Doorabeeba

Stud No 2068 – Doorabeeba Santa Gertrudis Stud was registered in 2006 by Murray Smith and Susan Michell. Located in northwestern New South Wales, with cattle running on country in the Wee Waa, Spring Plain and Rowena districts. Our breeding herd started with the purchase of 97 cows and calves from Bulyeroi Pastoral Co. with a further 300 plus females acquired at the time of succession planning. The Bulyeroi herd originated at Castletop on the eastern fall of the Nandewar Ranges between Narrabri and Bingara in 1922 when Cliff and Frank Michell bought 20 Devon females and one bull with their earnings from shearing. When Robert moved from Castletop to Bulyeroi in 1967 he took with him 140 Devon cows. Santa Gertrudis bulls were introduced to the Bulyeroi herd in 1983 which, at that time, consisted of about 700 breeders. Only Santa Gertrudis bulls have been used since 1983 and from 1988 only classified bulls. Since 2006 we have been grading up through the SGBAA and now have 85% of females classified.

Doorabeeba Stud operates with a strong commercial perspective ensuring annual production and reproductive soundness of breeders. Selection of heifers has always been rigorous, and the low number of replacements required allows for strong culling. Pregnancy testing became standard practice in the early 1980s with NDP females culled as well as any dry cows at marking. The Bulyeroi herd is well known in northern New South Wales by both agents and meat buyers, with sales often attracting a premium.