Consistently outgrowing most other breeds when nutrition is restricted, they perform as well as most breeds in feedlots or on high quality pasture. Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, Breed data sheet: Droughtmaster / Australia (Cattle), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Droughtmaster&oldid=1085038131, Articles needing additional references from September 2011, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 April 2022, at 02:12. Their heat and tick tolerance, excellent That lower metabolic rate helps the animal produce less heat, keeping things cool even as temperatures start to increase. Numerous wins in carcass competitions across Australia confirm this performance. Apart from being concerned for their own personal safety, they were well aware that cattle with a bad attitude usually don't like to be mustered and so don't get to the marketplace - a major economic disadvantage. 1mo Edited. Please keep up with us on socials and through our Rodeo Insider email for the most up to date Western Heritage information! Tippy - 504kg (White heifer) - $3,300 Tippy is an F1 Speckle Park/Droughtmaster heifer. The Droughtmaster is an Australian breed of beef cattle. LONGEVITYEarly maturity, structural soundness and a naturally active constitution can mean a longer working life, thereby reducing bull replacement costs. Droughtmaster bulls have high libidos and produce calves with low birth weights, making them good for crossbreeding with fast-gaining breeds. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission. They have a great marbling performance that is among the highest of the Bos indicus derived breed. Maternal instincts in Droughtmaster cows are strong, and they make attentive mothers who will defend their calves from predators. Adapting is what farmers do, and its what cattle farmers in the Southern Hemisphere did nearly a century ago when they needed a breed that could contend with severe drought conditions. The subsequent F1 females are renowned as efficient dams, very suitable for joining to high growth sires. adElem.style.display = 'block'; if ((_footer && _footer.getBoundingClientRect().top < 500)) { In some cases, the Droughtmaster has been introduced to reduce eye disorders. adElem.style.height = rect.height + 'px'; Drought master cattle breed can easily adjust in the environment and knows how to utilize the environment as well as pastures in the most effective way. Jim Bendon/Flickr. In gaining the optimum reproductive performance, both Sire & Dam must play their part. adElem.style.top = '10px'; adElem.style.opacity = '0'; This cattle breed is mainly found in North Queensland, Australia. Droughtmaster cattle are well known for the superior quality of well-muscled carcass with optimum fat coverage. A significant advantage over the handling, vaccinating and supplementing requirements of many British and Euro breeds. The breed possesses a rare combination of traits including adaptability to harsh conditions and varied geographies. Their body length is good and have a sleek coat. Easy to handle, they are aggressive grazers and need little water. Curators at the Melbourne Zoo loaned three Zebu bulls, the countrys first imported. led to selective breeding of the progeny to arrive finally at a fixed tropical breed Cattle were weighed 26.02.2023. Droughtmasters are also noted for their well muscled carcasses with optimum fat cover; give Droughtmasters excellent dressing percentages and high saleable meat yields. } These cattle does not require proper space to be kept, these can graze in pastures and know how to utilize their space to enhance their weight and health. Below average temperatures in the dead of winter? With equal parts of Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus blood, the Droughtmaster provides the opportunity to crossbreed without causing a dramatic change to either the visual appearance (phenotype) or to the genotype of the progeny a major benefit without changing your breed completely. With its genetic base of Shorthorn and Devon, the Droughtmaster is well regarded for its high yielding carcasses of quality beef. } The breed has a few other traits that add up to a remarkable digestive efficiency, too, including a small first stomach, an ability to recycle nutrients and a slow protein turnover rate. History Droughtmaster was the name originally coined by a group of astute cattlemen in North Queensland for the breed of cattle which they developed through crossing Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds to overcome the perennial problems of drought, cattle ticks, heat, eye cancer and many other problems that reduced production and profitability. Medium to large breed that is parasite resistant and yield could carcass weights for good quality beef. adElem.style.height = ''; Commercial Droughtmaster steers and cull heifers have also been keenly sought by the Live Export trade, who are well aware of the breeds outstanding performance in feedlots. EATS WELL PROFIT IN THE PADDOCK } else { The red pigmentation in Droughtmasters is reputed to protect the cattle from the harmful rays of the sun, thus reducing the incidence of eye disorders and photosensitization. Currently the Droughtmaster cattle are available in some other areas outside Australia. Your email address will not be published. From prime improved pasture in temperate regions, light native pasture in tropical regions right through to drought conditions which invariably plague many areas of Australia, the Droughtmaster is recognised as one of the leading performers. Take a look at the boys in the "Droughtmaster $220K Club". adElem.style.zIndex = ''; Cows that are carrying bull calfs their gestation period is usually a little longer than cows that are carrying heifer calves. Global Ag Media provides a knowledge sharing platform offering premium news, analysis and information resources for the global agriculture industry. The Droughtmaster breed was first recognized in the early 1900's when local farmers and ranchers realized their cattle looked similar (Droughtmaster Australia, 2011). The arrival of the cattle tick from Asia into Queensland in 1896 was a key factor in the initial development of the Droughtmaster breed. They are not specifically bred for their cattle hide but it does become a by-product of their meat production. When cattle ticks arrived in North Queensland, Australia, in the late 1800s, cattle farmers (known as graziers Down Under) knew theyd need to adapt to protect their livelihoods of keeping British cattle. The Droughtmaster cattle emerged and have extremely good adaptability, can withstand varying temperatures, has a high fertility rate, is docile, parasite resistant, good meat quality and the cows calve with ease. They are considered a middle of the road breed with fat cover at optimum levels. The pioneers for this cattle breed wanted to establish a line of cattle that would be able to tolerate the rigors of northern adElem.style.opacity = '1'; }()). We can produce power from dams because of the kinetic energy of the water movements as it causes turbines to spin. This breed has very good resistance against