Garbrook Bazadais

Ron & Sue Garrett have been breeding cattle for more than 50 years.

Ron originally from Urbanville in the Northern NSW border ranges, bred commercial and stud Poll Herefords for 30 yearsbefore finding the Bazadais

They first saw Bazadais cattle in 1993 on a trip through Victoria to South Australia. Deciding at that time that this new breed of cattle was just what we had been looking for to cross over our 160 head commercial herd. Sue’s first comments were “I just want to breed cattle like that” after seeing the Bazadais cross calves. Within six months the Garrets had purchased a heifer calf and 2 bulls.
The bulls were used over their commercial herd consisting of several beef breeds, Drought master, Hereford, Santa cross, Angus and Brahman cross. The results were just what they wanted, more length, more muscle and faster growth rates.

The first trip to the sale yard with our progeny was disappointing to say the least. We were very proud of our calves, but buyers were sceptical saying they are BAZA what!!!! Wide Bay Feedlot purchased our first two turnoffs and after that they would look for us at the sale yards and say, “Do you have any more of those BAZA things…. They had obviously been impressed with the results.
From that time on we started doing our own meat marketing and trials through our local butcher with the carcases from various crosses.
The butcher commented he had never seen such consistency and fine grain meat as these Bazadais. They cut up so well and you only have about a bucket of waste. The results over time were surprising. What the French literature said, they actually achieved, with yields of meat to bone ranging from 80.5% to 86% from yearling calves with and average dressed weight of 220 to 230 kilograms.

While doing trials with the commercial cattle, Ron and Sue wanted to breed some more bulls so embarked on an embryo program with their one and only cow after she had her first calf, a bull, Garbrook Concierge (pictured) affectionately known as JC because he was born on Good Friday.
This first program started them on their way to stud breeding again. The flush produced 10 A grade embryos with a result of 5 heifers and 1 bull calf.

GARBROOK CONCIERGE
Grand Champion Bull
Sydney Royal Easter Show 1999
36 months — 890kg - EMA 136q cm
Fat Scan 9 at P8 and 6 at Rib

Over the years Ron and Sue have started a number of breeders in Bazadais cattle by supplying bulls, cows, and embryos local and imported from France. The have also supplied semen to commercial breeders throughout Australia and New Zealand from their bull “Majesty”

Ron and Sue have been great promoters of Bazadais cattle showing the breed at Sydney Royal, Brisbane Royal, Field days, local agricultural shows, Beef 97, and Beef 2000, 2006, 2009 winning numerous champion ribbons, but the most important was to display the Bazadais cattle to commercial breeders to show how they could improve their herds and market returns. They will be showing at Rockhampton again at Beef 2012.

To help obtain a greater spread of Bazadais genetics Ron and Sue travelled to France and Britain a number of times meeting with breeders, the French and British Bazadais Cattle Societies and genetic agents to build and develop relationships with the European breeders to ensure the best possible genetics are sourced to continue to expand the breed in Australia.

Both Ron and Sue have been heavily involved with The Australian Bazadais Society since its inception and incorporation in 1998, Ron was the inaugural President for two years and was Vice President for two years. Sue was the Society Secretary a position she held for seven years and has be Treasurer for three years.

They both have a passion to see the Bazadais as one of the leading cattle genetics in Australia because they really believe that this breed has something special to offer the Australian cattle industry.