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UPCOMING EVENTS
ABOUT THE SENEPOL
ORIGIN OF THE SENEPOL
SENEPOL BREEDING & FERTILITY
SENEPOL CARCASE QUALITY
SENEPOL CHARACTERISTICS
SENEPOL CROSS BREEDING
SENEPOL CROSS BREEDING PROGENY
IMPORTING SENEPOL GENETICS
EXPORTING SENEPOL GENETICS
It may have only been a small showing of Senepol cattle at this year's Brisbane Exhibition, but judge Andrew Raff said for him there was more to it than the number of cattle parading before him in the show ring.
The Senepol cattle were prepared and shown by students from the Brisbane-based Nudgee College, and Mr Raff, stud principal of the Raff Angus stud based at King Island, said what schools and colleges like Nudgee are doing is a 'wonderful thing'.
"The agricultural experiences provided in a school environment are a great opportunity. Breeds like the Senepol's should be commended for allowing school children to have these opportunities," Mr Raff said.
The students from Nudgee College couldn't agree more. Year 12 student Tristan Anderson from Maryborough began showing cattle with Nudgee in 2012. He said for other students like himself, showing cattle was a great way for the 'bush kids' to feel at home.
"It's also a way for the students from the city to have a go," Tristan said.
"Showing cattle is an educational experience and there seems to be a lot of career opportunities as a result."
At Nudgee, there is a Cattle Club which is open to students from year five and up. From there, the older and more experienced students who have 'earnt their colours' join the show team. The show team attends anywhere from a dozen to 20 shows per year, including Sydney, Rockhampton, Longreach, and all areas in between.
This year students from the Nudgee College exhibited 23 head at the Ekka Across three breeds.
Pictured; Nudgee College students Tristan Anderson, Maryborough, Rhys Galdal, Bourke, NSW, and Wayde O’Sullivan, Collinsville, prepared and paraded the grand champion Senepol exhibit, Wiangaree Park L0005, reserve champion female, Wiangaree Park L0004 and third place-getter, Wiangaree Park L0003.
There may not have been a lot of competition in the Senepol ring at the Brisbane Exhibition this year, but the judges’ comments certainly proved the old saying of 'quality, not quantity'.
Judge Andrew Raff, Raff Angus, King Island, awarded the grand champion female to Wiangaree Park L0005, exhibited by Kurt and Liz Baumgart, Wiangaree Park Senepol, Kyogle, NSW.
He said even though there were only a few examples of the breed on display, the female he put up for grand champion possessed a lot of desirable traits.
"This female has a lot of capacity, she has plenty of width, as well as natural fleshing through her hindquarter and a good hip to pin setting," Mr Raff said.
"All three of the females paraded before me today were all very structurally correct."
The reserve champion female was awarded to Wingaree Park L004, also exhibited by Kurt and Liz Baumgart. The cattle were prepared and paraded by students from Nudgee College, and one of the students leading a Senepol in the show ring this year was Nudgee show team captain Wayde O'Sullivan.
Wayde grew up on a cattle station near Collinsville, and he said recently his family have introduced Belmont Reds bulls into their breeding operation but they are now seriously considering Senepol cattle.
"The temperament of the breed is faultless, which makes it good for the show team. But personally, thinking about my family's business, the likes of the Senepol breed would be very adaptable to our conditions at home," Wayde said.
"We have rough terrain and mountain ranges at home but I believe Senepol's would handle those conditions well."
In his final year at school, Wayde is looking forward to applying his knowledge gained from the school's agricultural section one day in the family's business.
Pictured: Senepol judge Andrew Raff, Raff Angus, King Island, and his wife Anna, sash the grand champion Senepol exhibit which was paraded by Nudgee College student, Tristan Anderson, Maryborough, and exhibited by Kurt and Liz Baumgart, Wiangaree Park Senepol, Kyogle, NSW.