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2010
On property
Tuesday 7th 2010 at 2pm 50 BULLS
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Latest News& Results
- 2009 Bull Sale
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The Latest News on Feed Conversion
from the Beef CRC
One of Australia's leading beef research organisations, Beef CRC, has published papers recently, showing the latest information in relation to feed conversion. High feed converting bulls were tested as weaners. One trial involved 208 Angus yearling steers which were divided into high feed efficient (HE), medium feed efficient (ME) - and low feed efficient (LE) groups. In short, the research conducted by Professor John Thompson (from The University of New England) proved that the HE cattle can save money on feed. But until there are more HE cattle in the marketplace - and they are readily identified as such - uptake by industry will continue to be low.
The Beef CRC is also involved in the Maternal Productivity Project based at two different sites in Western Australia & South Australia. The female cattle involved in the program have been selected for different traits including high & low Net Feed Efficiency and fatness and leanness. They are then subject to different nutritional environments. To date, there has been a lack of information regarding females selected for efficiency testing. The results so far illustrate that despite the fact that the heifers for the project were selected from the extremes of high and low feed intake - the nutritional effects on growth and body composition are having a far greater effect than that of the original section criterion. Further results are expected in the near future.
Have a look at the FEED EFFICIENCY page on our Coota Park Blue-E website
The 2009 Bull Sale
Coota Park Blue-E Top is $6750
Another successful annual bull sale has taken place with the top price bull fetching $6750 for Lot 5 purchased by Paul & Virginia Kurtz from the Cowobbee Pastoral Company at Oberon accompanied by Elders Bathurst. Virginia is the daughter of Mr Geoff Perry renowned for the famous Tarcoola Blues from Tarana. Lot 5 C130 was a very well muscled son of Coota Park Blue-E A062 that had an NFI EBV of -0.6 ~ thus showing his great feed conversion sire potential.
Average sale price for the day was $3700. Two-thirds were return buyers – one third were new buyers. The second top price bull was sold to Mr Tony Dolbel of Junomy Pastoral Company, Rockley for Lot 8 C170 for $6500, a very well grown son of Noonee Zurich Z139.
Other return buyers W B & M Thorn, “Umbiella”, Rylstone purchased 2 bulls for an average of $4000 each and Mr Will Sutton, Sutton Farms, Cassilis purchasing 2 bulls for an average of $4200. Three bulls were purchased by W L & G R Meiklejohn from Cowra for an average of $3000. Bulls were also purchased by buyers from Bungendore, Mandurama, Forbes, Bethungra & Cumnock. All in all 28 out of 33 bulls sold on the day.
“I am delighted with the increase in this year’s sale average by $700”, Jon Wright commented at the conclusion of the bull sale. “It was also most pleasing to hear the return buyers express their satisfaction with their previous investments in Blue-E genetics and their confidence in purchasing more of our bulls is encouraging.”
Pictured at the Coota Park Blue-E 2009 Bull Sale ~ Ben Wythes, Virginia & Paul Kurtz - and Jon Wright with Coota Park Blue-E C130.
2009 Orange National Field Days - Steer Trial
- Coota Park performs well in growth, yield & marbling
An extremely pleasing result was announced on 4 July:-
1st & 3rd for weight gain on grain - 2.73 kg/day
Top marbling team in competition
2nd in Calculated Yield of Saleable Meat
4th in weight gain on grass
Top MSA Eating Quality Score
Steers 20 months old average 850kg LWT - CWT 474 kg
Coota Park even blew the specs out for the competition with the heaviest carcass of 513kg - wow!
The National Steer Competition was sponsored this year by ANCARE, CRT & Meat and Livestock Australia.
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One of four steers in the 2009 trial, weighing 800kg at 20 months
C088 is sired by Coota Park Blue-E A031
2009 entry Pen 16
2009 entry Pen 17
Coota Park Blue-E in "THE LAND" - 2 July 2009
Coota Park Blue-E in "THE LAND" - 28 May 2009
Central West Beef Week
25 – 27 February 2009
Coota Park Blue-E participated in Central West Beef Week 2009 which had a new format with some studs (including us) displaying at the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange (CTLX) at Carcoar NSW Australia.
Have a look at www.centralwestbeefweek.com.au
Another exciting development in 2009 was the inclusion of an invitational breeders store sale being staged also at CTLX on 27 February 2009. This was the same day of the Beef Week Open Day at CTLX. Coota Park offered 20 PTIC cows & calves at the Central West Beef Week Invitational Breeders Sale on Friday 27 February 2009.
Harvey Wright with Jed Farrar & Jan McCredie at CTLX in Carcoar NSW Australia in February 2009
2009 Beef Spectacular - Good Result for Blue-E
Jon & Harvey Wright entered cattle in the NSW Beef Spectacular at Dubbo NSW Australia in March 2009. The Spectacular has a heavy emphasis on showcasing the excellence of NSW commercial beef producers in a totally objective and scientific way.
The entry consisted of a pen of three bulls, three steers and one unled steer.
A pleasing result was third prize for Blue-E in the pen of three bulls in which there were 16 entries. First prize went to a pen of Angus bulls and the second prize to a pen of shorthorn bulls.
In the Hoof & Hook section for a pen of three steers in competition, an eighth placing was gained out of 16 in the carcass competition.
Our unled steer (who was six months old) was not a place getter, but was a tremendous example of what we can achieve with weight gain, namely 350kg at liveweight to 198kg at carcass - giving a 56.6% yield.
Jon & Harvey were extremely pleased that the Beef Spectacular provided such a great opportunity to promote Blue-E cattle in such a commercially orientated show environment.
Geoff & Dianne Williams' pen of steers winning the heavy weight section in 2008
Jon Wright accepting the Orange National Field Days First Prize in 2008
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.
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 for it will enable Coota Park to expand its breeding program. Details will be finalised in the near future.
Blue-E cow and calf
Coota Park Field Day
On 30th July 2008 we had an on-farm a field day at Coota Park. There was good attendance with over 80 producers participating. Two of the many highlights were Selwyn Job from SPJ Shorthorns frankly discussing his experiences with depression and Brendan Hedger the local Area Coordinator for Mental Health with his talk “The Chassis is a bit rusty – but the engine’s still running” – healthy aging on the land. There were many excellent speakers and activities. We had great feedback at Coota Park on the quality of all the speakers and the depth and range of subjects covered. It is planned to make this on-farm field day at Coota Park a bi-annual event.
Blue-E cow and calf
Data Collection
Accurate data collection, done consistently and over a long period of time is 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 profitability of a beef herd are (in order of priority):-
♣ Feed Efficiency
♣ Fertility
♣ Growth
♣ Muscularity
♣ Marbling
Hence the data 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
2008 Beef Spectacular
Coota Park Blue-E received placings for all entries
LOOK AT THIS FOR CONVERSION AND GROWTH
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C036 at the time of this photo was aged 6.5 months and weighed 400 kg - that is 2kg every day of his life. |
B245 - 18 months of age 650kg |
Results: |
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"Coota Park Blue- E is producing powerful production based bulls
that offer quality and reliability"