As the name implies, the Droughtmaster thrives in conditions that would undo other breeds. CALVING EASEThe important breed characteristics of low birth weights and calf shape are passed on by Droughtmaster bulls, and can be very advantageous in crossbreeding or joining to heifers. The Brahman, through rigorous natural selection, developed disease resistance . Video USEFUL LINKS Purebred Dairy Cattle Association American Dairy Association National Association of Animal Breeders The first and perhaps the most enduring efforts to produce the rugged breed began in 1910 when the King Ranch . Their Shorthorn background also sees them demonstrating excellent marbling which further enhances their value. It was developed from about 1915 in North Queensland by crossing zebuine cattle with cattle of British origin, principally the Beef Shorthorn. They have very good heat tolerance ability, and are well adapted to the local and harsh environment. Droughtmasters are either polled or horned with the majority of The Brangus breed was developed to utilize the superior traits of Angus and Brahman cattle. Their short coat is generally red in colour, although variations from golden honey to dark red can occur. Droughtmaster cows are attentive to their calves and care for them in adverse conditions. containing approximately 50 percent Shorthorn and 50 percent Brahman bloodlines. Droughtmasters are either polled or horned with the majority of stud cattle exhibiting the poll characteristic. The subsequent F1 females are renowned as efficient dams, very suitable for joining to high growth sires. Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Their carcass yields are high and the quality lean meat is tender. They are easy to handle and the lack of horns makes them especially safe. C.A.B International. , DROUGHMASTER BREED OF CATTLE QUICK PROFILE OVERVIEW. With the arrival of cattle ticks into North . Congratulations to #GlenlandsDroughtmasters and #OasisDroughtmasters and buyers - we look . They are excellent foragers and have high resistance to bloat and tick. He got access to three half-breed, For one, the breed is parasite-resistant, meaning the breeders effectively addressed the threats of cattle ticks on a herdlow birth weights, loss of condition, tick worry, decreased milk production and even transmission of the potentially fatal Tick Fever. Fertility was and still is, a most important characteristics - extra calves weaned will always have the greatest economic affect. The crossbred offspring of the humped South Asian animals were better suited for the Australian countryside than straight British breeds, though they didnt have the proportions familiar to graziers. This breed has very good resistance against tick. It was developed by several cattleman in North Queensland, Australia. MOTHERING ABILITYThe breeds maternal instincts are strong. Calves and can be used for drinking and other dairy products. This structure is parasite repellent as well, due to chemicals released in the sweat. Further, excellent milking ability, low nutritional requirements and strong walking and foraging ability combine to make Droughtmaster an outstanding performer. Droughtmaster are not bloat prone due to their small first stomach and ability to absorb nitrogen. Their heat and tick tolerance, excellent fertility, ease of calving and quiet temperament give this breed a good reputation. adElem.style.top = ''; COWSADAPTABILITYExcellent walking and foraging abilities coupled with lower nutritional requirements give Droughtmaster cattle the ability to retain condition and keep cycling and breeding, irrespective of prevailing conditions. It helps the animal dissipate body heat, as does the short hair. Large commercial Droughtmaster herds are running on native pastures in both Queensland and the Northern Territory and they are rapidly gaining prominence in the traditional British-bred areas in southern Australia. adElem.style.height = rect.height + 'px'; They are excellent foragers and have high resistance to bloat and tick. Its loose, saggy skin is partly responsible for this adaptability. (vitag.Init = window.vitag.Init || []).push(function () { viAPItag.display("vi_1472596215") }),
Calving ease makes Droughtmaster cows very suitable for crossing with high growth sires, and Droughtmaster bulls pass on the important characteristics of calf shape and low birth weights when used with other breeds. Drought master cattle breed has advantages like these cattle are free from ticks and are resistant to them. This cattle breed is higher in weight and have very good fertility. They can finish off fields that other cattle could not digest and are not susceptible to bloat. Droughtmaster Cattle, developed specifically for Northern Australias arid climate, have proved to be a miraculous advancement, adapting to poor conditions in countries worldwide! Astute northern cattlemen set about crossing the hardy red Zebu cattle, a Bos indicus breed, with traditional British breeds, like the Shorthorn, early last century. Droughtmaster bulls have high libidos and produce calves with low birth weights, making them good for crossbreeding with fast-gaining breeds. Cattle were weighed 26.02.2023. The results in the Commercial and Stud Competitions were fantastic, and we even came home . A Droughtmaster premium was on display at the weekend's Clarence Valley Select Breeder Sale, NSW. They have long powerful legs and a small heart-shaped face. After various crosses, breeders were extremely pleased with the end product of the Droughtmaster, who is almost exactly half Shorthorn and half Brahman! He got access to three half-breed Brahman cows, an American zebuine beef cattle derived from animals originating in India. