BREED HAS MUSCLE |
LAST August I bought a line of
Murray Grey cows with baby calves at foot in a special sale at the Geelong
yards. |
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Nothing spectacular about that
you might say, except that the calves were by a Piedmontese bull. |
Although only a few weeks old,
what took my fancy were the outstanding characteristics already evident in
these calves. |
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Before we go any further,
perhaps I should quote from The Weekly Times Royal Show Cattle section
winners insert of 1996, which said:
"Piedmontese - originated in North Italy.
"First imported into Australia in 1988.
Features - double muscle after birth, docility and good
milking ability." |
What stood out in these
Piedmontese - Murray Grey calves, even at that age, was their muscle hyperplasia. |
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The cows and calves went to a
property on the Bellarine Peninsula near Drysdale, called Brambledale
Farm, belonging to the Vorrath family, from where the first run of vealers
were sold a fortnight ago.` |
The calves impressed with
length, size, temperament and this magnificent double muscled rear end. |
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Local Portarlington butcher,
Gary Bailey, was the eager recipient of this first batch of calves and was
most impressed with their cutting ability. |
In fact Gary tenderised some
round steak for the barbecue and it just melted in his mouth, he said. |
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The next consignment will be in
his shop from today, if any locals want to try a sample. |
Godfrey and Irene Layton,
Abalever Pty Ltd Winchelsea, were the breeders of the outfits I bought and
Charles Stewart & Co the selling agents. |
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Godfrey told me he bought the
Murray Grey mothers in a feature sale at Colac in 1994 and joined them to
a Piedmontese bull bought from the Brookfield Stud at Wangaratta. |
EBV's were outstanding, small
calves at birth, rapid development and a fat content of only 5 per cent. |
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Godfrey has a Gelbvieh stud
himself, selling 10 to 12 Gelbvieh bulls each year, averaging $1400, and,
besides Piedmontese he also experiments, with Belgian Blue sires over
Charolais females. |
I speak in glowing terms about
this Piedmontese breed because I have seen the results. |
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