Droughtmaster Cattle, developed specifically for Northern Australias arid climate, have proved to be a miraculous advancement, adapting to poor conditions in countries worldwide! A low maintenance digestive system, unique to Bos indicus derived breeds, contributes to the Droughtmaster's reputation for highly efficient feed conversion, which provides a large economic advantage. They have good immune responses to internal and external parasites. The unique colour pattern impressed her and she subsequently bought the heifer from her dad. 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The constant evolution of the breed is seeing it flourish across the world whilst meeting the demanding standards of Australian producers and supply chain. } have gained a reputation for producing lean carcasses in the yearling to two year Droughtmaster Cattle reach sexual maturity early and most heifers are bred around 14 months of age. This cattle breed is mainly found in North Queensland, Australia. They produce plenty of milk and the fast growing calves have high weaning weights. The Santa Gertrudis breed of cattle, named for the Spanish land grant where Captain Richard King first established the King Ranch, were developed to thrive, prosper and gain weight on the native grasses of the South Texas brush country. The results in the Commercial and Stud Competitions were fantastic, and we even came home . In some cases, the rankings of animals may also change. Drought master cattle breed can easily adjust in the environment and knows how to utilize the environment as well as pastures in the most effective way. But things only got worse in the mid 1890s. Rodney Wilson is a writer, editor and co-owner of Goldfinch Farm, a family farm that raises chickens and pigs in Franklin County, Kentucky (www.goldfinchfarmky.com). They are excellent mothers and have great maternal instincts. The pioneer breeders spent a lot of time (in some cases a lifetime) in culling and selecting breeding stock and were very particular with regard to temperament. It also offers unparalleled responsiveness, with an ability to bounce back quickly when the rain finally comes. Easy calving eliminates the need for human intervention, thus reducing time and management costs. Brangus Cattle. He carefully bred up his cattle over the years while others with Brahmans in a breeding program. The Droughtmaster is an Australian breed of beef cattle. Droughtmasters are either polled or horned with the majority of stud cattle exhibiting the poll characteristic. Their eyes are hooded, allowing immunity to injury, flies and sun disorders! Required fields are marked *. Whats more, Droughtmaster cattle also display resistance to internal parasites, eliminating the need for expensive vaccines, cumbersome. var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad'); Their humps are moderate and their flesh, though loose, fits well. adElem.style.opacity = '0'; Droughtmasters are also noted for their well muscled carcasses with optimum fat cover; give Droughtmasters excellent dressing percentages and high saleable meat yields. In the vast pastoral areas of northern Australia, cattlemen can't afford to be assisting breeders during calving, so this characteristic was also a high priority for the Droughtmaster pioneer breeders. Recent trial results produced dressing percentages of 58% and saleable meat yields of 76%. They went to great lengths to retain the Bos indicus pelvic angulation which is designed for quick and easy calving, just like wild animals which would lose their offspring to predators if they had a slow and different birth due to bad pelvic angulation. About The Weekend. With the arrival of cattle ticks into North . } led to selective breeding of the progeny to arrive finally at a fixed tropical breed fertility, ease of calving and quiet temperament give this breed a good reputation. Congratulations to Jembrae Droughtmasters who topped the PTIC section at $4,500 to average $4,300 overall. droughtmaster.com.au 61 64 1 CONTACTS DROUGHTMASTER STUD BREEDERS' SOCIETY ACN 010 129 683 40 Thorn Street | Ipswich, QLD 4305 Phone: 07 3281 0056 Email: office@droughtmaster.com.au Front. They are easy to handle and the lack of horns makes them especially safe. Their ears are medium to large in size. Fertility was and still is, a most important characteristics - extra calves weaned will always have the greatest economic affect. A slow metabolism helps Droughtmaster Cattle to stay cool as well, and they can digest food other cattle cannot! BREEDPLAN uses Best Linear Unbiased Prediction technology to produce Estimated Breeding Values across commercially-important traits. All rights reserved. MOTHERING ABILITYThe breeds maternal instincts are strong. Your email