Beef cattle

UQ’s Droughtmaster herd is a powerful resource for genetic research, with a long-standing reputation for innovation.

Researchers work to enhance breeding programs and improve cattle resilience through areas such as:

• disease resistance
• production traits
• environmental adaptation.

The $1.7 million Darbalara Beef Cattle Teaching Facility is equipped with cattle yards and infrastructure designed to support advanced trials in:

• cattle management
• health monitoring
• reproductive technologies
• feed management.

This facility enables research into practical, large-scale applications for the beef industry.

UQ are pioneering projects focused on enhancing cattle productivity, health and welfare, including:

• drone technology for pasture management
• electronic monitoring systems
• precision agriculture techniques.

Research clients can develop and test these innovations for commercial application.

The Droughtmaster herd offers real-world application in areas such as:

• breeding for disease resistance
• cattle handling for production efficiency
• precision livestock management
• sustainability initiatives focusing on water and feed efficiency.

Darbarlara provides seamless access to infrastructure such as:

• cattle yards
• grazing land
• advanced irrigation
• high-tech precision monitoring equipment.

These resources support field trials, genetic studies and production research, ensuring high-quality outcomes for beef industry clients.

The UQ Droughtmaster herd, with its long-established genetic excellence, provides researchers and commercial producers with access to top-quality bulls that are carefully selected for their performance and genetic traits.

Each year, the University offers a select group of well-grown, vet-checked, semen-tested bulls for sale. These sales offer an excellent opportunity to acquire high-performance animals for improving herd quality, disease resistance and overall production.