Issues in the North

Hair, Hair, Hair

There are many opportunities for the Angus breed to be infused into and add value to the beef cattle industry of northern Australia.

Responding to the numerous queries Angus Australia receives from producers in traditional Brahman country, Ben Hill, has spent time in far north Queensland.

According to Ben, producers in the area are continually commenting on the superior eating quality of Angus. However their interest is tempered by a pre-conception that the Angus breed is not suited to the harsher climatic conditions of the north. From Ben’s observations, this opinion is incorrect generalisation - producers in many extreme northern environments are successfully breeding Angus and Angus cross cattle.

To ensure the long term viability and success of Angus in the north, it is critical that bull producers are vigilant in supplying bulls that have attributes which enhance their ability to survive and thrive in these environments. The two most important factors/characteristics/attributes to breed towards in bulls intended for northern clients are slick coats and “doing ability” on grass.

The coat type of animals in the north is important for several reasons, some of which have economic effects; others are merely personal preference. In general, cattle with slick coats perform better in hotter environments. This most likely relates to how much the animal “feels” the heat.

Slick coated cattle are also less likely to be affected by ticks. Another reason northern producers prefer the slick coat, is that it makes the cattle more similar to the bos indicus breeds they are familiar with. .

It is important for Angus bull producers to be aware that northern producers are concerned about the hair type of the animal from birth, not just at the time they are sold. If you are planning to sell bulls to northern clients and don’t have bulls of suitable hair type, keep those bulls for more suitable environments. The short term loss of not making a sale will be a long term gain for the breed as a whole, and for yourself, as there will be more producers purchasing Angus bulls continuously if they are satisfied with their performance. Currently, many northern producers are sceptical of Angus because they are “new” to the area and a draft of hairy calves will have them quickly changing to another breed.

The northern marketing efforts of Angus Australia will be less effective or even wasted if breeders fail to ensure that bulls supplied to northern clients are not the correct animals for the environment.

There is a continuous increase in demand for Angus genetics in the north; the challenge for Angus breeders is to ensure that bulls entering the north are suitable for the environment, therefore encouraging further use of Angus.