Articles
Calving Ease, not just for heifers.
1 September 2023
One of the most important fertility traits for breeding females is for them to calve unassisted.
Nationally, an MLA sponsored report identified dystocia (calving problems) as the 4th most costly disease in cattle! Cattle tick and buffalo fly were more costly, but as those diseases are mainly northern area diseases, it leaves dystocia as the 2nd most costly disease of cattle in our temperate areas
At Elite we put much emphasis on calving ease, direct and daughters, but consider CE daughters particularly, to be an extremely valuable trait to prioritize in any self-replacing straight-bred herd selection program.
"Carcase" what does it mean?
1 September 2023
With processors becoming more specific in their carcase requirements, indicated through pricing, it is important to make sure we match on-farm selection with their message.
At Elite, we select for a balance in carcase traits just as we do in overall performance. That is, we don’t consider “carcase” to be emphasis on just EMA, just IMF or just yield etc.
Carcase Steers Success
24 August 2015
Again this year we donated steers to St. Joseph's High School and Scone Grammar.
All the steers were beautifully prepared and scored very well including a Bronze Medal again for excellence in Market Specifications.
Carcase Results
14 July 2014
(i) Bronze Medal Sydney RAS. At Sydney Royal this year two Elite steers donated to St Josephs High School, Aberdeen, performed very well again after a wonderful preparation by the students.
The steers scored very well with our trademark consistency, scoring 81.5 and 82.5 points plus a Bronze Medal for Carcase Excellence.
The Bronze medal steer was also part of the Poll Hereford Stan Hill Trophy Team.
Kay Focuses on Hereford Genetics
22 January 2014
NSW beef producer Kay Payne's entire operation is focused on producing strong vigorous calves that will grow into a valuable carcase.
Nothing is left to chance - it's not Kay's way.
Her strong commercial focus was evident when she started a recorded breeding program with her first commercial herd in 1967.
She chose the Hereford breed because of its predominance but her research revealed the power of genetic selection to improve animal performance and so increase returns from a given area.
She obtained an Honours Science Degree which enabled her to expand her understanding and seek out assistance to initiate a planned genetic improvement program for Elite Poll Herefords.Such assistance was readily available at the University of Armidale’s (UNE) Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU) under the guidance of Dr Keith Hammond.
Elite Poll Herefords is now run on “Eulalia”, at Gundy, NSW. The property comprises 1,590 ha with the annual rainfall of 600mm and carries a herd of about 360 breeders plus progeny, bulls, steers and replacement females. The undulating country that makes up “Eulalia” consists of native pastures that Kay has over sown with sub clover. The whole area is now well fertilised with super-phosphate and is subject to an ongoing fertiliser program.