Brahmans to the rescue. I do not want you guys to think I am obsessed with crocodiles. Hell, no way!
Because I am obsessed with everything!
I cannot get enough of life.
Heck! I am just trying to suck the juices out of the dry husk of a great life, pushing the point, and living on the edge. The edge of excitement, that is.
To the point.
Brahmans versus other breeds.
Brahmans. Well, as far as breeds go, you cannot get a better breed, especially a cross with the Brahman in it.
How do I get to make such a statement?
It’s easy folks.
Yes you can go to Uni like I did. I have to say that Charles Sturt was great and I learned a lot. Likely, I learned more from doing it.
Brahmans – cattle or other cattle.
Let’s see, I started in the Yarra Valley in Victoria. I started with Herefords. Yep. Classic and Sensible – for some runs.
But I had the problems with pinkeye and to me the Angus looked better. They were better – not so much of the old pinkeye and more popular with the buyers.
They had a bit more of the good fat, the marbling, and a popularity with Japanese second only to the Wagyu breed.
I bought a farm near Wagga Wagga and ran a breeding operation with 250 cows and progeny. I happily operated there, right on the Murrumbidgee River, just out of Wagga and quite close to Charles Sturt. This came in handy. Yes, it was pretty civilised and any breed would do. Angus, Shorthorn, or the good old Hereford if you must.
In the end, it is all meat in the cool room.
Brahmans north of the Riverina.
The Riverina is pretty safe country. It is dry over the summer, noticeably so over the Xmas period, but you will usually get the Autumn break,, It then rains a fair bit before the really cold weather hits and slows down the pasture growth.
Actually, there, one thing I learned was to set your breeding program to match the pasture growth. There are a couple of times in the year when pasture growth is terrific. So you match that to the energy requirements of the herd. You can do it in the Riverina.
You can also do it when you are raising your kids, but the cycle is a lot longer, and sometimes the cost will be significantly higher.
Brahmans in the outback.
However, jokes aside and back on the cattle, it is a different story out there in the real outback, and that is the case when we are talking about even the places that are a bit less remote than real remote. I refer to the country on the Darling River N.S.W. I did that as my third cattle station endeavour. The very good years are very different to very bad years.
I am sorry to say that the best of the Angus Bulls that I purchased just didn’t make it out there – too tough for them, especially the case when they moved up into the mulga country in South West Qld. Those bulls were raised on green pasture and they do like to eat the green grass. In the real outback, we only grow brown grass – out there you don’t see green grass too often.
Bully beef or cow meat.
Just joking – don’t take it to heart.
So I liked the Santa Gertrudis and the Brahman breed in the form of a Brahman Cross. It is of course, very true that a lot depends on what you are doing, and where. For example in the fabulous Yarra Valley Victoria you can devote your energies into improvingthe herd. Quality bulls, great breeders, and just improve, improve.
Of course you likely don’t have the scale of the outback and in my case that was only 60 breeders on roughly 150 acres.
Boorara was 1200 square km. It was a huge spread with rocky hills, channles, creeks, swamps, lakes, and a lot of scrub and mulga. This is, to put it mildly, a bit different to the Yarra Valley.
Speaking of Boorara, I ended their (the Angus bulls) chances by taking them to Boorara in remote outback Qld. It was the worst drought in Australian history.
What was I thinking?
Well, I guess I was being my usual positive self.
A trader or an opportunist will tend to have a mix.
Brahmans as a part of a mix of cattle.
But a change to your thinking is necessary. Out in the outback you have to reduce the herd in drought times, or otherwise, they, the Gods, that is, will be doing the reducing for you. Goodness gracious, that hurt!
This would too – you got to be brave. Or quick. Or maybe both. Laughs, quietly.
Hells bells! I sorted that out!!
It is not the same sort of operation. It is more like:
“Build up quick when you have grass. Oh, oh. The rain stops. Look out the window. Do it quick. Heck! “
Plan B: “Best start reducing stock. Don’t panic but do it.
First sell off all cattle in prime condition, as you will get good money for them right now. Then sell weak cattle, and sell the old cattle, especially those that don’t have strength and good teeth. They won’t make it, oh yes, sell of all those calves that are pulling the mothers down. No mercy!”
Now we are down to some lean mean fighting machine.
“All right now. Now we have a team. Breeders, young and fit enough to survive. They will be ready to join and calve for the next rains.
Hey! Hey! It’s raining. It’s pouring. Grass is growing.
Let’s go buy some stock.”
What?
“Whatever we can get. Stock her up. Fatten the beasts, and breed with the young ones. Make the best of it while it lasts.”
Brahmans and benefits.
Why the Brahmans? They are stronger and fitter in tough times. The Brahman breeders are great mothers, and they really look after their calves. They forage well, walk long distances, and convert grass into meat in a way that gives confidence.
These were mine. Yarding up for transfer to Boorara. It cost me to shift them as I had 17 road trains of cattle. You can find out more on my new author site leightonclark.com.au
Brahmans galore – my brahmans.
They suffer the bad times, but they survive. Isn’t that important.
These are not mine. But the same as mine. Intelligent, quick, and strong.
Check this site for information on teenage years in the Northern Territory. https://www.thecrocodilechroniclesaustralia.com/about
I did very much enjoy working with the Brahmans and Brahman cross.
regards
Leighton