SANTA
VOLUME 10
OCTOBER 2026
EXPRESS
EYES ON THE FUTURE Welcome to the October 2026 edition of Santa Express – news, information and updates from the Santa Gertrudis Breeders’ (Australia) Association uploaded on the first Monday of every month.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Youth Camp: Registrations open 14 October Pilbara bound: Kimberley cattlemen get the Santa message
Beef Australia: What to expect on beef's biggest stage Online Auction: Bid for 2027 calendar spots this month
Supporting our members' success Welcome to the October edition of Santa Express, our monthly online newsletter sales. It was an excellent suggestion and, designed to keep members and as always, we welcome ideas from everyone with an interest in the Santa Gertrudis breed informed and up to date. members on how we can continue to improve the service. Firstly, congratulations to the vendors and buyers who have participated in what has been a very strong bull selling season for the breed so far. While many sales have already been conducted, several important fixtures remain on the calendar this month. You can find a full list of upcoming stud sales on our website here. One of the new initiatives introduced this year has been the Santa Muster. Delivered directly to members' inboxes each Friday, this brief email highlights upcoming sales and provides convenient links to sale catalogues, videos and other relevant information featured on our website.
Once the 2026 sale season draws to a close, the Santa Muster will go into hibernation until the first stud auction sales of 2027 commence in Western Australia. BREAKING NEWS Members have received an email from the Santa Gertrudis office about a Members' Forum in Dalby on 4 November replacing Delegates' Day. Brad Cooper General Manager Santa Gertrudis Breeders’ (Australia) Association
The Santa Muster was introduced in response to feedback from vendors seeking greater visibility for upcoming
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National Youth Camp registrations open to members first Registrations for the 2027 Santa Gertrudis National Youth Camp at Morgan Park, Warwick will open exclusively to Santa Gertrudis members at 8:30am (AEST) on Wednesday, 14 October. Following the successful approach used last year, registrations will be available exclusively to members for the first 48 hours before opening to non-members from Friday, 16 October. This priority access helps us manage strong demand while providing members with a valuable opportunity to secure a place before registrations open more broadly. With numbers capped at 130 participants, early registration is strongly encouraged. Registrations will be submitted via an online form on the Santa Gertrudis website, which will go live at 8:30am (AEST) on Wednesday, 14 October. Important information for families There are several important changes and considerations for next year's camp: Updated camp format: Registration and opening activities will commence on the afternoon of Wednesday, 13 January 2027.
Early registrations open soon for members.
The camp will conclude with presentations and social activities on the evening of Saturday, 16 January 2027. Final pack-down and departures will take place on the morning of Sunday, 17 January 2027. Members registering during the exclusive 48-hour member access period will be required to provide their Santa Gertrudis membership number as part of the application process. Please have this information available before registrations open to avoid any delays. You can stay up to date via the Pathways tab on the Santa Gertrudis website here. About Youth Camp The Santa Gertrudis National Youth Camp provides young people with the opportunity to develop practical skills in cattle handling, parading, judging and livestock assessment, while building friendships and confidence in a supportive environment. The camp is open to children aged 7 to 17 years.
Daylight saving time reminder: ABRI Registrar service hours With Daylight Saving Time now in effect in all jurisdictions outside Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, please note the operating hours of the ABRI team in Armidale, NSW responsible for managing Santa Gertrudis registrar services. ABRI Registrar Services Hours Monday to Friday 7:30am to 3:30pm (Australian Eastern Summer Time) Members can contact the ABRI team directly on: (02) 5765 0524
Jurisdiction
Daylight Saving?
Time difference to NSW during DST
Western Australia
No
3 hours behind
South Australia
Yes
30 minutes behind
Victoria
Yes
Same time
Tasmania
Yes
Same time
ACT
Yes
Same time
Three tips to improve processing times The ABRI team reports that there are three areas that most commonly cause delays in processing animal information.
1. Ensure calves have a 50K SNP-verified sire All calves submitted for registration must have a 50K SNP-verified sire. Lowerdensity SNP tests, such as SeekSire, are If Australia’s different time zones during not sufficient. The ILR2 registry platform will not allow Registrars to process summer are confusing, here’s a table registrations where sire verification that may assist: requirements have not been met. As we have encouraged previously, the most efficient way to have your enquiry or request attended to is by email: sg@santagertrudis.com.au
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Jurisdiction
Daylight Saving?
