WHEN Colin and Karen Henke, of Lakala Pastoral Company in Mumbannar, Victoria, ponder the origins of their beef enterprise, they are reminded of its purpose.
When the couple started the business 22 years ago they wanted to produce an article capable of exhibiting numerous traits with broad market appeal.
That was, effectively, an animal with looks and that was quick to mature - and popular.
They found that - and more - in Angus cattle and nowadays run a cow breeding enterprise of 1000 head on 1000 hectares of undulating country near the border of Victoria and South Australia.
Pushed to describe Lakala Pastoral, one could mention its sandy loam flats interspersed with sandy rises where a temperate climate prevails and average rainfall is north of 700 millimetres.
It is also right to say it's 30 kilometres to the east of Mt Gambier and 20km from the coast - as the crow flies.
In short, Lakala Pastoral is the right spot and Angus is the right breed.
"There is a wide enough variation of production traits within one breed without cross breeding and we can keep it simple," Mr Henke said.
"We have now been using Angus for 22 years, with the initial attraction of being able to supply all beef market specifications with one breed, which incorporates some versatility in the business if needed, or if markets change.
"Ours is a pure Angus herd and the business is wholly and solely cattle.
"We could be considered as a breeding and backgrounding business using our own young cattle."
Lakala Pastoral females are joined over a short period from late October until the final days of December, allowing them to calve from mid-August to October.
Cows and heifers are joined for two cycles and there is a tight calving period of seven weeks. First calvers are joined for three cycles.
Conception rates in the herd range from 83-86 per cent for heifers in two cycles; 90-94 per cent for cows; and - last year - first calvers returned a rate of 96 per cent in three cycles.
"With those conception rates, and joining 85 per cent of heifers bred to hasten the rate of genetic gain, a surplus of pregnant cattle results," Mr Henke said.
So, the Henkes offer the surplus through the Te Mania stud's March Team sale - with pleasing results on both sides of the equation.
"To be able to offer these surplus females for sale with other females of the same known genetic background is an advantage to both seller and purchaser," Mr Henke said.
"It provides an opportunity for buyers to put together a line of future breeders of similar genetics.
"I would be happy to keep any of the Pregnancy Tested In Calf (PTIC) sale cattle if they weren't surplus."
Lakala Pastoral's ties to Te Mania run deeper than its association through the March sale where they trade the surplus females.
It leases Te Mania bulls on a three-year program, then exchanging these for a "newer model". This has been the strategy for the past nine years.
Lakala Pastoral uses bulls with sound feet and legs and moderate birthweight Estimated Breeding Vales (EBVs) that later exhibit high growth, while not "blowing out" in the mature cow weight EBVs.
Carcase traits, such as marbling and eye muscle area, are considered along with scrotal circumference. Eye appeal is also important, with muscling and body length in balance to complement the figures.
"Their bulls in the lease program are high performers in numerous traits, including growth, carcase and fertility," Mr Henke said.
"They are very quiet and easy to handle, and the package surrounding the team Te Mania program - including back-up bulls, use of the Team Te Mania brand in marketing and information sharing in the group - makes good business sense."
Lakala Pastoral steers are targeted at the feedlot market with entry specifications of 400-500kg.
Its steers have been successfully prepared for the long-fed, high quality beef market and medium-fed European Union market at weights of 460-500kg at 13-15 months-old.
The target for heifers is the EU feeder heifer market - at weights of 400-500kg; a pasture-fed domestic carcase - at weights of 240-320kg; or PTIC females for the Te Mania sale.
According to Mr Henke, the feedlot entry specifications are a "perfect fit" for a spring calving cow herd - with a maximum number of mouths and, by matching pasture growth rates to peak animal requirements, they can maintain a 480kg liveweight turn-off of beef per hectare.
That's all worth pondering.