58 BUSINESS
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7 2024 THEWEEKLYTIMES.COM.AU
BULL BUYING GUIDE
AUTUMN
Chasing the best of the best at Bowmans stud
Signs are good for sales lift
FIONA SHEEAN
Five years ago Glenn initi- ated a more science-based ap- proach to breeding and management by genomic test- ing the entire herd, which he described as “a game-chang- er”. The intel genomics testing has provided, combined with selecting genetics based on Breedplan, Meat Standards Australia performance and commercial feedback, has meant demand for Bowman bulls has more than doubled in the past five years. “We started with 50 bulls a year and now we are selling in
excess of 120,” Glenn said. “It has grown at a substantial rate.” Genomics testing involves taking an ear notch sample, which provides full parent verification details on every animal, enabling farmers to de- termine the potential breeding of an animal from a very early age. Glenn said genomics testing helped the integrity of seed- stock businesses – clients knew exactly what they were buying. “It was a significant invest- ment to set it up but it enhanc- es every aspect of an animal’s
breeding from calving traits to growth and carcass quality,” he said. “We can have half a dozen embryo transfer brothers and we can send the data off on them and genomics will split them apart. “You wouldn’t think there was that much variation but there is, and this all follows through to the end product. We are not doing it for fun – it is exacting the science.” More clients were recognis- ing the value of the tool. “Genomics helps improve the accuracy of information we can provide clients, which in turn gives them a consistent outcome at their end and fol- lows right down the supply chain,” Glenn said. “That’s what I’m trying to do in this business ... follow every aspect of that supply chain and make sure my prod- uct is working to its full poten- tial.” The Angus herd is based on Millah Murrah foundation genetics and Glenn heavily re- searches any new bloodlines, selecting based on strict cri- teria. “The foundation females I’ve sourced have given me a great platform to build from. We’ve put in hundreds of hours researching pedigrees, travelling overseas, studying bulls and their progeny and making sure that they work,” Glenn said. “I try to bring in new blood- lines every year to stay at the forefront of the industry. “If you are breeding the same thing year after year, the clients will look elsewhere to get something new so by bring- ing in a third of new content – that keeps people in my system who have been there for years.” Bowman Genetics include Millah Murrah, Banquet, Murdeduke, Baldridge and Landfall Angus bloodlines and more recently Sitz Angus, in Montana, US.
G ippsland stud breeder Glenn Bowman’s goal is to have the most profit- able clients in the cattle supply chain. The seventh generation cattleman has been breeding purebred and commercial cat- tle for 30 years as part of his family operation at The Ridge, Rosedale, but has recently ex- panded the bull unit of his Bowman Performance Gen- etics stud operation on his Crystal Brook property at Neerim South.
FIONA MYERS
has been good,” he said. “And across all breeds, there are certain bulls that will be well contested.” There has also been a resurgence recently in European bull breeds, particularly Limousin, Mr Godbolt said. Smaller operations, not big enough to hold their own on-property sale, had been recording solid results and some were close to selling out, he said. Angus remains the dominant single breed across south-eastern Australia and Angus Australia chief executive Scott Wright said there was “solid underlying confidence” for stud breeders. “The recent lift in the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator has given a huge lift in confidence,” Mr Wright said. “It was very hard during 2023 for cattle producers, especially our commercial breeders but recent rain especially in northern NSW and Queensland has really helped the market.” Mr Wright said he expected the recent lift in commercial prices would underpin a solid autumn sale season. “I would really expect clearances to be quite high,” he said. “In the south with good seasonal conditions I wouldn’t be surprised if
It’s crunch time for the beef industry as south-eastern Australia begins its autumn bull selling season. And the results of the annual sell-off of sires will act as a barometer on producer confidence as they prepare to outlay income on bulls. Nutrien southeast stud stock manager Peter Godbolt said this year “clearance will be king”. He said the recent uptick in commercial cattle prices, as well as a good season across many areas of eastern Australia, would help bull sale results, but ultimately it came down to confidence. Mr Godbolt said bull buyers would be looking for a mix of characteristics in their new bulls, but carcass and growth rates would feature highly. “Carcass quality is high on the commercial producers’ minds and I feel the carcass traits of bulls will be very important when selecting sires,” Mr Godbolt said. “But producers will also be looking at growth rates and weights.” There has been a strong trend to favour heifer bulls in recent years and Mr Godbolt said this could still continue as there were still herds in rebuild phases or those which had retained more heifers. “From the feedback I am getting, and from touring around bull operations, I’ve had feedback that interest
there isn’t a lift in the market following the EYCI.”
The EYCI was tracking at about 676c/kg carcass weight on Monday.
Glenn Bowman of Bowman Performance Genetics tagging a newly born calf. Genetics in the herd include Millah Murrah, Banquet, Murdeduke, Baldridge and Landfall Angus bloodlines.
2024 Annual Bull Sale 14th February, 2024 – 1:30 pm (ACDT) On property at the “Eight Mile” sale complex, Keith S.A
35 20-month old Limousin Bulls Sire Lines include: Summit Drover P54, Birubi Jupita J15, Mandayen Xtra Loyal P149, Myers Western Star N19
85 18-month old Angus Bulls Sire Lines include: Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15, Glenoch Makahu M602, Mandayen Capitalist Q461, Mandayen Klooney Q536, Landfall Mainland Q494, Rennylea L519, Mandayen Command P401 M: 0418 824 799 | E: mandayenlimousin@bigpond.com
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