The Breed

What is a Square Meaters?

Square Meaters is the breed of cattle that Hain Rural specialises in. In the 1970’s and 80’s, European breeds started to dominate the market, which has a huge impact on the Australian cattle industry. Although the European breeds were larger and leaner, they had fertility and temperament problems, and took longer to finish for market.

Ironically, a breeder who had helped drive this type of cattle, Rick Pisaturo, was one of the first to flag possible flaws in this breed. Mr Pisaturo realised that a market existed for a specific type of beef animal – and specifically a breed that was fast growing, well muscled and early to mature. By selecting an older style, pre-1970’s Grey bulls and females, he produced the world’s first Square Meaters calves at his Mandalong Stud in 1994.

The breed is now well established across Australia and has achieved much success in steer and carcass competitions, as well commercially. Square Meaters are now a recognised breed in the United States, due to their ability to finish off grass, and be grown to market specifications with minimal chemical or veterinary inputs.

A mature Square Meaters female will weigh around 450 kgs, and be around 125 cms tall at the shoulder. She will be silver to grey in colour and polled, have a deep well muscled body, and will produce her first calf at around 2 years of age with no calving difficulties. She will have a good udder, and a plentiful milk supply. Her calves will be born small but show explosive early growth to weigh between 250 and 300 kgs at weaning. From only a few weeks of age, they will exhibit a characteristic ‘rounded bum’.

Mature bulls weigh around 800 kgs and stand around 130 cm tall. He will have a deep, long, thick, and muscular body on relatively short legs. Despite this shortness of leg, Square Meaters bulls can easily serve larger frame females for commercial crossbreeding. Mated to females of any breed, he will produce progeny with lower frame scores and increased muscling, which can be finished to market specifications at a relatively young age. He will also genetically dehorn his calves, and give them calmer natures which make them easier to handle.
Stud bull
Click to enlarge!

 

For more information about our breed stock, contact us for more information.