Gleannholme Square Meaters

Square Meaters beef cattle are an early maturing, compact framed, well-muscled, breed that has been bred from the “original” Murray Grey, which was a cross between Aberdeen Angus and Galloway cattle at the beginning of the twentieth century. Square Meaters were established by leading Australian cattle breeding icon Rick Pisaturo, to meet the needs of the high quality table beef market for the domestic trade in Australia.

A minimum and maximum height limit enables the breed to maintain type integrity with special emphasis then placed on the length and width of the cattle. The height is measured at the wither at 12 months of age and gives a variation of 10 centimetres (4 inches). The height of a yearling bull is between 103 and 113 centimetres (41 – 45 inches) and for yearling heifers a range of between 100 and 110 centimetres (40 – 44 inches).

Square Meaters defy the common theory that early maturing, short-legged cattle are “dumpy”, with the same body length and an increased width when compared with modern, taller cattle breeds, without the waste of bone in the frame and air under the belly. This, combined with their natural muscularity, lowers their body maintenance requirements and therefore improves feed conversion efficiency, enabling them to withstand tough seasons more easily and still produce and grow a calf every year. When it comes to finishing, well-fleshed cattle finish quickly and evenly.

The Gleannholme herd was established in the year 2000 with the purchase of six foundation heifers and a sire from Glenfiddich. Since then we have added another Glenfiddich cow, a Thurloo Park heifer and two Morjen Maryvale cows. Our herd is represented by ten cow families; named after precious and semi-precious stones.

With over twenty years experience with cattle, both dairy and beef, the choice for Square Meaters was an easy one, as we had bred Murray Greys of this type in the past and knew how good they were.

Gleannholme Square Meaters are bred for meat quality, carcass yield and full-bodied style. We breed true to type Square Meaters of moderate frame showing the breed characteristics, of early maturity, thickset, deep body and smooth muscling. All calves are weighted at birth and weighed and measured at regular intervals to manage the genetic advancement of the herd, but most importantly we use peasant knowledge in our selection process.

The property is situated 18 kilometres (11 miles) west of Muswellbrook in the rolling hill country of the Upper Hunter Valley, in a 600 mm (24 inch) rainfall zone. The farm was rundown and grazed out, with very poor soil structure and fertility when we purchased it. The regenerative ecological management is showing great results and doubled our carrying capacity, with the aim to carry 2 head per hectare (2.471 acres). Soil structure has improved significantly and weeds have all but disappeared with our aim of 100% groundcover.

The herd is managed using biodynamic processes for both soil and animal health. R.E.S.T. time-controlled grazing management is practiced and forms an important part of the pasture-feeding regime, using fifty five fields. We only use natural joining and the herd is divided for the joining period of 6 weeks and then run as one herd for the rest of the year. This improves grazing management and also aids in maiden heifers learning mothering skills from the older cows.

Our herd is line-bred for genetic consistency, both in type and meat quality, following the method Rick Pisaturo used to establish the breed. Each new drop of calves is improving the herd and culling is becoming a “knit picking” exercise as we choose the top line of heifers for future breeders. Temperament is the most obvious and easily selected trait, but because high milk components (butterfat & protein) dictate meat tenderness, we will concentrate on this in our selection, while maintaining weight and yield. We have always been aiming at a “Gleannholme” type and this is becoming so prominent in the herd we now use numbered eartags for positive paddock identification.

At Gleannholme we aim to breed 300 – 320 kg (660 – 704 lbs) yearling steers with a minimum dressed yield of 60%. Meat yield and quality are our main focus now that Brinsley Xtreme has stamped his length, width and depth into his calves.

We join our heifers early (300 kg or 660 lbs) to calve out by 24 months. The early maturity of our cattle allows us a greater lifetime production and an increased first lactation from maiden heifers. Fertility is extremely high in our herd, and because of a balanced mineral intake, the herd produces about a 70 – 30 ratio of heifers to bulls.

Show results are not important for us, as many cattle judges don’t understand that Square Meaters are different from other breeds, especially the cows that are thick set, muscular and shorter in the neck and head than modern cattle types, and because we breed the smaller frame size, judges still go for tall without regard for meat yield or field efficiency. Showing also compromises profitability, so we now limit our showing to just a few local shows each year for breed promotion. However, success has come our way at a high level and has pleasantly surprised us.

We will concentrate our future efforts more towards meat production and not the show ring, as this is where Square Meaters will prove themselves and allow us to market sires from beef producing bloodlines. Our customer direct beef sales are increasing and our product presentation and year round supply is our main focus now.