Easy to handle, they are aggressive grazers and need little water. [6]:405 It has also been exported to other countries, among them New Guinea, Nigeria, Samoa and Taiwan. } Droughtmasters exhibit a number of other beneficial traits, including lower chances of eye problems (thanks to hooded eyes and red pigment), calving ease, strong foraging abilities and a docile demeanor. Cows lactation period can last for up to about 10 months (305) days. It was developed from about 1915 in North Queensland by crossing zebuine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the Beef Shorthorn. Rodney Wilson is a writer, editor and co-owner of Goldfinch Farm, a family farm that raises chickens and pigs in Franklin County, Kentucky (www.goldfinchfarmky.com). 1 calf at a time. Medium to large breed that is parasite resistant and yield could carcass weights for good quality beef. Just starting to spring. adElem.style.position = ''; Read more information about the breed below. She has been running with a Speckle Park bull. Speckle Park & Angus x Heifers springing. At maturity, Droughtmaster Cattle are medium to large framed with good feet and legs. The deeply recessed or hooded eye of the Droughtmaster minimises damage from bumping and spiking, and provides some protection from crawling and biting insects, as well as reducing the occurrence of eye cancers, blight and pinkeye.The ability to adapt to adverse environments has given Droughtmasters a well-justified reputation for hardiness. They are neither fast growers nor slow, and are medium growers. Droughtmasters exhibit medium to slightly late maturity in carcass development. And the breed is able to utilize the environment and the pastures in the most efficient manner to gain higher weight and good fertility. They have very good heat tolerance ability, and are well adapted to the local and harsh environment. Droughtmaster Cattle need little care. MOTHERING ABILITYThe breeds maternal instincts are strong. Numerous wins in carcass competitions across Australia confirm this performance. Due May/June 2023. DROUGHTMASTER GENETICS IN HIGH DEMAND 2022 was an historically momentous year for the Droughtmaster breed with five bulls selling for $200,000+. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. It is a very suitable breed in the Australian Tropics which has good tick resistance. The Droughtmasters' superior adaptation comes principally from traits of heat tolerance, insect resistance, a short-hairedcoat, ease of calving and digestive efficiency. A significant advantage over the handling, vaccinating and supplementing requirements of many British and Euro breeds. Increased number and size of sweat glands; Chemicals in sweat glands provide a repellent action; Immune response to internal and external parasites. Droughtmaster Research & Education Foundation. adElem.style.height = ''; Despite all these advantages, the animal is still excellent for beef production, yielding a carcase with a high percentage of well-marbled, good-colored meat. Droughtmaster Cattle reach sexual maturity early and most heifers are bred around 14 months of age. They are not specifically bred for their cattle hide but it does become a by-product of their meat production. if ((_footer && _footer.getBoundingClientRect().top < 500)) { DROUGHTMASTER was the name originally coined by a group of astute cattlemen in North Queensland for the breed they developed by crossing Bos taurus and Bos indicus to overcome the perennial problems of drought, cattle tick, heat, eye cancer and many other issues that reduce production and profitability.. With the arrival of cattle ticks into North Queensland in 1896, it became apparent that . Cows rarely have twins or triplets, but it can happen. From prime improved pasture in temperate regions, light native pasture in tropical regions right through to drought conditions which invariably plague many areas of Australia, the Droughtmaster is recognised as one of the leading performers. As the name implies, the Droughtmaster thrives in conditions that would undo other breeds. Video USEFUL LINKS Purebred Dairy Cattle Association American Dairy Association National Association of Animal Breeders Droughtmaster Cattle will continue to reproduce even under harsh or adverse conditions. adElem.style.visibility = 'visible'; Jim Bendon/Flickr. It is a beef breed, and is reared particularly in areas with a high incidence of drought, heat, tick-borne disease and sun damage.