Selecting and using the best genetics the industry has to offer each year is by no means a cheap endeavour, but it’s an investment that continues to pay dividends for Absolute Angus, the stud’s clients and, ultimately, the end consumer.
Using curve-benders like Landfall New Ground N90, owned in partnership with ABS Australia, a sire who has ‘lifted the Angus breed to a new level of excellence’, and Te Mania Prime P586, a son of Te Mania Kirby K138 with ‘a magnificent maternal side that marks his progeny with thickness and depth’.
The proof is in the progeny of what happens when you breed the best with the best.
One commercial producer seeing the benefits of using Absolute Angus genetics is John Bergamin, Bergamin Pastoral, Willow Grove, Victoria.
Running about 600 breeders with the aim of turning off 550 weaners every year, Mr Bergamin had great success with Absolute Angus progeny at the Pakenham feature sale in November last year, averaging just shy of $2000 a head, including heifers – up $400 on the previous sale.
“Anthony’s bulls are as good as any top-of-the-league stud and I’m prepared to pay based on weaner-steer prices,” he said.
Mr Bergamin said Absolute Angus’ focus on genetic traits and EBVs, and the success of the bulls in the paddock, keep him coming back.
“Anthony has always chased good genetics, which is what I like as well,” Mr Bergamin said.
“High muscle area and intramuscular fat are always high on my agenda, as is milk which is more of a Gippsland thing, and Absolute Angus ticks the boxes there.
“He does all the genetic traits well – birthweight, gestational length, growth at 200, 400 and 600 days.”
Mr Bergamin is also drawn to the fact that ‘what you see is what you get’ with Absolute Angus bulls.
“They’re grass-fed and not pampered and puffed up to look great, which suits our enterprise,” he said.
“The proof to me is when you put a bull in the paddock, and you see how it handles your conditions.
“It’s all about getting your cows in calf, and his bulls are absolutely a success.”
Mr Bergamin said the stud stands behind its product and always gives excellent customer support.
“I have a couple of old black bulls on the farm from Anthony and they still look great; they stand up with the best.
“He’s definitely doing his homework and every year they’re getting better and better.”
This attention to detail and yearly improvement is all part of stud principal Anthony Pisa’s drive to breed the best.
“My breeding objective is to breed phenotypically well-structured cattle that can perform in all conditions and are suited to all areas,” Mr Pisa said.
“Then there needs to be milking ability, fertility, fat cover – traits that enhance the animal.
“At the end of the day, we’re breeding for stud and commercial clients, but also keeping in mind the final product is what the consumer eats so we need to excel at that point in the supply chain too.”
By combining the best of old and new genetics on offer, Absolute Angus bulls have all the core elements of top genetic performance, durability, longevity and adaptability.
It’s these elements that tick all the boxes for fellow Victorian grazier Scott Barrow.
Operating across 3,300 acres of owned and leased country at Beveridge, Mr Barrow runs 500 breeders, 70% of which calve in autumn and the remainder in spring.
“I’ve had great success at the Elders sale in Yea as a store sale in December, so generally all the autumn calves go there, bar the heifers I’m retaining,” Mr Barrow said.
“Depending on the season, we’ll keep the spring calves until 14 to 15 months of age and send them direct to a feedlot, or they might go to a store sale at 10 to 12 months of age.”
No matter whether they’re turned off, or heifers are retained and joined at 15- to 16-months-old, the size and growth of the Absolute Angus progeny is always evident.
“The quality is in the calves, for sure,” Mr Barrow said.
“There’s always a tail end of course, but the top 80% I’m always very happy with.”
Like other producers who have seen the proof in the progeny of Absolute Angus bulls, Mr Barrow said he’ll be back to buy more sires.
“Our country’s probably not quite good enough for spring calving, I’ve worked out, so I’m going to tend to go for more autumn calving, but I’ll definitely be back for Anthony’s bulls for sure,” he said.
“It’s a no brainer.”
At their spring bull sale on October 23, Absolute Angus will offer 50-plus yearling to 24-month-old bulls with outstanding EBVs from breed-leading sires.
The sale will be held on-property at the Trafalgar South sale complex and interfaced by AuctionsPlus.
Part of AuctionPlus Agribusiness+ Promotion