}; The Droughtmaster combines the best characteristics of both the British (Bos taurus) and Tropical Bos indicus breeds to produce high quality beef economically. Atkinson. Currently the Droughtmaster cattle are available throughout the mainland states, with the largest numbers are available between Cape York and the New South Wales border. It also ensures low cow wastage and reduces 'passengers' in the breeding herd. In some cases, the Droughtmaster has been introduced to reduce eye disorders. fertility, ease of calving and quiet temperament give this breed a good reputation. The breed is basically red in color, although variations from a golden honey color They have long powerful legs and a small heart-shaped face. The pioneers for this cattle breed wanted to establish a line of cattle that would be able to tolerate the rigors of northern So this breed is highly suitable for the environment of tropical areas of Australia. 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. containing approximately 50 percent Shorthorn and 50 percent Brahman bloodlines. 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. [4], The Droughtmaster was developed from about 1915 in North Queensland by crossing zebuine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the Beef Shorthorn. From docility and adaptability, to fertility and carcase yield, Droughtmasters natural traits underpin its wonderful reputation as an allrounder. The Droughtmaster cattle are noted for good fertility, ease of calving and very good mothering ability under harsh conditions. Dressing percentage is high. They produce plenty of milk and the fast growing calves have high weaning weights. Just starting to spring. [5], In 1956 breeders decided to focus on red cattle only; the Droughtmaster name proposed by Atkinson was adopted. History Droughtmaster was the name originally coined by a group of astute cattlemen in North Queensland for the breed of cattle which they developed through crossing Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds to overcome the perennial problems of drought, cattle ticks, heat, eye cancer and many other problems that reduced production and profitability. It also offers unparalleled responsiveness, with an ability to bounce back quickly when the rain finally comes. Droughtmasters exhibit medium to slightly late maturity in carcass development. Droughtmaster Cattle are similar in build to the Shorthorn, and come in a variety of light colors. 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Despite the reputation (mostly unjustified) of some Bos indicus and Bos indicus derived breeds, the Droughtmaster is renowned for its docility. So in drought conditions, when healthy native grass is in short supply, the Droughtmaster can thrive because it never needed a lot to eat anyway. 1 calf at a time. Droughtmaster are not bloat prone due to their small first stomach and ability to absorb nitrogen. A consistent winner in various reputable "hoof" competitions, the Droughtmaster also performs very well "on the hook". Their humps are moderate and their flesh, though loose, fits well. 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. Maternal instincts in Droughtmaster cows are strong, and they make attentive mothers who will defend their calves from predators. Droughtmaster cattle are well known for the superior quality of well-muscled carcass with optimum fat coverage. } } else { They have good immune responses to internal and external parasites. They are excellent mothers and have great maternal instincts. 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. Their short coat is generally red in colour, although variations from golden honey to dark red can occur. var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad'); C.A.B International. 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. A breed society, the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders' Society, was formed, and a herd-book was started. adElem.style.opacity = '1'; Our 2023 Western Heritage Parade will take place on February 4, 2023. 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. Congratulations to #GlenlandsDroughtmasters and #OasisDroughtmasters and buyers - we look . 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. Droughtmaster Cattle are very docile, even the bulls! 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. Eventually, these innovative breeders arrived at a beef cow that was just about perfect for Australias inhospitable environment: the Droughtmaster. They are relatively quiet in temperament. The cattle became extremely popular and are now the second largest breed in Northern Australia. Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. About The Weekend. . Create your own unique website with customizable templates. 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. Droughtmaster offers true multi market suitability for both domestic and international segments and, importantly, its cuts also provide terrific value to foodservice and retail customers. In 1910, something of a breakthrough appeared in Australias attempts to breed cattle that could thrive on the countrys land. 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. Slow metabolic rate creates low feed requirements; Recycling of nutrients through blood stream; Reduced water consumption produces increased nitrogen; Slow rate of protein turnover allows development levels to occur on low nutrients. These cattle does not require proper space to be kept, these can graze in pastures and know how to utilize their space to enhance their weight and health. Third Edition. 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. The Droughtmaster bull passes on these dominant traits to his progeny in a crossbreeding program. 