AGE is no barrier to George and Muff Wilson when it comes to producing top feeder steers.
The couple, who has been married for more than 60 years, were rewarded for their genetic selection and management in a recent feedlot trial.- AT A GLANCE
- Who: George and Muff Wilson
- What: feeder steers
- Where: Wagga Wagga
- Why: reaching for the stars
- Report: KIM WOODS
The 112-day trial attracted 43 teams of five steers representing 13 breeds and crosses, assessed on feedlot and carcass performance.
It was run by Cargill Beef Australia's Jindalee feedlot at Stockinbingal, in southern NSW, and the NSW Beef Spectacular.
The Wilsons entered five Angus steers bred on their 2500ha property, Big Springs, at Wagga Wagga.
They placed third in the induction and carcass categories, earning an overall third placing.
The Wilson's cattle had average daily weight gains of 1.44-2.12kg in the feedlot, and were 25 per cent more profitable than the average after slaughter.
Their carcass weights ranged from 345 to 369kg, rump fat 16-24mm, rib fat 5-10mm, and they boasted an eye muscle area of 72-78 sq cm.
George, 82, and Muff are sticklers for performance genetics, structural soundness and fertility in their 500-cow herd.
They have used feedlot and carcass trials in the past to fine tune their breeding objectives.
"Our idea is to raise steers suitable for feedlots, particularly the Japanese market, so have concentrated on intramuscular fat (marbling)," George said.
"We weighed the (Cargill) trial steers and eye-balled them for muscle and fat cover before entry."
George has been "eye balling" cattle for almost 70 years and reckons farming doesn't get any easier with age.
With the help of stock manager Des McGrath and son Pat, George plans to keep farming "until I can't drive".
George and Muff emerged from a short retirement about eight years ago to continue farming when Pat's business interests were all-consuming.
Their farm sits in a 650mm rainfall zone and supports natural springs fed by a large aquifer.
It is home to Big Springs Riverina, a natural mineral-water business operated by Pat.
The red loam and granite country was taken up by George's grandfather, George senior, in 1865.
He built a country Victorian-style mansion with a detached billiard room and large stable block in the late 1800s.
The buildings, a large historic garden and summer house have been preserved and maintained by George and Muff.
The stables, featuring an ornate clock tower, have a rail line through the middle, equipped with the original rail trolley to carry bags of horse feed.
In the past George and Muff ran 600 Angus and Shorthorn breeding cows, but drought has cut numbers to 500.
They also run 700 Border Leicester-Merino ewes joined to Poll Dorset rams, with the progeny sold at 20-22kg carcass weight.
"We have tried AI (artificial insemination) using Limousin, Charolais, Simmental and bos Indicus bulls over Angus cows but did run into some calving problems," George said.
The couple switched to Te Mania and Rennylea Angus genetics, and in the past two years have introduced Dunoon Angus blood.
Bulls are selected on structural soundness, moderate birth weight, positive marbling and eye muscle area and moderate mature cow weight.
"We have only fed for survival over these dry seasons and it is just too hard getting big-framed cows back in calf," George said.
"We also select for positive rib and rump fat EBVs (estimated breeding values) and this has helped the cattle during dry times.
"Feedlot and carcass feedback is used to help us with bull selection.
"If IMF (marbling) is low than I keep trying to pick it up, or if EMA is low then I pay more attention to that.
"We haven't had a fat problem so I am quite game to try bulls with positive fat EBVs."
Muff, a horse enthusiast, likes the bulls to have a nice topline, walking ability and good butt shape.
Heifers are joined at 14 months over three cycles, pregnancy tested and run in the steeper hill country on Big Springs.
Any empty heifers are fattened and sold, while those with calving difficulties are scored on a ranking of one to five.
"We don't have the manpower so any female that has trouble calving, we don't keep," Muff said.
Progeny of the autumn-calving herd are usually weaned in November at nine to 10 months of age.
"The calves are yard weaned on hay for four days and handled daily," George said.
The Wilsons have supplied the feeder steer market - ranging from 90 to 300 days on feed - for almost 30 years.
To achieve the entry weights of 425-450kg, the couple finish steers on winter grazing cereals such as oats and triticale.
A liming program of 2.5tonnes/ha also allows 121ha of winter active lucerne to be sown for finishing stock.
The March-April lambing first-cross ewe flock is run in rotation with the cattle.
A regular fox-baiting program resulted in a lambing percentage of 112 per cent last year.
Both sheep and cattle are fed pellets and hay at calving and lambing time.
George conceded the present drought has been one of the hardest he has had to endure.
Several weeks ago 150mm fell on Big Springs in one day, invigorating the lucerne and turning the valley a lush green.
