FIRST-TIME Paddock to Palate entrants, Northern NSW producers Brodie and Ayesha Clifford “Glen Alvin” at Ettrick proved small producers can rank among the country’s top for carcase attributes given the right animals and management system.
The Cliffords, who run just 60 Charolais and Charbray breeders on 152 hectares, collected a total of four ribbons, including champion carcass in the export class via a Charolais. They placed third overall and third in the pen of six carcases in the export class.
The Cliffords then scored a third place in the weight gain pen of the trade class, averaging 3.09kg/day with a Charolais pen.
Given they only had 20 steers to choose from, the result is confirmation of the depth of their ability to breed for high growth rates and consistent carcase attributes with even fat and muscularity.
Mr Clifford said herd bulls used were artificially inseminated (AI) calves out of Ayr and Palgrove cows mated to a French Charolais bull named Repair who was chosen for his carcass attributes, calving ability and growth rate.
The backbone of the operation, he said, was the pasture management which was implemented five years ago.
Glen Alvin’s sandy loam soils grow native and some improved pastures of Rhodes grass, and seteria oversown with wynn cassia and siratro legumes.
Paddocks range in size from .8ha to 6.5ha and the Cliffords run the cattle in one mob, grazing each area from one to four days depending on grass growth, available dry matter, seasonal conditions and number of total cattle measured in dry sheep equivalent.
Grass growth is monitored closely and grazing adjusted accordingly.
Targeting carcase competitions enables benchmarking and assessment of how how genetics are performing, according to Mr Clifford.
“It enables us to implement other genetics or change management if needed,” he said.
“Winning champion carcase in a competition like this shows we are on the right track and also that it does not depend on the number as even a small producer like us with the right animals can go onto win.”