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). (function () { The animals have a moderate hump and an extended dewlap. 61. Starting in the 1930s, he joined them to Shorthorn and Shorthorn-Devon cross cows. A slow metabolism helps Droughtmaster Cattle to stay cool as well, and they can digest food other cattle cannot! The deeply recessed or hooded eye of the Droughtmaster minimises damage from bumping and spiking, and provides some protection from crawling and biting insects, as well as reducing the occurrence of eye cancers, blight and pinkeye.The ability to adapt to adverse environments has given Droughtmasters a well-justified reputation for hardiness. Apart from being concerned for their own personal safety, they were well aware that cattle with a bad attitude usually don't like to be mustered and so don't get to the marketplace - a major economic disadvantage. That lower metabolic rate helps the animal produce less heat, keeping things cool even as temperatures start to increase. With equal parts of Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus blood, the Droughtmaster provides the opportunity to crossbreed without causing a dramatic change to either the visual appearance (phenotype) or to the genotype of the progeny a major benefit without changing your breed completely. All Rights Reserved | No part of this site may be reproduced without permission. adElemSticky.style.width = rect.width + 'px';
They are relatively quiet in temperament. Naturally, the purebred Droughtmaster female is also ideal for use in this fashion. adElem.style.zIndex = ''; The digestive efficiency comes through: These factors also give the Droughtmaster a greater feed conversion efficiency, which is important even when nutrient is in ample supply. They var width = window.innerWidth; Drought master cattle breed can easily adjust in the environment and knows how to utilize the environment as well as pastures in the most effective way. Numerous wins in carcass competitions across Australia confirm this performance. Medium to large breed that is parasite resistant and yield could carcass weights for good quality beef. The breed has also exported to South-East Asia and as well as to Pakistan, Nigeria and a number of South Pacific islands. Recently, they have been exported to tropical and semi-arid underdeveloped countries like Western Samoa, due to their low-input, low-maintenance, high-yield beef production abilities. if (width <= 900) { if (window.innerWidth > 900) {
Rodney Wilson is a writer, editor and co-owner of Goldfinch Farm, a family farm that raises chickens and pigs in Franklin County, Kentucky (www.goldfinchfarmky.com). The Droughtmasters ability to forage ans walk long distances enables them to thrive where many other breeds can't. A consistent winner in various reputable "hoof" competitions, the Droughtmaster also performs very well "on the hook". Speckle Park & Angus x Heifers springing. The Droughtmaster has inherited a digestive system, which combined with excellent walking and foraging abilities, allows Droughtmasters to continue growing and breeding in spite of low nutrient levels. Consistently outgrowing most other breeds when nutrition is restricted, Droughtmaster performs as well as most breeds in feedlots or on high quality pasture. Cows rarely have twins or triplets, but it can happen. Dry, hot summer? They are excellent mothers and have great maternal instincts. Get to Know the Droughtmaster Cattle Breed, In 1910, something of a breakthrough appeared in Australias attempts to breed cattle that could thrive on the countrys land. Calving ease makes Droughtmaster cows very suitable for crossing with high growth sires, and Droughtmaster bulls pass on the important characteristics of calf shape and low birth weights when used with other breeds. } Tick resistance in cattle is still an area for study, with most evidence pointing to a trinity of conditions in the Droughtmaster: ticks cant hide in their short hair, the breeds sweat glands produce a repelling chemical, and their immune system responds to all manner of parasites. In gaining the optimum reproductive performance, both Sire & Dam must play their part. Sign up to our regular newsletter and access news from across the Global AG Media network. