CREATE a product you can believe in and guarantee it.
That's a simple philosophy that has seen Philip Webb succeed in the real estate industry and it now underpins the operation of his new stud, Webb Black Simmentals, at Glenburn.
Established in just three years using imported embryos from the US, the stud held its first open day and on-property bull sale last week.
Eighteen of 25 Simmental and Simmental-infused bulls, aged 14-20 months, sold for an average of $3125 and to a top of $5500 for 19-month-old Webb Denmark.
Kerrisdale Estate, of Strath Creek, was the successful bidder, while Steven and Rebecca Marriott, of Outtrim, paid to $4250 for five bulls.
For Mr Webb, who runs the operation with wife Jane, brother Brian and stud managers, Lynton and Janine Harrison, it's a sign of bigger things to come.
"We see a huge gap in the Australian market for Black Simmental bulls for use in cross-breeding programs," Mr Webb said.
"It's by far the most popular breed in the US, where crossbred animals dominate.
"We're not in opposition to Angus at all quite the opposite we aim to supply cattle that will provide commercial Angus breeders with all the hybrid vigour of the highest performing cross."
Mr Harrison said that the fertility, longevity, early maturing and high-growth traits of the Simmental breed allowed them to get the most from the 200ha property.
"The Simmental cow can offer 20 to 30 per cent more calves over her lifetime and the earlier finishing and higher yield of the progeny means we can get them off quicker," Mr Harrison said.
"It all equates to more beef per hectare."
"I don't know if it's really cutting edge or just good farming - we have to do as much with our acreage as possible," Mr Webb said.
Mr Webb, who grew up in Molesworth, said the his decision to go farming was much more than a lifestyle choice.
"This is a business. We all have overheads and the best way to combat them is to be better producers with what we have," he said.
Mr Webb said they intended to grow the stud from 130 to 300 breeding cows.
