Orange National Field Days - October 2015
Barkwater and Javid Square Meaters had their Studs on display over 3 days at the Orange National Field Days, Borenore NSW.
BULL SALE - June 2015
We have recently sold 2 bulls. Javid Jem, a dark grey stud square meaters bull and Javid Kojac, a black commercial square meaters bull.
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| Kojac - 17 months |
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| Jem - 22 months |
ROYAL CANBERRA SHOW 2015
We would like to thank all of the people
who supported us at the 2015 Royal Canberra Show. The students at St
John's College, Dubbo, for looking after our lovely bulls prior to the
show, particularly Brenden Lydford who did such a wonderful clip job.
The James Sheahan Cattle Team for working with our cow and heifers and
the Ferguson Family for their hard work at the show. Maddie McColl also
stepped in and led our calf in the Interbreed Judging for overall
Supreme Female. We had an extremely successful show winning some very
prestigious awards but even if we had been unsuccessful in the ribbon
department, it was good to see that our animals stood up and held their
place not only in comparison to our own breed but to the other breeds as
well. We firmly believe that the Square Meaters Breed has an important
role to play in the Australian beef industry.
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| Rebecca Ferguson and Javid Kit Kat J15. Kit Kat was awarded Junior Champion Female |
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| Javid Fiona H8
winning Supreme Champion of the breed. She is paraded by Rebecca
Ferguson and is pictured with her 5 month old calf Krakatoa paraded by
Teagan Ferguson. Jason Sutherland from International Animal Health
Products awards the ribbon. |
BEEF WEEK 2015
Javid Square Meaters will be open on Saturday, 14th March.
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| Javid Jem pictured January 2015- born August 2013 |
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| Javid Jeronomo pictured January 2015- born April 2013 |
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WINTER 2014
FLYING SOLO AT MUDGEE
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| Setting up on Wednesday in "Gale Force", winds. |
After seeing our neighbour's tent picked up and dumped we made a quick trip to Mitre Ten for extra star pickets and several rolls of duct tape.
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| It was tough going getting it all put together. |
The frame wasn't going anywhere but we kept our fingers crossed for the survival of walls and canopy.
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| Excellent windless weather for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. |
Javid Square Meaters decided to exhibit at Mudgee again this year after a positive start last year when we attended the 2 day event in conjunction with Weethalle and Gumnut Valley Studs. The Small Farm Field Days attracts many people open to fresh ideas as well as life style and tree changers. As tree changers ourselves we first saw the Square Meaters Breed at Mudgee when Steve Moffit had an exhibit in 2011. (It seems much longer considering where we are today, no longer dreaming but with a great little square meaters herd ourselves).
Mudgee this year saw 9 breeds on show. These were Fleckveih, Speckle Park, Limousin, Galloway, Belted Galloway, Dexter, Shorthorn, Charolais and Square Meaters. Although there was room for improvement we felt we had a good display.
After setting up on Wednesday we arrived back in Mudgee on Thursday with our two exhibit animals. We took Javid JAV H8 Fiona and Javid JAV J4 Jeronomo. Both animals traveled really well and so looked good on arrival. They seemed to love the extra attention and very much enjoyed their daily brush down.
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| Square Meaters Display Mudgee 2014 |
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We experienced a high level of interest with many people keen on the Square Meaters breed. They had read that we were exhibiting and had come along to gather more information.
Apart from the interest in the cattle it was good to see other square meater breeders, family and friends. We had visits from Di and Jim Savage from Eumungerie, Fiona, Mick and Em Battiste from Tirrannaville, Robert Handley from Goulburn, Kieth and Christine Sheridan from Gulgong, Ryan Bywater from Lyndhurst, Barrie Carr, Charles and Leonie Horspool, Bill and Elaine Gillooly all from Orange.
We would like to thank the other cattle breeders at the field days, (particularly Neil) for their help and camaraderie. It was hard work but good fun. We have picked up some good ideas for an even better display in the future and look forward to possibly welcoming some new people to the breed.
AUTUMN 2014
DUBBO AND GULARGUMBONE SHOWS
24th and 31st May 2014
One of our lovely heifers JAV Kit Kat J15 born in spring 2013 and at just 9 months of age, had the opportunity to be shown at the Dubbo and Gulargambone Shows. Kit Kat was trained and prepared for the Shows by the Ferguson Girls, Rebecca, Teagan and Ezeline from Wongarbon. The girls really worked hard on her presentation and entered her in the heifer under 12 month divisions as well as the parading competitions. Kit Kat was placed third in heifer under 12 months any other breed at the Dubbo Show and won her division at the Gulargambone Show going on to be placed Reserve Champion British Breed Female.