Time difference to NSW during DST
Queensland
No
1 hour behind
Northern Territory
No
1.5 hours behind
2. Keep animal transfers up to date Delays can occur when the Registrar is unable to locate the relevant transfer documentation for an animal. Please ensure all transfers are submitted promptly and accurately to avoid delays with registrations, ownership updates and related transactions. Continued over page...
ABRI Registrar service cont. Submit transfer documentation promptly Our regulations relating to animal transfers are available on the website here.
The ILR2 system will not allow a calf to be registered where the recorded joining and calving information creates a conflict, such as a dam appearing to have produced calves within the same gestation window. Reviewing your mating records before submitting registrations can help avoid delays and follow-up enquiries from the Registrar. And lastly, keep your contact details up to date
Email sg@santagertrudis.com.au for an Please ensure your current phone animal transfer form. number and email address are recorded with the Association. If you are the seller and are transferring ownership of an animal to a buyer, Accurate contact details enable the providing the transfer details as soon as Registrar to quickly contact you if there is the sale is completed will help ensure an issue requiring clarification, helping to timely processing. minimise delays in processing registrations, transfers, and other registry 3. Check for mating clashes before transactions. submitting registrations Another common cause of registration delays is mating clashes.
This is often the simplest way to keep your work moving through the system as efficiently as possible.
Santa Gertrudis to feature at KPCA Conference Santa Gertrudis will be represented at the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen's Association (KPCA) Conference in Karratha, Western Australia, from 2729 October. Field Director Russell Smyth will attend and participate in a breed society panel discussion, sharing insights into the role Santa Gertrudis genetics can play in supporting profitable and sustainable beef production across northern Australia. Also attending will be Western Australian breeders Mel Leeds (3 Sons Santa Gertrudis, Dandaragan) and Glenn Hasleby (Biara Santa Gertrudis stud, Northampton).
Russell Smyth will be at the KPCA in WA.
This year's theme, "Northern Beef securing our markets, strengthening our future", highlights the opportunities and challenges facing northern cattle producers and the importance of breeding cattle that can perform across a range of market specifications. With growing interest in cattle that offer flexibility between live export, domestic processing and premium beef markets, the conference provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the commercial strengths of Santa Gertrudis genetics and connect with producers from across the Kimberley, Pilbara and northern pastoral regions.
The KPCA Conference is one of northern Australia's premier beef industry events, bringing together producers, processors, supply chain participants, industry We look forward to sharing the Santa leaders and government Gertrudis story with delegates and representatives. strengthening our presence in one of Australia's most important beef producing regions.
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Beef Australia 2027: Santa Gertrudis back, bigger and better Planning is well underway for Beef Australia 2027, and we're excited to provide members with an early glimpse of what Santa Gertrudis has in store. While we're still finalising our member participation and promotional packages, we're pleased to confirm that the Santa Gertrudis site will once again be in the Cattle Precinct, returning to the same highly successful location we occupied during Beef 2024. Members can also look forward to the return of some of our most popular attractions, including the Santa Gertrudis Tech Talks, along with our networking drinks and auction event, which proved a highlight for many visitors at the conclusion of the program. For 2027, we're taking things a step further with several exciting new initiatives. A dedicated Santa Gertrudis Hospitality Hub will provide a welcoming space for members, industry stakeholders and visitors to connect over quality coffee and our awardwinning Mighty Santa Pies. Visitors to the site can also inspect Santa Gertrudis cattle on display, showcasing the breed's versatility, productivity and commercial performance.
Crowds at the Santa Gertrudis site at Beef 2024.
Importantly, we will have pen space available for members to exhibit cattle and promote their stud or commercial breeding program. Beef Australia remains one of the country's premier beef industry events, attracting producers, industry leaders, international guests and prospective buyers from across Australia and around the world. Showcasing your cattle at Beef 2027 in May, just ahead of the World Congress in August, is an outstanding opportunity to elevate your brand and connect with a broad audience. If you're considering entering cattle, now is the time to start planning and preparing your teams. Nominations for the Nutrien Ag Solutions Commercial Cattle Championship will open next month on a date yet to be confirmed. Nominations for the Nutrien Ag Solutions Stud Cattle Championship will open in December. You can view the Stud Cattle schedule here. Continues over page...
