Droughtmaster

The Droughtmaster name was first coined by North Queensland cattlemen who developed the breed by crossing Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle to overcome the persistent challenges of drought, cattle tick, heat, eye cancer and other health and productivity-limiting issues.

By combining the bloodlines of Zebu, Brahman and British breeds, and grading up through strict selection and culling in the 1930s and 40s, these pioneers created a new type of cattle that defied the conventions of the time. The result was an adaptable, fertile and easy-care breed that delivered significant benefits to the beef industry.

In recognition of its contribution to Queensland agriculture, the Droughtmaster was named a Queensland Icon by the National Trust in 2006.

Today, Droughtmaster cattle are found in both Australia and New Zealand, supported by the widespread adoption of the BREEDPLAN genetic evaluation system across breeders in both countries.

Genomic Testing for Droughtmaster Cattle

We are proud to provide affordable, accessible and accurate genomic testing solutions to seedstock and commercial Droughtmaster producers tailored specifically for the breed.

We invest in cutting-edge technologies that empower producers to make breeding decisions that are faster, smarter, and more profitable.

Droughtmaster Testing Options

Cattle Parentage Verification

Cattle parentage testing uses DNA analysis to accurately identify the sire and dam of an animal. By comparing genetic markers from calves and potential parents, the test provides a reliable confirmation of pedigree, helping producers to:

Improve breeding accuracy
Preserves the integrity of breeding records
Enables efficient herd management
Identifies underperforming animals, educating culling decisions
Long term genetic improvement within herds

Bovine VERSA 85K

A perfect fit for the Droughtmaster breed, the Bovine VERSA 85K has demonstrated strong performance for tropically adapted cattle specifically. 85,000 SNPs of Bos Indicus and Bos Taurus content, this chip has been developed to increase accuracies for both pure bred and composite cattle when used in genetic evaluations, translating directly into real value on farm.

Droughtmaster Specific Traits On Offer:

Pompes E7
Myostatin 9 variants
Poll/Horn

Droughtmaster Standard Bundle

Bovine VERSA 85K
Parentage
Poll/Horn
Pompes E7

Droughtmaster Extended Bundle

Bovine VERSA 85K
Parentage
Poll/Horn
Pompes E7
Myostatin

Integrate Your Data into Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN

The Weatherbys Scientific Bovine VERSA 85K SNP Chip is an excellent fit for integration into Droughtmaster BREEDPLAN, enabling the calculation of genomically enhanced breeding values.

Genomically enhanced breeding values provide key advantages, including:

Greater accuracy in selection decisions – Improve the reliability of breeding values by incorporating high-resolution genomic data.
Earlier selection opportunities – Confidently select young animals based on accurate genomic predictions before performance data is available.
Selection across more traits – Include traits that are difficult or impossible to measure on-farm, or before animals enter the breeding herd, within your decision-making process.

By enabling more accurate selection, at younger ages, and across a wider range of traits, the VERSA 85K SNP Chip supports faster genetic progress and ultimately enhances productivity and profitability within a Droughtmaster breeding operation.