Colleen and Ron Dean "Clifton Pines" at Mallanganee, near Casino, with their Simmentel/Hereford 10-month-old steers, which made $765, and were named the Champion Simmentel-cross pen at the Casino sale last week.

WHEN you’re selling a pen of 10- to 11-month-old weaner steers weighing an average 379 kilograms, you must be doing something right.

Ron and Colleen Dean’s European Union-accredited Simmental Hereford weaners topped the Casino Weaner and Grower Steer Sale at $765 – and were named top pen of European- breed steers at the sale.

They were part of 124 head sold by the Deans (pictured) to Greg Upton, Upton Pastoral Company, Walcha, for an average $682.

Mr Dean said introducing Simmental bulls about six years ago to their straight Hereford herd at “Clifton Pines”, Mallanganee, west of Casino, had significantly lifted weights in the weaner steers they turn off. In their typical laidback style, they described the achievement as “pretty good” and were happy with how things were going at their 300-head breeding herd property.

“We were chasing a lift in the milking ability of cows and the size of the calves and there is no doubt that’s happened,” he said.
The Simmental content had combined nicely with good Northern Rivers spring rain to produce the top pen on offer last week.

Article by SHAN GOODWIN from The Land, April 3, 2008.