Data Collection

Accurate data collection, done consistently and over a long period of time is an essential ingredient in quality stud management. At Coota Park we take great pride in keeping quality, comprehensive and detailed data on all our stock. Without this integral data collection it is impossible to make good genetic progress in the areas that really matter. The factors that we feel are most influential in the profitability of a beef herd are (in order of priority):-

♣ Feed Efficiency
♣ Fertility
♣ Growth
♣ Muscularity
♣ Marbling

Hence the data that we are collecting are closely associated with these traits. That is:-

♣ Weighing all calves
♣ 200, 400 day weight
♣ EMA
♣ Marbling
♣ Fat Cover
♣ All Net Feed Intake

No other cattle stud in Australia records this much data!

 

 

Blue-E steers at Rockdale feedlot

 

Rotational Grazing Program

Coota Park Blue-E has implemented a rotational grazing program with cells being established around the property. This is a result of Jon completing for a second time the “Grazing For Profit” schools with RCS. We have implemented this grazing system to provide adequate rest for our pastures.

This will ultimately lead to greater pasture survivability and greater pasture utilisation. As we have such a strong focus on feed conversion, improving the overall productivity of our farming system is only common sense.

 

 

 

Pregnancy Scanning

- It's a great management tool

For the second consecutive year we used James Sutton from Sutton Breeding Services to ultrasound pregnancy-test our cows.  His accuracy is fantastic.  This lets us know accurately within a ten day range the date of calving thus making management and culling very easy.  This is an excellent tool which helps improve selection for fertility by removing late-in-calf cows as value-added products and shortening up your calving.

 

Expansion of Blue-E Program

Coota Park Blue-E hopes to develop a program where other producers purchase Blue-E cows from Coota Park – then Coota Park will purchase back the progeny.

This is to be a mutually-beneficial arrangement that will enable Coota Park to expand its breeding program. Full details will be finalised in the near future.

Blue-E cow and calf