Brian Murphy, Casterton is another satisfied and happy Banquet Angus client reaping the benefits of their genetic strength. He sold these 87 weaner steers at Casterton in January 2012 that weighed 361 kg and averaged $798/head (221 cents/kg). (Photo courtesy of Stock & Land newspaper)
A very strong belief built from a lifetime of personal experience on the most productive and profitable type of Angus beef cattle really matters little without actual commercial success.
That is not a problem for Stephen and Noeleen Branson’s Banquet Angus for their clients across a wide range of this country keep achieving top end prices.
The Banquet Angus herd prides itself on the unique Banquet type: bigger framed, stronger boned, heavier muscled and faster growing. These tie in with their summarised slogan of “Big Bold Banquet Bulls”.
Why this type? Banquet principal Stephen Branson explained, “Quite simply we have found these types of cattle grow quicker for longer, allowing clients to meet a wider range of market specifications in the shortest time. Marketing your young cattle at heavier weights at the same age; or reaching the same weight earlier is money in the bank.”
“Our Banquet cattle have the extra bone to carry the extra muscling, llowing producers to reach more markets within their feed availability period,” he said.
Temperament is hugely important to the Bransons and rigid selection for docility has resulted in an extremely quiet and easy to handle herd. This has huge advantages for not only handling cattle, but also produce s progeny that settle down so much quicker from stresses such as weaning, animal health and management treatments. Most importantly, docile cattle eat better with less dark cutters.
In 2011, clients received top weaner prices at sales around the state, highlighted by Danny Kuch at Sale who sold 11 month old steers at $964 average. David Hurley sold steers to $950 at Omeo and $1120 for heifers. In 2012 Doug Robertson, ‘Nangana’ sold a pen of 53 steers at $856/head, these weighing 404kg average, while his total offering of 171 averaged $796 at the Hamilton sale in January. Stephen Robertson’s young steers weighed an average 406kg and made $876 in the same sale.
Another Banquet client, Brian Murphy, Casterton sold 87 young steers with an average 361kg live weight, these making221 cents/kg or $798/head at the Casterton weaner sale. His second pen of 45 made $758.
“As bull breeders, we are producing cattle that can make more dollars for our clients and it is always pleasing to see them consistently achieving this,” Stephen said.
The Bransons will offer 150 ‘Big Bold Banquet Bulls’ at their annual on ‐ property auction of February 28th at Mortlake. Inspections can be made at the Beef Week Field Day on Day 2, January 31st , plus there will be a full pre‐sale inspection day on Thursday 21st February.