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. fertility, ease of calving and quiet temperament give this breed a good reputation. adElem.style.display = 'none'; droughtmaster.com.au. A low-maintenance digestive system, unique to Bos Indicus derived breeds, contributes to the Droughtmasters reputation for super-efficient feed conversion, which provides a large economic advantage. With Shorthorn in its background, marbling performance is among the highest of the Bos indicus derived breeds producing high quality, tender beef that grades well under the current MSA Cuts Based Grading System. The arrival of the cattle tick from Asia into Queensland in 1896 was a key factor in the initial development of the Droughtmaster breed. } else { If you have any questions regarding the enhancements to Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN or changes in EBVs resulting from the enhancements, please contact Droughtmaster TBTS Technical Officers Paul Williams (P: 0427 018 982, E: paul@tbts.une.edu.au) , Tim Emery (P 0408 707 155, E: tim@tbts.une.edu . Droughtmaster Cattle reach sexual maturity early and most heifers are bred around 14 months of age. We can produce power from dams because of the kinetic energy of the water movements as it causes turbines to spin. They are fertile and have mostly easy births with little to no problems. The constant evolution of the breed is seeing it flourish across the world whilst meeting the demanding standards of Australian producers and supply chain. DROUGHTMASTER was the name originally coined by a group of astute cattlemen in North Queensland for the breed they developed by crossing Bos taurus and Bos indicus to overcome the perennial problems of drought, cattle tick, heat, eye cancer and many other issues that reduce production and profitability.. With the arrival of cattle ticks into North Queensland in 1896, it became apparent that . On poor graze, Droughtmaster Cattle produce remarkably good muscling. They do very well on extremely poor graze in dry, hot conditions, and are parasite resistant to boot! The Droughtmaster cattle are a tropical breed of beef cattle raised primarily for meat production. adElem.style.width = ''; The unique colour pattern impressed her and she subsequently bought the heifer from her dad. Droughtmaster presented the single largest breed display at BEEF Australia, with 169 head nominated for the Stud Competition from 41 studs in Queensland and NSW. Droughtmaster Cattle will continue to reproduce even under harsh or adverse conditions. Usually, around 279 to 287 days but most gestation is 283 days. Drought master cattle are a tropical cattle breed which is mainly used for meat production. adElemSticky.style.height = rect.height + 'px';
This cattle breed is mainly found in North Queensland, Australia. In the vast pastoral areas of northern Australia, cattlemen can't afford to be assisting breeders during calving, so this characteristic was also a high priority for the Droughtmaster pioneer breeders. Make Some Miso Noodle Soup With A Soft Egg! The breed has a few other traits that add up to a remarkable digestive efficiency, too, including a small first stomach, an ability to recycle nutrients and a slow protein turnover rate. }()). Yes, but they are mainly polled or dehorned, Docile, calm and easy to handle. var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad');
Developed by the Droughtmaster Stud Breeders' Society and the National Beef Recording Scheme, BREEDPLAN gives members the information they need to drive genetic progress and profit in their herds. 2000 - 2023 - Global Ag Media. Droughtmaster Australia. The breed is optimized to tolerate heat, toono small benefit considering the energy waste caused by heat stress. Costly chemical have also been used to control the tick and reduce the loss of production. [6]:721[5], From 1969, five Droughtmaster bulls were used for cross-breeding with the local Bhagnari in the Baluchistan province of Pakistan, leading to the creation of the Nari Droughtmaster. adElem.style.width = (rect.width) + 'px'; var adElemSticky = document.getElementById('vi-sticky-ad'); Excellent milking ability, digestive efficiency, low nutritional requirements, feed conversion efficiency, walking ability and foraging ability combine to make the Droughtmaster an outstanding performer. So its no wonder that, after decades of popularity in Australia, the breed is becoming more common in countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, South America, the Middle East and the Pacific Islands. It was actually developed from crossing Brahman and British cattle breeds (especially the Beef Shorthorn) during the early 1900s. Breeding fertile, tropically adapted, well muscled cattle that produce tender beef. Droughtmaster proudly exhibited at Beef 2021 in both Stud and Commercial sections. They have good immune responses to internal and external parasites. The Droughtmaster cattle are noted for good fertility, ease of calving and very good mothering ability under harsh conditions. Phone Don McHardy on 082 338 5800. Droughtmasters exhibit medium to slightly late maturity in carcass development. In some cases, the Droughtmaster has been introduced to reduce eye disorders. They have a great marbling performance that is among the highest of the Bos indicus derived breed. 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