B.NEWS

Ashrose Field Day - X Road Progeny on Show

Wendy Finucane, Manager of the Ashrose Murray Grey Stud along with family and staff hosted a very successful field day that was attended by 40 farmers interested in the Murray Grey breed. A balance of both stud and commercial breeders attended the day that consisted of a tour of the cattle and a marquee lunch. The day was enjoyed by all and there was some very favourable feedback from those that attended.

Having imported Bundaleer X Road in 2006 the Ashrose herd has come on in leaps and bounds over the past six years. Along with the use of several other sires over the past decade Ashrose has increased growth rate and retail beef yield to that typically found in Western Australia. Ashrose is now producing bulls that can sire progeny to hit a 350kg carcase at 15-18months of age grading at 4RL to 4RH. In Australia this is the equivalent of a B- carcase with 5-12mm of fat over the P8 and 12/13 rib. Whilst X Road himself is too big for most commercial production systems his sons and daughters that have resulted from joinings from below-to-average growth Murray Grey genetics are meeting industry specifications and are shortening the genetic gap that exists in the UK.


In 2006 Ashrose won Champion Other Native Breed Heifer at the prestigious Smithfield Fat Stock Show with a heifer sired by Bundaleer X Road.

In a recent article published in the UK Farmers Weekly (29 Oct, 2010 p. 20; citing EBLEX beef producer margins) the average UK suckler herd islosing £269/suckler-cow per year. With this in mind most sucller herds will need to dramatically reduce costs if they are to remain in business. The two largest costs, labour and feed are two areas where Greys excel. Moderate sized cows (600-700kg CS 3) that calve easily and can rear a calf that have the genetic propensity to finish on a short flush of feed are well placed to take advantage of an industry that is on the brink of change. Historically breeding herds in the UK require one herdperson per 100 cow unit, with such a high European breed base there is plenty of room for improvement and as the number of beef herds dwindles yet overall herd size increases fewer staff and less feed will be required to increase farm margin. (Top photo: Ashrose Tornado (son of X Road) with Tornado calf and cow, Middle photo: Ashrose heifer by Bundaleer X Road Heifer and below heifer by Bundaleer X Road X37)

October 2010