THE BEEF SHORTHORN OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE BEEF SHORTHORN SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA HOME OF THE AUSTRALIAN SHORTHORN www.beefshorthorn.org.au DECEMBER 2019 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
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www.beefshorthorn.org.au
The Federal Secretary Beef Shorthorn Society of Australia PO Box 199 Rutherglen Vic 3685 Phone: 0419 319 990 Email: [email protected] PRESIDENTS REPORT
& Rob Smith located in Sheffield and the Walsh family of Ledgerwood, both located in Tasmania.
The conference itself was very worthwhile and held at the Graham Research Centre on the campus of Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga. Speakers from around the world delivered very informative and interesting presentations sharing ideas and common passions directly linked to Shorthorn cattle. I strongly urge you to mark your diaries to attend the next World Shorthorn conference to be held in the UK in 2022. This occasion will celebrate 200 years of the Coates Herd Book for the breed – something which our Society can proudly boast still records pedigreed Beef Shorthorn cattle closely aligned to this herd book.
Dear All, To those members who also made a contribution in the show ring, I express my grateful thanks. By all accounts it has been a very busy year Given the seasonal conditions the cattle for our breed and the Society. There have been presented both at the Sydney Royal and Royal significant achievements in the show ring, Melbourne Show were exemplary. carcase competitions and the involvement of our members during the World Shorthorn Congress I congratulate David Spencer on his Life tour. Membership to the Society; as most of you know David has been a long-standing member of The Society continues to enjoy a unique Council and this award acknowledged his tireless partnership with JBS Australia (Australia’s largest efforts in promoting and delivering outcomes for beef producer and marketer); premiums remain both the Society and breed. to be paid for eligible shorthorn cattle. A list of JBS buyers can be found on the Society’s As we approach the close of another year, website. stressful and worrisome as it has been for most of us, we must look forward with optimism. The World Shorthorn Congress tour has Our breed stands in very good stead and will concluded and I take this opportunity to thank continue to be sought after by a wide array of those members of the Society who opened their beef producers. properties to showcase their breeding program to our international guests. The Deepdene stud I have attached to this report the presentation of Daryl and Ann Clark was very well received I made on behalf of the Society to at the World with most guests wanting to visit longer; on Conference. I wish you all a safe and happy display were purely grass fed bulls, cows and Christmas. calves and a mob of superfine merino sheep. Daryl delivered a very engaging welcome giving a Marion Spencer historical account of the holding. Other members President to welcome the tour party were Rodney Rouse “BEEF SHORTHORNS” THE POINT OF IT ALL
Today, many people regard history as unimportant. a virtue in cattle being horned. The true rationale That is unwise. Lessons once learned can be is that the entire genetic profile of cattle registered forgotten, likewise hard-won benefits. So it is with in the Beef Shorthorn Herd Book of Australia has cattle-breeding. It is a risky business to ignore the been maintained. That cannot be said of any other past, or to dismiss it as irrelevant to modern-day group of registered shorthorn cattle. The cattle link issues. That is because cattle-breeding which can directly with nearly 200 years of pedigreed history. stand the test of time requires an appreciation of For that reason, these cattle are a unique resource the past, as well as an eye to the future. available to shorthorn cattle breeders worldwide, a resource which should be attractive to breeders The Beef Shorthorn Society of Australia, which with an understanding of history. is the oldest of the societies presently registering shorthorn cattle of the beef type in Australia, None of this is to say that the registration treasures the past, but is not a slave to it. Next requirements of Australian Beef Shorthorns are year will be the Society’s centenary. preferable to the registration requirements of other shorthorn cattle societies. It is only to say that Beef Originally formed as the Shorthorn Society of Shorthorns in Australia are a unique and valuable Australia, the Society took over publication of the genetic resource in the breeding industry. Shorthorn Herd Book of Australia in 1921. The first volume of that herd book had been published in The Beef Shorthorn Society of Australia Herd 1918 under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Book has another utility. Many of the foundation Society of Victoria. Volume 1, and other early females mated with poll bulls over the years since volumes, recorded pedigrees both of Australian- the establishment of what is now the Shorthorn bred cattle and Coates’s Herd Book cattle which