Matt Nicole (right) is pictured at last year’s
Waterfront sale after purchasing 4 top bulls.
He is with Waterfront’s Matt Parker (centre)
and Brian Johnson who also purchased 4
bulls for his South East cattle operations.
Young, enthusiastic cattle breeder Matt Nicole has selected Waterfront Simmental genetics as a cornerstone of his commercial beef enterprise. With the support of his wife Bec and with two young children, Brandon (6 years) and Tara (4 years), Matt runs Jockwar Station, comprising approximately 5,200 hectares (13,000 acres), situated between Tailem Bend and Meningie in the Murraylands region of SA.
When Matt and Bec took over the property it was basically destocked, but is now running 380 breeding cows. These comprise mainly Angus cows, but there are also 70 Santa Gertrudis/Shorthorn cross cows amongst them.
The management policy Matt has adopted is to buy in all replacement females from sales like the Naracoorte Breeders Sale, aiming to build up to 600 breeding females next year. This policy allows them to maximise their breeding and grazing management focus on turning off the progeny as 9 to 10 month old prime vealers.
All calves are turned off at this age, irrespective of finish. The calves that meet MSA standards or smaller butcher specifications are sold direct, with others being sold through markets such as Strathalbyn or Naracoorte.
The need for their vealers to meet top end market specifications is important for overall profitability. That is why Matt and Bec have now chosen Waterfront Simmental genetics. They were seeking rapid growth, more weight and less fat and believe the Simmental cross will do this for them. “Last year’s straight Angus calves were too fat for us. They averaged 15mm of fat across the board which means they are slowing down in their growth far too early,” Matt said.
At last year’s Waterfront Premier Genetic Sale at Naringa Park, Naracoorte, Matt purchased 4 top Simmental bulls, paying to $5,000 and at an average of $3,937.50. With a variety of sire lines represented in these purchases, Matt explained that his selection emphasis was on type, not bloodline.
“We are seeking bulls with a relatively easy care shape that have a moderate frame and plenty of muscling capacity,” he said. “Initially we put these Waterfront bulls over the Santa Gertrudis/Shorthorn cross cows and got 98.5% conception in the short mating period. We’ve never had that sort of fertility result from bulls before, so naturally we are very happy with them,” he added. Those cows are due to start calving in the first week of December, with the Angus cows to follow on.
While Matt indicated his pleasure at how they’d performed, he also said he wasn’t that surprised. “We knew the Hodge family well and the history of their stud for producing very honest, reliable, high performance cattle that are not overdone, so the way they have developed and performed has met our expectations. We couldn’t be happier and will certainly be back at Waterfront in the future,” Matt concluded.
Waterfront Calves
Our commercial calves have again achieved excellent sale results.
On 2nd September we sold drafts of 9-10 month old heifer and steer vealers at the Naracoorte market.
The top pen of 10 steers averaged 215 cents/kg which equated to $952.45/head (pre GST) and the total run of steers averaged $913.53/head.
The top pen of heifers averaged 205 cents/kg which equated to $870.40/head.
The total run of heifers averaged $846.46/head and the entire draft of steers and heifers combined averaged $881.08.
Once again we feel these results show the commercial performance and profitability of our genetics. It is pleasing to have our own commercial measuring stick for the Waterfront genetics, enabling us to produce better performing genetics for you, our valued clients.
Exceptional Waterfront Heifers Shine at Naracoorte
The Naracoorte mixed weaner sale held on the 7th February was up on the 17th January sale, with buyers from Queensland, NSW and Victoria providing very strong competition for local buyers.
Phillip and Debbie Hammond, Woodglen, East Gippsland in front of the top pen of 20 Simmental x Red Angus cross weaner heifers they purchased at Naracoorte in February for the sale top of $720/head.
Elders Naracoorte Livestock manager & auctioneer offering Waterfront’s second pen of 14 heifers that made $650; also going to the Hammonds.
This sale included a feature heifer offering which is what attracted a lot of the interstate buyers; many of whom are regulars at this annual sale. Three vendors with Simmental heifers, including Waterfront, dominated the results; again clearly demonstrating the benefits of utilising Simmental genetics in commercial breeding programs.
This was the first time Waterfront have offered heifers at this Naracoorte sale; previously utilising them in their own operation, or selling privately. It was a decision that paid off handsomely as they topped the sale overall when 20 of their draft of 56 Simmental/Red Angus heifers sold for $720/head. Phillip & Debbie Hammond, Woodglen, East Gippsland were the buyers, also paying $650 for the Hodge and Parker families’ second pen of 14 heifers.
The Hammonds came to Naracoorte specifically to buy well bred Simmental cross heifers; to become breeding females in their Angus/Simmental cross-breeding vealer enterprise. They use the Simmental cross for their growth rate, frame and milking ability, without compromising on muscling or conformation, as would be the case with dairy crosses. The 56 Waterfront heifers averaged a fantastic $663.21/head., higher than the next best top price.
Waterfront Yalumba Progeny Success in New Zealand
Congratulations to Peter and Sue McWilliam for their recent success with the Waterfront Yalumba son, Wai-iti Timbertop. He was awarded Reserve Champion Simmental Bull at the New Zealand National Beef Expo.
Timbertop went on to sell for the 3rd top price of $7,000.
Wai-iti Timbertop by Waterfront Yalumba
Wai-iti Timbertop being awarded Reserve Champion Bull at the National Beef Expo in Palmerston North New Zealand.
