WINTER 2004
- South Burnett BPG Meeting 16May04
- DPI Tips
- Handling and Storage of Vaccines
- Tick Spraying Certification Course
- Date Reminder
- Farmfest Highlights
- Stud in the Spotlight - Boomerang Park
- Darling Downs BPG Meeting - April
- Murray Grey Advantage in Crossbreeding
- Murray Grey Youth Camp
- Grey Classifieds
- Show Results
- Darling Downs BPG Meeting - June
- Recipe
- Five Star Sale - Wandoan
South Burnett Promotion Group Meeting - 16May2004
| This meeting was the first for the year and was held
at Barry and Joy White’s property at Crawford near Kingaroy.
There were thirteen at the meeting including Barb Matheson, a local
vet, who gave a very interesting presentation including practical
demonstrations on matters relating to animal health especially in
connection with vaccinations. There was a considerable amount of discussion regarding Board proposals relating to Angus genetics. Members were encouraged to communicate their opinions to the Board. |
 |
Steve Dummett explained his role as Publicity Officer
for the Downs group, and his plans for production and distribution
of the newsletter. The meeting decided to provide $100 to assist in
this over the next year. The meeting was informed of Feature Show status for Pittsworth for next year, and offered support in gaining Feature Show status for Brisbane as well. It was suggested that a major topic for the next meeting should be the re-introduction of a Murray Grey sale, possibly in 2005. |
Timely Tips from the DPI - WINTER
Breeders
Pregnancy test. Cull breeders on pregnancy, temperament, age, defects.
Vaccinate breeders for leptospirosis.
Assess mating program and plan/make changes if necessary.
Bulls
Consider bull requirements for coming season.
Assess current bulls - are they giving you the progeny you require?
Growing cattle (steers and cull heifers)
Are they on track to meet target markets? If not, why not? Assess options.
Handling and Storage of Vaccines
|
Vaccines must be kept cold at all times. Read the
instructions for care on the packet. If your vet or produce store
has not stored them accordingly, do not accept them - eg; if they
are sitting on the counter waiting for you to collect. Always take
an esky and frozen cold pack to transfer the vaccine direct from
the supplier’s fridge. Take more than one frozen pack for freeze-dried
vaccines. Beware wat vaccines need to be stored frozen eg; freeze-dried
living vaccines such as BEF. |
 |
Vaccines are damaged by ‘breaking the cold chain’. When taking the vaccine to the yards, you must keep the vaccine in an esky and avoid sunlight right up until it is administered to the animal. Don’t leave it on the workbench or on a post in the yards in between getting the next lot of animals up the race. Tear off the part of the vaccine packaging that has details of expiry date and batch no. and store this or staple it into your cattlework journal against your vaccination date. |
Tick Spraying Certification Course
| If you find your spending a fortune crossing the tick line to attend shows with your cattle, READ ON. Jan Buetel of Kiah Park found a DPI course that could solve all our problems. They call it the comptetition stock owner treatment scheme. You get qualified to spray and inspect your own cattle. Your required to either spray at the show grounds or within 72 hours. |   |
The course costs only $42.40 for a 2-3 hour course which does come with a test on completion. The qualification is valid for 12 months and is renewable without redoing the course. They only need 3 to 4 people to run the course. For further information or to make a booking contact Judy Sheppard or Peter Fraser on 46881230. |
9 Jul Grey Explosion Sale Tenterfield
16-18 Jul MGY Camp - Pittsworth
21 Jul Cairns Show
22-23 Jul MGBCS Board Meeting Armidale
25 Jul South Burnett Breed Promotion Group Meeting Kingaroy
25-27 Jul Agforce State Conference
1Aug Charters Towers Show
5-14 Aug Ekka
18 Aug Breakout Sale
18-19 Aug Meat Profit Day Longreach
21 Aug Canungra Show
23 Aug NLIS Workshops
24-25 Aug Texas Show
26-28 Aug Gold Coast Show
27 Aug Wandoan Five Star Sale
27-28 Aug Wondai Show
31Aug-4Sep Toowoomba AgShow
3-4 Sep Beaudesert Show
4 Sep Eumundi Show
12-15 Sep Horizons in Livestock Sciences 2004 Conference Gold Coast
???? Mar2005 Murray Grey Feature Show Pittsworth
???? Aug2005 Murray Grey Feature Show Brisbane
Murray Greys were a dominant breed in the final days parade
and a credit to those who participated in the 3 day farm display. Some
breeders took the opportunity to give buyers a preview of what will be
on display at the Ekka. It also gave the cattle an opportunity to experience
streams of people walking past their stalls.