Society of Australia in 1935 were registered had played a part in Australian breeding. Beef Shorthorns. In such cases, the long-term pedigrees of today’s cattle are only accessible via Construction of the herd book was a mammoth this Society’s herd book. task, involving reconstruction of pedigrees going back to the late 1840s – the first pedigreed Two matters interrelate with what I have said is the shorthorn having been imported in about 1827. irrelevance of horns for the sake of horns. First, as a The guiding light for registration was Coates’s management tool, and with the Society’s approval, Herd Book standard, part of which recognized that most Beef Shorthorns are dehorned. Second, shorthorn cattle were just that - cattle with short the Society established the Australian Shorthorn horns. Comet, for instance, the standard bearer for Herd Book, which was first published in 1974. the very successful Thousand Guineas program, There is no requirement that Australian Shorthorns was a horned shorthorn. He can be found in a be horned, and indeed the vast majority are not. number of the pedigrees of cattle registered in the This herd book has made use of foundation, Beef Shorthorn Herd Book of Australia. Shorthorn and Poll Shorthorn females, crossed mainly with poll bulls. Ever since that herd book was first published – it is now the Beef Shorthorn Herd Book of Australia Let me say something about the Society’s progress – part of the standard for registration has been over the last several years: that the animal be horned. But the rationale for maintaining that requirement has changed. The • Membership has increased. The Society is not original rationale was that the requirement was large, but has members in every State, and in present in the parent herd book. the Northern Territory. Much later, that requirement disappeared in England. But the Beef Shorthorn Society of • In part, the increase in membership has been Australia did not follow suit. It would be a nonsense attributable to the Society’s active involvement to suggest that the Society has maintained a in the Thousand Guineas program. That requirement that cattle be horned because there is program has enormous potential benefits both “BEEF SHORTHORNS” THE POINT OF IT ALL
for JBS and for breeders of shorthorn cattle. • The Society’s new website has been online The product has gained clear market since 2017. In addition, a topical ‘In the News’ approval. The main issue faced by the program is regularly emailed to members. is reliability of supply. This has been impacted by the drought which has affected • The Society’s Rules have been amended so as much of pastoral Australia for upwards of to address modern means of communication. three years. Increase in supply can be forecast with some confidence. The drought • For several years now, Beef and Australian must end, and breeders of other British cattle Shorthorns have been exhibited together have been putting in shorthorn bulls. with (Poll) Shorthorns at the Sydney and Adelaide Royal Shows. Sensible • A recent trend in Beef Shorthorn breeding has arrangements have ensured that the cattle been the use of semen from bulls bred in were identifiable. Exhibitors have been very Australia before the introduction of Irish and happy with the camaraderie which they have American blood over the past 25-30 years, and experienced. It is highly likely that there will be also the use of semen from British bulls bred combined judging at the Melbourne Royal from to the traditional Coates’s Herd Book standard. 2020. These developments mirror the situation This marriage of bloodlines appears to be at shows in Tasmania and regionally. achieving good outcomes. In conclusion I take this opportunity to acknowledge • The Society is financially secure. It has no and thank those members of the combined breed outstanding financial commitments, and it has societies who have extended their welcome to money in the bank. conference delegates at their properties, to those who exhibited at the Royal Melbourne Show and to • The Society maintains a fee structure which those who made a contribution to the organization is as small as it can be for breeder members. of this the 16th World Shorthorn Conference. A calf registration fee is for all of life. There are no recurrent fees. Marion Spencer President, Beef Shorthorn Society of Australia
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DIARY DATES
AUTUMN BEEF WEEK 29 January- 5 February
ROYAL CANBERRA SHOW 28 February – 1 March
SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW 3 – 14 April (Tentative Judging Date) (Saturday 4 April) BEEF AND AUSTRALIAN SHORTHORNS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT MELBOURNE
Numbers were only moderate, but quality was very heifer, SF Ace’s Cherry; Reserve Junior Champion high in the showing of Beef and Australian Shorthorns female was the rising 14 months of age Meadow Vale at this year’s Melbourne Royal. Held on Sunday 29 Rock Angel P15, a daughter of Spencer Family Zephyr September and in conjunction with the World Shorthorn M220, who is obviously breeding extremely well for Conference, judging was very well attended. Meadow Vale.