address will not be published. , DROUGHMASTER BREED OF CATTLE QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW. At maturity, Droughtmaster Cattle are medium to large framed with good feet and legs. Dressing percentage is high. Much of the development was done by one breeder, R.L. On poor graze, Droughtmaster Cattle produce remarkably good muscling. Photo and info from Wikipedia. if ((_footer && _footer.getBoundingClientRect().top < 500)) { In addition to requiring less water than other beef cattle, the breed has a markedly slow metabolic rate. With equal parts of Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus blood, the Droughtmaster provides the opportunity to crossbreed without causing a dramatic change to either the visual appearance (phenotype) or to the genotype of the progeny a major benefit without changing your breed completely. These cattle truly live up to their optimistic name. They are relatively quiet in temperament. The breed has also exported to South-East Asia and as well as to Pakistan, Nigeria and a number of South Pacific islands. LONGEVITYDroughtmaster females mature quite early and it is not uncommon to see them joined at 14 months. Calf/cow skin leather products such as shoes, car seats, fine leather coats, gloves, handbags, belts, furniture, rugs, etc. Instinctive foraging abilities and adaptability, as well as parasite and disease resistance combine with the genetic strength of its Bos Indicus heritage to make it low touch and economical to manage. Parasite resistance comes through: Most beef production areas of the world suffer a nutrient deficit at some stage, and in some cases the deficit is virtually constant. The tick almost decimated the northern herds, which were almost exclusively long haired British breeds. Just starting to spring. There are a large number of sweat glands in the loose skin, allowing Droughtmaster Cattle to better thermoregulate. Drought master breed has more advantages than disadvantages. A low-maintenance digestive system, unique to Bos Indicus derived breeds, contributes to the Droughtmasters reputation for super-efficient feed conversion, which provides a large economic advantage. Their body length is good and have a sleek coat. The Federation Drought (the worst since European settlement, according to the National Museum of Australia), combined with massive overfarming to leave the land arid, bare and unaccommodating to cattle breeds such as Shorthorns and Herefords. Droughtmasters exhibit medium to slightly late maturity in carcass development. As the name implies, the Droughtmaster thrives in conditions that would undo other breeds. Droughtmasters are medium to large cattle with medium maturity. They can finish off fields that other cattle could not digest and are not susceptible to bloat. Handbook of Australian Livestock, Australian Meat & Livestock Corporation, 1989, 3rd Droughtmaster proudly exhibited at Beef 2021 in both Stud and Commercial sections. Review full breed profile of the Droughtmaster cattle in the following chart. In some cases, the Droughtmaster has been introduced to reduce eye disorders. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission. Denene hails from a sugar cane farm in Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal, but after school she relocated to the Cape Winelands to study, for many years, at the University of Stellenbosch. Their carcass yields are high and the quality lean meat is tender. Cows lactation period can last for up to about 10 months (305) days. Phone Don McHardy on 082 338 5800. As such their skin/hides are used in various leather products such as rugs, etc. Their characteristics obtained from selective breeding has the Droughtmaster primarily raised for meat production in areas prone to drought, excessive heat, tick-borne diseases, and risk of sun damage, as they have a natural resistance to these harsher conditions. 147 followers. The pioneer breeders of Droughtmasters made sure that cows which didn't calve each year were culled at every opportunity and this resulted in a highly fertile breed, with exceptional weaning percentages of 85% to 90% in the extensive production areas of northern Australia. The crossbred offspring of the humped South Asian animals were better suited for the Australian countryside than straight British breeds, though they didnt have the proportions familiar to graziers. Video USEFUL LINKS Purebred Dairy Cattle Association American Dairy Association National Association of Animal Breeders They have long powerful legs and a small heart-shaped face. They are not specifically bred for their cattle hide but it does become a by-product of their meat production. adElem.style.height = rect.height + 'px'; Take a look at the boys in the "Droughtmaster $220K Club". Their genetics are stabilized at 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus. History Droughtmaster was the name originally coined by a group of astute cattlemen in North Queensland for the breed of cattle which they developed through crossing Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds to overcome the perennial problems of drought, cattle ticks, heat, eye cancer and many other problems that reduced production and profitability. adElem.style.opacity = '1'; They have shown good average daily weight gains in pasture and feedlot trials when compared to other cattle breeds. . Their dressing percentage results are around 58% with 76% saleable meat yields. Consistently outgrowing most other breeds when nutrition is restricted, Droughtmaster performs as well as most breeds in feedlots or on high quality pasture. On poor graze, Droughtmaster Cattle produce remarkably good muscling. window.onscroll = function () {
Sign up to our regular newsletter and access news from across the Global AG Media network. adElemSticky.innerHTML = ''; if (width <= 900) { Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). These cattle does not require proper space to be kept, these can graze in pastures and know how to utilize their space to enhance their weight and health. A significant advantage over the handling, vaccinating and supplementing requirements of many British and Euro breeds. They have very good heat tolerance ability, and are well adapted to the local and harsh environment. var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad');
The breed has a few other traits that add up to a remarkable digestive efficiency, too, including a small first stomach, an ability to recycle nutrients and a slow protein turnover rate. It is a beef breed, and is reared particularly in areas with a high incidence of drought, heat, tick-borne disease and sun damage.[7]. Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, Breed data sheet: Droughtmaster / Australia (Cattle), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Droughtmaster&oldid=1085038131, Articles needing additional references from September 2011, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 April 2022, at 02:12. Currently the Droughtmaster cattle are available throughout the mainland states, with the largest numbers are available between Cape York and the New South Wales border. Drought master cattle are a tropical cattle breed which is mainly used for meat production. It was the first Australian taurindicine hybrid breed;[3]:171 it is approximately 50% Bos indicus and 50% Bos taurus. Our 2023 Western Heritage Parade will take place on February 4, 2023. Droughtmaster Australia. to dark red occur. They can be either horned or polled, but the vast majority of the animals are polled. EATS WELL PROFIT IN THE PADDOCK Jim Bendon/Flickr. With the arrival of cattle ticks into North . The Droughtmaster also has more sweat glands than other breeds, and these cattle are noticeably larger. } Beef 2021. Droughtmaster Research & Education Foundation. Yes, Quality: Good / High quality of meat. Yes, but they are mainly polled or dehorned, Docile, calm and easy to handle. Droughtmaster Cattle have a unique phenotype, which allows them to survive the heat. Currently the Droughtmaster cattle are available in some other areas outside Australia. Drought master cattle breed has advantages like these cattle are free from ticks and are resistant to them. Droughtmasters exhibit a number of other beneficial traits, including lower chances of eye problems (thanks to hooded eyes and red pigment), calving ease, strong foraging abilities and a docile demeanor. adElem.style.position = 'fixed'; although they are found mainly in Queensland. "Lasseter" Lot 94. List of the Advantages of Dams. The constant evolution of the breed is seeing it flourish across the world whilst meeting the demanding standards of Australian producers and supply chain. The Brangus breed was developed to utilize the superior traits of Angus and Brahman cattle. It was actually developed from crossing Brahman and British cattle breeds (especially the Beef Shorthorn) during the early 1900s. Tick resistance in cattle is still an area for study, with most evidence pointing to a trinity of conditions in the Droughtmaster: ticks cant hide in their short hair, the breeds sweat glands produce a repelling chemical, and their immune system responds to all manner of parasites. Rigorous genetic selection has seen major advances in breed eating quality to exceed evolving consumer demands and stringent MSA and Euro requirements. Droughtmasters are either polled or horned with the majority of stud cattle exhibiting the poll characteristic. Your email address will not be published. 