Pictured with the $160,000 record breaking Woonallee Los Angeles are Elders auctioneer Ben Finch, purchaser Brett Nobbs, Nobbs Cattle Co, Duaringa, Qld and Woonallee principals Lizzy and Tom Baker, Furner, SA.
By Lucy Kinbacher, Fairfax Media
WELL known Brahman breeder Brett Nobbs, Nobbs Cattle Company, Duaringa likes a challenge and has set his sights on offering Queenslanders a new type of Simmental by 2019.
Mr Nobbs’ Simmental breeding program consists of about 100 traditional cows based on South African bloodlines with the intentions to offer commercial and stud Simmental bulls at an on-property sale in two years.
The latest addition to his herd, Woonallee Los Angeles L124 (P) (ET) (AI) was purchased for a record breaking $160,000 last Thursday at the Baker family’s 10th Annual Elite Production Sale at Furner, South Australia.
Los Angeles will now have semen collected before being welcomed into Queensland in Spring.
The 18-month-old bull weighing 1030kg was sired by New Zealand bull Glen Anthony Y-Arta AY02 (P) and out of Woonallee Kathie B111, from South African bloodlines.
“He is just an extraordinary individual for a bull of any breed,” Mr Nobbs said.
“The softness, the muscle and the length and hair type for the Queensland conditions.
“He is just a once in a lifetime bull and I’m fairly lucky to have access to that type of bull in the early stages of the start up of our operations.”
Mr Nobbs said he had a love for Simmental cattle since he was a child.
“I just wanted to diversify them a bit,” he said.
“You never know what’s around the world in the political landscape and I don’t really want a repeat of 2011 again.
“I just like to have eggs in a few different baskets and I like the challenge of starting another breed and see where I can take it too.”
Mr Nobbs purchased Los Angeles’ full sister at the stud’s “pick of the entire 2014 drop heifers” for $16,000 and couldn’t let the bull pass him by.
“I happened to pick that bull’s sister and I followed the brother right through to the sale,” he said.
He said his existing Brahman clients in the Central Queensland area often incorporated other breeds into their bull program and he was hopeful that his Simmentals may interest producers.
He has no plans to breed Simbrah cattle but said stud and commercial bulls would be on offer from 2019.
Mr Nobbs is already cementing his spot in the Simmental breed and has been invited to judge at the Simmental and Red Angus combined National Show and Sale in June this year at Dubbo.
The decision for the two breeds to combine came after Red Angus members and vendors of the Red Angus National Show and Sale lobbied their council asking for changes to be made particularly in regards to boosting the sale with greater numbers.
With many Red Angus producers also having Simmentals the decision was made to join the day.
The Red Angus and Simmental National Show and Sale will be held on June 19 to 21 at Dubbo Showgrounds.
For more contact ASBA on 02 6773 2714 or RA on 02 6773 3022.