Nangaringa, run by the Fogden family near Loxton, is the oldest Santa Gertrudis stud in SA.
Murray Fogden, along with his parents Walter and Sadie, bought the Nangaringa property in 1921.
Murray and his wife Marie had pigs and sheep at the time, but had ambitions to breed cattle in the northern Mallee region.
They faced criticism from fellow farmers who argued cattle only worked well in high rainfall areas, where plenty of pasture was available.
But Murray was inspired to try running cattle after seeing second-cross Santa Gertrudis cows in the South East.
He first bought 11 second-cross heifers before later purchasing Cumberland Albert – the first Santa Gertrudis bull bred and classified in Australia – for $2000 to begin the stud.
Murray and Marie started the stud in the early 1960s.
Today, Nangaringa is run by Murray and Marie’s son Richard and his wife Deidre, Richard's son Peter and his wife Justine, and their children Alizah, Thomas and Eleni.
The 6000-hectare mixed operation east of Loxton comprises stud and commercial cattle, cereal crops and vetch for grazing.
They also have an irrigation property in Loxton to grow hay for the farm.
The family run 400 head of cattle, including 250 Santa Gertrudis stud cows, and 150 commercial cows consisting of Santa Gertrudis, Red Angus and various other breeds.
Santa Gertrudis is the feature beef cattle breed at this year’s Royal Adelaide Show, where the Fogdens will exhibit six bulls in the 10-18 months classes and one in the over 30 months class; three heifers aged 10-14 months; and a cow with a calf at-foot in the over 30 month class.
Peter said it was unbelievable they had attracted 16 Santa Gertrudis exhibitors to the show.
“We are excited to compare our cattle to those from Qld and NSW as part of this year’s feature breed,” he said.
Peter said the breed offered a number of benefits.
“When our clients cross Santa Gertrudis with breeds such as Angus, they cannot believe how quickly the calves grow,” he said.
“I don’t think people realise how much better off they would be if they had the hybrid vigour of a first-cross instead of a purebred.”
The breed is also known for its hardiness and adaptability, easy calving, resistance to bloat and excellent mothering ability.
The Fogden cattle are run as part of a three-year rotation. They mainly graze on native clover or vetch that is sown as a break crop.
All commercial progeny and culled steers and heifers are fed in an on-farm feedlot.
The cattle are sought after by local butchers and any excess are sold via the Naracoorte market or over-the-hooks.
Peter aims to sell bulls at two years of age.
This gives the bulls time to mature and grow out before they are sold, especially when they are headed for pastoral areas.
Heifers are generally not joined until they are at least 20 months of age, due to Loxton being a lower rainfall area.
Bulls are sold at the annual SA Beef Field Day, the Lucindale Field Days, the Alice Springs Show & Sale in the NT and the Walmona Invitation Sale at Truro.
A recent highlight for the Fogden family was selling Nangaringa Len, the 2016 Royal Adelaide and Melbourne grand champion Santa Gertrudis bull – for $10,000 to Yarrawonga Santa Gertrudis stud at the Walmona Invitation Sale in March.
This weekend, the Fogdens will go to the 132nd annual Wentworth Show in NSW before exhibiting at Adelaide.
The Santa Gertrudis judging will be held on Friday, September 1, from 9am, in the north ring, with judge Neil Watson, Tamworth, NSW.