Versatility of High Country Droughtmasters has been proven

THIS IS BRANDED CONTENT FOR HIGH COUNTRY DROUGHTMASTERS

With markets consistently growing and changing, trials and reviews carried out by the Laycock family proved that the Droughtmaster female was the suited mother for their diverse, tough Queensland country.

Four generations of the Laycock family have been involved in beef production, commencing in the Roma and Injune districts.

Today, Paul, Katrina, and Stephanie Laycock operate across five properties and 4047ha of country.

Their Esk property, Mount View, is the base for hay and silage production and is where their maiden heifers and donor females are situated. Eskdale properties, High Country, is home to the Laycocks bull and female sale teams and their resting place for sires. High Country also houses their selling complex at present.

Their Linville property, Oakleigh, the largest of the operations, with some 2428ha, is home to their stud and commercial breeder operations. Oakleigh will become home to the Laycocks selling complex and the High Country Genetic Centre, which will offer IVF and ET solutions to the industry.

The Laycocks chose to breed Droughtmasters 15 years ago.

"Droughtmaster females can calve every year and wean strong calves with minimal investment in time and dollars due to the breeds' tick resistance and ability to survive and produce in tough conditions," Mr Laycock said.

"The breed has a strong member base, and society, ensuring the breed can continue to grow and be developed into our forever-changing industry."

The Laycocks typically aim to produce a moderate framed cow, capable of being mated with whatever sire line or breed of sire required to meet any market.

The High Country Droughtmaster Stud was established a year after the Laycocks began utilising Droughtmasters in a commercial breeding capacity.

The Laycocks initially based their breeder herd on Billabong genetics, which has provided them with a great coat type and cattle that could handle their tough environment.

"From there we infused Glenlands tropically adapted flatback sires to provide us sale bulls and females that had the best attributes of each of the original herds.

"We then had a huge injection of genetics from what we are calling a super sire, Rondel Whiskey, who set a record with his purchase price of $160,000. Whiskey has gone on to produce sons, daughters, and embryos that broke all Australian Droughtmaster sale records. We are proud to say that he's the strongest resident sire we own, in partnership with Nindenthana Droughtmasters."

Mr Laycock said since the establishment of the stud enterprise, High Country has progressed from a small herd to now being in the top end of the breed in regards to breeder numbers.

"We started our journey 11 years ago with our on-property sale which took a few tough years to establish, but as our stock proved itself, it has become stronger and stronger with many local return buyers and stud breeders from all across Australia coming to the sale.

"We combined the great genetics from these different herds and adapted our vision to produce a strong, dependable, and fertile commercially-focused sale animal that is affordable to all in the industry, which is backed by our 100 per cent satisfaction guarantee."

Mr Laycock said sourcing the right genetics to fit the High Country program was always a challenge.

"We had to stay true to our visions and goals for a commercially acceptable product to suit our key markets. Over time it's become easier to purchase bulls that have had morphology semen tests to ensure fertility is a major focus. The environment and weather conditions always challenge people on the land but at least our breed is one of the best suited to get through these times at the lowest possible costs."

He said being able to talk to people who have been purchasing High Country bulls for over 10 years, and hearing how they have achieved their goals, with our stock having been fundamental to this process, is why he loves breeding cattle.

"There are many herds that have and still are using our genetics now to breed female lines that are the structural foundation of their operations. The results our stock provides our clients is without doubt the greatest achievements we have made."

Mr Laycock said the Droughtmaster female is now developing better due to research and by breeders embracing genetic and disease testing, especially concerning semen morphology and fertility.

"The variation in genotype and then phenotype provides the breed with the versatility to tackle different types of country, environments, and markets. The strong development of this incredible mother has allowed crossbreeding to be executed in many ways to suit any market requirements. Versatility is an absolute core foundation and functional attribute of the Droughtmaster."

He said High Country embraced Breedplan and EBV data collation from the beginning, which has proven beneficial in their selection of cattle, especially sires coming into the herd, to achieve their breeding goals.

"Morphology testing all sale animals has helped us maintain best in industry standards for bulls going out and getting calves."

Mr Laycock said they sell their cattle at the High Country on-property sale in August every year and occasionally sell at The National Droughtmaster bull and female sales.

"It's always a highlight to us to provide bulls that stand side by side with the best in the breed at prices from $5000 per bull and averages of $8000 to $12,000.

"Our Whiskey son selling for our sale record of $50,000 to repeat buyers Munda Reds Droughtmaster Stud in Western Australia was a proud moment. We're also proud to have sold sires into studs such as Glenlands and Billabong Droughtmasters and to many newcomers to the breed."

THIS IS BRANDED CONTENT FOR HIGH COUNTRY DROUGHTMASTERS