NEWS - BROAD LEAF SANTA GERTRUDIS

WELCOME TO WALLOON

Tue, 05 May 2026 06:08:25 GMT

Flood fencing was at the top of Ray Brown’s agenda after heavy rain fell across the Banana region over summer, taking out the Banana Creek bridge and keeping Ray’s fencing strainers in check.

With the rainfall has come a marvellous season for the Brown family, painting the rolling hills of Walloon a vivid green and bringing shine to the coats of his Santa Gertrudis breeders.

As a long standing supporter of Broad Leaf Santa Gertrudis bulls, and with the country looking a picture, we took a trip to visit the Brown family and see just how the progeny of our bulls were performing.

“Walloon is a smaller part of the holdings that we have.” Explains Ray, over a cup of tea in the original Walloon homestead.

Tim Patterson, Broad Leaf Santa Gertrudis (L) with Ray Brown of Walloon (R)

“Castle Creek was bought in the early 1980’s and we’ve been there ever since, and then Glenlee which was our original property from 1966.”

Starting off with home grown bulls and a line of Brangus cattle, Ray says it was a neighbour who inspired his venture into Santas.

“Bulls weren't really on the agenda back then. In the early days that was pretty much how it was. A lot of our bulls were what we call ‘black and gold’, just home grown bulls.

“Probably watching what one of the neighbours had done, and just observing the weight for age that he was doing with his bullocks through the meatworks.

“He was turning off earlier than we were and at better weights, so we decided we’d go into Santas. It’s been successful.”

Rianna Brown has returned home to join her father Ray, in the family operation

Armed with an ambition for improvement, it’s clear to see the progress Ray has made across his operation and into his herd. It’s this trait he says, that keeps him in the game.

“My agenda is to try and improve what you’ve already got. To get bulls that are better so that you can improve on your breeders. It is showing off now that we’re going in the right direction.

“I can buy bulls off Tim and the quality is there. The price is back a little from what the big fellas are on, but the quality is no different. It’s still the same.”

With a positive season ahead, Ray says he’ll be bracing for the next calves that come through the branding cradle.

“When you look at the branding cradle, say 40, 50 years ago, you were only branding these tiny little calves. Nowadays, you're branding with calves that are like ‘look out, I hope he doesn't break this thing’.

“They’re heavy and they’re solid.”

BULLS ON THE BORDER

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 06:56:47 GMT

On the border of Queensland and the Northern Territory sits Tobermorey Station. Owned by the Speed family, the station spans 1.8 million acres of gidyea timbered red soil country, lapping at the edge of Australia’s Central Desert.

Tim and Trina were invited to join the Speed family for their annual Tobermorey muster, taking the chance to inspect the Broad Leaf Santa Gertrudis bulls that have been making a mark on the Speed’s extensive cattle operation.

Ben Speed, the eldest son of the family, spends much of his time in the sky as a helicopter pilot and knows all too well how the bulls perform in the paddock.

“We’re targeting the feeder market, so we’ve transitioned from Brahmans into Santa Gertrudis, and Broad Leaf bulls have helped us achieve that.

“We bought the bulls initially because Tim had the numbers for us and they were good local bulls.

“Over the years they’ve been consistent. We’ve seen them work, they’ve got great temperament and they handle the climate well.” Says Ben.

John Speed, also known as Goodgie, is the youngest son of the family and has the task of purchasing the bulls for the operation.

“We look for bulls with good carcass and structure to go to work and deliver quality calves.

“They need to have thickness and a good topline and we don’t like them over fat.

"Broad Leaf bulls always give us a consistent line of calves and it makes the job very easy for us to sell them at the other end.” Says John

Tim says the Speed’s operation aligns well with his bull breeding philosophy.

“We’re aiming to produce bulls with exceptional carcass and structure whose progeny perform from backgrounder to feeder markets, right through to bullocks. We also want them to be adaptable and able to handle a variety of environments.

“It’s encouraging to see the condition of our bulls in the Northern Territory, where cattle have to cover vast distances to source food, water and do their job. Our bulls are holding their own against other studs, and they’re producing good solid calves.

“It’s an indication that we’re on the right track.” Says Tim.

NEW, HIGH-PROFILE STUD FOR CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:16:36 GMT

The longest running bull sale of any breed in the country will bring bulls to Central Queensland for the very first time, after confirming their place as a guest vendor in a local Santa Gertrudis sale.

The move will see Jandowae-based Santa Gertrudis breeder, Rosevale, present a selection of bulls alongside Rolleston’s Broad Leaf Santa Gertrudis.

According to principal sale vendor, Tim Patterson, the partnership provides a tremendous opportunity for Central Queensland buyers to access a new line of bulls backed by decades worth of herd recording, research and technology.

“It’s a positive opportunity to have such a high-profile, well established stud, join our sale.

“It means local buyers can access bulls with some of our breed’s most complete data records.”

Says Tim.

Partnering with Rosevale is an exciting development for Broad Leaf, after a rewarding year on the competition circuit, which Tim says proves a strong demand for commercially aligned cattle in Central Queensland.

“Broad Leaf has picked up a number of awards in the last 12 months, not only for our bulls, but also our progeny, including Best Overall Steer at the 2024 Bauhinia Carcass Classic.

“It reflects the demand across Central Queensland for an article that’s adaptable to both environmental and market conditions. We’re in the business of beef and we have the results to show for it.” Says Tim.

Rosevale Santa Gertrudis stud owner, David Greenup, says his family made the decision to support the Broad Leaf sale following a phone call from Tim.

“The Pattersons were looking to bolster the numbers in their sale and we decided to support them. It’s not something we’ve done in the past and only gave it consideration because of the way Tim prepares his bulls - it’s very similar to us.

The Greenups plan to deliver their bulls to Rolleston prior to sale day, and will run them with the Broad Leaf selection on forage oats and pasture.

“Rosevale bulls have been grown and prepared on pasture. They’ve had no supplementary feed – not ever.

“Don’t expect big, over-conditioned bulls at sale time, but do expect them to breed as much weight into their progeny as most bulls on the market.

“Being fit and healthy at point of sale means they'll work from day one, and ensures longevity in the herds they’re servicing.”

The sale is scheduled for the 15th September at the Rolleston Livestock Selling Complex.