Hazeldean is using sires from the world's top Senepols and crossing them over Hazeldean Angus females to produce Senegus catttle. They are exceptional cattle that possess characteristics of both breeds resulting in a tropically adapted animal with superior carcase.
The Hazeldean Senegus herd is based at our Riverina property at Hay, in southern New South Wales.
Bulls are sold in August at our Hazeldean Northern Performance Bull Sale at Jackson, Queensland, 80 km east of Roma.
Background
The Senepol breed
The Senepol is a tropically adapted Bos Taurus beef cattle breed developed over the last century on the island of St.Croix in the Caribbean.
The breed derives from Bos Taurus N'Dama cattle from Senegal in West Africa - renowned for their survival capabilities, natural heat tolerance and inherent insect resistance - and Red Polls- a breed noted for superior fertility, milking ability, carcase and docility.
The breed is naturally polled.
Senepols have become sought after in tropical areas around the world because they are:
- 100% Bos Taurus in their genetic makeup
- heat tolerant
- tick & buffalo fly resistant
- superior for carcase quality
- highly fertile
- quiet to handle
- excellent for cross-breeding
- naturally polled
- carry the slick gene - to date Senepol is the only breed available in Australia known to be a carrier of this gene.
Research conducted in the USA and central and South America conclusively identified Senepol cattle as superior for heat resistance. This allows the Senepol to graze during the hottest part of the day, ensuring its ability to maintain good body condition. The Senepol breed produces the highest percentage of weaned pounds per dam weight and has high quality tender beef and high yield grades.
Senepol Crosses
Senepols crossed with other breeds result in excellent F1 animals.
The Senepol crosses produce animals that are uniform in both phenotype and colour thus avoiding colour patching.
US Research has shown:
- heat tolerance in the Senepol is passed on in crossbreeding programs.
Studies have shown that the F1 Senepol maintained rectal temperatures the same as full blood Senepol thereby indicating the ability to pass on the factor in cross-breeding - inclusion of Senepol in tropical composites improves tenderness
Senepols offer crossbreeders excellent hybrid vigour. Senepols admirably complement tropical beef production where traditionally Bos Indicus derived breeds have been used. Senepols are the ideal Bos Taurus for crossbreeding with British and European breeds in hotter country and for use in the development of tropical composite herds.