Starting in the 1930s, he joined them to Shorthorn and Shorthorn-Devon cross cows. It also ensures low cow wastage and reduces 'passengers' in the breeding herd. Droughtmaster Cattle are moderately late in maturing for slaughter, and are usually taken at one to two years of age. Jason and Geraldine Barnard 205 Beneckes Road, MONTO Q 4630 M: 0409 267 474 0409 358 508 E: gjpastoral . List of the Advantages of Dams. Farming requires, above all else, adaptability. Third Edition. Most meat Cattle will have a skin by-product, and these are usually used in some form or just as a hide. 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]. Easy calving eliminates the need for human intervention, thus reducing time and management costs. Naturally, the purebred Droughtmaster female is also ideal for use in this fashion. Your email address will not be published. We can produce power from dams because of the kinetic energy of the water movements as it causes turbines to spin. 147 followers. Experience has also shown that Droughtmasters have strong prepotency. Calving ease, high libido, fertility and adaptability all combine to give the Droughtmaster an outstanding reproductive performance. Droughtmaster cattle are a beef cattle breed. A breed society, the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders' Society, was formed, and a herd-book was started. CALVING EASEThe important breed characteristics of low birth weights and calf shape are passed on by Droughtmaster bulls, and can be very advantageous in crossbreeding or joining to heifers. There are a large number of sweat glands in the loose skin, allowing Droughtmaster Cattle to better thermoregulate. Droughtmaster cattle are produced specifically as beef cattle. They crossbred various subspecies trying to find a product with parasite resistance. The Droughtmaster cattle are noted for good fertility, ease of calving and very good mothering ability under harsh conditions. Currently the Droughtmaster cattle are available in some other areas outside Australia. The Droughtmaster bull passes on these dominant traits to his progeny in a crossbreeding program. They are fertile and have mostly easy births with little to no problems. From docility and adaptability, to fertility and carcase yield, Droughtmaster's natural traits underpin its wonderful reputation as an allrounder. Droughtmaster cattle are well known for the superior quality of well-muscled carcass with optimum fat coverage. Their genetics are stabilized at 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus. The Droughtmaster were developed in northern Queensland, Australia's hot tropical north. Commercial Droughtmaster steers and cull heifers have also been keenly sought by the Live Export trade, who are well aware of the breeds outstanding performance in feedlots. var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad');
A low maintenance digestive system, unique to Bos indicus derived breeds, contributes to the Droughtmaster's reputation for highly efficient feed conversion, which provides a large economic advantage. Whats more, Droughtmaster cattle also display resistance to internal parasites, eliminating the need for expensive vaccines, cumbersome rotational grazing schedules and treatment plans. They are not specifically bred for their cattle hide but it does become a by-product of their meat production. Droughtmaster Cattle reach sexual maturity early and most heifers are bred around 14 months of age. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He got access to three half-breed Brahman cows, an American zebuine beef cattle derived from animals originating in India. Their heat and tick tolerance, excellent fertility, ease of calving and quiet temperament give this breed a good reputation. Cows lactation period can last for up to about 10 months (305) days. Marley - 438kg & Speckle Park bull calf . Jim Bendon/Flickr. As such their skin/hides are used in various leather products such as rugs, etc. 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 have red pigmentation which helps them to protect them from cancer eye, sunburnt udders and photosensitisation. The Brahman, through rigorous natural selection, developed disease resistance . The breed is optimized to tolerate heat, toono small benefit considering the energy waste caused by heat stress. Droughtmasters are either polled or horned with the majority of stud cattle exhibiting the poll characteristic. Consistently outgrowing most other breeds when nutrition is restricted, they perform as well as most breeds in feedlots or on high quality pasture. Droughtmasters are either polled or horned with the majority of Droughtmaster are not bloat prone due to their small first stomach and ability to absorb nitrogen. Rigorous genetic selection has seen major advances in breed eating quality to exceed evolving consumer demands and stringent MSA and Euro requirements. 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. Large commercial Droughtmaster herds are running on native pastures in both Queensland and the Northern Territory and they are rapidly gaining prominence in the traditional British-bred areas in southern Australia. The Brangus breed was developed to utilize the superior traits of Angus and Brahman cattle. If you have any questions regarding the enhancements to Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN or changes in EBVs resulting from the enhancements, please contact Droughtmaster TBTS Technical Officers Paul Williams (P: 0427 018 982, E: paul@tbts.une.edu.au) , Tim Emery (P 0408 707 155, E: tim@tbts.une.edu . That effort gave rise to Droughtmaster cattle. The deeply recessed or hooded eye of the Droughtmaster minimizes damage from bumping and spiking, and provides some protection from crawling and biting insects, as well as reducing the occurance of eye cancers, blight and pink eye. The breed is very good for meat production with high dressing percentage and good quality meat. Eventually, these innovative breeders arrived at a beef cow that was just about perfect for Australias inhospitable environment: the Droughtmaster. adElem.style.opacity = '0'; The breed is basically red in color, although variations from a golden honey color Although they are available in polled and horned varieties, most are polled, especially the studs. 