Spectator interest was high. Peter Falls, ‘Malton’, Finley The Junior Champion Bull was Meadow Vale Quid P12, judged all shorthorn cattle. Everyone agreed that he did another Zephyr calf. Outstanding for even construction, an outstanding job, his commentary clearly explaining and with an excellent EMA, he relegated to Reserve the decisions which he made. Champion Meadow Vale Quartz P16, who got the nod over Scott Bruton’s Roly Park Pluto, a 19 month old son In Beef Shorthorn judging, the Morningtime Stud of David of Emross Gold Kopy K3. Ashley and Grandchildren was dominant. Morningtime exhibited the Supreme Exhibit, Morningtime Kiribati’s Senior and Grand Champion bull was Roly Park Blossom 4, a 44 months of age cow with roan bull calf Tasmania. This massive roan bull, aged a little over at foot. This cow has enormous capacity. She was two and a half years, was Reserve Junior Interbreed Champion female at Melbourne last year. She relegated Champion at Melbourne in 2018. to Reserve Senior Champion Morningtime Nantucket’s Dame Melba, a 5 years old cow with young heifer calf In the Interbreed judging, Australian and Beef Shorthorns at foot. The judge commented that there was little did very creditably. Roly Park Tasmania, and the Roly between these two exhibits. Park Group of 3 were called out. In the judging for Junior Champion Bull, three shorthorn cattle placed in The Senior Champion female defeated the Junior the first six in a field of eighteen. The Shorthorn entry Champion heifer, the under 12 months Morningtime placed first, the Australian Shorthorn fifth and the Beef Nagambie’s Blossom 2, who relegated to Reserve Shorthorn sixth. This underlines the quality and depth Champion Spencer Family Princess Moselle. of shorthorn cattle in Australia.
Morningtime also exhibited the Junior and Grand Champion Bull, the roan Morningtime Queensferry. This bull, at 18 months of age, weighed 798 kgs, with RASV President’s Medal an EMA of 108 and scan of 15/10. He relegated to Reserve Champion Morningtime Queensbury, who at 19 months and 2 weeks of age weighed 846 kgs, with Congratulations to Life Member David Ashley on an EMA of 108 and scan of 19/13. Bulls of this scale for recently being awarded the President’s Medal; the age have not been seen at Melbourne in recent years. award was presented at the Opening Ceremony of the 2019 Royal Melbourne Show. Pictured Queensferry, sired by the 1980 Sydney Champion from Left to Right is RASV President Mr Matthew Marrington Minstrel, is the 2018 drop calf out of this Coleman, the Governor of Victoria The Hon. Linda year’s Supreme Exhibit. Dessau and David Ashley.
Out of the broad ribbons in the junior bull classes was Morningtime Quito, winner of the under 12 months class. This bull weighed 552 kgs, had an EMA of 75, and scanned 9/5.
