Welcome to our Pre-Sale Boundary Riders Report.  All going well, here at Bald Blair.

Annual Bald Blair Bull Sale 

Our Annual Bull Spring Bull Sale is set for:

Tuesday 6th August 2024, 1 pm at the Bald Blair Yards

Open Day Sunday, 4th August 2024, from 10am to 2 pm for clients to inspect bulls.  If unable to make it do not hesitate to ring and we can facilitate an inspection of bulls, prior to sale.

Our online Catalogue is available NOW, see links above.  Physical Catalogues will be posted out this week. 

The bull sale team is progressing well. Tuesday this week we will be doing 600D Scans of Autumn Bulls and 400D Scans of Yearling Bulls and submitting data to TACE for analysis prior to sale.  Looking forward to getting this done.

There will be bulls for sale at 2 Years of age, 75 hd, 18 months of age, 27 hd, and 12 Months of age, 10 hd.  There is a good line up of bulls with some exciting new bloodlines in the Yearling Bulls.  Progeny of NORL519, Tehama Patriarch and Sitz Resilient are represented in the older bulls.

Anyone who would like to discuss bull options then do not hesitate to call me.

Link to PDF bull sale catalogue: CLICK HERE

Link to ISSUU bull sale catalogue: CLICK HERE

Link to online catalogue Angus Australia CLICK HERE

Link to AuctionsPlus CLICK HERE

Link to early registration CLICK HERE

Link to Reference Sires: Click here or CLICK HERE for the list on the Angus Australia website.

Request a catalogue: Please send your address to kirstywhite@baldblair.com.au

Here are Sam White’s tips before purchasing a new sire (taken from MLA article on Bred Well Fed Well day in latest MLA Weekly email: Link for article on MLA website: Business gains through BredWell FedWell | Meat & Livestock Australia (mla.com.au)

• Understand your existing needs by assessing and semen testing your current bulls. For further guidance, refer to genetics.mla.com.au
• Review your production goals and set realistic breeding objectives for your next bull purchase, and make sure you have a backup bull/s. Learn how to prevent bull breakdown here: (Beware of bull breakdown this sale season | Meat & Livestock Australia (mla.com.au))
• Access sale catalogues to identify a selection of bulls which may fit with your breeding objectives. MLA’s How to shop for high-performing sire guide provides step-by-step advice on setting breeding objectives, selecting EBVs, navigating sale day and keeping your new sire performing at his best.

For more details about the bull for sale, including animal husbandry, Bull Check, structural assessment see our website.https://www.baldblairangus.com.au/bull-sale

Bull Videos and Photographs

Big thank you to Struan and Monika Pearce at Stud Stock Sales for completing our bull videos and photos.  It takes a certain level of diplomacy, stock handling skills and video skills to wrangle the weather, people, bulls and come up with a finished product.

SEMEN SIRE: Bald Blair Stirling NBB21S86

Stirling S86, an outstanding son of Paratrooper P15 and also a heifers first calf, while in his third year, has been used as a coversire and AI sire in the past 2 years and in both Autumn and Spring Joinings, he will be well represented in future calf crops;  he is also progeny evaluated in the ASBP (Angus Sire Benchmarking Program).  He has over 60 seedstock progeny on the ground here at Bald Blair, in addition to Commercial progeny as a result of AI.   We had this bull in the yards the other day and have collected more semen from him for use in commercial AI Programmes, he looks a treat. If you are interested in using him please check him out and give us a call. Alternatively you can fill in the form on our website. CLICK HERE

Moisture Levels, most recent report:

At Bald Blair, the drained upper limit was exceeded regularly at 20 cm depth and was continuously above the drained upper limit at 50 cm depth, after the 4th of April.

There is no risk of running out of plant available water any time soon.  Certainly, this bodes well for a massive spring.

Are you preparing properly for livestock transport? 

The 48 hours before loading is critical for successful road transport of livestock.

Make sure you:

·       Prepare the yards – they must be accessible, well maintained and safe.

·       Prepare the livestock – They need to be fit for the journey, yarded in advance of the trip and handled well.

·       Check the Transport Hub for best practice guidelines for different classes of cattle, sheep and goats

·       Plan the journey – Talk to your livestock carrier about the class and type of livestock, length of the trip, weather conditions and prepare appropriately.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/b74sdnhb for a checklist from transporter and Livestock & Rural Transporters Association of Victoria Inc COO Alina Hawkins.

