Shorthorns and Angus are a perfect match at Spry's

More commercial producers are turning to cross bred programs for a “free lunch”, according to seedstock producer Gerald Spry.

The Spry family’s mission to produce commercially oriented and superior carcass quality bulls have passed the ultimate test.

Shorthorn-Angus steers sired by Spry bred bulls have now twice won the coveted Lardner Park Steer Trial – the only independent grass based steer trial in Australia – with a combination of weight gain and carcass.

The steers were entered by clients of Spry's Shorthorns and Angus, a stud that has been breeding Shorthorns at Wagga Wagga, NSW, for almost 60 years and Angus for the last decade.

“People often say to us, ‘which breed do you take the most seriously’,” Gerald Spry said.

“The answer is both breeds. We take all our breeding seriously.

“The Shorthorn as far as growth and meat quality, aligns itself well with the Angus breed. I defy anyone to look at a piece of steak to say that is a Shorthorn and that is an Angus. It’s just the Angus breed has done well in its marketing and data collection.”

Gerald said they had a growing number of clients cross breeding Shorthorn and Angus to improve growth rates, fertility and carcass traits.

“Hybrid vigour is well documented. If you can get 20kg to 40kg more weight, females that last longer and fertility that is higher, it’s a no-brainer. It’s a free lunch,” Gerald said.

BREEDING BETTER BEEF

Gerald and Lynden Spry have developed and refined their program over the years based on the careful selection of genetics to produce bulls that are fertile, structurally correct, have a balanced data set in a medium maturity package and remain good value for money for commercial cattleman.

The operation encompasses 60 per cent Shorthorn cattle and 40 per cent Angus, but the Spry's are aiming for a 50-50 split with numbers in the next 12 months.

They run about 500 head all up, including 250 females, young bulls, replacement stock and also 100 commercial cows.

Breeding better beef and supplying better bulls is their motto and what the Spry's genuinely strive to do.

They aim to breed functional, fertile, fast growing and high yielding cattle with strong maternal traits. The objective is to produce consistent meat and carcass quality for domestic, supermarket, export and EU market specifications.

“I’m not an advocate to target one market. We breed an animal that has the ability to meet a lot of different markets depending on the conditions and price of the cattle and environmental conditions at the time. You can do that,” Gerald said.

“If we select those cattle that have the ability to meet a lot of different market specifications, then it allows our clients to have market flexibility.”

A couple of 16-month-old sale bulls for Spry's Shorthorns, Wagga. Picture: Nikki Reynolds

BALANCING THE BEST

The Spry cattle are all genomic tested. Embryo Transfer and IVF is used to multiply the very best of both breeds.

Gerald said beef genetic technology helped improve the ability to transmit value to clients.

“It improves the accuracy of the EBVs and EPDs of the cattle,” he said.

They opt to keep a balance of traits in their herd.

“We won’t single trait select – that helps keep a lot of safety and improve data as you go,” Gerald said.

“But we are not just data people. We look at a balance of traits. We also select for structural soundness and maturity, growth rate, temperament, calving ease and fertility. We are very strict on short joining periods, anything not in calf goes with no exceptions.”

TEST DRIVING BULLS

The Spry's are continuously looking for new genetics to improve their breeding program.

“It doesn’t matter what country or where it’s from – that’s irrelevant. We try and always test those bulls in a commercial herd. We have clients that will use those bulls and give us the data out the other end, and we compare those bull. We test drive the bulls in a commercial sense,” Gerald said.

The Spry's own commercial offering includes 80 calves a year sold direct to feedlots or over the hooks so all carcass data can be assessed.

The cattle – whether studstock or commercial – are managed under the same conditions.

“We are totally focused on the commercial industry,” Gerald said.

“We don’t breed bulls for the stud guy.”

The Spry's annual on-property bull sale will be held on April 26 and include 55 Shorthorn bulls, 40 Angus and composite Angus-Shorthorn bulls.