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. He says the Droughtmaster has become such a popular breed in South Africa within a short period of time because of its exceptional temperament and its ability to adapt to various climatic conditions. Droughtmasters exhibit medium to slightly late maturity in carcass development. Droughtmaster proudly exhibited at Beef 2021 in both Stud and Commercial sections. Cattle were weighed 26.02.2023. This cattle breed is mainly found in North Queensland, Australia. Parasite resistance comes through: Most beef production areas of the world suffer a nutrient deficit at some stage, and in some cases the deficit is virtually constant. Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, Breed data sheet: Droughtmaster / Australia (Cattle), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Droughtmaster&oldid=1085038131, Articles needing additional references from September 2011, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 April 2022, at 02:12. Droughtmaster Cattle are not susceptible to sunburns, pinkeye, blight, cancer eye, internal or external parasites, heat stroke, foot problems, predation or dehydration! 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. Its This breed has very good resistance against tick. They have an extended dewlap. Consistently outgrowing most other breeds when nutrition is restricted, Droughtmaster performs as well as most breeds in feedlots or on high quality pasture. Their body length is good and have a sleek coat. A Droughtmaster premium was on display at the weekend's Clarence Valley Select Breeder Sale, NSW. containing approximately 50 percent Shorthorn and 50 percent Brahman bloodlines. Adapting is what farmers do, and its what cattle farmers in the Southern Hemisphere did nearly a century ago when they needed a breed that could contend with severe drought conditions. For one, the breed is parasite-resistant, meaning the breeders effectively addressed the threats of cattle ticks on a herdlow birth weights, loss of condition, tick worry, decreased milk production and even transmission of the potentially fatal Tick Fever. Costly chemical have also been used to control the tick and reduce the loss of production. adElem.style.top = ''; The Droughtmaster is a purpose-bred breed that is medium to large with a large block body and curved back with a hump between the shoulders and a tight/small dewlap. They have a great marbling performance that is among the highest of the Bos indicus derived breed. Take a look at the boys in the "Droughtmaster $220K Club". adElem.style.visibility = 'hidden'; All rights reserved. At maturity, Droughtmaster Cattle are medium to large framed with good feet and legs. if (rect.top <= 0) { Droughtmaster Cattle will continue to reproduce even under harsh or adverse conditions. Global Ag Media provides a knowledge sharing platform offering premium news, analysis and information resources for the global agriculture industry. } else { They do very well on extremely poor graze in dry, hot conditions, and are parasite resistant to boot! That lower metabolic rate helps the animal produce less heat, keeping things cool even as temperatures start to increase. 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. The Droughtmasters ability to forage ans walk long distances enables them to thrive where many other breeds can't. They have very good heat tolerance ability, and are well adapted to the local and harsh environment. Bulls should never be underestimated and always be treated with caution. From docility and adaptability, to fertility and carcase yield, Droughtmasters natural traits underpin its wonderful reputation as an allrounder. In a recent Queensland trial, Droughtmasters returned dressing percentages of 58% and saleable meat yields of 76%. Easy to handle, they are aggressive grazers and need little water. Our 2023 Western Heritage Parade will take place on February 4, 2023. 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. The Droughtmaster is an Australian breed of beef cattle. } Make Some Miso Noodle Soup With A Soft Egg! The cow should have a 12 to 14-month inter-calving cycle. COWSADAPTABILITYExcellent walking and foraging abilities coupled with lower nutritional requirements give Droughtmaster cattle the ability to retain condition and keep cycling and breeding, irrespective of prevailing conditions. In addition to requiring less water than other beef cattle, the breed has a markedly slow metabolic rate. Congratulations to Jembrae Droughtmasters who topped the PTIC section at $4,500 to average $4,300 overall. Their Shorthorn background also sees them demonstrating excellent marbling which further enhances their value. Breeding fertile, tropically adapted, well muscled cattle that produce tender beef. Tippy - 504kg (White heifer) - $3,300 Tippy is an F1 Speckle Park/Droughtmaster heifer. The Droughtmaster cattle are a tropical breed of beef cattle raised primarily for meat production. CALVING EASEThe inherited Bos Indicus traits of pelvic structure, calf shape and low birth weight make for very easy calving, which can be used to great advantage in crossbreeding programs using high-growth sires. Cattle Farming and Caring Information and Guide, Charolais Cattle Characteristics, Origin, Uses, Holando-Argentino Cattle Characteristics & Uses, Canadian Speckle Park Cattle Farming Business, Casta Cattle Farming Business Starting Plan For Beginners, Red Sindhi Cattle: Characteristics, Origin, Uses, Romagnola Cattle Characteristics, Uses, Origin, Chicken Farm Fire: Top Causes & Prevention Methods, Best Pans For Cooking Fish: Top 5 Fish Cooking Pans, Best Dog For Apartment Living: Perfect & Top 5 Breeds, Exercise And Weight Management in Dogs: Dos & Dont, Preparing Your Pets For Emergencies And Disasters, Rice: Sustainable & Versatile Traditional Staple, Hardy, docile, very good meat quality, calving ease, heat tolerance, parasite resistance, high fertility, well adapted to native climates, Mainly red, with variations from a golden honey color to dark red. Drought master cattle are a tropical cattle breed which is mainly used for meat production. 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