'CARNARVON CATTLEMEN' was fromed in 2011 by four Rolleston studs, ALDINGA, JEMBRAE, TALGAI and CHRISTMAS CREEK with the aim of providing paddock sale Droughtmaster Herd Bulls to cattlemen seeking larger numbers of quality paddock sale herd bulls. Aldinga and Christmas Creek will still sell registered Droughtmaster Bulls and top shelf herd bulls at their annual PIGGOTT Droughtmaster Sale and Jembrae and Talgai will do likewise at their usual sale venues. Find out  more.

 17 ALDINGA herd bulls averaged $3912 with a top of $7500 giving ALDINGA Droughtmasters a total averaged $6022 for 46 bulls.

The 23rd Annual PIGGOTT Droughtmaster Sale offered 68 Registered Droughtmaster Bulls, (average $6000), and Droughtmaster Herd Bulls, (averaged $4000), with an overall average of $5353 and a clearance of 96%.

The Spann Family, Minlacowie/Wingfield Studs, were the successfull purchasers of ALDINGA BLING while Kenny Mutton will take ALDINGA BALLARD back to Western Australia.

Bulk buyer Camp Cattle Co, Derby, Western Australia was able to buy 14 Droughtmaster Bulls, for an average of $3785, that suited his strict criteria for tidy underlines for living in the spinifex. Creek to Creek Past Co, Springsure, outlayed an average of $6000 for 6 Droughtmaster Bulls while Arcturus Downs averaged $3750 for 6 Droughtmaster Bulls.

 

 

ALDINGA 07/80 prior to the PIGGOTT DROUGHTMASTER SALE in 2008

ALDINGA Droughtmasters congatulates the McCormack Family on their fine draft of bulls at their 2011 Sale.

Terry Piggott of' Aldinga Droughtmasters is congratulated by steward Mick Donohoe at the Springsure Show.

The No. 9 heifers and the bull ALDINGA 08/10 have settled into their new life, in the red centre, south-east of Alice Springs while the No. O heifers will call Alpha home. CLICK HERE for more information

2010  was the wettest year since around 1954 - 1955 when about 84inches was recorded, but possibly not in a calender year. For the first time, in our living memory at least,  water came up to the Aldinga houseyard fence. Consuelo Creek broke out of its banks further up the creek and rose 3 metres (10ft) higher than in living memory. Old gullies, once again, showed why they are there.
      
 On Boxing Day night we received 225 mm (9 inches) and then another 46 mm (1.8 inches) that day.  We lost kilometres of fencing, creek crossings, internal roads and cattle were washed away. So far we've recovered about 60 head, that must have been washed down and across the raging Rocky or Consuelo Creeks but others are still missing.

Landslides are everywhere on cliff faces and mountains and we were isolated by landslides and flooded creeks for many weeks.  How lucky we were. All it has taken is a bit (three weeks worth) of sweat (great school holiday activity - no the kids will not become fencers) and ongoing tractor/grader work to fix roads and creek crossings. Cattle work is running behind schedule  but on the bright side we are not feeding out lick - yet. 

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The morning after Boxing Day, 225mm followed by another 46mm that day. Floodwater reached the backyard fence.

 
   Consuelo and 10 Mile Creeks broke banks and flowed as one. Fences were flattened, tangled and covered in Debris.

  Silt and landslides on Rewan Road and ruined bitumen on the Carnarvon Highway south of Rolleston.

Terry and Catherine Piggott of Aldinga Droughtmasters wish to thank Mario and Fred Gallo and families for the opportunity to purchase this great line of 54 polled cows that represent over 35 years of dedicated breeding to produce a polled herd.

It was a very sad day for the Gallo Family but an exciting one at Aldinga when the truck finally arrived with its cargo of cows, all safe and sound, after a 20 hour trip. Just 30 hours later the first little bull calf was born.
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At the 2008 Suncorp National Droughtmaster Store Cattle Show and Sale (1570 head), held at Emerald in March 2008, Aldinga females scooped the pool in everything they entered. Two pens of Aldinga heifers placed first and second in the over 300kg class with the winners awarded Grand Champion Pen of Females. The No. 7 heifers were joined for 12 weeks and had been on grass at Aldinga which had enjoyed the benefit of 900mm of rain since Novermber 2007. Our pen of Cows and calves also won their class at the show.

 

Terry Piggott, Aldinga Droughtmasters, with Grand Champion Pen of Females.