Quality Charbray Genetics deliver at “Leverdale”

By Penelope Arthur

Almost a decade after purchasing his first Charbray bull, north Queensland Droughtmaster breeder Paul Lever, has continued to be impressed by his Droughtmaster Charbray cross progeny. Mr Lever operates the Leverdale Droughtmaster Stud in conjunction with his parents, Allan and Elaine, from their home property between Tully and Cardwell.

The Lever family also lease some coastal country in the north and run around 200 purebred Droughtmaster cows along with 200 commercial Droughtmaster breeders, aiming to finish all steers for the Jap Ox market. Mr Lever purchased his first Charbray bull in 2003 when he paid a record $21,000 for Colinta Vantage. A two time Brisbane Royal Show Champion bull, Vantage was used over commercial Droughtmaster females until he died of an infection just prior to Beef 2009.

Colinta Vantage

“Vantage was an outstanding bull – he weighed 1220kg at 33-months and had an eye muscle of 149sq.cm,” Mr Lever said.

“We used him in our commercial herd and also collected a lot of semen from him over the years which we sold.”

“We have now purchased a new Charbray bull from Kandanga Valley and are using him over our Droughtmaster cows as well as some of Vantage’s daughters.”

Mr Lever paid the top price of $8000 at the Kandanga Valley Nebo Sale in December last year for the 24-month-old, Kandanga Valley Exemplar. Mr Lever said he travelled to the sale to secure Exemplar after seeing a photo of the bull.

“When I saw him at the sale it really vindicated my decision to attend and I decided to buy him,” he said.

“He weighed 803kg at 24-months and had an eye muscle of 143sq.cm.”

“I liked his thickness and recognised that he was a soft, easy-doing bull which he will hopefully pass down to his progeny.”

Kandanga Valley Exemplar

Mr Level believes a commercial Droughtmaster herd provides an excellent base for crossbreeding, particularly using Charbray genetics.

“It’s just a lovely cross because the Charbrays are very growthy, heavy animals and the Droughtmasters have excellent finishing ability,” he said.

“Using the Charbray bulls also just gives us that added hybrid vigour in our herd.”

Mr Lever turns off around 150 steers annually, usually through JBS Swift at Townsville. The steers are finished on improved pastures including Splenda Sitaria.

“The last consignment of steers we sold was in December 2011 and the entire line averaged 372kg dressed and they were all two and four tooth bullocks,” he said.

“The entire line returned an average price of $1216/head.”