[7]. Cows that are carrying bull calfs their gestation period is usually a little longer than cows that are carrying heifer calves. Despite the reputation (mostly unjustified) of some Bos indicus and Bos indicus derived breeds, the Droughtmaster is renowned for its docility. In 1937 Mary Lindsay, daughter of a beef farmer of Greenstreet Northern Saskatchewan, Canada, spotted a uniquely coloured speckled red roan heifer in her fathers herd. They have a good milk yield and are easily bred. have gained a reputation for producing lean carcasses in the yearling to two year Initial crossing of Shorthorn and Brahmanbreeds The digestive efficiency comes through: These factors also give the Droughtmaster a greater feed conversion efficiency, which is important even when nutrient is in ample supply. Droughtmaster proudly exhibited at Beef 2021 in both Stud and Commercial sections. Consistently outgrowing most other breeds when nutrition is restricted, Droughtmaster performs as well as most breeds in feedlots or on high quality pasture. The subsequent F1 females are renowned as efficient dams, very suitable for joining to high growth sires. The red pigmentation in Droughtmasters is reputed to protect the cattle from the harmful rays of the sun, thus reducing the incidence of eye disorders and photo-sensitization. Droughtmaster cattle are a beef cattle breed. Their heat and tick tolerance, excellent fertility, ease of calving and quiet temperament give this breed a good reputation. Calves and can be used for drinking and other dairy products. Droughtmaster Cattle Origin, Advantages and Disadvantages, Price, SheepaDoodle - Micro, Mini, Giant, Size, Character, Sale, Price, Care, Hereford Cattle Advantages and Disadvantages, Facts, Price, Speckle Park Cattle Advantages and Disadvantages, Facts, Price, Santa Gertrudis Cattle Pros and Cons, Origin, Facts, Price, Dexter Cattle Pros and Cons, Facts, Price, Galloway Cattle Disadvantages, Advantages, Facts, Price, Limousin Cattle Advantages and Disadvantages, Facts, Price, F1bb Goldendoodle Temperament, Size, Lifespan, Adoption, Price, F1 vs F1b Goldendoodle Temperament, Size, Lifespan, Adoption, Price, Siamese tabby mix Personality, Size, Adoption, Lifespan, Price. Photo and info from Wikipedia. droughtmaster.com.au 61 64 1 CONTACTS DROUGHTMASTER STUD BREEDERS' SOCIETY ACN 010 129 683 40 Thorn Street | Ipswich, QLD 4305 Phone: 07 3281 0056 Email: office@droughtmaster.com.au Front. Whats more, Droughtmaster cattle also display resistance to internal parasites, eliminating the need for expensive vaccines, cumbersome rotational grazing schedules and treatment plans. Much of the development was done by one breeder, R.L. The breed is optimized to tolerate heat, toono small benefit considering the energy waste caused by heat stress. The subsequent F1 females are renowned as efficient dams, very suitable for joining to high growth sires. Their genetics are stabilized at 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus. Droughtmaster Cattle are similar in build to the Shorthorn, and come in a variety of light colors. Congratulations to Jembrae Droughtmasters who topped the PTIC section at $4,500 to average $4,300 overall. They have good immune responses to internal and external parasites. . Droughtmasters are either polled or horned with the majority of stud cattle exhibiting the poll characteristic. Edition, Mason, I.L. adElem.style.opacity = '1'; LONGEVITYDroughtmaster females mature quite early and it is not uncommon to see them joined at 14 months. This is a major economic factor, because when the body temperature rises, so too does the stress level with its associated waste of energy reserves, increased water consumption and reduced feed intake. Cattle were weighed 26.02.2023. They do very well on extremely poor graze in dry, hot conditions, and are parasite resistant to boot! On poor graze, Droughtmaster Cattle produce remarkably good muscling. adElem.style.top = ''; Droughtmaster cattle are produced specifically as beef cattle. Handbook of Australian Livestock, Australian Meat & Livestock Corporation, 1989, 3rd Dressing percentage is high. Astute northern cattlemen set about crossing the hardy red Zebu cattle, a Bos indicus breed, with traditional British breeds, like the Shorthorn, early last century. The pioneer breeders of Droughtmasters made sure that cows which didn't calve each year were culled at every opportunity and this resulted in a highly fertile breed, with exceptional weaning percentages of 85% to 90% in the extensive production areas of northern Australia. From docility and adaptability, to fertility and carcase yield, Droughtmaster's natural traits underpin its wonderful reputation as an allrounder. Jason and Geraldine Barnard 205 Beneckes Road, MONTO Q 4630 M: 