Riga Angus Breeding Philosophy
One of our main aims is to service our clients to the best of our ability with their profitability as commercial producers in mind. To assist commercial producers to turn off maximum kilograms of beef we primarily focus on fertility, calving ease and doing ability. Attention is also given to muscling, marbling and yield.
Herd
The Riga herd comprises of 200 HBR and APR females as well as commercial females. Autumn calving occurs. The herd is CAAB and Cattlecare accredited and Angus Group Breedplan Recorded.
A.I. was introduced 20 years ago enabling the introduction of proven bloodlines from USA, NZ and Australia.
E.T. was introduced 3 years ago to accelerate genetic diversity. So far success rate has been in excess of 76%.
High conception rates with short joining periods are achieved.
Strict selection pressure on performance within the parameters set is intrinsic to our operation.
Further to our emphasis on female functionality , we were pleased to have heifers selected for the Beef CRC Maternal Efficiency Project at Struan. The project will address industry concerns about potentially antagonistic genetic relationships between feed efficiency, carcass traits and maternal traits under grazing conditions.
Management
Selection pressure on the females in the area of fertility, calving ease, structural soundness, doing ability, milking ability and temperament is fundamental to the breeding program.
Cattle are regularly weighed, condition scored and managed in accordance with pasture targets. Our females are recognized as the powerhouse in our operation. Their male progeny are expected to meet particular criteria some of which include a minimum weight of 500kg at 15 months of age with a minimum scrotal size of 36cm at 15months. The aim is to maintain a minimum growth rate of around 0.7kg/day with excessive feeding and gain seen as deleterious to longevity, particularly in bulls. These minimum standards can of course be exceeded with 2010 achieving weaning weights at 9 months of up to 500kg for male calves and 450kg for female calves.
All cattle are independently assessed and structurally scored and ultra sound scanned by Liam Cardile of BeefXCel.
All Cattle are recorded with ABRI – Angus Group Breed Plan
Cattlecare accreditation no: P300074
Cattle are Pfizer STAR Assured. Click here for details 
Bulls
Bulls have been independently weighed, scanned and structurally assessed by Liam Cardile of BeefXCel.
Bulls have recieved the following health treatments:
• 7 in1 Course and Booster
• Pestiguard Course and Booster
• Baymec Pour on
• Fasinex Oral
• Selovin LA (selenium)
• Vibrovax Course and Booster