Rebecca did extremely well in the Junior Judging at both shows receiving the Intermediate Reserve Champion Judge at Dubbo and being chosen to speak in the junior judging at Gulargambone. The girls all received ribbons in their respective parading competitions. A fantastic effort!!
ORANGE SHOW
9th May 2014
The James Sheahan Show team took the Javid Square Meaters that they had prepared so beautifully for Bathurst to the Orange Show the following Saturday. All results are posted on the competitions page. Of particular note Javid Gemma Rose and Javid Fiona were placed 2nd in a very large field of female pairs. Unable to attend this event ourselves we have no photographs. Congratulations once again to the fantastic effort and fabulous results achieved by all Show Team members and their supporting parents and helpers!
ROYAL BATHURST SHOW
2nd May 2014
James Sheahan Catholic High School Cattle Show Team took 17 head of cattle representing 4 breeds to the 2014 Royal Bathurst Show. The Studs included Maruk Droughtmasters, Javid Square Meaters, The Trap Shorthorns, Norton Park Shorthorns and Wanera Poll Herefords.
The Javid Cattle were the only Square Meaters at the show and so we were entered into the "Any Other Large Breed" Class. The other breeds competing in this class were Red Angus, Limousin, Lincoln Red, Maine Anjou, and Droughtmasters.
Students comprising "Team Square Meater" included Joel (Team Captain), Lilly, Emily,
Angus and Alan. Everyone pitched in and did an excellent job looking after and parading the cattle.
The small incident of Gemma Rose putting her hoof into Joel's pocket after the application of her nose dog didn't dampen enthusiasm.
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| James Sheahan Show Team Members with Square Meaters |
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| Javid Jeronomo 1st in Junior Bull 12 and under 16 months |
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| Javid Jeronomo Junior champion "Any Other Large Breed Bull" |
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| Joel with Javid Jeronomo |
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| Red Angus Tullatoola-Redmon H11 judged Supreme Champion. |
Jeronomo outclassed on the day by Red Angus Tullatoola-Redmond H11, winning Grand Champion Bull any other large Breed. Tullatoola-Redmond went on to win Supreme Any Other Large Breed Exhibit.
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| Tullatoola-Redmond |
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| Javid JAV H8 Fiona |
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| Javid Fiona placed 2nd Junior Female 16 and under 20 months |
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| Alan paraded Javid Fiona |
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| Lilly and Emily paraded Javid Gemma Rosie and calf |
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| Class - Senior Female over 30 months |
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| Judge Mr Gavin O'Brien awards Gemma Rosie 1st place |
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| Gemma Rosie - Reserve Senior Champion Any Other Large Breed |
Report in progress
ROYAL EASTER SHOW SYDNEY
10th April 2014
HOOF RESULT
JAV J3 Javid Jasper was placed 4th in the Open Middle Weight Pure Bred Steer 446kg-471kg Class at the Royal Easter Show. A huge thank you to the St John's Team, Daniel and Bec for their superb work in his preparation. He looked fabulous.
St John's College/Willworril Limousin Stud won the prestigious overall grand champion steer ribbon with a 628kg limousin.
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| Daniel paraded J3 Javid Jasper for the competition |
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HOOK RESULT
Reserve Champion Open Middle Weight Pure Bred Steer and Gold Medal with 90.5 points.
97 Steers competed in the Open Middle Weight Pure Bred Class. 6 gold medals awarded across the Open and School Classes out of 287 entries.
Full Results on Competition Page.
SQUARE MEATER OPEN DAY AT JAVID
16TH MARCH 2014
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| The day began in the best possible way! |
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| Rebecca exhibiting Jasper for the first session |
The March 16th get-together at Orange was well attended with seven studs
represented, students from two school agriculture teams as well as a sprinkling
of other landholders interested in gaining more information about the Square
Meater Breed.
We were very fortunate to have three exceptional speakers in
Ben Toll, Bruce Watt and Rod Hoare.
The Javid Herd was also on display, within walking distance,
for interested parties to have a look.
Ben Toll, head of Agriculture at St John’s College
Dubbo, began the first session with an excellent presentation on steer preparation
for carcass competitions. He used a
Javid bred steer (J3 Jasper) to demonstrate and illustrate aspects of such
preparation.
Javid J3 Jasper is currently being prepared by the St John’s Team for a hoof
and hook competition at the Royal Easter Show, Sydney.