0409 267 474 0409 358 508 E: gjpastoral . Joining Droughtmaster bulls with British bred or European cows is a common practice amongst commercial cattlemen seeking to increase calving ease, milk production, parasite resistance, bloat resistance and / or tolerance to harsh seasons. We can produce power from dams because of the kinetic energy of the water movements as it causes turbines to spin. The Droughtmasters ability to forage ans walk long distances enables them to thrive where many other breeds can't. Originally developed to handle the extreme heat, humidity and parasites of North Queensland, the breed is providing itself an above average performer in all conditions. They can be either horned or polled, but the vast majority of the animals are polled. Naturally, the purebred Droughtmaster female is also ideal for use in this fashion. In gaining the optimum reproductive performance, both Sire & Dam must play their part. Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). She was born 9/02/2021. adElem.style.top = '10px'; Get to Know the Droughtmaster Cattle Breed, In 1910, something of a breakthrough appeared in Australias attempts to breed cattle that could thrive on the countrys land. The severe drought still raged in 1926, when one R L (Monty) Atkinson set himself to the task of creating a tropical breed that yielded meat more like British cattle. BREEDPLAN uses Best Linear Unbiased Prediction technology to produce Estimated Breeding Values across commercially-important traits. Yes, but they are mainly polled or dehorned, Docile, calm and easy to handle. Droughtmasters have good walking and foraging abilities, coupled with lower nutritional requirements to give them the ability to retain condition and keep breeding, irrespective of the prevailing conditions. They produce plenty of milk and the fast growing calves have high weaning weights. It also offers unparalleled responsiveness, with an ability to bounce back quickly when the rain finally comes. They are relatively quiet in temperament. They can finish off fields that other cattle could not digest and are not susceptible to bloat. 1. Most beef production areas of the world suffer a nutrient deficit at some stage, and in some cases the deficit is virtually constant. if (window.innerWidth > 900) {
Calving ease makes Droughtmaster cows very suitable for crossing with high growth sires, and Droughtmaster bulls pass on the important characteristics of calf shape and low birth weights when used with other breeds. Consistently outgrowing most other breeds when nutrition is restricted, they perform as well as most breeds in feedlots or on high quality pasture. var adElem = document.getElementById('vi-ad');
In some cases, the Droughtmaster has been introduced to reduce eye disorders. The first and perhaps the most enduring efforts to produce the rugged breed began in 1910 when the King Ranch . Droughtmasters exhibit medium to slightly late maturity in carcass development. With its genetic base of Shorthorn and Devon, the Droughtmaster is well regarded for its high yielding carcasses of quality beef. (function () { The Droughtmaster also has more sweat glands than other breeds, and these cattle are noticeably larger. A Droughtmaster premium was on display at the weekend's Clarence Valley Select Breeder Sale, NSW. The unique colour pattern impressed her and she subsequently bought the heifer from her dad. Eventually, these innovative breeders arrived at a beef cow that was just about perfect for Australias inhospitable environment: the Droughtmaster. Apart from being concerned for their own personal safety, they were well aware that cattle with a bad attitude usually don't like to be mustered and so don't get to the marketplace - a major economic disadvantage. Their ears are medium to large in size. The Federation Drought (the worst since European settlement, according to the National Museum of Australia), combined with massive overfarming to leave the land arid, bare and unaccommodating to cattle breeds such as Shorthorns and Herefords. The Brangus breed was developed to utilize the superior traits of Angus and Brahman cattle. Droughtmaster National Sale (DN Sale) 14th and 15th September 2021 Lots 351 - 358. They are considered a middle of the road breed with fat cover at optimum levels. They have red pigmentation which helps them to protect them from cancer eye, sunburnt udders and photosensitisation. adElemSticky.style.height = rect.height + 'px';