In the Australian Shorthorn judging, the broad ribbons were shared between Scott Bruton, ‘Roly Park’, Lake Boga, and Bev and Robyn Harris, ‘Meadow Vale’, Clarkefield. Junior and Grand Champion Female, and Supreme Exhibit, was Scott Bruton’s Roly Park Porsha, a well grown and beautifully proportioned heifer of 19 months. In her class she defeated a quality Spencer Family 2019 Royal Melbourne Show RESULTS Class Entry Exhibitor Beef Shorthorn
Heifer 9-12 months 1st Morningtime Nagambie’s Blossom 2 D Ashley & Grandchildren Heifer 16-20 months 1st Spencer Family Princess Moselle Spencer Family 2nd Hillview Miss Duchess S Pugh Junior Champion Morningtime Nagambie’s Blossom 2 Reserve Champion Spencer Family Princess Moselle
Cow or Heifer 24-36 months 1st Glenmount Queenie L&C Shannon Cow over 36 months 1st Morningtime Kiribati’s Blossom 4 D Ashley & Grandchildren 2nd Morningtime Nantucket’s Dame Melba D Ashley & Grandchildren Senior Champion Cow Morningtime Kiribati’s Blossom 4 Reserve Senior Champion Morningtime Nantucket’s Dame Melba Grand Champion Female Morningtime Kiribati’s Blossom 4
Bull 9-12 months 1st Morningtime Quito D Ashley & Grandchildren Bull 16-20 months 1st Morningtime Queensferry D Ashley & Grandchildren 2nd Morningtime Queensbury D Ashley & Grandchildren Junior Champion Bull Morningtime Queensferry Reserve Champion Morningtime Queensbury Grand Champion Bull Morningtime Queensferry
Best 3 Head 1st Morningtime D Ashley & Grandchildren Best 2 Heifers 1st Morningtime D Ashley & Grandchildre Best 2 Bulls 1st Morningtime D Ashley & Grandchildre Supreme Beef Shorthorn Exhibit Morningtime Kiribati’s Blossom 4 Most Successful Exhibitor D Ashley & Grandchildren
Australian Shorthorn Heifer 9-14 months 1st Meadow Vale Frances Rock Angel P15 Harris Family 2nd Meadow Vale White Rose P18 Harris Family 3rd Spencer Family Patsy B Princess Tia Spencer Family 4th Spencer Family Approvals Bling It On Spencer Family 5th Roly Park Poppy S Bruton Heifer 14-20 months 1st Roly Park Porsha S Bruton 2nd Spencer Family Ace’s Cherry Spencer Family 3rd Roly Park Priya S Bruton Junior Champion Heifer Roly Park Porsha Reserve Champion Meadow Vale Frances Rock Angel P15 Grand Champion Roly Park Porsha
Bull 9-14 Months 1st Meadow Vale Quid P12 Harris Family 2nd Meadow Vale Quartz P16 Harris Family Bull 14-20 months 1st Roly Park Pluto S Bruton 2nd Roly Park Pheonix S Bruton Junior Champion Bull Meadow Vale Quid P12 Reserve Champion Meadow Vale Quartz P16
Bull over 30 months 1st Roly Park Tasmania S Bruton Senior & Grand Champion Roly Park Tasmania Junior Pair 1st Harris Family 2nd Roly Park Best 3 Head 1st S Bruton 2nd Harris Family
Grand Champion & Supreme Australian Shorthorn Exhibit Roly Park Porsha Most Successful Exhibitor S Bruton VACC Breeder Member of the Year 2019
Congratulations again to Scott Bruton who was awarded the Breeder/Member of the Year trophy. Scott has been tireless in his active promotion of both Beef and Australian Shorthorns.
As a result, he has been rewarded with successes in both stud and carcase competitions throughout the year. At the recent Whittlesea Show, Scott was successful in winning each of the 5 heifer classic classes. A very commendable effort.
Scott also serves as a Victorian committee member appointed to the Federal Council of the Society. The award was made to Scott by Scott Bruton who was awarded the Breeder/Member of Victorian President, Carolyn Shannon. the Year trophy.
Kim Falls, Suzanne Clarke and Andrea Falls presenting Most Successful Australian Shorthorn Exhibitor Scott the RT&YE Falls Most Successful Beef Shorthorn Exhibitor Bruton with partner Tiffany Schwencke. trophy; accepted by Aaron Brennan on behalf of D Ashley & Grandchildren.
Meadow Vale Frances Rock Angel P15, Reserve Junior Judge Peter Falls, Scott Bruton and Roly Park Tasmania, Champion Australian Shorthorn heifer paraded by Claudia Grand Champion Australian Shorthorn Bull paraded by Spencer; sashed by Rodney Rouse, Tasmania. Sarah Sutton; sashed by Julian Schneider. 2019 Royal Melbourne Show
Aaron Brennan for Morningtime and the Junior Champion Reserve Junior Champion Beef Shorthorn heifer, Spencer Beef Shorthorn heifer Morningtime Nagambie’s Blossom 2 Family Princess Moselle led by Claudia Spencer; Leo sashed by councillor Leo Swan. Swan presented the sash.
