Maternal strength is the focus of the Macka's Angus breeding strategy

February 2025

A multi generational approach across a 3500 head commercial herd, has underpinned the maternal strength that has been created at the Gloucester based Macka’s Angus program. 

By focusing on the maternal strength in their herd, based on the breeding philosophy of pedigree, performance and phenotype, the team at Macka’s Angus have been able to consistently produce a line of Angus females that are now highly sought after across the country, at their annual Macka’s Angus commercial female sale, which will be held on March 20. 

The 2024 draft sold to three States, providing great buying in a unique opportunity to secure large lines of vendor bred females, while providing great value for money. 

A highlight of the sale in 2024 was the record being set for commercial Angus heifers preg tested in calf for that year to Texas Iceman R725, selling at auction to a top of $4300. 

The Macka’s Pastoral arm of the business has a very strategic plan to design and continue to build an elite female herd that meets the needs and requirements of the commercial beef industry. 

This allows buyers to introduce high performance females into their programs quickly and efficiently, produce an end product that is highly desirable at the consumer level, while being underpinned by a carbon neutral and highly sustainable farming operation. 

The pastoral operation is divided up into three main areas, being seedstock, commercial and sustainable farming. 

The seedstock arm aligns perfectly with their commercial herd. Lines of genetically like sires are used to breed large lines of cattle, to ensure consistency of type, performance and carcase. 

The commercial Angus herd consists of 3500 females, which utilises the lines of sires, produced by the seedstock herd. 

The first PTIC heifers, joined to the $360,000 Australian record-priced bull Texas Thunderstruck T3831, will be offered at this year's sale.

Lines of heifers joined to Texas Iceman R725 will also be offered at this year's sale to be held at the Gloucester Saleyards on March 20.

The aim of the program and the investment in genetics from all over the world, to produce female lines that are consistent in pedigree, performance and phenotype, which is in line with the Macka’s breeding philosophy. 

Robert Mackenzie, Macka’s Angus said, key traits of fertility and longevity in our females is paramount. 

“One of our key focusses is to breed females that emphasise the traditional Angus cow, whilst enhancing eating quality of the end product.” 

He said they sourced unique genetics not only within Australia but from around the world, noting the partnership formed with Rawburn Aberdeen Angus in Scotland, in particular focussing further on feed efficiency, while maintaining strong maternal characteristics. 

Another focus of our female production system is to breed cows that have the ability to thrive and survive in our environment, they must be able to get in calf, have that calf at two years of age and get back in calf again, without compromise. 

Macka’s Pastoral was the first carbon neutral farm of its kind and they hang their hat on being able to service the beef industry with cattle through the whole paddock to plate experience that were designed, bred, produced, and grown to be eaten from a carbon neutral footprint as an industry leader. 

This year's sale sees the unique opportunity, with the first Macka’s preg tested in calf heifers, joined to the Australian record priced bull Texas Thunderstruck, secured for $360,000, along with lines of heifers, joined to Texas Iceman. 

Other joining sires include, the first embryo transfer sons of Te Mania Reno, sires from Knowla Angus and a great lineup of Macka’s bred sires. 

The 3rd annual Macka’s Angus commercial Angus female sale will be held at Gloucester saleyards on Thursday March 20, 2025 at 11am and will be interfaced with Auctionsplus. 

There will be 500 plus elite commercial Angus females to be offered in large lines of single vendor bred females. 

Article by Journalist Brett Tindal Published in The Land