Brangus breed performs well in tough conditions
Sale to offer up strong genetics
FOR brangus breeders, all roads will lead to southwest Queensland on Friday, September 7.
The breed’s 13th annual Roma Brangus Sale is shaping up to be bigger than ever, with a record-breaking 27 vendors signed on.
Breeders from as far south as Euroa in Victoria to the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland are preparing for the sale.
Although much of the cattle industry is struggling through drought conditions, Australian Brangus Cattle Association president Mark Beckman shrugged off questions about the harsh season impacting the sale.
“A couple of the sales I have been to of late have had high clearance rates and reasonable averages,” he said.
“Certainly, it’s going to be quite tough given the drought conditions, but the performance of brangus cattle in drought conditions will mean it won’t reflect in the sale.”
The sale will offer 141 bulls and 40 females.
“We are starting to see a release of female genetics into the market. This year we have had an acceleration in the number of females,” he said.
“There are stud breeders and commercial cattlemen chasing breeders.”
The increase in vendors, from an average of about 12
❝ I think it’s really about the progression of the brangus breed and the popularity — Mark Beckman
or 13 to 27 was a reflection of the breed’s advancement, Mr Beckman said.
“I think it’s really about the progression of the brangus
breed and the popularity of the breed,” he said.
“We now sit in the top 10 major breeds of Australia.
“These cattle do well in the vealer market, in the Jap ox and right through to the bullock trade.”
It will be a busy few days for
Mr Beckman. He is not only the president of the brangus breed but the chairman of the Roma sale committee and a vendor himself.
His stud, Glenoyra Brangus, based at Aubigny on Queensland’s Darling Downs, will have five bulls and five females.
“We have been selling in Roma for 10 years and it’s a good marketplace for our sires going to various studs and commercial properties,” he said.
It will take Mr Beckman about four hours to get to the sale – only a short drive compared to the 30-hour round trip for Victorian vendor Michael Bush from Castle Brangus.
“It’s quite a few hours for him. He is bringing up 10 bulls and a few heifers from that same stable,” Mr Beckman said.
“That shows they have a lot of confidence in the marketplace at Roma.”