"Our dream to be able to compare the genetic potential of Murray Greys from anywhere in the world is fast becoming a reality" said Bryan Johnston, General Manager of the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society. Australian delegates met with their peers from American Murray Grey Association, Canadian Murray Grey Association and New Zealand Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society in Sydney to discuss progress towards an international genetic evaluation and common regulations to enhance trade in seedstock.

The delegates were further briefed by the Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) and Animal Genetics Breeding Unit (AGBU) on the outcome of the pilot GROUP BREEDPLAN run that included the American Murray Grey Association database for the first time. The Canadian Murray Grey Association data will be trailed next prior to inclusion of all data-sets in the International Group run timed for the end of 2001. This will be the first time Murray Grey members and enthusiasts will be able to check out an animal’s credentials from a common base. The two north American associations will be able to report their results in imperial units as Expected Progeny Difference’s (EPDs) whilst the Australian, New Zealand and United Kingdom Societies will use metric units and Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), all generated from the same Group evaluation.

"Having a common genetic evaluation and information tools such as Internet on-line Animal Inquiry systems that provide pedigrees, EBVs and $Indexes for designated markets, will enhance the international interest in our breed" said Mr. Johnston.

Delegates were impressed with the development of the Murray Grey breed in Australia and travelled throughout New South Wales and Victoria visiting stud and commercial Murray Grey operations. There has been further interest in purchase of semen and embryos. This follows on the heels of the successful export of the bull Katuna Courageous U8 to USA in March 2001.

The provision of Internet on-line services and member links to the Society Website has stimulated a lot of interest from international contacts as well as Australian.

Further information contact Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society office on (02) 6771 5151.

Murray Greys presented the highest proportion of the steers exhibited with 29% of the entries in the 2001 Purebred Steer and Carcase Competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Steers achieved credible placing in all classes from Lightweight through to Heavyweight categories indicating the flexibility of the breed to meet market requirements. This performance was repeated in the carcase section as well.

The winning Stan Hill Team demonstrated the broad depth of the breed with entries drawn from the School Lightweight, Open Lightweight and Open Middleweight categories. The judge continually reinforced the need for good temperament and muscling; traits that Murray greys are renowned for.

Buyers also reinforced the acceptability of Murray Greys paying an average price of 238 cents a kilogram liveweight. The Supermarket chains and wholesalers were actively buying Murray Greys and other British breed types.

Murray Greys are ideally suited for the domestic and export quality markets. The Murray Grey 2001 GROUP BREEDPLAN genetic trends indicate the breed is responding to changing market requirements by increasing liveweight and carcase weight, eye muscle area and scrotal size whilst maintaining essential gestation length, retail beef yield and marbling.

The introduction of $Indexes for Supermarket and Long Fed Export markets will enhance the information available for producers to select sires for their progeny’s expected profitability for these markets. $Index values were used in the judging of the Murray Grey Performance classes in Sydney. The winner of the Led Bull suitable for use for in a herd targeting the yearling Supermarket trade went to Ondiong Stuart exhibited by JA & BB Francis, Ondiong Murray Grey Stud, Dorrigo. The winner of the Led Bull suitable for use in a herd targeting the production of feeder steers for high quality Japanese market went to The Glen Justice U141 exhibited by Brandon & Sons, Boomerang Park Murray Grey Stud, Yangan. The Francis family went on to win the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society Trophy donated by VACC for the Most Successful Exhibitor and the Stubbs Family Trophy donated by Wendy, Des & Jefferson Stubbs for the Encouragement Trophy was awarded to Shelly Hanson, Shell-Dee Murray Grey Stud, Kingaroy.

A Murray Grey Carcase exhibited by Brian Powell, Yamba Murray Grey Stud, Narrandera, was awarded Champion Carcase at the 2001 Royal Canberra Show Commercial Steer Competition. The 11 month old 424kg steer sired by Glencairn Rob Roy, earned maximum points for Fat Colour, Rib Eye Area, Rib Fat Depth, pH, Meat Colour and Fat Distribution, for a total of 91 points.  The steer had not placed in the live judging.

The Reserve Champion on the hoof in both the Commercial and School Classes was a Shorthorn-Murray Grey cross was exhibited by Billabong High School, Culcairn.

St Johns College Dubbo took out the Champion School Steer with an eight month old 362kg Murray Grey, which sold to Woolworths for top price of 332c/kg liveweight, when auctioned by Westfarmers Dalgety.  

The Lindsay Murray Grey Stud has always emphasised its belief that the purpose of breeding cattle is to improve the performance of commercial cattle. The confidence of several repeat buyers was clearly demonstrated on Thursday 22 February when 48 commercial heifers sold up to $890, averaging $860 and 48 bulls selling up to $9,500 with an average of $4,380. The top priced bull, Lindsay Uncanny U25, has moderate growth EBVs with an exceptional EBV of +3 for Eye Muscle Area.

Commercial cattlemen were the active buyers at Lindsay and several other recent Murray Grey sales.

Willalooka averaged $897 for 98 commercial heifers on Wednesday 21 February and $891 for 57 commercial females. 49 Stud and MGPR bulls sold to $9500 averaging $3896. Top price was paid for an MGPR bull (AM U536), a Junior Sire with an EBV for IMF% in the Top 5 Percentile in the 2001 Murray Grey GROUP BREEDPLAN analysis. He is by Willalooka Q44 - a Trait Leader for 200, 400, 600 Day Growth and Carcase Weight with a Long Fed Export $Index of +42. Q44 was enrolled as an MGPR bull by VDAR New Trend 315 (MGPR) (AA) and has since been upgraded to REGISTERED.

The Monterey Sale held in January, was another exemplary sale with the three vendors enjoying strong support from buyers.

Reports from members have been positive right across Australia. Demand for Murray Grey bulls and females are strong as cattlemen commence rebuilding herd’s in line with improved industry price signals for commercial cattle. Many of the animals put on display at the open days, held in South Australia and Victoria has sold readily.

There has been a definite change in the tone of all sales commencing with the excellent rebound at The Glen last November. The bidding has been brisk ever since.