The strength of the Barwidgee story lies within the cow herd. Selection for performance over many generations has given the Barwidgee cow herd some serious economic advantages.
Targets of fertility, calving span, longelivity etc that are aspired to by other herds are the norm for the Barwidgee cow herd. Joining periods are 7 weeks, all cows calve annually. Heifers that need assistance at calving are culled.
Cows are subjected to seasonal variations in nutrition.
We are a high stocking rate property so it is not unusual for nutrition to be sub optimal. Over many generations we have weeded out the genetics that do not have the ability to remain highly productive in less than ideal conditions. We find it very interesting when using AI bulls how their daughters stack up against our own genetics. Often they are found wanting and we omit these bulls from our future breeding programs.
At Barwidgee we are very conscious of the need for cows to work for the breeder. This is a very important trait, but extremely difficult to measure. Traits such as the longelivity of females in the herd, the ability to perform in sub optimal nutrition, the size of the cow relative to the size of the calf she weans.
That lovely looking 700kg cow is not much use to you if she only weans a calf the same weight as your 500kg cow. The big cow may look pretty and impressive, but she is not going to have a very good impact on the bottom line.
Because the Barwidgee cow herd has such good production we have large numbers of animals to choose from when selecting the genetics that are used in the seedstock breeding herd. Once females have passed the productivity test we then select the best females on EBV’s and structure.
| BARWIDGEE 05209 (APR) (AI) Dam of 07258 |
BARWIDGEE 04118 (APR) (AI) Dam of 07392 One of Dicks picks for our Feb sale |
BARWIDGEE 03393 (APR) Dam of 07182 |
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BARWIDGEE 03371 (APR) Dam of 07464 |
BARWIDGEE 04392 (APR) Dam of 07268 a September sale bull |
BARWIDGEE 04174 (APR) (AI) Dam of 07162 |
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BARWIDGEE 05507 (APR) Dam of 07376 |
BARWIDGEE 96390 (APR) 12yo cow. Dam of 07314 to be offered in our Sept 09 sale |
BARWIDGEE 04156 (APR) (AI) Dam of 07656 a September sale bull |
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BARWIDGEE 02170 (APR) (AI) Dam of 07184 |
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| BARWIDGEE 02148 (APR) (AI) Dam of two herd sires VKD04163 and VKD07144 |
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BARWIDGEE 04266 (APR) (TW) |
BARWIDGEE 04190 (APR) (AI) Dam of herd sire VKD06149 |
BARWIDGEE 04214 (APR) (AI) Dam of herd sire VKD06203 |
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BARWIDGEE 97389 (APR) Wonderful 11 yr old cow who has produced 11 natural calves already. |
BARWIDGEE 05167 (APR) (AI) |
BARWIDGEE 05433 (APR) |
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BARWIDGEE 05455 (APR) |
BARWIDGEE 03471 (APR) |
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BARWIDGEE 03203 (APR) |
BARWIDGEE 04316 (APR) |
BARWIDGEE 04544 (APR) |
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BARWIDGEE 04502 (APR) |
BARWIDGEE 05493 (APR) |
BARWIDGEE 03357 (APR) (AI) |
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BARWIDGEE 04252 (APR) (TW) |
BARWIDGEE 03351 (APR) (AI) |
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