Levels Hans, the simmental bull, has outlived many and exceeded all expectations as a first class stud animal. An embryo transplant calf joined in Germany in 1987, he was born 18th august 1988 and bought as a six month old weaner calf by the Enterprise Cattle company.
"We bought him to do a job, which he did. He was used in his first joining as a yearling, and he's been joined every year since. The reason we've kept him here is he has really bred well for us over the years - he's become quite special really. For a bull to live into his 14th year is quite remarkable."
Craig Martin runs 100 stud cows on their property at Rosedale, all simmental and for the Enterprise Cattle Company. He described how the average commercial bull goes at five years, starting work as a two year old and lasting about three seasons, some more some less. Stud bulls tend to live longer as they are not exposed to the same level of misadventure. They are more valuable as a bull and tend to be joined in single sire mating in paddocks where they can be seen. "They aren't exposed to mobs of other bulls, for fighting and wreaking one another, breaking legs and pushing off banks, that sort of thing," he explained.
Of Hans's progeny, 498 calves have been analysed and performance recorded in more than ten herds, with grandsons operating in another 12-15 herds countrywide. He has bred 2 national champions, 2 reserve champions and four top prices. "A fairly good record and he's still here, he's still alive, just a bit old and creaky."
This year carcass analysis via DNA testing will be performed in Australia with semen from Hans, used in cattle on feedlots to identify bulls with a propensity for marbling.
Emphasising the fundamental economic tenant of fertility, Craig highlighted the second - longevity. Encapsulating soundness, confirmation of type and efficiency, producing cattle that are easy keeping, sound and amply fleshy and fertile. "Good quality, middle of the road cattle, are always in demand and fads and trend never alter with them," he confirmed.
"Han's progeny are more in demand now than they were ten years ago, it's a remarkable thing."
