Senepol  Characteristics

  •  solid red colour, ranging from dark red to a lighter ginger colour.
  •  in general have a very short hair coat type.
  •  are naturally polled.
  • have good eye and skin pigmentation.
  • a docile temperament, being easily managed.
  • reach puberty earlier than Bos indicus breeds.
  • females are renowned for their ease of calving and calves for their fast 'get up and go' vigour.
  • heifers will calve as two year olds under normal management conditions.
  • average birthweight of calves is 34kg.
  • average mature weight of cows is 550 - 650kg.
  • bulls, 930kg at pasture.
  • bulls have a high libido, are fertile and virile breeders from an early age.
  • it is typical to see Senepol grazing in the heat of the day, long after other breeds have sought the shelter of shade.

To date, the Senepol is the only breed available in Australia that is known to be a carrier of a Slick coat gene - a gene identified by Dr Tim Olsen in the USA that confers a very short haired, sleek coat when an animal carries a copy of the gene. This gene is associated with the heat tolerance of the Senepol breed.

Meat Quality

What about Meat Quality of Senepol and senepol-cross cattle?

As a breed Senepol and Senepol cross cattle grade exceptionally well through the MSA grading program. Senepol cattle can produce marbling performance as good, and in many cases, better than equivalent straightbred heifers from marbling-oriented British breeds.

Senepol and senepol cross steers from 'Mt Eugene' near Biloela have had their meat assessed for tenderness and produced meat of very acceptable tenderness according to International Standards for Warner Bratzler Shear Force tests based on feedlot finished cattle. Senepol and Senepol cross cattle have performed very well under Genestar testing - Breed averages for tenderness and marbling - up with the very best British breeds.

Australian Agricultural Company use Senepol genetics to inject carcase quality, without compromising too much on adaptation, into their composite breeding program to produce beef that grades exceptionally well through the MSA grading programme that underpins their "1824" Premium Beef.

Official USDA studies have shown that Senepol have produced some of the US industry's most tender beef with very high quality and yield grades.

Val Jade and male calf

Udder Quality

You can expect the Senepol genetic influence to improve udder quality in females. Breeder longevity is well documented, with Senepol cows often still efficiently producing calves well into their teens.

Valinor Jade being led by Jade Tighe

Carcass attributes

So what are the carcass attributes of the Senepol?

The Senepol is a real option to improve fertility and meat quality in northern herds. Senepol have a significant ability to marble from a young age. In an overwhelming endorsement for the breed, Senepol and Senepol cross cattle bred by the Maynard Family, have dominated the results at the annual Callide-Dawson Carcass Competition, the nation?s largest carcass competition in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

In 2009 the competition drew  372 entries. Senepol and Senepol cross cattle took out a large percentage of the major and minor ribbons on offer, both grain and grass-fed, including winning Champion Grassfed Heifer with a purebred Senepol milk tooth trade heifer, dressing 275kg, a fat depth 9mm (rump) and an EMA of 84 cm. The heifer also scored maximum points for meat colour and texture. In the 100 Day Feedlot Trial, a ¾ Senepol / ¼ Belmont bullock entry won the Weight Gain section, with a daily gain of 2.94 kg.1st Grain assisted Bullock, 1st Pen of Three Heifers (70 day grain fed trial), 2nd Single grain fed Heifer (70 day trial), 2nd Grassfed single heifer/steer, 2nd Weight gain pen of 3 heifers (70 day Feedlot trial), 3rd Grain assisted Bullock, 3rd Pen of 3 Bullocks (100 day Feedlot trial) and 1st in Live assessment. Champion Grassfed Heifer

In 2010, with over 300 entries the Maynard Family?s draft performed very well, reinforcing the 2009 results winning most successful exhibitor again. Champion grainfed heifer carcasss. 1st, 2nd, 3rd in single grainfed heifer (clean sweep). 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th & 8th in weight gain (2.95KG a
day, clean sweep); 1st & 3rd in pen of 3 heifers, 2nd in export grassfed heifer and 3rd in weight gain 100 day bullocks.

In the 2011 Callide-Dawson Carcase competition, with over 400 entries, the Maynard Family again won the most awards with Senepol and Senepol-cross cattle. 1st pen of 3 grainfed steers, 2nd pen of 3 grainfed heifers, 3rd single grainfed heifer, 1st and 3rd growth rate in grainfed bullocks out of
116 head, 1st , 2nd and 3rd  in growth rate in grainfed heifers out of 72 head; and highest points overall steer for a 3rd year in a row. This is an overwhelming endorsement for the Senepol breed.

Pinnacle Pocket currently uses the Maynard family, 5 Star-bred Senepol bulls as their sires.

Breeding fertile, tropically adapted, well muscled cattle that produce tender beef