"Dunbeacon"
Dunbeacon is owned by the McDouall family and is an operating farming enterprise located in northwest New South Wales, Australia, 150 km north of the major centre of Tamworth in the Upper Horton Valley.
The property "Dunbeacon" comprises 6500 acres (2631 ha). The majority of the property is located on the valley floor with an average rainfall of 800mm.
"Dunbeacon" has a history of extensive pasture improvement with both native and introduced species.
The herd run on "Dunbeacon" consists of 600 breeding females, both registered and commercial, with progeny grown out to specifications of selected markets.
The property "Dunbeacon" comprises 6500 acres (2631 ha). The majority of the property is located on the valley floor with an average rainfall of 800mm.
"Dunbeacon" has a history of extensive pasture improvement with both native and introduced species.
The herd run on "Dunbeacon" consists of 600 breeding females, both registered and commercial, with progeny grown out to specifications of selected markets.
PAST ...
Purebred Shorthorns have been run continuously for five generations at Dunbeacon. From 1950 to the mid 1980s a range of bulls have been used from many herds such as Tareelaroi, Llandillo, Kelso and Weebollabolla, along with our own bull breeding program.
Many bulls were bred and used from three top cows purchased at the Mandalong Dispersal Sale, which has given our herd its strong maternal base and longevity (Mandalong Fara 5th, Sydney Grand Champion Cow, died aged 24 years).
Polled bulls have been used since 1971.
In 1988 the Dunbeacon Poll Shorthorn Stud was established with the introduction of our very best commercial cows as base females. With these cows we have used only the very best selection of both Australian and North American sires concentrating on the commercial traits vital to a strong herd. In 1994 Dunbeacon was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in the NSW Section of the Seedstock Producer of the Year Competition for contributions to the Seed Stock Industry.
Many bulls were bred and used from three top cows purchased at the Mandalong Dispersal Sale, which has given our herd its strong maternal base and longevity (Mandalong Fara 5th, Sydney Grand Champion Cow, died aged 24 years).
Polled bulls have been used since 1971.
In 1988 the Dunbeacon Poll Shorthorn Stud was established with the introduction of our very best commercial cows as base females. With these cows we have used only the very best selection of both Australian and North American sires concentrating on the commercial traits vital to a strong herd. In 1994 Dunbeacon was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in the NSW Section of the Seedstock Producer of the Year Competition for contributions to the Seed Stock Industry.
PRESENT ...
Feedlot Steers
We are dedicated to streamlining our production systems to create a quality saleable product as quickly as possible - steers to the feedlot and steers and heifers off crop and pasture. Another batch of steers were processed at Rockdale in Autumn giving more insight into the genetic merit of their sire and dam. More than 3,000 steers have been recorded in this ongoing process. We have had two intakes of heifers at Woombi Feedlot that are performing very well and will provide us with more carcase data to drive our future breeding direction.
Artificial insemination and embryo transfers have been used to enable the use of proven genetics across large numbers of females. This provides steers and heifers for intensive carcase assessment.
We continue to use large numbers of Dunbeacon-bred bulls to produce a more consistent line of cattle. These bulls include Newman, Leopold and Flagstaff.
Dunbeacon Newman G083 (Sire: Astor)
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Dunbeacon Leopold G069 (Sire: Dunbeacon Durack)
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Dunbeacon Flagstaff G225 (Sire: Astor)
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FUTURE ...
Dunbeacon Andrea G085
The cows on the OUR FOCUS page are an example of the type of females we are striving to keep producing - thick-bodied, moderate maturity fertile cows with that little extra muscling. With cattle prices at record highs, it is time to produce as many kilograms of beef per hectare at the least cost.
Dunbeacon’s continued focus will still be to produce strong functional females that will survive in the extremes of Australia’s climate. As production costs continually increase, our cattle need to be even more low maintenance, easy calving, long living, quiet and be able to raise a high growth rate calf every year.
Three years ago we celebrated 27 years of continuous sire trials at Beef City and Rockdale Feedlots.
This information continues to be imperative in selecting genetics that suits the Australian cattle market.
Dunbeacon’s continued focus will still be to produce strong functional females that will survive in the extremes of Australia’s climate. As production costs continually increase, our cattle need to be even more low maintenance, easy calving, long living, quiet and be able to raise a high growth rate calf every year.
Three years ago we celebrated 27 years of continuous sire trials at Beef City and Rockdale Feedlots.
This information continues to be imperative in selecting genetics that suits the Australian cattle market.
