Hazeldean Breeding Program

Hazeldean females produce under conditions many cattlemen would consider much tougher than those experienced by most commercial herds. This is a deliberate policy of management and aids in the identification of those cows most likely to make a positive contribution to progressively more profitable genetics for the Australian beef industry.

Hazeldean females are subjected to a most rigorous selection process. Before gaining entry into the main herd every female must:

• wean a calf every year without supplementary feeding unless in severe drought;

• calve unassisted at two years of age and repeat this performance every year;

• provide a good milk supply to her calf;

• pass on a strong genetic package to ensure the rapid growth of her calf before and after weaning.

Females are of paramount importance at Hazeldean. Retention of only the top performing females over the years has yielded a herd that has few, if any, equals.

The elite Hazeldean female results from a focus on functionality and profitability above all else, ignoring fads and trends, and applying knowledge, experience and technology towards profitable beef production. This is achieved through the combination of a selection regime skillfully implemented by the one family for over 80 years and the ability to exert intense selection pressure due to large numbers of replacement breeders put forward for analysis each year. Hazeldean cattle are renowned as being  'good doing', hardy cattle that will thrive in any climate. The female herd has a reputation of exceptional fertility, lower than average birth weights, excellent calving ease, teamed with high growth and above average carcase. Hazeldean blood cattle are adaptable to many environments and have been sold to beef breeders from Tasmania to the Northern Territory.

Hazeldean selects for quiet temperament in their breeding program and sire selection and their cattle have an enviable reputation of being exceptionally quiet and easy to manage. Temperament is highly heritable, it affects carcase quality, growth rate, and handling – any animal that shows bad temperament is culled.

Each year Hazeldean AI's over 1000 females to the world's best trait-leading sires and an extensive Embryo Transfer (ET) programme is conducted using genetics from the top cows in the Hazeldean herd. This maximises the rate of genetic gain and has cemented Hazeldean's position as the foremost herd of the Australian Angus industry.

Hazeldean holds Australian record prices for commercial females and has been awarded for providing superior beef to Australian and overseas consumers.

Hazeldean cattle are:

• Highly fertile - twice breed average for scrotal size

• Easy calving - below breed average for birthweight

• Excellent growth - above breed average for 200,400 & 600 day growth

• Outstanding carcase - above average marbling & muscle content

• Quiet tempered - easy handling and docile

First and foremost, every bull you buy from Hazeldean is out of a cow that has calved unassisted as a two year old heifer. Every bull - and that is just the beginning...see more on Hazeldean bulls