Merrawindi Droughtmasters

Merrawindi Pastoral Company commenced breeding Droughtmaster cattle over 40 years ago. In 1969 following some difficult calving situations and eye cancers with British breed cattle, the suggestion was made to us, as proprietors Ken & Kathy Stower that we should try the American imported breed of Santa Gertrudis but after several attempts with that breed, the problems with horns and temperament became apparent. After searching for a natural polled Santa Gertrudis which was not available in Queensland at the time, it was suggested that Queensland's own Droughtmaster breed be considered. We were told Droughtmaster had been bred for far north Queensland situations but a few cattle had come into the south and proved very suitable to withstand the southern Queensland climate - cold and dry in winter and hot and dry in summer.

 

To gain the best avaiable genes and bloodlines it was decided to use artificial insemination from the University of Queensland Vet School Stud. Semen from Vet School "440" and Vet School "Dictator" was used with "Prestbury" Shorthorn cows and some stud A.I.S. cows. Droughtmaster females purchased were direct descendants of the famous Charraboon cattle. Our first registered Droughtmaster bull, Minlacowie "Gentry" by Wingfield "Persuader" out of Minlacowie "Imogen" was purchased from Derrick and Pam Spann.

 

Merrawindi Stud was registered in 1984 and further purchases in that year were 6 heifers and Greenacres "Tarsus", a son of Mungalla "Double Up", followed by 15 cows and calves from the Montevideo dispersal sale. These included 2 Glenray cows and 2 Alcheringa cows, the remainder being mainly Strathfield and Canelands bloodlines.

 

Some notable sales include 12 heifers in an order of 400 to Taiwan in 1987, 3 bulls to Fiji in 1991, 2 bulls to Mexico in 1992, 45 bulls to "Go Go" station, Kimberleys in W.A. to breed export steers for Indonesia, 2008 the Harris family purchased 21 bulls to help establish a Droughtmaster cattle herd at "Strathmore" on Cape York Peninsula.

 

In 1997 Merrawindi produced 770 "A Grade" embryos for an export order to Central American. We sold our last lot of embyos at the end of July 2016 and have no more on hand.