tick. Fertility was and still is, a most important characteristics - extra calves weaned will always have the greatest economic affect. They have a good milk yield and are easily bred. Droughtmaster Cattle need little care. [6]:405 It has also been exported to other countries, among them New Guinea, Nigeria, Samoa and Taiwan. , DROUGHMASTER BREED OF CATTLE QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW. They have shown good average daily weight gains in pasture and feedlot trials when compared to other cattle breeds. if (width <= 900) { Cows lactation period can last for up to about 10 months (305) days. MILKING ABILITYDroughtmasters are known for their high milk production, helping to calves to thrive under favourable conditions. Droughtmaster Cattle are moderately late in maturing for slaughter, and are usually taken at one to two years of age. Their eyes are hooded, allowing immunity to injury, flies and sun disorders! History Droughtmaster was the name originally coined by a group of astute cattlemen in North Queensland for the breed of cattle which they developed through crossing Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds to overcome the perennial problems of drought, cattle ticks, heat, eye cancer and many other problems that reduced production and profitability. Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. It also offers unparalleled responsiveness, with an ability to bounce back quickly when the rain finally comes. With Shorthorn in its background, marbling performance is among the highest of the Bos indicus derived breeds producing high quality, tender beef that grades well under the current MSA Cuts Based Grading System. They have good body length, a sleek coat, and a reputation for reasonable fertility, ease of calving and good mothering ability under harsh conditions. The Droughtmaster has inherited a digestive system, which combined with excellent walking and foraging abilities, allows Droughtmasters to continue growing and breeding in spite of low nutrient levels. "Long Bottom" Lot 98 "Put some Sugr in your bloodlines" Coastal . Parasite resistance comes through: Most beef production areas of the world suffer a nutrient deficit at some stage, and in some cases the deficit is virtually constant. The breed has also exported to South-East Asia and as well as to Pakistan, Nigeria and a number of South Pacific islands. Their genetics are stabilized at 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Angus. Other British breeds, mainly Hereford, were later used. Its loose, saggy skin is partly responsible for this adaptability. , with most evidence pointing to a trinity of conditions in the Droughtmaster: ticks cant hide in their short hair, the breeds sweat glands produce a repelling chemical, and their immune system responds to all manner of parasites. They Droughtmasters exhibit medium to slightly late maturity in carcass development. Easy calving eliminates the need for human intervention, thus reducing time and management costs. They are relatively quiet in temperament. The unique colour pattern impressed her and she subsequently bought the heifer from her dad. The Droughtmaster cattle are noted for good fertility, ease of calving and very good mothering ability under harsh conditions. Its They can be either horned or polled, but the vast majority of the animals are polled. Their ears are medium to large in size. Third Edition. This cattle breed is higher in weight and have very good fertility. From docility and adaptability, to fertility and carcase yield, Droughtmaster's natural traits underpin its wonderful reputation as an allrounder. The cattle may be either horned or polled; the majority are polled and exhibit only a moderate hump. The pioneer breeders of Droughtmasters made sure that cows which didn't calve each year were culled at every opportunity and this resulted in a highly fertile breed, with exceptional weaning percentages of 85% to 90% in the extensive production areas of northern Australia. They produce plenty of milk and the fast growing calves have high weaning weights. Their humps are moderate and their flesh, though loose, fits well. Droughtmasters exhibit a number of other beneficial traits, including lower chances of eye problems (thanks to hooded eyes and red pigment), calving ease, strong foraging abilities and a docile demeanor. BREEDPLAN uses Best Linear Unbiased Prediction technology to produce Estimated Breeding Values across commercially-important traits. CALVING EASEThe important breed characteristics of low birth weights and calf shape are passed on by Droughtmaster bulls, and can be very advantageous in crossbreeding or joining to heifers. Our 2023 Western Heritage Parade will take place on February 4, 2023. stud cattle exhibiting the poll characteristic. Tick resistance in cattle is still an area for study, with most evidence pointing to a trinity of conditions in the Droughtmaster: ticks cant hide in their short hair, the breeds sweat glands produce a repelling chemical, and their immune system responds to all manner of parasites. Droughtmasters are either polled or horned with the majority of window.onscroll = function () {
Just starting to spring. Most Cattle produce milk but not all of them are used in the dairy Cattle capacity for their milk. These cattle truly live up to their optimistic name. In some cases, the rankings of animals may also change. Despite all these advantages, the animal is still excellent for beef production, yielding a carcase with a high percentage of well-marbled, good-colored meat. The Droughtmaster cattle are noted for good fertility, ease of calving and very good mothering ability under harsh conditions. [4], The Droughtmaster was developed from about 1915 in North Queensland by crossing zebuine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the Beef Shorthorn. If you have any questions regarding the enhancements to Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN or changes in EBVs resulting from the enhancements, please contact Droughtmaster TBTS Technical Officers Paul Williams (P: 0427 018 982, E: paul@tbts.une.edu.au) , Tim Emery (P 0408 707 155, E: tim@tbts.une.edu . [3]:171[4]. Its fair to say the Droughtmaster breed delivers on both fronts with consistent high fertility rates over varied herd geographies. Droughtmaster Cattle, developed specifically for Northern Australias arid climate, have proved to be a miraculous advancement, adapting to poor conditions in countries worldwide! It also ensures low cow wastage and reduces 'passengers' in the breeding herd. Droughtmaster cows are attentive to their calves and care for them in adverse conditions. With the arrival of cattle ticks into North . } It was developed by several cattleman in North Queensland, Australia. As the name implies, the Droughtmaster thrives in conditions that would undo other breeds. }; So in drought conditions, when healthy native grass is in short supply, the Droughtmaster can thrive because it never needed a lot to eat anyway. Economic affect she subsequently bought the heifer from her dad by several cattleman in North,... 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