Fairview is helping raise producers bottom line

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It has been with longevity in mind that Fairview Black Simmental stud principals Tony Horvath and Roslyn Ware have selected 51 two year-old Black Simmental composite bulls for their third annual sale on Wednesday, August 17.

The sale, which will be held on-property at Mungallala, in the Maranoa region of Queensland, will be conducted under the Helmsman Auction system, from 12.30pm onwards.

Mr Horvath said the sale draft, which includes 44 homozygous polled bulls, have been grown out on grass with access to mineral lick and then prepared pre-sale for 80 days on a meal based production lick and hay.

"This year's offers beef producers the opportunity to tap into genetics from leading herds throughout Australia, America and Canada that through artificial insemination have been bred and selected to perform in their local Australian environment," he said.

Fairview aims to provide bulls that are adapted, structurally correct and demonstrate a balanced genetic profile that avoid antagonisms and have the performance and carcase to suit any market.

"Our focus is to help improve the profitability of the commercial beef producer and to lift their bottom line. This is evident in our sale offering with 82 per cent of the bulls to be offered being above breed average for Domestic Maternal $ Index and Export Maternal $ Index."

Mr Horvath and Ms Ware have done the hard yards to ensure that buyers can access world class genetics out of a locally bred herd.

"We strive to take the guesswork out of selecting a bull and provide a large amount of genetic and phenotypic information."

He said all bulls catalogued have been Breedplan recorded with genomic enhanced EBVs. They're independently structurally assessed, scanned for all carcase traits, vet checked and semen and morphology tested and will be presented in ready to work condition so they're able to survive and perform in any environment.

"This is all backed up by our 12 month soundness guarantee and we offer free freight to all centres in Qld and New South Wales."

The catalogue is highlighted by 13 sons of CCR Cowboy Cut 5048Z, one of the highest Indexing purebred Black Simmental bulls available, who possesses great maternal and carcase traits.

Another standout sire, Bonnydale Nukara, a true curve bending bull with low birth, high growth and heavy carcase, will be represented by 13 sons, and Woonallee Legacy L183, whose great structure is matched with performance, carcase, and proven maternal power, evidenced by exceptional daughters, has had 10 sons selected for the sale draft.

Mr Horvath said the Maranoa region has enjoyed an excellent season with good spring rain and follow up falls throughout summer that have extended through late autumn.

"All classes of livestock have responded with well above average weight gains compared to the same time last year."

He said they've seen a lot of interest in the Black Simmental in general as cattle breeders are being exposed to the performance and profitability of the breed and in particular the performance of the first-cross when used over Bos Indicus cross cows.

"This has been reflected in our last two sales each achieving 100pc clearances with very good averages. We find this not only builds momentum but drives our desire to keep improving our product and provide the very best in Black Simmental genetics."

Rowen and Sarah Watson have been avid supporters of the Fairview stud since before the on-property sale began.

Together with their two young daughters Chloe and Brianna, they've been joining Fairview Black Simmental bulls, purchased from the sale and out of the paddock to Brahman and Brahman-cross breeders on agistment west of Charleville and south of Muckadilla.

Sarah Watson said the calves by these bulls have great temperaments, and provide early maturing weight gain, which is crucial for them as they sell the weaners straight off their mothers into the Roma Saleyards.

"Another great benefit of this joining is that we always receive straight black or red calves, there is very little colour variance," she said.

The Watsons production program produces calves with the best traits of both breeds.

"The Brahman cows' toughness allows them to handle the conditions where we agist, and the Simmental puts softness into the flatback calves.

"As our girls help us in the yards, where they work the calf gate, the Simmentals temperament is crucial for us. At branding this year, when it was pretty hot the girls were lying in the shade under the trees and the calves layed down with them. The bulls are very quiet as well, they love a pat, and are very easy to manage."

The Watson run a fixed joining program from January through May, seasonal conditions dependent, though they have received "beautiful rain" this year.

"We preg-test each year, and cull any empties. Our fertility rate is always in the high 90 per cent range."

The rapid weight for age gains the Simmental provide in the crossbred progeny allows the Watsons to get heavy calves ready to sell as soon as possible.

"We sold some weaner steers at Roma recently which averaged 250kg and returned $1970 per head. We've been getting great returns lately. The agents at the saleyards have remarked on how quiet and calm they are."

The Watsons will again be heading to the Fairview sale in August, where they'll be looking for more early maturing, high weight gain bulls.

"We would have been happy to have taken home any of the bulls that Tony and Roslyn offered at the 2021 sale. It all came down to personal preference. Figures-wise they were all solid and consistent. Tony has done the hard work in regards to fertility. Our six year-old Fairview bulls still test in the high 90pc range for fertility."

Mrs Watson said the Fairview bulls are tough as well.

"After we buy them they go straight onto mulga blocks and it doesn't worry them. They've been great performers. They also aren't overfed for sale so they're ready to work when we get them home."

She said Mr Horvath and Ms Ware have been "fantastic to deal with".

"They're always up for a chat, and love talking about their bulls. They're very knowledgeable and are always interested to hear about our breeding program.

"Last year we had some bad luck with a couple of bulls injuring themselves so we bought replacement bulls out of the paddock from Fairview a few months later. They've been very helpful and accommodating."

The catalogue is now online on the Fairview Black Simmentals website and hard copies will be available early in July.

Those unable to attend the sale in person can view the sale action and make bids through the AuctionsPlus online bidding platform.

Pre-sale inspections can be arranged any time via appointment by contacting Tony Horvath on 0408 612 666 or Roslyn Ware on 0427 060 039, or email fairviewblacksimmentals@gmail.com.

The selling agents on the day will be Elders Mitchell's David Phillips, 0427 746 947, and Elders Stud Stock's Michael Smith, 0428 541 711.

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