Herald 20181218

HIGH COUNTRY
FARMING
Pastures and right cattle helped in the drought
MILES NOLLER REPORTING
When you run Red
Poll cattle, you have to be
prepared for scepticism
from others.
When you take them to
the saleyards, they might
call them Red Angus or
whatever because their
computer program does
not include Red Poll.
But Greg and Jeanette
Wehl are among the few
who breed Red Polls and
are pleased they do.
They have properties at
Cutella near Kingsthorpe
and at Peranga and breed
both Red Polls and
Droughtmasters and their
crosses.
They believe the Red
Polls helped to get them
through the drought,
particularly at Sugarloaf
Mountain at Cutella
which missed the rain
last summer that Peranga
received.
“We find Red Poll
cows have the ability to
forage in dry seasons, and
are always on the go to
support themselves and
their calves,” they said.
“They are good doers,”
Jeanette said.
“We run breeders in
scrub country, north of
Peranga, and they supply
high quality milk even in
the driest of seasons.
“They are quiet to
handle, which provides
us with quiet calves,”
Greg said.
Greg also believes
that pastures established
at Cutella over the years
helped them get through
the dry winter.
A range of grasses and
legumes were planted,
but those that have
persisted are bambatsi,
purple pidgeon,
katamboora rhodes, and
premier digitaria.
These grasses provided
the dry bulk for their
cattle, with an Anipro
supplement, over the
winter.
Only in later months
when the dry persisted
into Spring, did they add
cottonseed into the diet.
Greg and Jeanette
acknowledge that Red
Polls are a medium
bodied beef animal, and
that crossing them with
Droughtmasters adds
some scale and size.
Nominations sought for
weeds pests committee
Residents with a passion for controlling weeds and pests
are invited to apply for one of up to four community positions
on the Toowoomba Region Pest Management Advisory
Committee.
The role of the committee is to advise the council on all
matters relevant to pest management.
Cr Anne Glasheen, who will chair the Advisory
Committee, said it was important for the council to listen to
ideas and recommendations from a wide cross section of the
community in relation to pest management.
“Weeds and pests do not respect property boundaries and
have an impact on the whole community,” Cr Glasheen said.
“The committee will include representatives from
Council, State Government, Regional Natural Resource
Management bodies, industry and the community. They
should have the ability to represent and liaise with sections
of the community and relay issues of community concern to
the Pest Management Advisory Committee and Council,” Cr
Glasheen said.
“They should also have an understanding of pest
management and the legislative requirements relating to it.
Nomination letters can be e-mailed to Parks&\n RecAdmin@
toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au or may be posted to PO Box 3021,
Toowoomba Village Fair, 4350.
Nominations close 5pm Thursday, January 31, 2013.
They now run a commercial
herd of Red
Polls, a commercial herd
of Droughtmasters, and
a commercial herd of
Droughtmaster/Red Poll
cross, always using Red
Poll bulls.
After breeding Red
Polls for 30 years, they
are increasingly confident
that the breed produces a
quality carcase of good
meat.
Their weight gains are
good, calving problems
are rare, cows are good
mothers with adequate
milk, and temperament
is good.
They generally sell
through the saleyards at
Dalby and are pleased
with their weights and
prices.
While the Red Poll
remains outside the list of
popular cattle breeds, the
Senapol (a newer breed
to Australia) is based on
Red Poll, and Red Poll
genetics are said to have
been used by some Santa
breeders for the poll gene,
to maintain the rich red
colour, and to introduce
some of the other Red
Poll characteristics.
Greg and Jeanette say
they never really chose
Red Polls …the Red
Polls chose them.
Their first heifer was a
gift on a special occasion,
from a neighbour the late
Eric Volker, at Mt Rascal,
followed by another
shortly after.
They then set up a stud,
and have been breeding
Red Polls ever since.
From taking a low
profile because the
breed is one of the least
popular, their confidence
in Red Polls as good
commercial beef animals
has continued to grow,
and they now believe the
breed has lots to offer the
industry, even in drought
conditions.
Greg and Jeanette Wehl with Red Poll cows at Cutella. Pastures are regrowing after rain in October.
RAY WHITE LIVESTOCK
TOOWOOMBA
Working with you to
achieve the best results.