Farm Safety Lunch

We were delighted to work with Farmsafe Australia for the National Farm Safety Week Campaign and host what could possibly have been the coldest long lunch on 3rd July.  It was wonderful to collaborate with three extremely passionate women who are totally committed to Australian agriculture: Stevi Howdle, Executive Officer, Farmsafe Australia, Alice Mabin, Agri Shots and Sharon Dundon, Project Manager, Animal Wellbeing, with Meat and Livestock Australia. 

Farmsafe Australia aims to enhance the wellbeing and productivity of Australian agriculture by promoting health and safety practices. It provides resources, education, and advocacy to reduce farm-related injuries and fatalities. Supported by the National Farm Safety Education Fund, Farmsafe connects various agricultural organisations to foster a safety culture in farming communities.

For more information and resources CLICK HERE

Save the Date for Ebor Beef 2024 Forum

"The Future of Beef"

Wednesday 11 September 2024

The Armidale Bowling Club

All members are entitled to two free forum tickets per membership.  Members of the public are also invited to attend. Ticket price for non-members TBC.  We are delighted to have confirmed the following key speakers:

• 
  Michael Crowley, MLA - Achieving Carbon Neutral 2030 and what it means to the grazier.
• Matthew George, Bovine Dynamics - Value Adding. Nutrition and Management of Stock to Optimise Carcass Outcomes
• Angus Gidley-Baird, Rabobank - Local and Global Market Updates. International agricultural trends in achieving Carbon Emission Reductions.

Dinner at the bowling club afterwards.  Dinner will be a separately ticketed event. All welcome.  For tickets and questions, please email Sophia Wright 0404 863 843 sophia@wongwibinda.com.au

World Angus Forum 

Save the Date: 7-8 May 2025

Bonus 8 Day pre-tour starting 29 April 

(including visit to Bald Blair on Monday 5th May !)

Extra Bonus  7 Day post-tour until 15 May

Calling all cattle enthusiasts and breeders to the 2025 Neogen World Angus Forum! This event unites the global Angus community to share knowledge, promote the breed, and advance cattle breeding and management. Hosted by Angus Australia, it’s an unmissable opportunity to celebrate and learn.

More information: CLICK HERE

This Beef Cattle Assessment Course 

Now celebrating its 44th year, has been widely recognised as the most practical and hands on beef cattle selection course of its kind. It has been copied in most Australian States and NZ using the basic principles developed through experience.

The course embraces both newcomers and experienced cattle producers alike. A great deal of time and thought goes into the selection of the overjudges. They must possess the practical and communicative skills necessary to ensure all participants receive maximum benefit, given the varied levels of experience of participants.

Although this course is organised by NSW Angus State Committee it is open to all beef cattle enthusiasts. It utilises both Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus breeds and their crosses over the duration of the course.

The Beef Cattle Assessment course is committed to the education of its participants in all aspects of the beef industry. We strive to make it challenging but also fun.

December 2 – 4, 2024

Entrant Live-In $ 715.00

Entrant Non-Resident $ 605.00

Email: leanne-stuart6@bigpond.com

LISTENING

New episodes coming soon for The Data Breeder by Bald Blair Angus

Episode one: Sam White & Alice Mabin of Agrishots talking about building long term relationships and recording what we do at Bald Blair Angus and why.

Episode two: Sam White and Rebel Black, Director of Bowerbirds talking about the story behind Bald Blair Angus and why we do what we do.  The story behind the data required to breed a bull.

Episode three: Sam White and Dr Leisa Brown BVSc Hons, Owner and Manager of Guyra District Veterinary Services - why do we do BullCheck and what are the benefits for bull buyers.

For previous epispodes CLICK HERE

Manson Podcasting

Paddock to Paris is a podcast telling the stories of regional Australians who’ve made it to the Olympics in Paris this July. It will detail the back story of life growing up on a farm, or in a regional area, how adversities like distance to training and eventing have been managed for the many many years leading up to this point. We’ll also learn when we can watch these people in their Olympic event and get an insight into what’s going through their minds in that moment.

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/paddock-to-paris/id1752954660?i=1000661073286

READING

The Daughter in law research:

Are daughters in law the 'most dangerous animals on the farm'? (auctionsplus.com.au)

WATCHING

Clarkson's Farm is a British television documentary series about Jeremy Clarkson and his farm in the Cotswolds. https://freeview.com.au/watch-tv/shows/6f152d1a-3d64-4526-a73c-5c1237a7051d

The Boys in the Boat:  https://g.co/kgs/S6sHGi2

Sam & Kirsty