Wombramurra Black Simmentals

Wombramurra Black Simmental stud is owned and operated by Peter & Judy Howarth and Andrew & Trudy Chapman on a 2500 acre property in Nundle, Australia.

Wombramurra Black Simmentals has evolved as the result of Peter Howarth’s many years of involvement with the Simmental breed and the operation of large commercial cattle properties located at Nundle and Quirindi, NSW.

Originally known as Langton-Gate Poll Simmentals it started in 1980 in the Dooralong Valley, and relocated to Nundle in 1987. Until it was dispersed in May 2005 it was the largest ‘traditional’ Simmental herd in Australia selling bulls at its well known Hills of Gold Simmental Sale.

During these years Peter Howarth operated a 4, 500 strong commercial cow herd and so the importance of breeding and selecting the right bulls for the commercial cattleman’s needs has been a dominant objective in the bull breeding programme.

Understanding the impact of calving ease, growth, carcass quality and crossbreeding on ‘net profit’ its not surprising that Peter turned his attention to Black and Red Simmentals in 2004 when he imported the first such embryos into Australia from Montana, USA.

Black and Red Simmentals deliver more marbling, no eye cancers, polledness and a slightly smaller Euro resulting in easier calving, earlier maturity and low maintenance cows.

The outstanding maternal, growth and higher yield traits for which Simmentals are famous have been retained, offering a complete package of improved and valuable carcase and performance.

Our objective is to supply the cattle industry with these excellent Simmentals which will increase profits for our clients. In order to achieve this we have been fortunate in establishing a close association with the Butcher family who operate the Gateway Simmental Stud in Montana, USA.

They have been breeding Black and Red Simmentals since 1989 when they commenced by crossing with Angus. They have been able to retain the best of the Simmental traits, at the same time locking in the desirable Angus eating quality and calving ease traits.

It is a great bonus for Australian cattle breeders that we have been offered embryos from the best cattle in their herd after nearly twenty years of careful selection by Gateway.

Gateway has found that various grades of Black and Red Simmentals from F1 to purebred have their uses in various markets. Similarly we will offer all these grades and have a flying start by using the popular Wombramurra Composite as a base to breed up from.

Since 2004 we have continued with a large embryo and A1 programme and by 2010 will have a 500 strong female herd of various grades from which to breed the ‘new Simmental’ bulls for our clients.

In 2005 Peter and Judy entered into a partnership with Andrew and Trudy Chapman for the operation of the new Wombramurra Black Simmental Stud.

This will be of enormous benefit for both the partnership and our bull buyers because Andrew and Trudy are extremely good judges of livestock and have extensive experience in grazing management.

In June 2008 all the partners visited a number of States in the north of the USA and as a result we have been able to acquire some excellent genetics which will be complementary to those which have already been so successfully introduced into our herd.

Congratulations to Brigid and Hugh Robertson whose Wombramurra Black Simmental / Angus team came 5th out of 120 teams in the NSW Beef Spectacular Feedback Trial. A compelling profit advantage of $144. 50 per head greater than the average of the Trial is one which we expect all of our clients will find of great assurance and interest.