The top 82 mixed sex calves of the 2016 drop sold in late November direct for processing with an average dressed weight of 263kg and a return per head of $1,683. The top three calves made $2,099 per head, indicating the quality and growth of the calves. Leigh achieved the same value for his heifers as steers highlighting the ability of the Charolais breed to increase profitability. The crossbred heifers had muscle and growth to burn and achieving price parity with the steer portion of the drop increases the return for the herd.

 

With over twenty five years of Charolais cross breeding under his belt it’s no wonder Leigh Clifford’s Charolais sired Silver Calves pound the scales down. The “Gowan Brae” herd graze some of Australia’s most productive country at Furner in the lower South East of South Australia. The land ranges from heavy dark soil flats over limestone to lighter range country. The heavy country here is as good as it comes for productivity and Leigh takes full advantage of his asset with a dairy infused base herd and Charolais sires.

 

The Furner district approximately 370km south of Adelaide enjoys an annual rainfall of 750mm with Leigh recording 870mm for 2016 to mid November. The drawback to this is 50% of the properties flats were under water this winter. The lower South East of South Australia has a highly developed drainage system with some 2500km of drains that run water out to sea to lower the water table and increase productivity. One of these major drains runs through the property.

 

Gowan Brae was purchased by Leigh’s grandfather in the mid 1930s and Leigh is the third generation to run the property taking control in 1976. Now consisting of 450 hectares the property has the Gowan Brae Poll Dorset sheep stud of 300 stud ewes and 130 breeding females in his cattle program. The Poll Dorset stud has achieved 27 years of on property ram sales with 120 rams sold this year.

 

The beef herd is based on predominantly Hereford/Friesian cross females with about 10% Angus Friesian cross. Leigh buys in replacements, normally as two year olds with calves at foot and regularly buys the top pens to assure top quality breeders. These are all joined to Charolais sires.

Last year some yearling heifers were purchased and these will be joined to a Limousin for their first calf.

 

Leigh’s late brother in law Ian Nettle had a Charolais stud and this influenced his decision to use the breed and then the results have proven themselves over and over again. In 2015 the properties calves averaged $1,415 over the hooks with the carcase average of 251kg at ten months.

 

The top 82 mixed sex calves of the 2016 drop sold in late November direct for processing with an average dressed weight of 263kg and a return per head of $1,683.  The top three calves made $2,099 per head, indicating the quality and growth of the calves. Leigh achieved the same value for his heifers as steers highlighting the ability of the Charolais breed to increase profitability. The crossbred heifers had muscle and growth to burn and achieving price parity with the steer portion of the drop increases the return for the herd.

 

Leigh commences calving in January and aims to market his calves in November. The tops of the drop go direct straight off the cow and the lighter calves are weaned and grown out. Leigh buys in some Charolais cross calves with the aim to feed about 90 head through to March when they are marketed through the local Millicent saleyards 35km away. Local Charolais breeder Steve Bellinger reported “Leigh’s finished calves always look magnificent”. The calves are fed on silage, hay and grain to finish them to the required specifications.

 

Leigh has renovated most pastures over the last twenty years with phalaris, ryegrass, fescue and clovers, Trikala, balansia and strawberry making highly productive pastures. All hay and silage is made on property and Leigh feeds hay to his highly productive cows early in the season to assist with maintenance through joining.

Paddocks are fertilised 4 out of five years. In November 2016 after a “wet” winter the feed potential of the property was apparent with well-conditioned stock and pastures still growing well.

 

Calves on the property are given two 5 in 1 and a Multimin vaccination. All new stock introduced to the property are drenched but the existing herd is not drenched. Cows are pregnancy tested and empty cows are marketed through Millicent saleyards. The herd averages around the 90% conception with about 5% twins giving Leigh 100% calving. Leigh has no issue with calving in his herd and is able to hit specifications straight off the productive cow herd with his Charolais Silver Calves.

 

With the cow herd half dairy influenced Leigh harnesses the milking ability of the herd to full advantage through top pasture and supplementary feeding. When cows have calves weaned they are treated with antibiotics to reduce mastitis issues that the high milking dairy cross females can have. By this annual treatment Leigh has reduced this issue by a large percent with only the odd cow needing attention now. Whilst this is extra work when you see the outstanding high value calves that these cows produce the extra work is well and truly justified.

 

Sires have been used from the local Goodnwindi stud of near neighbours Steve, Barb and Danny Bellinger, Boulview, Yaccamoo and Mt William. The bull paddock featured deep bodied, well-muscled sires with length, all traits evident in the calves on display. Leigh prefers to buy poll sires with good muscle expression.

 

The cow herd being mostly bucket reared is exceptionally quiet and it is easy to walk around the herd. The cows are great milkers and the calves with the benefit of Charolais growth and heterosis would be rated as exceptional by any standard.  When you see calves 90% of the size of their dams you know something is right. With such highly productive pastures and excellent milking females it would be remiss not to utilise European genetics in this production system.

 

Whilst dairy cross females won’t fit in every production system Leigh has fine-tuned his system to harness the capabilities of the females and generate increased profitability. The Gowan Brae calves are sort after and for the last five years Leigh has been able to see direct to the processing sector. The fact that he can realise equivalent value for his heifer production as his steers speaks highly of the quality of his calves. Whether it be Poll Dorset rams or Charolais sired calves the livestock that are raised on Gowan Brae are top class and a credit to Leigh’s management.

 

Breeding For Results.

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