Feed test gives food for thought

Clare and Harriet Pugh with Summit Domino which achieved a record weight gain of 2.2kg per day in this year’s feed test. Summit Domino will be in Lot 4 at this year’s sale.

Fast facts
WHO:	Clare and Harriet Pugh
WHAT:	Summit Gelbvieh stud.
WHERE:	Nebru Plains feedlot, Three Springs

Narrikup cattle breeders Clare and Harriet Pugh are putting their bulls to the test in preparation for this year's on-farm sale.

The Pugh family, of Summit Gelbvieh stud, purchased Nebru Plains feedlot in Three Springs five years ago to fatten their animals for the domestic market.

Clare and Harriet work alongside their sisters, Alexandra and Georgia, and parents John and Kim Pugh.

Each year they subject their bulls to a feed performance test, measuring each animal in terms of how much weight they put on in a 100-day period.

"We put our bulls on a feed test for 100 days, which is the period of time we normally put our domestic calves in for," Clare said. "One of our bulls put on 2.2kg per day and came out on top of all of our yearling bulls."

The top performing bull, Summit Domino, achieved the best results out of 130 bulls. A purebred Gelbvieh, it far exceeded the average weight gain of 1.5kg per day.

Clare said although the focus of the stud was on the Gelbvieh, Summit had developed some composite breeds they were proud of.

"We've developed three composites, combining the best attributes of Gelbvieh, Angus, Red Angus and Murray Grey cattle," she said.

"You get more value for money with composite bulls because they are a more efficient animal.

"They have extra hybrid vigour, faster growing calves and you can use the female progeny as breeders."

Clare said Summit aimed to produce early maturing cattle with good ability to convert feed into muscle as well as put on fat.

By combining British and European breeds, the Pughs hope to end up with cattle with soft muscle and high food efficiency.

The family recently hosted a field day at their feedlot, inviting local producers to see what would be offered at their March sale.

About 25 cattle producers and agents attended the Three Springs field day at which they gained an insight into Summit's breeding strategy. "It was a good way to get people to see why we breed the way we do," Clare said.

"By putting the progeny in the feedlot, we can see how they perform commercially." Clare said the family also wanted to encourage northern producers to use their feedlot which would open up the possibility of breeding their cattle with Bos indicus varieties.

"There is the potential for people up here to use our feedlot," she said.

"There's a market to get northern producers up to see how they can breed over Bos indicus cattle, which is something we are trying to push.

"It gives producers more flexibility and opens up their market options."

Last year, Summit's on-farm sale went very well - the stud achieved a top price of $14,000 and sold all but one of the bulls.

At this year's sale, there will be 20 purebred Gelbvieh, 19 red composite, 17 black composite and six grey composite bulls on offer. The sale will be held at the Summit Gelbvieh stud, Narrikup, on March 9.

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