Agronomist Glen Perkins with Jeanette and Greg
Wehl in May at a Landcare inspection of their
pasture at Sugarloaf Mountain going into winter.
The dry feed with a supplement kept their cattle
going, although the last couple of months before
rain in October were difficult and they destocked
selling some and moving some to Peranga which
started the year in a better situation following
summer rain.
Harristown Saleyards, Mon, Dec 10, 2018
CATTLE SALE: 720 head yarded with Elders clients
achieving top prices in all categories on offer. Best
heavy bulls sold at a top of $2360. Feeder bulls sold
to a top of 287.2c Charbray bullocks a/c the Quinlan
Family, Hodson vale sold in pen lots to $2077. Heavy
steers a/c Travis Luscombe sold to a top of 322.2c
Limousin steers ex Pittsworth sold to 314.2c weighing
505kg to return at $1586 with heifer companion animals
weighing 477kg sold to 306.2c to return $1462. Best
cows a/c the Jan woods family trust topped the sale
at 238.2c to return at $1631. Trade steers a/c P & G
Grimes Wyreema weighing 411kg sold for 315.2c to
return at $1295. Vealer calves sold from 200-230c trade
weigh feeders steers a/c Mead & Fitch Haden sold to
316.2c to return at $1003 restocker steers sold from
250-283.2c
Elders would like to thank their valued clients for
their support during a trying 2018 wishing them a
prosperous and wet 2019
PIG SALE: 280 pigs yarded Monday 10th December
2018, pork and bacon sold firm, sows also sold on par
to last week, store pigs in large numbers came forward,
but with all buyer operating to fill order stores sold to a
much stronger rate.
Prime Pork $220, Prime Light Bacon $200, Prime
Bacon $200, Boars $60, Sows $152, Forward Stores
$178, Weaners $118, Suckers $98.
NEXT SALE: Monday, January 7
FOR BOOKINGS
Contact Darren Hartwig 0428 736 470
Selling on each Monday at
Harristown Saleyards at 7.30am
Full buying panel covering export, feeders,
trade and store descriptions.
Please note:- All livestock payments
in 10 days
For best results consign your
livestock to
LANDMARK TOOWOOMBA
Toowoomba Office Phone 07 4637 3000
Fax 07 4637 3022
Branch Manager: Guy Pitman 0428 740 151
Livestock/Auctions Plus: Andrew Costello 0429 485 191
Livestock/Auctions Plus: Simon Booth 0438 756 245
Stud Stock: Colby Ede 0417 265 980
Merchandise: Rob Wiemers 0407 736 198
Livestock Finance: Rob Moncrieff 0408 296 952
Insurance: Ceri Martin 0429 685 847
Insurance: Jolean Danneberg 0409 036 799
Livestock Administration: Jenny Radke 07 4637 3013
Service tailored to you and your
livestock needs...
• Weekly selling of cattle to saleyards
• Property inspection (drafting) and presale
marketing advice
• On farm private sales
• Direct to processing plants (butchers,
wholesalers, abattoirs)
• Direct to feedlots and backgrounding operations
• Feedlot space at several feedlots on the
Darling Downs
• Performance monitoring in paddock and feedlots
• Auctions plus – assessments
• Professional buying service for clientele
• Agistment and lease paddocks when available
• NLIS scanning and transferring
• Quality Bulls for hire
• Guaranteed payment within 10 days from sale
• Finance available to approved clients
Contact:
P: Wade Hartwig 0447 174 071
E: wade.hartwig@raywhite.com
P: Malcolm Berlin 0437 247 020
E: malcolm.berlin@raywhite.com
www.raywhitelivestocktoowoomba.com.au
SPECIAL NOTE:
We'll be holding a Store Cattle Sale
at Crows Nest Showgrounds
on January 19 – 9am start
Thank you to all for your
ongoing support.
We would like to take this
opportunity to wish you
all season's greetings
and see you at our
first sale in 2019
Next Sale
January 12
For all enquiries please call
Rick – 0428 879 531
Gavin – 0427 979 527
BUYING ALL TYPES OF CATTLE
Fax: 4698 2580
E: rick@zlp.net.au
Your local agent
To advertise phone 4615 4416 or email herald@highcountrynews.net.au
HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - DECEMBER 18, 2018 - 15