Dr Bruce Watt, Senior Vet at Central Tablelands Local Land
Services, spoke on a commonsense approach toward animal health covering
pestivirus, theileria, clostridial diseases and parasitic control. Bruce talked about tailoring your
preventative health program to suit your local risk conditions, your aims and
your budget, outlining what he felt to be the bare minimum program up to the
more comprehensive options.
Rod Hoare, Vetinarian and stud Murray Grey Breeder, finished
the formal part of the morning with a very interesting talk on colour
heritability and the genetics of colour variation. Rod, and his partner Helena Warren, run
Cadfor, a Murray Grey Stud/Equestrian Centre at Binda near Crookwell. He writes informative, interesting and
amusing articles on his website which is well worth a visit.
After these presentations a BBQ featuring Square Meater beef
sourced from Woollaringa Meats, Goulbourn, received many positive comments.
We at Javid would like to thank our three wonderful speakers
Ben, Bruce and Rod, as well as our neighbour Peter Blacklow for his amazing
effort organising refreshments throughout the day.
SUMMER 2013/2014
Royal Canberra Show
Javid Square Meaters was represented at the show for the first time this year by a young bull, 11 month old Jeronomo. Jeronomo was prepared for the show by the students from the St John's College, Ag Team (Dubbo). Brenden and Bec, helped by Tegan and Gemma, looked after him at the show. They kept him looking superb at all times and he seemed to enjoy the spoiling!! Although we expected him to be very competative, he was paraded beautifully by Brenden and surpassed all our expectations. Judge Peter Falls from Malton Shorthorns, Finlay, commented on his excellent structure and feet, good muscling, and "everything required underneath." Results are posted on the Competitions Page.
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| A couple of loitering larrikins |
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| Maine Anjou Red Heart Excelsior |
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| "Bruce" A very mild mannered steer. |
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| Representing St John's College Bec with this beaut Brahman |
Time to go Home
February 2014
Jeronomo goes back to school
Javid J4 Jeronomo arrived back at St John's College, Dubbo, after an extended Christmas break on farm.
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| Jeronomo and Jasper becoming re aquainted |
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| all sorted |
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| J3 Javid Jasper. Bec has just sent through his weight as 404kgs |
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Javid G8 Flower Gypsy stays at home.
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| Flower Gypsy with new born calf Kojac. |
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| Kojac |
We had naively entered Flower Gypsy and her (as yet unborn) calf into her section at the Royal Canberra Show. A beautiful black bull calf born on January 7 meant that we had to withdraw her entry.
The Tale Of Two Seasons
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| January 2012 |
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| January 2014 |
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What a stark contrast!!! We, like everyone else, would love some rain. The searing heat and lack of moisture has burnt everything off this year. Amazingly the cattle are coping well. Many are still rather rolly polly!
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Bec with J3 Javid Jasper
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Bec grooming J3 Javid Jasper
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Bec sent through these lovely photos of J3 Javid Jasper @ 10 months after a wash and blowdry.
Jasper is being prepared by the students at St John's College Dubbo's, Cattle Team for some upcoming competitions.
SPRING 2013
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| Spring 2013 began with such promise |
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| The helpers. |
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| Ready to weigh the new calf |
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| Jillian and Thomas. |
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| Spring calving complete 2013 |
After 3 or 4 devastatingly severe frosts and very little rain all of the promise has trickled away. We have lost most of our fruit. Apricots, cherries, nashi pears and plums are all gone. The apples survived and to balance the disappointment there has been a plentiful and superb supply of rhubarb and asparagus.
Our spring drop of 17 calves, 12 heifers and 5 boys are all growing out well, despite the tough conditions.
Their second weigh in shows a range from 180kgs @ 4 months to 85kgs for the eight week old youngster.
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| Rainbow Estate Lizzy's miracle calf "Jem Jedi" . |
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Lizzy produced a healthy bull calf eight months after suffering Theileria (suspected by the vet and confirmed by lab testing). We were shocked and thrilled at the same time as we spent days carting food and water to her and were amazed when she herself survived. Although she is getting on in years she is back to her old self and doing very nicely indeed.
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| "Butch" Farm dog (in training) |
WINTER 2013
ROYAL BRISBANE SHOW (EKKA) AUGUST 2013
Two steers bred at JAVID were prepared by Students at St Johns College Dubbo for the Royal Brisbane Show.
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| Isabella leading Harrison |
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| Bec showing Hercules |
We were once again very privileged to have two steers prepared by St John's College, Dubbo's Cattle Team. This time the goal was the very large hoof and hook competition at the Royal Brisbane Show.
The Team once again excelled with their enthusiasm and dedication and our steers looked fantastic.
