Since retiring from teaching in 2004, Mount Larcom-based producer Peter Brady has been enjoying working his predominantly Brahman herd, and the hardiness of the breed has proven vital since the dry set in on-property two years ago.
Peter and Lyn Brady run their herd on 325ha of undulating coastal softwood scrub country which was originally part of the Beacon Hill property.
"About 12 years ago we sold off sections of the property in seven or eight lots. A lot of the cattle country around Gladstone went into hobby farms when the gas plants arrived," Peter said.
Red Brahmans bulls were first introduced into the program 43 years ago to put over the then Santa Gertrudis breeding herd. Close to 20 years ago Peter changed direction and began joining Blonde d'Aquitaine bulls with Brahman females.
"The Blonde first cross was a success, and second cross went even better.
"We still have a small Blonde herd, but we need pure Brahmans for the dry."
Peter said in the dry the breed is essential for its survivability, tick resistance, and ease of calving.
"We consider Brahmans to be absolutely bulletproof."
Since establishing the pure Brahman herd they've sold weaner steers at 300kg through the CQLX saleyards.
"That goal has gotten tougher as it has gotten drier as we've had to cut back to 70 females, from 100."
He said in the last two years they've had under half their average annual rainfall.
"To keep ahead of the dry we've been culling cows that aren't producing a calf each year, and fat cows are also sent to the works."
They also sold 14 bullocks, averaging 511kg wet, into the live export market this year for the first time.
"I've traditionally always sent cattle to the meatworks, but to put them on the boat to China I received 75c/kg more than what I would have received otherwise."
The Bradys have separated their breeders into three paddocks by age with which they rotate their three bulls into, to ensure they continue to have a good mix of bloodlines in the herd.
They've been purchasing bulls from Fiona Skinner at NK Brahmans, Theodore, for close to three years.
"We have one NK bull at present which is about to be brought out of the paddock as we're expecting calves from the heifers we put him with to drop soon."
Peter said he likes the NK bulls due to their size and growth.
"We think that the bigger the bull the larger the bullock or cow will be when we sell them on.
"The temperament of the NK bulls is also impressive. We visited Fiona last year and walked through 54 bulls. We couldn't get over how quiet they were, we couldn't find one bad-eyed bull."
