Balancing genotype and phenotype is the priority at HollyCott Speckle Parks
Balancing genotype and phenotype is a major focus of the breeding program for Hollycott Speckle Park stud, Jugiong.
While the stud carefully considers structure, longevity, fertility and temperament, it prides itself on producing animals suited to the environment and efficient in a grass-fed system.
Hollycott stud principal Dan Roberts, who runs the family-operated stud on 200 hectares with his mother Julie and his siblings, said their stud and commercial stock had consistently achieved above market averages and also been recognised by numerous awards.
Transitioning from a 100 per cent commercial operation, Hollycott is looking to become a predominantly studstock enterprise.
"We've got a plan over a couple of years to transition," Mr Roberts said.
"We started off with between 60-100 commercial stock and we're slowly transitioning from 100pc commercials to 80pc studstock.
"At the moment, we're about half-half, 40 stud breeders and 40 commercial breeders."
He said while this was the stud's first year at Stock & Land Beef Week, he had been an interested spectator the past few years.
"We are looking forward to showcasing our stock during Beef Week and are very pleased to be working with the other vendors to host the Great Southern Land Speckle Park Sale for the first time," he said.
"We are co-hosting a timed online auction on StockLive on February 7-8, with three other vendors from Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
"The sale focus is to present seedstock for a breeder looking to enhance their own operation or new players looking for top quality.
"Our cattle on display during Beef Week will be our entire sale team, leading donors and stud sires."
Mr Roberts said Hollycott had been focusing on finding a balance between phenotype and genotype and not selecting heavily on just estimated breeding values or phenotypical appearance.
"We are proud of the depth of quality which we have built into our program," he said.
"Having been such a new breed to Australia, there was initially a small gene pool.
"Then the breed went through that boom where a lot of new genetics were imported from overseas.
"A lot of them didn't perform well.
"Our aim has always been to take a back-to-basics approach.
"We've spent the last couple of years consolidating a really strong maternal base, sourced from some of the breed's most-trusted and reliable genetics.
"Our goal is going to be to continue to enhance and build on that base."
