Community & Business
30 September, 2021
Tallangalook Santa launches
A LONG-TERM Atherton Tableland beef cattle stud has taken a quantum leap forward in a new venture with the purchase of elite Santa Gertrudis genetics.
A LONG-TERM Atherton Tableland beef cattle stud has taken a quantum leap forward in a new venture with the purchase of elite Santa Gertrudis genetics.
Tallangalook at Barrine has bought a line of pedigree Santa females and an elite sire from one of the nation’s most proven herds - Rosevale at Jandowae in south west QLD.
The Tallangalook Santa stud, which launched last year with the purchase of four outstanding Rosevale females and a Waco bull, has now secured a further 36 cows from the Greenup family.
And at the recent 65th annual Rosevale sale, the stud paid $32,000 for one of the top bulls of the sale, 23-month-old Rosevale Reunion R130.
Reunion was the second top weight classifi ed bull in the sale at 790kg – despite being one of the most moderate in frame – and boasts exceptional Breedplan EBVs including being in the top 10% of the breed for the Export Index.
Elite fertility is a highlight, with Reunion’s dam first calving at 2yo and currently pregnant with her 8th calf in eight years and his grand dam (also having her first calf at 2yo) producing an extraordinary 14 calves in 14 years.
Reunion is a thickset, dark, poll bull with excellent carcass figures including top 1% of the breed for rib fat, top 1% for rump fat and top 15% for marbling.
Tallangalook has had immediate success with composite bulls from its stud Shorthorn cows sired by foundation Santa sire Waco M720 (who was purchased at Beef Australia in Rockhampton in 2018) commanding up to $12,000.
Tallangalook principal Nick Trompf said a relentless focus on fertile, functional cattle was the core reason for basing the Santa stud on females from the Rosevale herd.
“For decades, David and Sonya Greenup have had a ruthless program where females which don’t calve every year – regardless of quality – are sold,” Mr Trompf said.
“This has led to a 1400-strong female Santa herd where most heifers calve at two years old and are expected to rebreed every year after that.
“As well the Greenups are arguably the most data-driven stud in the Santa breed with extensive measurements across weight gain, fertility, carcass quality and temperament all recorded in detail.
“A number of the cows we have bought are in the top 5% of the breed for domestic and export EBV indexes. We are certain they will produce bulls for our clients which go out and work with great success in the tropics.
“There is a huge base of Brahman and Droughtmaster cows in far north QLD which will benefit greatly by crossbreeding with these fertile, well muscled bulls.”
Tallangalook will run its Santa stud with the same objectives it has used over 22 years on the Tablelands producing Shorthorns – to breed moderate, fertile, quiet cattle with excellent carcasses and meat quality.
The two studs will be run across Tallangalook’s two properties at Barrine and Tarzali on the Atherton Tablelands.
Rosevale Reunion is sired by Rosevale Majestic M176, who’s nine sons in the Rosevale sale were the standout group achieving the top price of $60,000 and an average of $22,111.
Of the 40 Rosevale cows bought by Tallangalook, six had sons in the sale selling to a top of $22,000 (to Gyranda stud) and averaging $13,166.
