Community & Business
27 August, 2021
Expansion possible for next Beef Open Day
PRESIDENT of the Tablelands Better Beef Open Day, Nick Trompf said that their committee was seriously considering extending next year's event over 2 days to give visitors more time.
BY SALLY TURLEY
PRESIDENT of the Tablelands Better Beef Open Day, Nick Trompf of Tallangalook Shorthorns and Sanata Gertrudis said that following early discussions, their committee was seriously considering extending next year's event over 2 days to give visitors more time.
“With widespread buyer interest and indications of more studs looking to join in the future, there is a lot of merit in running the 2022 event over two days to make it easier for visitors to get around all the properties they have come to see,” Mr Trompf said.
“The majority of stud representatives reported excellent outcomes on the day. Sales were made on most properties, including Tallangalook, and significant orders were received for later in the year, or for next season's draft.
“What was also really pleasing was that, the clientele that did attend were mainly 'top quality' buyers. They were chasing superior genetics and were willing to pay for the best animals on the day,” he said.
Although impacted by a generally miserable day across the Tablelands, the third annual Better Beef Open Day was another successful event embraced by stud breeders and customers alike last Sunday.
Maximising their opportunity to speak directly with vendors about their cattle in the "engine room" of their operation, potential clients travelled from around northern, central and western Queensland to see what the Tablelands had to offer.
Mo Pedersen of Fassifern Limousin and Droughtmaster Stud, Tarzali, spoke for many vendors when he observed that while 2021 visitor numbers were down on the previous two years, those that did come were "on a mission" and he did make sales on the day.
“Our first car load arrived at 8.20am and the last at 4.50pm and the longest we were without visitors during the day, was only 10 minutes. We had people from as far south as Beaudesert and west to Forsayth and Georgetown,” Mr Pedersen said.
“We have got better at setting up in the wet for the wet and while it would be great to be able to stage the event on a dry day, what time of year could you guarantee a dry day on the Tablelands? None,” he said.
Unfortunately it did prove a bit too wet for one participant. After inches of rain in the lead up to the day, Peter Bauer of Warrina Droughtmasters chose to "pull the pin" on this year's event saying, "I didn't want to spend the day towing visitors' bogged cars out of my driveway, so I made the most of it by jumping in the car and visiting other studs in the area.”
Kellie Williams of Kel-Lee Droughtmaster Stud, Upper Barron reported seeing a lot of new faces this year.
"We were inundated by buyers after the Malanda show, so all my cattle were already sold, but after seeing the cattle I had on display, a lot of buyers are coming back at the end of the year to have another look at bulls and heifers,” she said.
After selling seven bulls and 40 heifers last year, Gordon Rasmussen of the established Euluma Droughtmaster Stud, Julatten, reported a quieter day this year.
“Normally a contingent of visitors make a beeline for my place and work their way back,” he said.
“Distance may be a factor, so next year I am considering taking my cattle to the Mareeba saleyards to showcase them there for buyers. As well as my bulls, I had 22 'ready to mate' heifers, 40 younger heifers and three bullocks, displaying the finished product, for buyer perusal,” Mr Rasmussen said.
Millstream Springs Brangus stud principal Mandie Scott experienced a very busy day, with over 100 people coming through.
“There was huge interest in our Speckled Park cattle this year, we could have sold 20 bulls on the day and several western buyers want to be kept informed and plan to come back as soon as we have something available,” she said.
“Our first visitors helped us set up the coffee area at 8am and it didn't quieten down until after 4pm. We sold the mob of Brangus steers we had on display and had a Mackay couple who want to come back and buy bulls next year. As a relatively new stud, it was great to get so much positive feedback that we are on track for what the industry wants,” she said.