 |
Members from the three BPG’s were mingling and swapping ideas on how the breed can improve and move forward for the next 100 years.. The Southern Border group took the opportunity to hold an informal meeting to discuss their Youth Field Day preparations and their future promotional activities. |
MURRAY GREYS EXHIBITING THEIR HUMANS
Stud in the Spotlight - Boomerang Park
| At Boomerang Park they go back to 1969 when they bought
their first MG bull to put over their dairy herd at Eumundi. In 1976
they moved up to the fertile Yangan Valley to start what is now the
well regarded Boomerang Park Murray Grey Stud. John Brandon said, he has based his Murray Greys on The Glen, Thologolong, Michaelong and The Chase which is why the stud motto is “Based on the Best Bloodlines in the Business”. |
 |
Boomerang Parks’ first Royal Show success was Snr Ch Bull at the RNA in 1977. The following year winning Res Snr Ch Female and in 1980 gaining 3 firsts, Snr Ch Bull, Breeders Group, Best two Bulls and most successful exhibitor. In 1984, BPK Eve 36th was Snr and Ch Murray Grey Female at the Ekka. In 1986, Bonanza, won Jnr Ch Bull, and two years later he became the first Queensland bull ever to win a class at the Melbourne Royal. |
At Beef 97, BPK Rockness won Ch MG Calf. The awards list
is extensive and in recent years BPK Justice and BPK Xpound have given
John reason to be very proud. This year the coverted Jr Champion Bull
RAS Sydney was won by BPK Xpound.. John considers this ribbon to be the
most prestigious he has ever won. He hopes you get the chance to see BPK
Xpound at the Ekka along with 3 magnificent Justice calves.
Darling Downs BPG April Meeting
Twenty Five members attended the meeting held at Baroona
Park Stud. The letter received from Mr Gary Buller (President MGBCS) received
considerable discussion. Concerns were strong regarding the proposed changes
to the registered Murray Grey herd book and the inappropriate time limit
imposed to be able to get responses from the different MGBPG’s.
A book has been started by Jan Beutel to keep a record of the whereabouts
of the MGBPG’s trailer, tent and other miscellaneous items and for
what time frame. The Murray Grey Sign was discussed yet again and to date
no suitable site has been located. On Saturday night the 17th of July,
at the Murray Grey Youth Camp, there will be a BBQ dinner, followed by
guest speaker, Mr John Bertram (DPI Goondiwindi). The Darling Downs group
agreed to pay for Mr Bertrams’ accommodation in Pittsworth. An auction
in support of future camps will be held directly after the speech.All
present were in favour of supporting a Murray Grey Feature Show at Brisbane
in 2005. Laura Durkin addressed the Committee with an update on the Camp.
The Youth Committee requested assistance in the form of volunteer helpers
over the 3 days and 2 nights to assist in the organising, security and
catering capacities. Following the meeting all in attendance enjoyed the
stud tour hosted by David and Sally Taylor. Feedback following the meeting
was that it was a very productive and enjoyable atmosphere.
Top of Page
The
Murray Grey advantage in Crossbreeding
Just some of the advantages of using a Murray Grey bull
in your cross breeding program are:
Marbling
A carcase with a arbling score of five brings a feedlot $350 more than
a carcase with a marbling score of one and that’s big money when
thousands of carcases are involved. Murray Greys are proven for marbling
and that’s why feedlotters pay a premium of up to 20¢/kg live
for Murray Grey and Murray Grey crosses in the 400kg liveweight range.
That’s a bonus of $80 per steer to the breeder of Murray Greys and
Murray Grey crosses.
Dressing and Yield
Abattoirs, butchers and carcase competition results all point towards
Murray Greys having exceptional dressing percentages and even more remarkable
yhields of saleable beef.
Market Acceptance
Murray Greys are readily accepted by all areas of the market and carry
a sound and well deserved reputation as producers of quality beef.
Finishing
While many breeds have extreme difficulty finishing within certain weight
ranges, especially in adverse seasonal conditions, Murray Greys can brought
to prime level at any age.
Calving Ease
Murray Greys are renowned for their ease of calving...they leave small
calves that get to their feet and start suckling immediately. They thrive
and grow quickly. Murray Greys are often used as “heifer” bulls
and the progeny do so well that their roles are often extended to cover
the whole herd.
Milking Ability
Just look at the udders on lactating Murray Grey cows...their are no bottle
teats, there’s milk in all quarters, and they can feed a calf until
weaning. This means healthy happier calves.
Temperament
Murray Greys are quiet, easily handled cattle. They adapt to new environments
and settle well. That’s why they settle in quickly at feedlots and
get on with the job of converting feed into quality beef.
