Long-game genetics: Hazeldean's 35-year quest to meet northern client needs

Hazeldean Angus bulls are continuing to make an impact in northern client herds, allowing producers to breed more productive progeny that is more profitable through a range of markets.

It's been 35 years since Hazeldean first took bulls north for sale, and in those decades of experience, the stud's genetics have been tested in diverse climates and production systems.

Hazeldean genetics are performing from Tasmania to north Queensland and everywhere in between.

Jim Litchfield, the fifth generation to run Hazeldean, was the first southern seedstock producer to take Angus bulls that were bred in a southern region to Qld for sale in 1991.

"Jim could see the opportunities in Qld to increase the value of calves in Bos indicus herds," stud sales manager Ed Bradley said.

"The benefits of increased fertility and growth became apparent quite rapidly."

The Cooma-based stud has a large Qld sale each year at Drillham, as well as two sales at Cooma and Tamworth in NSW.

Improved crossbreeding has been an area of growth for the Qld industry, and Hazeldean has produced bulls that are suited for a range of breeding programs.

"Clients are chasing more fertility, carcase weight, temperament and carcase quality," Mr Bradley said.

"The hybrid vigour and a black coat are traits the feedlots want more of.

"The feedlot finishing sector in Qld has seen tremendous growth, and I expect this will only continue. Feedlot expansion is rapid at the moment."

Quality control on physical traits like feet and leg structure is an essential characteristic for all beef production systems, and at Hazeldean, the team culls heavily to ensure all bulls can handle tough environments and climates.

"Running a large breeding operation with more than 1450 bull calves arriving each year allows Hazeldean's selection criteria to be very stringent," Mr Bradley said.

"Not every bull is a champion and we are always examining what has worked in a crop of bulls and what has not.

"Coat type, pizzle conformation and overall structural soundness are some of the traits that northern clients need in their bulls.

"We like the idea of cattle that can get pushed hard in tough seasons and come out the other side in reasonable condition.

"Hardiness is a hard genetic trend to chase, and it takes scale and decades to prove it."

The Hazeldean team is committed to providing the same high standard of bulls to northern cattle breeders as it does for southern clients.

The stud selects genetics based on traits that matter in tough country - easy calving, genuine growth, structural soundness, and carcase quality that holds up at the end of the supply chain.

"Our clients need bulls that get the job done and can put condition back on, cows that wean a good calf without assistance, and progeny that perform on grass or in the feedlot, and finish well," Mr Bradley said.

"That philosophy doesn't change with the seasons, and it doesn't change with the market."

The stud's focus is on proven families, without chasing fads.

"Proof is actual performance across these areas over time; and enough time is a critical factor," Mr Bradley said.

"It takes a minimum of 20 years to see if genetics can breed replacement females who then replace themselves. It's a long, slow breeding process in the cattle game - it takes three years to see the first crop in a new breeding direction."

The commercial backdrop makes this year's decisions more consequential than ever, as significant numbers of breeding cows have left the system across some drought-affected areas.

"That means restocking and rebuilding is coming for some farmers, and the producers who invest in the right genetics now will be the ones who rebuild fastest, best and most profitably."

As an 80-year-old stud with decades dedicated to constant improvement, Hazeldean is known for its consistent performance in the commercial sales arenas.

"Respectable bull sale prices are one thing, but having clients who consistently perform at saleyards, on AuctionsPlus and into feedlots is a hard thing to achieve," Mr Bradley said.

"The open market speaks the truth in this sense and Hazeldean clients are regularly high performers.

"More recently we have had some real client success in the female restocker area with some regions coming back from drought while others are entering. When the reluctant decision is made to sell PTIC pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) females, it's very pleasing to see Hazeldean clients being rewarded for selling their beloved breeders to a new home."

On offer across the three Hazeldean sales are more than 420 bulls - 180 bulls at Drillham, Qld, on July 31; 65 bulls at Bective Station, near Tamworth, NSW, on August 12; and 180 bulls at Hazeldean, Cooma, NSW, on September 3.

This is branded content for Hazeldean Angus.