Cundarra.
Theincreasedeffortstobringmore SantageneticsdirectlytotheWA marketwillseetheSantaGertrudis Breeders’(Australia)Associationelevate marketingactivityacrossmultiple mediaplatforms.
MoreSantasalesin2026
TheincreasedactivityinWA, spearheadsariseinSantasalesacross the2026calendar.
Newsalesappearingforthefirsttime willincludetheCanarvonSaleatInjune onAugust28,involvingScottand WendyFerguson’sGlennOaksandthe
SantaGertrudisbullbuyerswillbespoiltfor choicein2026.
AnnabranchstudofLukeandCarly Baker,Wandoan.
OnlineSantasalesclicknicely TherecentsuccessofonlineSanta Gertrudissales mostnotablyTalgaiat Nindooinbah,southofBeaudesert,and MurraySmith’sDoorabeebasaleat WeeWaa,NSW—haspavedthewayfor anotheradditiontothebreed’sdigital sellingcalendarthisyear.
PeterandPamPullosofKillarneyPark, Tambo,haveannouncedanonlinesale forOctober16,furtherstrengtheningthe concentrationofSantasalesacross centralwesternQueenslandinthelatter halfofthemonth.
TheirnewfixturewillbefollowedbyMatt Sargood’sDrensmainesaleatTambo, whichshiftstoaSundaytimesloton October18,beforeleadingintothe long‑establishedStrathmoreand BarcooBreederssalesatBlackallon October19and20respectively.
Forthecomplete2026Santasales schedule,headtotheSantaGertrudis website,whichisupdatedregularlywith catalogues,videos,andnewsale announcements.
NewFeedlotTrial
BeaudesertlivestockagentGarth Weatherall,ofBartholomew&Cois teamingupwiththeSantaGertrudis Breeders’(Australia)Associationtohold amid-yearweightgainandcarcase competitionthankstoFreestoneFeedlot, WarwickandTeysAustraliaas supportingpartners.
Cattlearetobeaminimum50%Santa GertrudisandexhibitingSantaGertrudis characteristics.
Otherguidelinesinclude: Singleentryandnolimitonnumbers enteredwithdentitionof0to4teeth atprocessing.
CarcaseswillbeappraisedonMSA specificationsandfeedbackgivento owner. NoHGPimplants.
SantaGertrudiscattlecontinuetoprovetheir productionadvantagesinfeedlotenvironments
ClassesforDomesticandExport cattle.
DeliverytoFreestoneFeedlotonApril 29.
Coordinateddeliverywillbeavailable fromMoreton,Beaudesertandother yardsifapplicable.
Entryformsandmoredetailswillbe availablesoon.Formoreinformation, phoneGarthWeatherall0438793100.
Studlogo Descriptionofyourstud Testimonial(s)
Didyouknowthatyourstudmembership includesafreestudlistingonthe SGB(A)Awebsite?
ListingsappearontheMembersDetails pageundertheMemberstabonthe homepageandaresearchablebyyour studname.
Tohaveyourlistingaddedorupdated, simplycontacttheofficeinwriting: �� Email:sg@santagertrudis.com.au �� Post:POBox57,GeebungQLD4034
Pleasenotethatlistingsareupdated onlybasedontheinformationyou providetotheSGB(A)Aofficespecifically forthislisting.Theyarenotautomatically updatedfromyourmembershipdetails.
Takeadvantageofthisvaluable memberbenefitandmakesureyour studisvisibleonline!
StandardofExcellence change
TheCounciloftheSantaGertrudis Breeders'(Australia)Associationand FieldDirectorsrecentlyheldaStandards DaytoreviewtheStandardofExcellence.
StandardsDaysareanessentialpartof ensuringthebreedstandardisapplied consistently.TheyallowCouncilto identifyanyareasrequiringclarification orchange,reviewtheminimum standard,andprovidedirectiontoField Directorssomembersreceiveconsistent outcomesatclassification.
KeyUpdate–TailDisqualification Counciladvisesmembersthatthe StandardofExcellencehasbeen updatedtoinclude“ExtremelyShort Tail”asadisqualificationreason.
Pleasenote:Atailinjury(suchastheloss ofaswitchafterbeingsteppedon)does notconstituteanextremelyshorttail.The focusisontheoveralltaillength, particularlywherethebrushshould normallybegin.
TheupdatedwordingfortheTAIL–DISQUALIFICATIONitemnowreads: “Extremelyshort.Taildeform wry.”
SantaGertrudisCouncillorsandFieldDirectors followingBreedStandardsDayatEidsvold
BradCooper
Update–Sheath/NavelWording
Thesectionrelatingtoabnormalor excessivesheath/navelstructurehas alsobeenexpanded.Thedisqualification criterianowspecificallyinclude: “Thickenednavelcord,enlarged rosette.”
Otherobservations
Anincreasingnumberofanimals displayinglazyprepuces,and excessivelylargeorpenduloustesticles hasbeennoted.
Membersareencouragedtomonitorfor theseundesirabletraitsaheadof classification
AdetailedsummaryoftheStandards Day,includingkeydiscussionpoints,will bepublishedintheAprileditionofSanta
Photo:
Santapie returns
Nolan Meats at Gympie, Qld, and SGB(A)A are once again teaming up to serve an authentic Santa Gertrudis beef pie to Sydney showgoers next month.
The specialty pie was one of the standout attractions at Australia’s largest outdoor event last year, returning this year by popular demand and at the specific request of the Australian Bakery Association.
While the recipe will still feature jalapeños and cheese for its signature flavour kick, expect a refreshed name and brand look to match the pie’s growing profile. Cattleintheringatlastyear'sFeatureBreedShowin
SydneyShowupdate
Eightexhibitorshavenominated45headof cattleforstudSantaGertrudisjudgingat SydneyShow.Judgingisscheduledtostartat 1pmonThursday,April2.
AmembersGeneralMeetingwillbeheldatthe conclusionofjudgingintheSomervilleRoom, followedbydrinksandnibblesinthecattle pavilion.
TheodoreFeatureShow
There’snobetterstagetoshowcaseSanta GertrudisexcellencethantheTheodoreShowon May11–12.
WiththeFeatureBreedShownowsetfor Tuesday,May12,timedtocapturethestrong daytwoattendance,theeventprovides outstandingexposureformembersandthe breedalike.Furtherinformationandsponsorship opportunitiesareincludedinthisissueofSanta Express.TosponsoraclasscontactMember SupportCoordinator,WendyJamesadmin@santagertrudis.com.auorphone07 32162708.
2April
Applicationsforthe2026RJKlebergScholarshipwillbe openfromThursday,April2.Applicationscanbe submittedviatheportalontheSantaGertrudiswebsite.
Early April
Notificationscallingformemberstocalculateand pledgetheirpublicityfeecontributionswillbeissuedat thestartofApril.Areminderthatallmemberswhosell registeredcattleforbreedingpurposes,whetherat auctionorprivately,arerequiredtopay1.1%ofthesale pricetotheSGB(A)Asupportmediaandpublicityactivity fortheoncomingnewfinancialyear.
Promoteyourstud, businessorevent
Nobodyeversoldasecretsoifyouhave somethingtopromotetotheSanta GertrudiscommunityacrossAustralia, thenwhynotadvertiseinSantaExpress orSantaJournal.
ThenextSantaExpresswillbeuploaded onMonday,April1.