Breeding Objectives
Market research and regular communication with our clientele plays an integral role in shaping our breeding objectives. Commercial practicality in selection and management of seedstock ensures we produce cattle that will perform profitably in our customers' operations.
Attaining a consistent Australian Charolais suitable for Australian conditions and markets requires a balanced blending of available genetics, being careful not to head too far in any particular direction. To illustrate this we endeavour to maintain pedigrees that do not exceed more than 25% French content. We find more than 25% French content can begin to have detrimental effects on traits such as fertility, milk and calving ease in females and fat cover and scrotal circumference in males. We constantly strive to breed cattle that maintain optimum balance of muscle: fat cover and growth: maturity.
Gobongo cows are moderate, feminine types that look after their calves better than they do themselves. We do not admire cows that are fat, sleek and only calve once every 18 months. Females that maintain a consistent production history are more valued in the herd than a cow that may have produced a 'one off' high priced bull or show champion.
Key management principles:
Commercial survivability and efficiency - our cows run in a 'no frills' environment and graze on substandard dry pasture with little or no green feed for most of the year. Moderate hard working cows that can survive and annually reproduce a quality calf are chosen over those that require extra attention to maintain production.
Fertility - breeding females are subjected to tight joining intervals. Maiden heifers are exposed to bulls for 8 weeks, while lactating cows are given 12 weeks. Pregnancy testing is performed six weeks post removal of joining sires thus highlighting those females unable to conceive within the time allowed. Empty cows are culled.
Milk - All cows udders are continually assessed. A zero tolerance policy is enforced on bad teats, pendulous attachment and poor milk production.
Feet & Legs - Good feet are crucial in our soft black soil country as bad feet become evident very quickly. Free moving, athletic animals that can walk and forage are noted for being the higher performing animals.
Nutrition - A Gobongo bulls' life begins the day he is put out with cows, it doesn't end the day we sell him. Bulls are carefully raised with this mind. After weaning young bulls are placed on silage and maintained on a gentle, rising plane of nutrition. Never are bulls 'spike' fed grain prior to sale. We continually hear positive feedback from our buyers as to the longevity and survive-ability of our bulls.
