Hartwood farm is home to the tuli cattle breed in australia.

Our approach to Cattle production is founded on regenerative methods of soil and pasture health. Being located in Bundaberg enables us at Hartwood Farm to access premium quality supplementary feed such as Bundaberg Molasses in addition to our holistically managed pastures. For a seed stock stud, in which animal health to optimise breeding potential is paramount, and adequate recovery time for our intensively grazed pastures, this is a great benefit.

Breeder nutrition in the lead up to FTAI an ET and immediately after is critical. We are not afraid of integrating best practise, strategic use, of suitable supplements and chemical parasite control, although this is minimised to ensue animals are conditioned to their environment and a focus on immunity development through exposure to common issues early.

We do however believe is ensuring the best possible science is followed to produce superior performing animals, and as such key identified deficiencies (through rigorous testing) such as Selenium, Cobalt, Molybdenum, Phosphorous and Iron are made available by the best means to animals. Bundaberg has an abundant supply of supplementary feed stocks that are nutrient dense, while simultaneously ensuing all stock are tropically adapted.

In 2022 we embarked on the first Tuli Embryo Program with 8 of our best donor cows matched with a wide selection of Sires to broaden the genetic pool and ensue consistent, efficient , structurally sound progeny continue to be available to the rest of the world outside of Southern Africa, We also commenced new breeding opportunities with Mashona Bulls & Drakensberger Heifers to produce a line of Black Sanga cattle that will thrive in the Australian environment and suit the demand for black cattle.

Our managment practises apply pressure on the female herd to force out non-adapted and infertile animals – at least 15% a year. Each year we aim to cull all empty, late or dry cows. Replacement heifers are developed soley on grass with only mineral and energy supplementation. We want only the most efficient and adapted heifers to make it into the breeding herds.

We encourage development of natural resistance in a high parasite load production environment.

Hartwood Cattle Co. promote the adaption of a “balance” between all cattle traits. Optimum size/performance in our Cattle Genetics is much more profitable to our customers than maximum size/performance. Performance extremes promoted by some Seed Stock producers is avoided. Hartwood cows are run in a real-world environment as tough as – or tougher than – the environment most commercial cows are run in. Bull calves, should be born unassisted from a fault-free cow that has never missed a breeding oppurtunity, to make it into a Hartwood bull sale.

The selection criteria that comprise Hartwood breeding program is as important as the breed of cattle and how their genetics are incorperated into each animal.