SPECKLE Park cattle turn plenty of heads with their distinctive black and white hides, but they are far more than just an object of beauty, according to SA breeder Vaughn Johnston.
It is their impressive carcase traits that has commercial beef producers really excited.
At the upcoming Royal Adelaide Show, interested onlookers will have a chance to see the largest display ever in a SA show ring, with more than 50 animals from SA, Vic and NSW studs entered for the feature show.
The breed – which originated in Canada about 15 years ago – celebrated its 10th anniversary in Australia in 2017.
It was derived from an Angus, White Park and Teeswater Shorthorn.
Mr Johnston, who is the feature breed’s spokesperson, says many SA studs are still building their numbers, but there has been great support from interstate breeders.
“The first Speckle Parks came into SA about seven years ago, but in the last two to three years we have really seen it take off with new studs and new genetics,” he said.
Mr Johnston bought his first Speckle Park cows in 2016 and with embryo transfer programs has more than 30 purebreds in his Ewyn stud at Balhannah, plus some F1 crosses.
He became interested in the breed because of its “unique genetic makeup”, offering high yielding carcases with fat cover and moderate frames.
“They offer a great commercial cross to many farmers and on top of that they are nice to look at,” he said.
Three SA studs debuted in Stock Journal Beef Week at Myponga in February with a great response.
“Most people are looking for a bull to put over their females but we regularly get enquiries for females, too,” he said.
“In southern Australia it is British breeds like Angus and Herefords they are being crossed with, but in northern Australia most are going over Brahmans,” he said.
“The Brackle has the Brahman hardiness but the higher fleshing and meat quality of Speckle Parks.”
Mr Johnston sees a big future for the breed, especially with the society embracing performance recording and buyers having access to this Breedplan data in their decision-making.
Judging will commence at 9am on Saturday September 1, with the judge Matt Kirk, Carinya Brahmans, Qld.
More than $10,000 in prize money will be on offer during the feature breed judging, with generous sponsorship from the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society of SA, Speckle Park breeders and other agribusinesses.