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. BULLSADAPTABILITYLow nutritional requirements combined with high feed conversion rates and excellent walking and foraging abilities, provide a big advantage in marginal country and adverse seasons. High growth performance and extended ageing of cuts can produce EQS 5 star grading. LONGEVITYEarly maturity, structural soundness and a naturally active constitution can mean a longer working life, thereby reducing bull replacement costs. Their genetics are stabilized at 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus. Most beef production areas of the world suffer a nutrient deficit at some stage, and in some cases the deficit is virtually constant. The pioneer breeders spent a lot of time (in some cases a lifetime) in culling and selecting breeding stock and were very particular with regard to temperament. Initial crossing of Shorthorn and Brahmanbreeds BREEDPLAN uses Best Linear Unbiased Prediction technology to produce Estimated Breeding Values across commercially-important traits. adElem.style.zIndex = ''; It was developed from about 1915 in North Queensland by crossing zebuine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the Beef Shorthorn. Cows lactation period can last for up to about 10 months (305) days. Droughtmaster Cattle are not susceptible to sunburns, pinkeye, blight, cancer eye, internal or external parasites, heat stroke, foot problems, predation or dehydration! In the temperate regions of Australia, traditionally the home of the British breeds, low maintenance Droughtmaster is being used increasingly in crossbreeding programs to produce easy-care, productive cattle.. They are neither fast growers nor slow, and are medium growers. 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. With equal parts of Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus blood, the Droughtmaster provides the opportunity to crossbreed without causing a dramatic change to either the visual appearance (phenotype) or to the genotype of the progeny a major benefit without changing your breed completely. Excellent milking ability, digestive efficiency, low nutritional requirements, feed conversion efficiency, walking ability and foraging ability combine to make the Droughtmaster an outstanding performer. Naturally, the purebred Droughtmaster female is also ideal for use in this fashion. Developed by the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders' Society and the National Beef Recording Scheme, BREEDPLAN gives members the information they need to drive genetic progress and profit in their herds. They have red pigmentation which helps them to protect them from cancer eye, sunburnt udders and photosensitisation. 147 followers. World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds. And the breed is able to utilize the environment and the pastures in the most efficient manner to gain higher weight and good fertility. Dams provide us with a source of clean energy. She was born 9/02/2021. EATS WELL PROFIT IN THE PADDOCK But things only got worse in the mid 1890s. VIRILITY & DOCILITYSelection for docility and high libido by the pioneer breeders, has given the Droughtmaster a reputation as a potent and active performer. if (rect.top <= 0) { 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). They have easy calvings and rarely need assistance. adElem.style.height = ''; The Brahman, through rigorous natural selection, developed disease resistance . If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Recent trial results produced dressing percentages of 58% and saleable meat yields of 76%. Edition, Mason, I.L. The red pigmentation in Droughtmasters helps protect the cattle from cancer eye, sunburnt udders and photosensitisation. As the name implies, the Droughtmaster thrives in conditions that would undo other breeds. They have good body length, a sleek coat, and a reputation for reasonable fertility, ease of calving and good mothering ability under harsh conditions. Experience has also shown that Droughtmasters have strong prepotency. It might be time to pump some water out of the pond to keep the market garden going. Photo and info from Wikipedia. Rigorous genetic selection has seen major advances in breed eating quality to exceed evolving consumer demands and stringent MSA and Euro requirements. Jim Bendon/Flickr. The temperament of all the cattle that we have bought over the years has been impeccable and the amount of information that is available about each and every one of the Vale View cattle gives you confidence in buying their genetics and is evidence of the depth of breeding in their herd. They are easy to handle and the lack of horns makes them especially safe. They They have very good heat tolerance ability, and are well adapted to the local and harsh environment. 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. After various crosses, breeders were extremely pleased with the end product of the Droughtmaster, who is almost exactly half Shorthorn and half Brahman! 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 . although they are found mainly in Queensland. The breed has also exported to South-East Asia and as well as to Pakistan, Nigeria and a number of South Pacific islands. 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, developed specifically for Northern Australias arid climate, have proved to be a miraculous advancement, adapting to poor conditions in countries worldwide! They produce plenty of milk and the pastures in the most efficient manner to gain weight. Well `` on the countrys land Asia and as well as to Pakistan, Nigeria and number. 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