HISTORY

THE HISTORY OF ABCA

The cross-breeding of Angus and Brahman cattle in Australia was first trialled (unofficially) in the 1930s, in the Rockhampton district and as far north as the Daintree River area.

The first recorded efforts to breed Brangus as a ‘stabilised’ breed in this country was by Mr Lionel De Landelles. His first Brangus bull ‘Cherokee Lothar’ was born in 1951 and is considered one of the foundation sires of the Brangus breed in Australia.

Initially, Brangus studs were registered with the Australian Tropical Beef Breeders Association (1956-1961).  The Australian Brangus Cattle Association was founded on November 29, 1961, in Rockhampton.


The founding Brangus breeders were:


  • L De Landelles - ‘Cherokee’, Rockhampton (President)
  • RA (Aussie) Clark - ‘Allawah’, Monto (Vice President)
  • AJ & J James - ‘Cedarvale’, Monto
  • DC Clifford - ‘Glenayre’, Gympie
  • Cook Pastoral Co - ‘ Greenmount’,Mackay
  • CW Langdon & Son - ‘Ellendale’, Gin Gin
  • LAC Walker - ‘Bingara’, Bundaberg
  • I Hunt - ‘Santa Glen’, Gladstone
  • BA Burnham - ‘Bimbadeen’, Monto


By 1963 there were 34 members registered, with a herdbook of 1054 Brangus cattle.

Other influential breeders from these early years include: Dr Susie Buckingham, Mr Bill Geddes Senior
(‘Burri-Buri’), JA Camm & Sons (‘Elaroo’), Brian Webster (‘Sar-Chee’), J & W Fawcett (‘Coreen’) and L & J Kunst (‘Sunnyside’).

As the breed grew, Reg Robinson & family (‘Glenheart’), the Frank family (‘Punchagin’), Bill Jnr & Lawson Geddes and families (‘Couti Outi’ & ‘Doonside’), the Ahern Family and Tony & Ruth Thomas (’Greendale) were also active and successful ABCA members. 

Debate around the breed percentages allowed in registered Australian Brangus cattle is documented in 1974, where an ABCA meeting saw a motion to limit 3/8 (bos indicus) 5/8 (bos taurus) defeated. A motion to allow a range of ¼ to ¾ Bos Indicus content was passed, and remains in force to the current day.



DATES OF INTEREST

  • The first inter-state branch of the ABCA was formed in 1969 in Victoria, with Western Australia
    joining in 1970

  • The first ABCA Brangus Sale was held in 1977, at Gracemere (Rockhampton)

  • The NSW members had their first elected member on the ABCA committee in 1984

  • ABCA was run from the offices of the Australian Tropical Breeders Association (Rockhampton) until June 1 1994 when it was taken to the Australian Business Research Institute (ABRI, Armidale, NSW) as the Australian Brangus Cattle Association Ltd.

  • ABCA is now a standalone office after outgrowing Australian Business Research Institute (ABRI) in April 2021. The office is run from Armidale NSW but is set up as a 'remote' office so can be taken on the road and function fully at any event or location.



ABCA PRESIDENTS

1961 - 1961  >  Mr J Hunt 

1961 - 1967  >  Mr L De Landelles

1967 - 1969  >  Mr Bill Geddes Snr

1970 - 1976  >  Mr Gordon Gill

1976 - 1982  >  Mr Bill Fordyce

1982 - 1987  >  Mr Lex Kunst

1987 - 1990  >  Mr Bruce Burnham

1990 - 1992  >  Mr John Fawcett

1992 - 1995  >  Mr Lex Kunst

1995 - 1999  >  Mr Robert Barlow

2000 - 2002  >  Mr Jeff Frank 

2003 - 2005  >  Mr Lex Kunst

2006 - 2008  >  Mr Jim Maguire

2009 - 2010  >  Mr Allen Schutt

2011 - 2013  >  Mr Jim Maquire

2014 - 2014  >  Mr Michael Bush

2015 - 2016  >  Mr Peter Dingle

2017 - 2020  >  Mr Mark Beckman

2021 - 2022  >  Mr Brad Saunders



ABCA LIFE MEMBERS

Life Memberships are awarded to Brangus members who have dedicated years of service and passion
to the breed.

Barbara Burnham

Barry Morgan

Bruce Burnham

Colleen Jorgensen
Jack Camm
John Fawcett

Jeff Frank

Lawson Geddes

Lex Kunst

Linda Geddes
Reg Robinson

Robert Barlow

Roger Davis

Ron Hanson

Trevor Jorgensen

Warren Bulmer
Wendy Fawcett


Reference: ‘The first 40 Years’ of Australia Brangus’ by Lex Kunst

Brangus cattle
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