MARKING a recent show record, 220 stud cattle and 308 head of prime cattle entries presented judges with a task envied by none at the Boonah Show last weekend.
This year the arena spotlight was cast on an impressive range of fullblood Ausline cattle.
Committee member of the Ausline Cattle Association (ACA), Lee Labrie, said she believed the innovative breed was raising the stakes in Australia’s commercial meat market.
Lee said the animals were developed with a specific market in mind, which was largely responsible for their success.
“We went and identified what we thought was a viable market, and now we are breeding to that market instead of the other way around,” she said.
Smaller framed animals, the Auslines have evolved from Lowline cattle in a bid to preserve their meat quality and increase size.
“Our demographic don’t want huge steaks, but they want good steaks,” Lee said.
Lee believes that the smaller structure associated with the breed is what produces more tender meat.
“Auslines are bred specifically for their taste, which really suited our market,” Lee said.
With hybrid vigour in mind, the Labrie family have incorporated 40 full-blood animals into the commercial-cross heard on their property, Kobblevale Auslines, Fairymount.
Lee said the cattle were not designed to be kept long as bullocks, peaking in condition at around 14-15 months.
“You lose your advantage which is to get them to a size, then fatten and finish them and off to market.”
By allowing 15/16ths Auslineblooded animals to qualify for
purebred status, the ACA hope the cattle will be accessible to a wide range of breeders.
Lee said she was confident that with continued exposure, the fledgling breed had a strong future.
Kevin Lotz, Aratula, shows off an old family heirloom. Click on the image to see an online gallery from the Boonah Show.