Beef Australia 2027 cont. Further details on member packages, cattle display opportunities, event schedules and key entry dates will be
75th Jubilee advertising auction opens this month Members will soon have another opportunity to secure valuable promotional exposure through Santa Gertrudis Australia publications, with the launch of our 75th Jubilee Advertising Auction. Some premium advertising opportunities for the 2027 Santa Gertrudis Calendar and 2027 editions of Santa Journal were successfully auctioned during this year's Ekka. However, several months in the calendar and premium advertising positions remain available, and these will now be offered through a dedicated online auction. With 2027 marking the 75th Jubilee Year of Santa Gertrudis Australia, and major events including Beef Australia 2027 and the Santa Gertrudis World Congress 2027 set to shine a spotlight on the breed, this presents a unique
released as soon as we have them available. In the meantime, keep an eye on Association communications and start thinking about how you'd like to be involved in what promises to be our biggest and most engaging Beef Australia presence yet.
opportunity for members and supporters to showcase their stud, business or brand in publications that will enjoy strong visibility throughout a landmark year. The online auction will open at 10am (AEST) on Monday, 26 October and conclude at 6pm (AEST) on Friday, 30 October. Please note that there will be no auction extensions, with all lots closing at their advertised finish time. Santa Gertrudis Australia extends its sincere thanks to AuctionsPlus for its ongoing support in facilitating the online auction. Members can review the available lots and auction terms and conditions via the link here. Don't miss this opportunity to secure a premium advertising position during what is shaping up to be a significantly high-profile year for our breed.
Santa Gertrudis World Congress 2027 Update Planning for the Santa Gertrudis World Congress 2027 continues to gather momentum, with significant progress being made across all facets of the event. The Congress program is currently being finalised, with a diverse range of technical, industry, networking and social activities taking shape. As preparations continue, discussions with prospective sponsors and event partners are progressing well, and we are encouraged by the strong level of interest and support being shown for what promises to be a world-class event. Marketing and promotional activities are scheduled to commence next month, marking an exciting new phase as we begin sharing more details with delegates from Australia and around the globe.
The program is both ambitious and complex, with content and experiences being delivered across multiple locations and significant distances. Ensuring a seamless experience for delegates requires extensive planning and coordination, and we are fortunate to be working alongside highly experienced event professionals to bring the vision to life. We extend our sincere thanks to our delivery partners Expert Events and Quadrant Australia, whose expertise and commitment are helping shape what will be a memorable and rewarding experience for delegates, sponsors and industry stakeholders alike. There is still much to reveal, and we're looking forward to sharing more details in the coming weeks as plans are locked in and key announcements are made.
We're also pleased to advise that registrations are expected to open from the beginning of December and will remain open until July 2027, The countdown to the Santa Gertrudis providing attendees with plenty of World Congress 2027 is well under way. opportunity to secure their place at this Stay tuned for more exciting updates. landmark gathering for the global Santa Gertrudis community. Delivering a World Congress of this scale is no small undertaking.
2 November 2026
Next Issue
For the diary
26 - 30 October
Santa Journal and Calendar Advertising Auction bidding open
27 - 29 October
Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen's Association Conference in Karratha, Western Australia, 27-29 October
23 October
RSVPs for Dalby Members' Forum close. See member email from the Santa Gertrudis office for more details.
Promote your stud, business or event Nobody ever sold a secret so if you have something to promote to the Santa Gertrudis community across Australia, then why not advertise in Santa Express or Santa Journal. The next Santa Express will be uploaded on Monday 2 November.
Key deadlines for the upcoming edition of Santa Journal are: Advertising booking deadline: 6 Nov Distributed: December Call Wendy James to book your advertising campaign – 07 3216 2708 or media@santagertrudis.com.au
Santa Gertrudis Breeders’ (Australia) Association www.santagertrudis.com.au PO Box 57, Geebung QLD 4034