Both steers were sired by Brinsley Zambezi, were born in August 2012 and were weaned at 7 months, Harrison at 250kgs and Hercules at 265kgs. We chose the animals basically because of their good early weight gains and their visual appeal. Harrison seemed to have a large rump and Hercules was well proportioned all over. Both animals were very quiet. They scored 77pts and 71pts respectively.
Hercules was heavily penalised for too much fat over the ribs and also, therefore, meat yield, while Harrison fell down on the amount of eye muscle area. Hercules scored maximum points for EMA with 87 cm2. All results will be posted on the competition page.
As this is our second attempt at the hoof and hook competition we were really pleased with the results as we also received some very positive feedback from several people who saw the animals at the show. We are keen to continue to strive for excellence in this type of competition as we believe that the square meater breed is capable of superb results. Their excellent temperament and early maturing qualities are perfect for our small farm. We note other breeders of square meaters, including Woolaringa Stud, Silver Gully Stud, Weethalle Stud and Naringi Stud are achieving some really good results in hoof and hook competitions, a further testament to the consistent quality being achieved.
We congratulate the St John's College Cattle Team and thank them for their hard work, their fabulous communication skills and their very great respect for the animals.
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| Harrison from the back |
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| Hercules from the back |
Mudgee Small Farm Field Days
After a Square Meater absence last year, members of the NSW Square Meater Breedgroup joined forces to promote the Breed at the Mudgee Small Farm Field Days in 2013.
Luckily for us the weather was exceptional and we enjoyed a very successful two days with many enquiries and questions.
With organizing the event, Jo Dawson and Brad Perry thought of every possible detail and left no stone unturned. Our tent away from home magically transmuted into a very comfortable place indeed. Jo even managed to organize the correct tent colours in keeping with our association. Arriving on the Thursday afternoon, Brad's Boy Scout skills resurfaced with a wave of nostalgia, and we had the tent up in next to no time. With the promotional material set out, the all important sustenance table sorted and the cattle yards erected we were ready to rock and roll.
| Wayne, Brad and Jo on Thursday afternoon. 11/07/2013 |
The Green Family from Gumnut Valley Stud, Graham, Gloria, Tara and Ian, arrived at the crack of dawn on Friday with their cattle and our precious exhibition. They brought with them their cow Butterscotch and two of her offspring, a six week old heifer calf and three year old bull, Gumnut Valley Fantasy. Theirs was a huge contribution in bringing the animals all the way from Maitland for a display. The cattle were an essential part of the promotion as they attracted much attention.
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| Gumnut Vally Fantasy. |
| Butterscotch and heifer calf with Jo |
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Our Group worked really well together and we were able to share the responsibilities of promotion, with sampling the other wonderful displays, shopping and attending some very inspiring educational lectures.
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| Square Meater display at Mudgee Field Days 2013 |
| Square Meater display at Mudgee Field Days 2013 |
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It was good to catch up with other Square Meater breeders
and purchasers, friends and family who popped in for support and to say
hello. Among them were Di and Jim Savage
from Eumungerie, Steve and Therese
Moffitt from Hunter Valley, Graham Berry (Spring Valley), Ernie Stephenson from
Goulburn, Peter and Julie Dearden from Cammeray Organics Parkes, Leonie and Charles
Horspool, and Elaine and Bill Gillooly all from Orange.
WINTER 2013
10 Month old bull calves born in August 2012.
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| JAVID Hank pictured in June 2013 |
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| JAVID Horwitz pictured June 2013 |
AUTUMN 2013
BATHURST SHOW
It was our great privilege to have the James Sheahan High School
Cattle Team take two of our heifers G7 JAVID Gemma Rosie and G8 JAVID
Flower Gypsy to be shown at the Royal Bathurst Show. With only ten days
to prepare the heifers, the cattle team were able to present them
beautifully. Sally and Lilly led the heifers for their class on the
day.
| Hard at work behind the scenes Riley gives G7 JAVID Gemma Rosie a bath |
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| Riley completes Gemma Rosie's grooming with the blow dryer......... |
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| Royal Bathurst Show 2013. Cattle Stalls |
| Sally with Gemma Rosie and Flower Gypsy and Royal Bathurst Show ribbons |
ORANGE SHOW
After lots of hard work by the James Sheahan Cattle Team, fun, and success in the show ring at Bathurst, it was decided to enter our two heifers into the Orange Show, the following week, on the 20th and 21st of April. After beautiful balmy autumn weather at Bathurst, unfortunately, a week later at Orange saw an overcast Saturday with a stiff cool breeze. Members of the cattle team, who were able, volunteered their time as it was during school holidays. The students were busy preparing, washing and blow drying some of their other show animals when we arrived with the heifers at 7am.
