World-class Operation - Focus on Breeding Bulls for Clients

Killain Angus recently featured in The Land for their win at Sydney Royal.

An ethos of excellence underlies Killain Angus stud and the family who owns it.

Killain Angus stud, Tamworth, NSW, is based 100 per cent on the genetics of Schaff Angus Valley (SAV), in North Dakota, USA. The principals of Killain Angus - Richard, Susie, Benjamin and Thomas Duddy - have built a very close relationship with the principals of SAV - Kelly and Martie-Jo Schaff.

Richard and Susie Duddy are connected to generations of commercial cattle breeding. They were turning off 1000 feeder steers each year (seasonal conditions allowing), supplying Rangers Valley feedlot, Glen Innes.

In 2013, the family visited Schaff Angus Valley and it was decided to replicate the program in Australia. "Their cow herd, in my opinion, would be the best beef cow herd in the world," Richard Duddy said. "There is nothing that comes close.

"The overall evenness, constitution, femininity and impeccable udder quality together with an uncompromising temperament is something that needs to be seen to be believed." The Duddy family was attracted to the balanced performance traits, explosive early growth together with a moderate maturity pattern.

"There are a lot of good Angus genetics in Australia but from our point of view it is about creating a point of difference," Mr Duddy said.

The first group of calves imported yielded immediate success, with Killain Alaska K18 being awarded the Junior and Grand Champion Bull, Best Angus Exhibit and Champion of Champions Hordern Trophy at the 2016 Sydney Royal Show.

From the second group of imported embryos, Killain Fort Worth M17 was awarded the Junior and Grand Champion Bull at the 2017 Royal Melbourne Show. This year, Killain Mustang M4 won the Intermediate Champion Bull title in the Angus Feature Show at the Sydney Royal Show.

"Killain Mustang M4's dam, SAV Blackcap May 1804, is a maternal sister to the world's highest producing female, SAV Blackcap May 4136, who has generated in excess of $12 million USD in progeny receipts," Mr Duddy said.

Family Business

The Killain Angus stud's operation involves the entire family, backed up by herdsman, Lane Evans.

Benjamin and Thomas Duddy are involved in the cattle program at their school, Brisbane's Anglican Church Grammar School, where they have been very successful in judging and parader's competitions.

"We're trying to give as much exposure and responsibility to the boys at a young age, so they can develop a sense of business as well as being involved in the day-to-day operations," Mr Duddy said.

"In the past few years Benjamin and Thomas have had an outstanding run of success at shows such as the Angus Youth Roundup, Sydney Royal Easter Show, Rockhampton Beef Week and the EKKA."

In addition, Benjamin has been selected by his school to participate in an academic and leadership tour to Stanford University, USA, to take place in August this year.

Dressage Sucess

With her own background and interest in cattle breeding, Susie has had outstanding success in the dressage world, owning a World Cup finalist together with breeding and owning DP Weltmieser, who represented Australia at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in dressage.

Breeding Theory

It comes as no surprise to hear that the Duddy family rate explosive early growth combined with structure, temperament, softness and a moderate maturity pattern as their main priorities.

"Cattle producers are paid cents/kilogram for their product and therefore their weaner progeny need to be at the higher end of the weight scale when compared to their counterparts," Mr Duddy said.

"At the end of the day it is about producing an article that gives the end consumer a quality eating experience." This breeding theory was backed up by the steer and carcase results at the 2019 Sydney Royal Easter Show.

"Our steers not only won on the hoof but also won the coveted virtual taste test, while also producing the second-highest marbling lightweight steer of all breeds with a score of 3.5," Mr Duddy said. "These steers were sired by the 2016 RAS Best Angus Exhibit, Killain Alaska K18."

Leading Genetics

Calves are weaned at nine-months-old and yearling bulls are expected to be 700kg at 14 to 15 months. This is achieved grazing on natural grass country, supported by lucerne and oats, both grazed and harvested on the property.

"Along with a balanced set of EBVs, we want a very high 400-day weight EBV," Mr Duddy said. "Each year we select a potential sire out of each yearling bull group. Then the commercial industry and other studs can purchase his siblings."

The draft of this year's yearling bulls will be on display at the Northern Beef Field Day, for viewing. All bull purchasers will be given the opportunity to keep their bulls at Killain until spring joining.

Of great excitement in this year's yearling bull draft is the fact that a large percentage are sired by one of the world's most exciting young bulls, SAV Raindance 6848, who sold for $460,000 USD and whose first calf crop sold to $180,000 USD in the 2019 SAV Sale.

Killain Angus stud currently has the exclusive Australian semen rights in SAV Raindance. "We have had tremendous feedback from our repeat customers particularly with outstanding conception and weaning weights," Mr Duddy said.

Killain Angus recently added SAV America 8018 to their sire battery. "He is the world record priced Angus bull ($2.1 million) and the highest 205-day weight in not only SAV history but within the entire USA Angus register," Mr Duddy said. Killain Angus will be importing SAV America 8018 semen and embryos for this spring and those progeny will be available for sale to the stud and commercial industry in 2021.