Robyn Harris at left, Meadow Vale Quid P12, Junior Morningtime Queensferry, Junior Champion Beef Champion Australian Shorthorn Bull paraded by Gavin Shorthorn Bull led by Aaron Brennan, sash presented by O’Brien; Margaret Hallyburton and Peter Falls. councillor Bill Harwood.
Grand Champion Australian Shorthorn Bull Roly Park Peter Falls, representative from International Animal Health, Tasmania exhibited by Scott Bruton. Best Australian Shorthorn Exhibit Roly Park Porsha led by Scott Bruton, and two delegates from Shorthorn Congress. 2019 Royal Melbourne Show
Grand Champion Australian Shorthorn Female Roly Park Archie and Rebecca Wickham. Porsha exhibited by Scott Bruton.
Kathy Grigg, 2019 inductee into the RASV Hall of Fame, Andrea Falls and nephew Charlie Falls. with father George Crockford.
Grand Champion Beef Shorthorn Female – Morningtime Grand Champion Beef Shorthorn Bull – Morningtime Kiribati’s Blossom 4 exhibited by D Ashley and Queensferry exhibited by D Ashley and Grandchildren. Grandchildren. Youth in the spotlight
Special mention to our junior youth members who have been successful in various competitions this year. Below is a pictorial summary of some of their achievements.
Pictured from left: Patrick Halloran (judge), Briana Spencer, Nakita Spencer, Phobie McMillan, Robert Harris-Ryan, Seth and Axel Miller. Sapphire Halliday for Waterford making the presentation. Darcy Swan (not pictured) was the team mentor.
Congratulations to Sarah Sutton on winning the 2019 Beef Cattle Judging State Final. Sarah will represent Congratulations to... Victoria the 2020 National Finals in New Zealand. Pictured with Sarah is Tom Baker of Woonallee Suzanne Falls, daughter of Peter Falls and Jeanette Simmentals who was judge for the event. Falls on her recent marriage to Jonathan Clarke on Saturday 5 October. Wedding and reception was held at St Leonard’s winery, Rutherglen and the couple will make their home in Cohuna, NSW.
Briana Spencer Champion Parader at the 2019 Royal Geelong Show. Sophie Marie Falls arrived on 24 October this year weighing 8 pound 8 ounces. She is the sister to Charlie Falls and daughter to Lockie and Kim Falls of Finley, NSW. 2019 Royal Adelaide Show
This year saw the combined judging of Shorthorns at Adelaide; Mr Trent Johnson of Trojan Shorthorns, Lyndhurst NSW was the judge. Next year will see the ‘Shorthorn Family’ enjoy Feature Breed status at the Royal Adelaide Show.
Relaxing after a hard days judging, Axel Miller and Scott Bruton and the Senior Champion Female, friend. Roly Park Porsha sashed by Mrs Pam Thompson of Bayview Shorthorns; a representative from WFI at left. Life Membership
Borthwick Trophy The Society recently awarded a Life Membership to David Spencer, Spencer Family Shorthorns. David joins Joan Burke, George Crockford and Team Results David Ashley as life members. The Federal Council unanimously agreed to bestow this life membership to David for his dedication and involvement in Society The Australian Shorthorn Borthwick team was affairs and to the breed over many years. David’s represented by two steers from the Meadow Vale stud father the late Vic Spencer was also a life member. of the Harris Family, Clarkefield Vic, and a single entry from Scott Bruton’s Roly Park stud of Lake Boga, Vic. An extremely credible outcome with the team of 3 scoring the second highest carcase score on the hook - the team placed 5th overall. Congratulations to all involved.
The medal was presented to David by immediate Past President Bill Harwood who said he was very proud and humbled to be able to make this presentation to David. Meadow Vale Australian Shorthorns est.1975 Royal show success with the �irst progeny of Spencer Family Zephyr M220
Melbourne Royal Junior champion Bull-5th interbreed-MV Quid P12 | Reserve Junior Heifer-MV Frances Rock Angel P15 1st Junior Pair-heifer and bull Steer 14 months-528kg, $3.65/kg lwt ,dressing 60.92%