In support of the Angus Foundation, 3R Livestock will be generously donating embryos at sale with the proceeds going to support youth development, education and research programs conducted by Angus Australia.
The embryos will be offered at the annual 3R Livestock sale, taking place on the 21st of August 2024, at Goonoo Goonoo Station, Tamworth New South Wales.
The money raised from the sale of the embryos will go to the Angus Foundation, which provides a mechanism for members and other beef industry stakeholders to support programs designed to encourage and assist the involvement of young people in the Australian beef industry, to provide professional development opportunities for young beef breeders, and to assist in conducting research, development and educational programs for the benefit of Angus breeders and the wider Australian beef industry.
“We decided to support the Angus Foundation in 2024 because we’re big believers that the future of agriculture is in the young people today,” said 3R Livestock partner and Principal Geoff Birchnell.
“The industry is changing so rapidly. We just believe that there will be people in that next group of children and young people coming through that will take this industry to new heights.
He continued, “Our best days are still ahead of the Australian cattle industry. Our donation will hopefully enhance the experience for young people within the junior ranks and within the Foundation and create opportunities to light a fire in some young person, which can benefit us all as an industry for the next prolonged period of time.”
The embryos on offer will be from their United States based donor cow, Coleman Donna 9309.
“The background of that cow is we searched extensively for a marquee donor throughout the United States before we found 9309. She was the cow that covered all bases – pedigree, performance & phenotype – so well.
“We believe she’s one of the best young cows in the breed over there and this opinion is backed by some of the noted Cattleman who’ve seen 9309. She’s a direct product of the Coleman herd and she’s double-crossed to a legendary 714. She’s sired by Coleman Bravo, the $450,000 bull from Coleman’s a couple of years ago and she’s out of the legendary donor 4203. This makes her a flush mate to the $150,000 Coleman Banker & the widely used Coleman Night Watch and the product of generations of prominent Coleman headline donors.
“The sire of the embryos will be Sitz Feat 729H. He’s a bull that Musgrave Angus and Spring Cove branch bought. If you’ve seen the Musgrave catalogue this year, the Feat sons are spectacular, and Tyler Musgrave calls him the bull he’s been looking for so long – and I think he’s exactly right. These embryos will combine two of the absolute best individuals in the breed.
“These embryos will be a unique offering for the Australian market. No further embryos will be sold in 9309 for at least two years, so you’ve got the head start on a great female sired by one of the hottest sires in America today.”
Through making this contribution, Geoff hopes that young people in the industry can be awarded opportunities that will achieve in progressing their personal and professional development.
“I hope that our contribution can aid young people in our industry to get the experience, build their network and maintain their enthusiasm to go on and choose this breed and choose this industry as their lifelong passion and pursuit,” he said.
“I was certainly a kid that came through, always wanted to be involved in the beef industry and I benefited greatly from junior programs, so the little bit we can do to help, we’re very willing to do so and we wish all the young people well that receive a benefit from this.”
“We are beyond grateful for the generous donation being made by 3R Livestock,” said Angus Australia Extension Manager Jake Phillips.
“The Angus Foundation is dependent on the continued support of donors such as the 3R Livestock team and the purchasers who take part in these events.”
He continued, “We thank those involved and look forward to utilising what comes from this donation to further and build on the opportunities offered to the next generation of agricultural leaders through the Angus Foundation.”
The 3R Livestock sale will be held at Goonoo Goonoo Station and interfaced online through AuctionsPlus. For inquiries, contact Geoff Birchnell at 0412 425 949 or info@3rbeef.com.au.