Droughtmasters are also noted for their well muscled carcasses with optimum fat cover; give Droughtmasters excellent dressing percentages and high saleable meat yields. Beef producers are attracted to Droughtmasters amazing versatility. The breed has a few other traits that add up to a remarkable digestive efficiency, too, including a small first stomach, an ability to recycle nutrients and a slow protein turnover rate. A low-maintenance digestive system, unique to Bos Indicus derived breeds, contributes to the Droughtmasters reputation for super-efficient feed conversion, which provides a large economic advantage. Curators at the Melbourne Zoo loaned three Zebu bulls, the countrys first imported. This cattle breed is mainly found in North Queensland, Australia. That lower metabolic rate helps the animal produce less heat, keeping things cool even as temperatures start to increase. although they are found mainly in Queensland. They are primarily raised for meat production. Yes, Quality: Good / High quality of meat. Most diseases do not affect this breed. Novice to intermediate Cattle farmer/keeper level, Livestock should not be left unattended around unsupervised children. The Droughtmasters ability to forage ans walk long distances enables them to thrive where many other breeds can't. Originally developed to handle the extreme heat, humidity and parasites of North Queensland, the breed is providing itself an above average performer in all conditions. [5], In 1956 breeders decided to focus on red cattle only; the Droughtmaster name proposed by Atkinson was adopted. adElemSticky.innerHTML = ''; Bulls should never be underestimated and always be treated with caution. Make Some Miso Noodle Soup With A Soft Egg! Drought master breed has more advantages than disadvantages. As their name so boldly states, Droughtmaster Cattle are built for drought survival. In the vast pastoral areas of northern Australia, cattlemen can't afford to be assisting breeders during calving, so this characteristic was also a high priority for the Droughtmaster pioneer breeders. On poor graze, Droughtmaster Cattle produce remarkably good muscling. Most Cattle produce milk but not all of them are used in the dairy Cattle capacity for their milk. This breed has very good resistance against tick. Its They That effort gave rise to Droughtmaster cattle. fertility, ease of calving and quiet temperament give this breed a good reputation. "Lasseter" Lot 94. The red pigmentation in Droughtmasters is reputed to protect the cattle from the harmful rays of the sun, thus reducing the incidence of eye disorders and photosensitization. According to the AustAsia Group, at 90 days, a steer can maintain a medium growth rate performance on as little as 1.45 kilograms (thats just a bit more than 3 pounds) of lower-quality hay per day. Required fields are marked *. Easy calving eliminates the need for human intervention, thus reducing time and management costs. Droughtmaster cows are attentive to their calves and care for them in adverse conditions. The crossbred offspring of the humped South Asian animals were better suited for the Australian countryside than straight British breeds, though they didnt have the proportions familiar to graziers. Their heat and tick tolerance, excellent They are excellent foragers and have high resistance to bloat and tick. The Droughtmaster were developed in northern Queensland, Australia's hot tropical north. With Shorthorn in its background, marbling performance is among the highest of the Bos indicus derived breeds producing high quality, tender beef that grades well under the current MSA Cuts Based Grading System. adElem.style.position = 'fixed'; The breed possesses a rare combination of traits including adaptability to harsh conditions and varied geographies. The crossbred offspring of the humped South Asian animals were better suited for the Australian countryside than straight British breeds, though they didnt have the proportions familiar to graziers. Fertility was and still is, a most important characteristics - extra calves weaned will always have the greatest economic affect. [6]:721[5], From 1969, five Droughtmaster bulls were used for cross-breeding with the local Bhagnari in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, leading to the creation of the Nari Droughtmaster. It was actually developed from crossing Brahman and British cattle breeds (especially the Beef Shorthorn) during the early 1900s. EATS WELL PROFIT IN THE PADDOCK Visit the Africa Droughtmaster Cattle Breeders' Society at droughtmasterafrica.co.za. This combination fits the axiom cows for your country bulls for your market. } A consistent winner in various reputable "hoof" competitions, the Droughtmaster also performs very well "on the hook".