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Calving ease makes Droughtmaster cows very suitable for crossing with high growth sires, and Droughtmaster bulls pass on the important characteristics of calf shape and low birth weights when used with other breeds. This cattle breed is higher in weight and have very good fertility. A breed society, the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders' Society, was formed, and a herd-book was started. The Droughtmaster has inherited a digestive system, which combined with excellent walking and foraging abilities, allows Droughtmasters to continue growing and breeding in spite of low nutrient levels. [3]:171[4]. Its loose, saggy skin is partly responsible for this adaptability. Their carcass yields are high and the quality lean meat is tender. Cows that are carrying bull calfs their gestation period is usually a little longer than cows that are carrying heifer calves. Their short coat is generally red in colour, although variations from golden honey to dark red can occur. The arrival of the cattle tick from Asia into Queensland in 1896 was a key factor in the initial development of the Droughtmaster breed. The Zebu with their natural resistance to parasites were seen as the best solution, and through careful selection the Droughtmaster retained this natural resistance. 61. Marley - 438kg & Speckle Park bull calf . That lower metabolic rate helps the animal produce less heat, keeping things cool even as temperatures start to increase. Initial crossing of Shorthorn and Brahmanbreeds Calves and can be used for drinking and other dairy products. droughtmaster.com.au. Excellent milking ability, digestive efficiency, low nutritional requirements, feed conversion efficiency, walking ability and foraging ability combine to make the Droughtmaster an outstanding performer. Recently, they have been exported to tropical and semi-arid underdeveloped countries like Western Samoa, due to their low-input, low-maintenance, high-yield beef production abilities. adElem.style.top = '10px'; Their short coat is generally red in colour, although variations from golden honey to dark red can occur. Read more information about the breed below. 1 calf at a time. adElem.style.display = 'none'; Visit the Africa Droughtmaster Cattle Breeders' Society at droughtmasterafrica.co.za. The Droughtmaster cattle are noted for good fertility, ease of calving and very good mothering ability under harsh conditions. Costly chemical have also been used to control the tick and reduce the loss of production. Hydroelectricity is responsible for 19% of the world's energy supply, offering over 3000 terawatts each year. Usually, around 279 to 287 days but most gestation is 283 days. It was developed from about 1915 in North Queensland by crossing zebuine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the Beef Shorthorn. Calving ease makes Droughtmaster cows very suitable for crossing with high growth sires, and Droughtmaster bulls pass on the important characteristics of calf shape and low birth weights when used with other breeds. Bulls should never be underestimated and always be treated with caution. The Droughtmaster breed was first recognized in the early 1900's when local farmers and ranchers realized their cattle looked similar (Droughtmaster Australia, 2011). As their name so boldly states, Droughtmaster Cattle are built for drought survival. The Droughtmaster is a purpose-bred breed that is medium to large with a large block body and curved back with a hump between the shoulders and a tight/small dewlap. Supply, offering over 3000 terawatts each year weaned will always have greatest. 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Advantages like these cattle are noted for good fertility, ease of calving and very fertility... { Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling ( editors ) ( 2007 ) and a was! Eye disorders are mainly polled or horned with the majority of the Droughtmaster thrives in that... Susceptible to bloat # x27 ; Society at droughtmasterafrica.co.za Estimated breeding Values commercially-important... Breeding Values across commercially-important traits these cattle truly live up to their optimistic name on poor graze, cattle. Most breeds in feedlots or on high quality of meat Angus and Brahman cattle rigorous genetic selection seen! Be treated with caution Euro breeds stabilized at 3/8 Brahman and British cattle breeds ( especially the Beef )... From about 1915 in North Queensland by crossing zebuine cattle with medium maturity (. Results produced dressing percentages of 58 % and saleable meat yields of 76 % saleable droughtmaster cattle disadvantages yields for 19 of... 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