BLACK baldy cattle are amazing.
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That’s the opinion of Jack Macleod, “Wallangra Park”, Jingellic, who says the mixture of his Hereford herd with quality Angus bulls has produced outstanding offspring.
Mr Macleod, with his wife Penny, runs about 300 Hereford and 230 black baldy breeders.
Their herd is run on 800 hectares across three properties, which includes “Fernbank” and “Linton”, which are on the banks of the Murray River.
Mr Macleod says despite the fact his family has been running Herefords since the 1930s, the fusion of the two breeds has put a smile on his face.
The Macleods only “succumbed to the colour factor” about six years ago, but were keen to retain their Hereford breeders to increasingly produce black baldy and Angus heifers.
Mr Macleod has bought quality Poll Hereford breeders from Injemira Beef Genetics at Wagga.
“The Herefords give us a black baldy option,” he said.
“I just love the constitution and the milk the black baldy has. They’re amazing.
“They are great to handle, and they’re just interesting.”
He said in a tough season, the black baldy cattle also spring back well.
He said his area had had a tough season, but with the wet winter so far, it felt as though things were returning to normal.
Despite the tougher conditions, though, his cattle have thrived.
“They are tremendous doers,” he said.
For Mr Macleod, another benefit of black baldy cattle is the ability to increase stocking rates.
“Especially in this area, you could definitely run more cattle,” he said.
“They are amazingly resilient cattle.
“You have the potential for more dollars per hectare.”
Mr Macleod looks for a very specific type of bull to put over his Hereford breeders.
“They’ve got to be structurally sound,” he said.
“They’ve got to have length. With stock you have to breed length.
“It solves a lot of problems, such as having less calving problems.”
The Macleods have sourced their bulls in recent years from The Glen Angus, run by Mike and Joy Gadd, Walwa. Their purchases have mainly been sons of Rennylea Ambassador F857.
“We have two or three bulls by him, and I have been very happy with the stock coming through,” Mr Macleod said.
“Ambassador’s genetics seem to have a lot of quality. I’ll certainly be trying to get more of Ambassador’s bloodline again this year.”
Mr Macleod calved his breeders in spring and autumn thus far, but will soon just calve in spring. The calves will be weaned in May.