Natural Polls
Murray Greys are naturally polled and experience has shown that this characteristic
is passed on to over 90% of the progeny when joined with horned cattle.
No more de-horning and less bruising.
Skin Pigmentation
Under the grey or silver coat is a skin of dark pigmentation. This is
important in preventing eye cancer and sun damage.
At the time of writing, we have 32 youth registered to attend the Murray
Grey Youth Camp at Pittsworth. The camp will be bringing people from all
over Southern Queensland and from other breeds to experience what Murray
Greys have to offer the Queensland Beef Industry.
Laura Durkin reports there will be a lot of hands on experience and youth
from both novice and experienced levels will be catered for. The MGY committee
has been working hard to ensure the event will run smoothly and will be
a lot of fun for all involved. Youth are reminded that Guest Speaker Mr
John Bertram from the DPI will entertain the parents and friends on the
Saturday night following the BBQ dinner and then the youth will be holding
an Auction to raise money for the 2005 MGY camp. (Hopefully making it
cheaper for you!) Some of the auction items donated so far are: Semen
Straws, Lick Blocks, Stud feed, MGBCS Clothing, 10 bales of Prime Lucerne,
Cattle Showing Equipment, Halters, with more to come.
|
For Sale: |
 |
Wanted:
6 to 8 tonne truck with cattle crate. 46988244
Public Notices:
Ekka Bus Trip - Stud Judging Day. Contact Kylie to register your interest.
46988244
Your Queensland Murray Grey Newsletter is published 4 times a year. Your
input and adverts make it work for you and make it relevant and interesting.
Deadlines for advertising are as follows:
Deadlines:
Winter Edition 20th June
Spring Edition 20th September
Summer Edition 20th December
Autumn Editon 20th March
Nanango:
Snr Ch. Female - Braekirk Unity
Jnr Ch. Bull - Shell-Dee Sterling
Kingaroy:
Jnr Ch. Bull - Shell-Dee Sterling
Res Ch. Bull - Shell-Dee Mustang
Snr Ch. Female - Braekirk Unity
Supreme Female of Show - Braekirk Unity
1st Pair of Bulls - Shell-Dee
Crows Nest:
Supreme All Breeds Bull -Parknook Bilko
Res Jnr Ch. Female - Darrowby Clancy
Res Jnr Ch. Bull - Kynwood Humphrey
Roma:
Jnr & Gd Ch. Bull - Shell-Dee Sterling
Snr & Gd Ch. Female - Braekirk Unity
Gympie:
Jnr & Gd Ch. Bull - Shell-Dee Sterling
Snr & Gd Ch. Female - Braekirk Unity
1st Exhibitors Group - Shell-Dee
Darling Downs BPG meets at Miles 27 June
With the expectation of a Director coming from down south to address
the meeting, a large number of members gathered at Kevin and Patricia
Vayros’ property near Miles. Unfortunately because of equipment failures
Rob Walker was not able to make the trip and provided a brief outline
via telephone the night before. Essentially what the board wanted to get
out to people was that no decision has been made regarding Angus percentages
and it was still considering input from the membership. Rob expected a
decision may be made late in July and implemented on January 1at, 2005.
Many topics were thrashed out at the meeting, including; Membership, Breed
Promotion Group charter, breed image issues, donations to schools, marketing,
sales, Ekka group bus trip, MGY camp, Farmfest site and of course it would
not have been a Darling Downs meeting without discussing the locating
of the MG Sign.
Following the meeting Kevin and Trish showed the group around their 1400
acre property, viewing Murray Greys in Commercial and Stud breeding. All
who attended were very appreciative of the hospitality and warmth provided
by the Vayros.. Unfortunately, the digital camera batteries were flat.
Pepper and Nostimini Steak courtesy ABC SE QLD Website
These hot herby steaks are the perfect meal for a wintery night.
Serves 2 Degree of difficulty: Low
You need:
2 Large Rump Steaks
½ Cup of Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Cracked Black Pepper
1 Tbsp Nostimini Herb Mixture
½ Tbsp Garlic Powder
¼ Tbsp Dried Parsley Flakes
Method: Pour Olive Oil onto a dinner plate.
Dip both sides of the steaks into the Olive Oil.
Make a mixture of all herbs in a plastic bag.
Press mixture of all herbs onto both sides of the steaks.
Cook in a 'Webber' on indirect heat for 20 minutes (makes them medium
rare).
NOTE:
Nostimini is a herb blend that can be found at most food stores.
Chef's Hint: The reason why I use dried herbs instead of fresh, is because
they absorb the juices from the meat as they cook.
Serving Suggestion: Mixed Vegetables or Salad.
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|