Southern NSW Breed Promotion Group
Chairman’s Update April 2012
Dear Members,
It was only 3rd Sept 2011 where a group of Square Meaters breeders got together to consider if there was sufficient interest in setting up a Breed Promotion Group in NSW. Based on the feedback I volunteered to organize one and our membership has gradually increased from 13 to 51 and its still growing. This is an encouraging figure by anyone’s standards, and as over half of the group members are commercially orientated we’re achieving one of the key aims of the group since its inception. Liz Skene has kindly volunteered to be the Treasurer and Jo Dawson the Secretary.
Since that first meeting, we’ve had two on farm practical days in Oct 2011 and Feb 2012 respectively. These were kindly hosted by David & Julie Thompson of Thurloo Park, and Mick and Fiona Battiste of Woolaringa Stud. We also had a lunch in the Blue Mountains to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Breed.
Jo Dawson and Kylie McKinnon have been working on ensuring all members of the group have access to information on what is going on, and we now have a website – www.sqm-info.nsw. All members are welcome to add links their own websites or information about their operation – we’ll happily post pictures and information for you. If you can think of any other info you would like let us know and we’ll add it. We also have a ‘blog’ linked off the front page where Kylie is posting show results and there is a great list of links to useful websites to anyone getting started with the breed.
We’re now thinking ahead to the next couple of years, and working on a calendar of events moving forward, with an aim of doing at least two practical days a year and arrange two social gatherings. We’re already seeing people mixing more at the shows with informal meetings at quite a few of the shows during 2012 with breeders getting together to catch up and share ideas.
As it’s the group’s aim to support both Stud and Commercial Breeders and to focus on increasing both membership and cattle numbers in both areas. We’ll be supporting a number of shows that provide dedicated Square Meaters stud classes. But, we also want to improve the commercial viability of the breed concentrate on Steer Competitions.
I’ve had a lot of feedback on shows from members and Cootamundra Steer Competition seems an ideal venue for just that. Money being a great incentive, Weethalle Square Meaters is posting a $500 cash prize for any Square Meater achieving champion steer on the hook at Cootamundra Steer and Carcass Competition. So, please have a look in your paddocks and see what you might enter.
What’s coming next?
Sunday 27th May 2012 at Menangle, near Camden, NSW. This will be a social meeting of the Southern NSW Breed Promotion Group starting at 11am. The aim of this meeting is to form a strategy for the next 18 months regarding shows, steer competitions and information days. We would like your input in regard to dates, places and content of information days, and which shows you think we should support.
I will provide a BBQ so please let me know by Wed 23rd May if you intend to come to allow for catering -either by emailing Chairman@sqm-nsw-info or by leaving a message on 02 4757 2004. Directions will be posted on the website. If you can’t attend but have some ideas – please just let me know.
Other Dates:
Jun 2012 – Farm Practical Day – Thurloo Park, Nr Cootamundra – Focusing on Marking and Vaccination.
Aug 2012 – Social Meeting – Venue TBC – Potentially Cowra Ex Service Club again.
Nov 2012 – Farm Practical Day – Cluskers Stud, Nr Hall, ACT – Focusing on cattle classing and grading.
Further info on all of these will be posted on the website, or please feel free to ring if you can’t get online. As we don’t charge for membership we want to avoid paying for mailings so most information will be sent out electronically so please make sure we’ve got an email address for you if you have one.
Brad Perry
chairman@sqm-nsw.info
02 4757 2004
