The Queensland Beef Industry from a Canadian Perspective 

(part II)

by Gail Anderson

Please click on Part I if you missed it!

Brice and Fran then took us over to visit the Fernandez Gelbvieh Stud owned by Charlie and Jean Borg of Marklands, Sarina. Charlie and Jean held a huge property on the plateau where a 3-year drought had been in progress. They had 7000 head of purebred and commercial Brahmans but due to the drought they had sold off 2000 head and had purchased a property on the coastal plains near Sarina. When they made the move they brought 4000 head down from the plateau and left 1000 head to regain their strength prior to their movement.

Now to be quite honest my only encounter with the Brahman breed had been at the rodeo where the most dangerous rodeo event is bull riding. Here man meets bull (usually of Brahman descent) in an eight second ride that most often results in man losing because the bull has dumped him and them usually turns on him. I never dreamed that the breed could be so gentle and friendly until I walked through the Borg herd. To see so many Brahmans and to learn that there were Red Australian Brahman, Grey Australian Brahman, Indu Brahman (imported from United States) and Nellore Brahman (imported from Brazil via the United States) certainly opened my eyes to the attributes of the breed. Herman Purdy, author of Breeds of Cattle, describes this best when he wrote the following: "When one encounters for the first time a herd of Brahmans, grazing and flicking flies, one knows he has seen something both exotic and grand." I was amazed at the mature cow's frame size and weight (600 to 800 kg.) especially in comparison to the low birthweight of the calf (25 to 30 kg.)

One of Borg's gentle giants, a Brahman cow, with distinctive long, pendulous ears, generous dewlap, hump and sloping rump - a phentotype which is quite unfamiliar to Canadians!

I was quite surprised to learn that a Brahman bull was not used until he reached three years of age since he reaches maturity later than his British and European counterparts. In Canada most bulls are marketed and used as breeding stock at one year of age (a yearling would only be expected to cover approximately 20 head during his first year). It was also interesting to note that this magnificent breed exhibits longevity. Cows are known to be in production until 15 years of age instead of the 10 years so common for British and European breeds. One bull at Charlie and Jean Borg's was 13 and was still covering 70 head of cows. I found it most unusual for calving to take place year round, but with 5000 head and an extensive management system it makes incredible sense. Droughts can significantly affect fertility rates and inexpensive pasture is usually available year round. On the other hand, in Northern Alberta there is a seasonal shortage of fodder which occurs during the winter months, therefore we must put up hay or silage to feed our cattle from October through May. At Bar GR Cattle we expect our commercial herd to have over 70% of their calves within the first 21 days of calving and the remainder should calve within the next 42-day period. We pregnancy test our herd in the fall and cull any open or late cows so that we do not have to carry them over in the winter when feed is so expensive. 

Important traits for the Borg's include calving ease, calf vitality and mothering ability because every live calf increases productivity and profitability. Obviously when calving out 5000 head year round, an extensive management system is practiced so each cow must calve on her own, protect that calf from predators and, the calf must be lively enough to get up and start nursing immediately after birth. Now in Northern Alberta, in order for us to take full advantage of our grass during the summer season we much calve in February or March. The weather conditions during this time period can be quite nasty i.e. -35 degrees Celcius and snowing. Needless to say our management system during our 63 day calving season has to be very intensive. We must check the cattle every two hours and calves must be dried off immediately after birth or they will suffer frostbite. Calving ease, calf vitality and mothering ability are also necessary traits for our calves to survive as the cow must lick the calf and persuade it to get up and nurse before hypothermia and frostbite set in.  

P.S.  - It was at the Borg's that I was first introduced to part of Australia's heritage since 1888 - Queensland's famous Bundaberg Rum. Late in 2001 I discovered a Canadian source of this delectable spirit so now I am still able to enjoy those nutritious "Northern Queensland Smoothies".  It brings back fond memories of a magic barbecue where ethereal Brahmans grazed peacefully against a backdrop of  coastal mountains shrouded in evening mist!