Waterfront Genetics heading to North Queensland
In 2006 we were approached by the Pearce Family who operate Telpara Hills Brangus Stud in the Atherton Tablelands of North Queensland. Telpara Hills wanted Waterfront to help them expand their Red Brangus program. They were looking for top Red Angus cows to mate to Red Brahman and Red Brangus bulls, with the objective of breeding quality outcross genetics for their rapidly expanding stud cattle enterprise.
The first draft of 15 calves by the Red Braham bull, Lanes Creek Red Ranger are nearing weaning and their 4000km trip north. The Pearces have just recently inspected these calves and are very impressed with the growth, bone and constitution. This program has been expanded with 100 Red Angus cows AI’d in 2007.
Steven and Anthony Pearce Telpara Hills Brangus Stud with Matthew & Jessica Parker
NEW BULL SALE VENUE
Waterfront has purchased a new property "Naringa Park" 10 km North East of Naracoorte on Schinckels road to run the bulls from weaning until sale. The cow herd will still be run at "Oriental Park" Tintinara. This has many benefits for us with the ability to better manage the sale bulls and enables the bulls to be more accessible for clients to view anytime.
2007 Royal Adelaide Simmental Feature Show Success
Waterfront had a very successful showing at the 2007 Adelaide Show Simmental Feature under the judging of Mr Steve Branson from Mortlake Victoria being awarded Junior and Grand Champion Bull with the 17 month old son of Waterfront Xenos Waterfront Barclay. The first of the Wai-iti Notorious calves impressed with the 12 month old heifer Waterfront Belle being awarded Reserve Junior Champion Female. Waterfront also won the breeders group class and had the highest scoring Simmental steer in the carcase contest.
Waterfront Barclay B87 Junior and Grand Champion Simmental Bull. Sired by Waterfront Xenos
**Sells on the 8 th February 2008**
13 month old steer wins All Breeds Champion Steer at the SA Junior Heifer Expo.
Waterfront Astley B166 (born 8/6/06), sired by Eckersley Jackson and out of Waterfront Giggles 2nd, was awarded the Grand Champion Steer title at this prestigious all breeds event.
“Astley” is pictured with handler Shannon Lynes from Queensland. Shannon
also came 3rd in her Senior Handlers class at the Expo.
The first Wai–iti Lord Mayor calves from New Zealand
The Wai-iti Lord Mayor sired calves have arrived at Waterfront including flush brothers and sisters of Wai-iti Nutcracker. Nutcracker sold for $39,000 at the 2005 Simmental National beef Expo in New Zealand and holds the Australasian Simmental record price. These calves are impressing us at Waterfront with plenty of softness, eye appeal and structural soundness combined with outstanding EBV’s. The donors were picked from the top cows in the Wai-iti herd of Peter and Sue McWilliam in New Zealand. These cattle are run in a commercial management regimen in steep hill country 1200ft above sea level which holds them in good stead to perform well in Australia.
Waterfront B294 Sire Wai-iti Lord Mayor Dam Wai-iti Unique L64 pictured July 07 at 8 months. Full brother to Wai-iti Nutcracker
A new addition to the Waterfront donor program.
26 month old heifer Goonoo Creek Ace was purchased from the Goonoo Creek dispersal in May 2007 for the top price $12,500. Ace sired by the power sire Bar SP Robobull and her dam Goonoo Creek Ultra has the combination of proven Dunmore and Grimich Park lines which will make her an exciting addition at Waterfront.
Another outstanding Waterfront/Woonallee Premier Genetic Simmental Sale.
A big crowd of over 300 people, including more than 60 registered bidders from Australian states and overseas, saw this sale again live up to its industry leading reputation. The outstanding result was matched by the quality and presentation of the stock by both studs.
Bill and Elaine Sleep, ‘Billanbri’, Woolsthorpe, Vic have been prominent buyers of females in past Woonallee/Waterfront sales. They were back again this year, purchasing bulls for their 230 head commercial herd. They selected 3 bulls, paying to $7,000 and at a $6,000 average; all from the Waterfront offering.
Also paying $7,000 for a Waterfront bull were Corey and Prue Ireland, Onkaparinga Simmentals, Ivydell, Wagga Wagga, NSW. This was for Waterfront Admiral, a bull with excellent structure, muscling and sire power, yet he still had the great softness that is associated with easy doing cattle. This young bull had been used in a paddock mating situation in the Waterfront herd yet still weighed 928kgs despite the season. Corey and Prue later bought a top young Waterfront heifer for $2,750.
C I & M K Bateman, Millicent, SA, picked up 2 bulls @ $5,500 and $4,750, while M J & S M Robertson, Hamilton, Vic, paid $3,500 each for 2 bulls, to be the other multiple bull buyers from the catalogue.
Outstanding show result at 2006 Royal Adelaide Show
Waterfronts award winning show team-4 head awarded 3 firsts and 1 seconded
From left to right WF Albert, WF Australia, WF Angela, WF Yalparra and calf(hidden behind mum)
Waterfront Albert - Junior & Grand Champion Bull at 11 months
Sire: Grimich Park
Primus Dam: WF Virtue **For Sale at the 2007
Premier Genetics Sale **
Waterfront Angela-Junior
& Grand Champion Female & Supreme Exhibit at 17 months
Sire: Gooselake Jigger 50R Dam: WF Xylina
Waterfront had an outstanding result at the 2006 Adelaide Show winning Junior and Grand Champion Bull with the 11 month old bull Waterfront Albert and Junior and Grand Champion Female and Supreme Exhibit with the exceptional 17 month old heifer Waterfront Angela. Waterfront exhibited 4 head and received 3 first places and 1 seconded place.
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