Beef Week will be an exciting time for studs who are opening their farm gates for the first time during Beef Week this year.
Murray Grey cattle have always been an important feature for the Lewis family, and this year the Elms Murray Grey stud will have exceptional cattle on offer during Beef Week.
David Lewis, his wife Mandy, sister Jan and daughter Emily, have been breeding Murray Greys at Lobethal since 1988, but began their stud in 2019.
Mr Lewis said Murray Grey cattle brought a wonderful calm temperament to a herd.
"We want to produce good females we can sell into a commercial herd and become excellent breeders," he said.
The Elms Murray Grey stud will have cows and calves, PTIC heifers and unmated heifers for sale on Sunday, February 4.
Speckle Park cattle are certainly unique, but for Stewart Hinze, they are much more.
Mr Hinze, who runs Oak Point Speckle Park stud at Lucindale with his partner Lucinda, began breeding Speckle Park cattle after seeing them at a field day in 2013 in NSW.
"I saw them and I was impressed by them right there," he said.
"They were just something unique and different. But we also want their early maturity, ability to adapt to all climates and excellent carcase traits."
He began his stud in 2018, importing genetics from Canada, selecting bulls and females to maximise pedigree diversity.
Mr Hinze said they were looking for something special in their Speckle Park cattle.
"We want something that is relevant to commercial producers - soft, easy-doing cattle, easy calving, fertile with calves that perform well."
He said taking part in Beef Week was a good chance to promote the breed and their stud because they don't hold a sale just yet.
Oak Point Speckle Park stud will have some bulls for sale on Monday, February 5, as well as donor cows and calves for viewing.
Having cattle that can thrive in all conditions is crucial for Barossa Angus stud.
Julian Maul's stud is based at Mount Crawford, but he also runs Angus cattle at Lindoch.
They have had the stud for seven years, but they have been running Angus cattle since 2000.
Mr Maul has plenty of reasons to choose Angus cattle.
"They are incredibly versatile, and have an ability to hold a premium," he said.
"We're able to produce cattle that taste good and can fit just about any environment.
"We breed cattle that are very good on their feet and get pregnant.
"They're easy to finish in our country. The Barossa is a very interesting place - you've got cattle in the Lindoch country, which in summer is dry and hot, while at Mount Crawford in summer you get up in the morning and put on a jacket. They have to do the business across the hot country and the cold country."
Barossa stud will be open on Sunday, February 4, and will have both junior and senior bulls for sale.
At Fleurieu Wagyu, impressive meat is the focus.
Fleurieu's Lee-anne Hills and her partner have been running Wagyu cattle for two years.
"We saw that a lot of the Wagyu that was available in restaurants and butcher shops was all sourced interstate. So we thought 'why don't we breed Wagyu, focus on high marble, top quality meat, with the hope of building long-term relationships with local butchers and restaurants'."
They began their stud around the same time, purchasing some impressive foundation heifers and a bull, as well as semen from a range of renowned breeders.
Her focus in the stud is quality meat.
"We just focus on a few key traits - we are looking for those that are in the top percentage for marble fineness and marble score, as well as good growth traits."
Fleurieu Wagyu will have some bulls for sale when it opens on Sunday, February 4 for the first time.
"It will be really great for us to showcase what we've got," she said.
"It's also good to learn from others."
