Speckle Park future for SE operation

WV James and Son, Woolumbool, owned by the James family, have operated a 2000 head Angus herd with Pathfinder and Mandayen-blood on their 10,000 hectare property for years, but decided to change up the game just six years ago, purchasing Speckle Park bulls for a point of difference.

Elders Lucindale agent Ronnie Dix said the James family turned to Speckle Parks from JAD, Yeoval, NSW, after looking into the breed's early outlook some years ago.

"Perhaps the family got a bit sick of looking at 2000 Angus cows," he joked.

"But I think really, we were just ready to try something different, so we started to buy Speckle Park bulls commercially and put them over younger Angus cows."

In doing so, they were able to retain the best heifers each year with the remainder sold as weaners at local sales, according to Mr Ross.

A portion of the first-cross heifers have then been joined to Speckle Park bulls to make a three-quarter Speckle Park calf, but production from the calves was still to come, due to their age.

"We're not far off seeing what we can almost call our first pure Speckles," Mr Dix said.

"They're at least going to be 75 per cent if not more, which is an exciting step."

Mr Ross said he was very happy with the first-cross heifers he had kept on and began breeding from.

An advantage of the Speckle Park breed was the marketability and 'hype' of the calves, which has meant when selling weaners the Jameses have had interest from private parties and larger meat buyers.

"We get the Speckle Park performance, the high milk production and soft easy doing ability," he said.

Mr Dix said additionally, Speckle Parks were more maternal cows, and were more drought resilient, which was another driving factor.

"They're not a massive animal like an Angus is," he said.

"They still have a good weight, but that smaller frame means they're a bit more drought resilient than an Angus.

"With an Angus, you have to put a lot of feed into them all year round, but with Speckles being a bit smaller they hold their condition a bit better."

Implementing an artificial insemination program last year, Mr Ross said he wanted to get the most out of the quality sires he had purchased.

After great success with the first AI, they aim to increase numbers joined for this year's program.

"We are artificially inseminating all of our heifers to Speckle Parks this year," Mr Dix said.

"Whether they're Speckle Parks or Angus, they'll get Speckle Park semen."

Moving forward, Mr Ross said he would continue to increase Speckle Park numbers but would not be going out of Angus entirely.

"We don't know what the number will end up being," Mr Dix said.

"It might get up to 1000 head, but realistically I think we'll stick around the 500 mark."

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The success of the family's crossbred-venture has led the Dickens family, JAD, to buy 81 steers from the SE operation.

During JAD's bull and female sale earlier this month, Justin Dickens said the motivation was to grow the steers on grass, see how they performed under their management techniques and collect the carcase data.

"As far as the cattle themselves, their weight-for-age is very impressing, they are exceptionally well grown, they are really performing well and demonstrating that high yielding performance," he said.

"If they can reach (50 to 60 per cent carcase) yields, it will be extraordinary."

The grading of the carcase and the results will be used as performance information for the JAD stud.

After the great success and performance so far, Mr Dickens said he would be looking at the cattle each year as they enter the sale.

"I would have no hesitation of going and buying them again if we get the opportunity," he said.

"We have traded steers from other breeds and I have never traded a mob that perform like that and have shown so much potential."

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