Conditions continued cold and blustery throughout the day.
The beef cattle judge Mr David Hobbs, President of the Red Angus Society of Australia, was very thorough and gave excellent feedback after each class. He made a point about breeding programs and female frame size across all breeds in the industry. His premise being that for our Australian conditions a more medium frame female was much easier to keep in peak condition for breeding purposes during poor seasons and drought.
We were very happy when he placed our Square Meater heifers 3rd in the large class of interbreed female pairs behind Limousin 1st and Black Angus 2nd.
Many thanks to the James Sheahan Team, Sally, Jack, Joel, Shaun, Michael and Steve to name a few for your incredible enthusiasm and hard yakker!!
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| Cattle Stalls at Orange Show |
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| Flower Gypsy led by Jack, and Gemma Rosie led by Sally |
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| Female Pairs Competition |
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| Cattle judge Mr David Hobbs examines Flower Gypsy |
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2012 SPRING CALVES
Our 2012 spring calves are all growing out well. A couple of bull calves are looking very promising and we are very pleased with our heifers.
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| 2012 spring calves |
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| 2012 spring calves at 7 months |
| 2012 bull calf at 7 months |
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2013 AUTUMN CALVES
Autumn calving is now complete with a couple of real little beauties!!
| Mabelie Rosie E8's bull calf 'JASPER' |
| Mabelie Surprise F5's bull calf 'JERONOMO' |
| Mabelie Surprise F5 and calf |
SPRING 2012
SPRING CALVES
Spring calving is complete with 12 beautiful calves on the ground. 5 heifers and 7 bulls.
JAV Javid Gemma Rosie's Story cont.
MOLONG SHOW
Sunday 16th September 2012
| Successful Team, Riley and JAV Javid Gemma Rosie, Ist Place. |
JAV Javid Gemma Rosie, was regarded very highly by the judge. We look forward to a successful future for her in the show ring.
| Riley 1st place in the Paraders Competition |
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The James Sheahan CHS Cattle Team were very successful at the Molong Show. All of their animals were beautifully groomed and paraded exceptionally well. This was evidenced by placing in all three levels of the paraders competition.
WINTER 2012
We are approaching our first anniversary as square meater stud owners. Although the learning curve has been steep, we are thoroughly pleased with our progress so far. We have 12 cows due to calve this spring, all joined to SQM Brinsley Zambezie.
| Waiting for our spring calves, winter 2012. |
| Last years calves on a cold winters day brrrrr! 2012 |
GUNMETAL'S STORY
Born in August 2011 Gunmetal was bred by Kylie McKinnon and was purchased by Javid Square Meaters at four weeks of age. He was pasture fed until his transfer to St John's College, Dubbo, in July 2012 where he is being prepared, by their Cattle Team, for the 2012 Scone Beef Bonanza. His handler, Clare, has been working hard on all the preparations. We wish the Team all the best for the upcoming competition.
JAV Javid Gemma Rosie G7
| JAV Javid Gemma Rosie G7 (on her birthday) 31/10/2011 |
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JAV Javid Gemma Rosie G7, sired by SQM Brinsley Zambezie out of KMB Mabelie Rosie E8, the first Squaremeater calf born at Javid, is currently being prepared by the James Sheahan High School Cattle Team for some upcoming heifer shows. We were privileged to be invited to see the team in action, washing shampooing and leading their charges. We congratulate their enthusiasm. They are doing a wonderful job.
| JAV Javid Gemma Rosie being led by Elsa 20/08/2012. |
20th National All Breeds Heifer Show - Dubbo
31st August - 2nd September 2012 "All Breeds Olympics"
Congratulations to the James Sheahan CHS Cattle Team for a very successful show.
| Hard work behind the scenes. |
| JAV Javid Gemma Rosie paraded superbly by Elsa |
| JAV Javid Gemma Rosie placed 5th in her section. |
Elsa was also awarded 2nd place in her paraders competition. Well done!
F year heifers
Our Fabulous F Year Heifers Molly Rose, Rosie and Flower purchased from Kylie McKinnon in September 2011 are all PTIC by artificial insemination to SQM Brinsley Alchemy (AI). They are due to calve in Autumn 2013. We used James Sutton from Sutton Breeding Services for the AI and the follow-up pregnancy testing.
| Molly Rose, Rosie and Flower, October 2011 |
| SQM Brinsley Alchemy (AI) Photograph courtesy Kylie McKinnon |
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