2nd June, 2008

Dear Bull Buyer,                                                                            

As many of you know, Judy and I have sold part of ‘Wombramurra’ and are spending less time in Nundle. We are surprised that some of our clients mistakenly thought we had sold the whole of the property and were out of stud Simmentals. Quite the opposite; we have accelerated our move into Black Simmentals. Our stud cattle numbers are growing rapidly as twice a year we have undertaken ET and AI programmes.

We are delighted that Andrew and Trudy Chapman have entered into a partnership with us to breed these ‘new Simmentals’ on the 5000 acres we still own at Nundle.

The ‘new Simmentals’ are an extremely exciting development in the stud cattle industry. Black Simmentals – why? In the early 1990’s Simmental breeders in the US sought to change their breed so that it better captured the market essentials important to the cattle industry and the consumer. Simmentals already possessed excellent maternal traits, growth and yield. Why not add to this the eating quality of Angus, polledness, earlier maturity, no eye cancers and calving ease? The answer was to ‘invent’ the Black Simmental by breeding up from Angus and simultaneously increasing fertility and survivability.

This decision in the US has been so spectacularly successful that their Simmental Magazine now features about 75% Black Simmentals, 20% solid Reds and only 5% traditionals! We believe they have achieved their objectives and these cattle are now poised to have a large impact on the Australian market.

In June this year Judy and I, together with Andrew and Trudy, are visiting the US to seek out and secure more of the best Black Simmental genetics available. This will enhance the outstanding results we have already achieved based on our ET and AI programmes using proven imported genetics to suit Australian conditions.

We will report further on our visit in the catalogue we will soon be sending you for our Annual Sale. The sale is at ‘Wombramurra’, Nundle on Thursday 21st August 2008 and we hope you can make it. Black Simmentals are coming, so even if you’re not ready to buy we recommend you come for a look.

It is our objective to offer in excess of 80 Black Simmental and some Red bulls of various grades every year. This number will be on offer in 2009, but as we are still growing this year we will offer 25 Black Simmentals of various grades and six Reds. In addition 27 ‘Wombramurra’ Black and Red Composites will be offered.
 
We have been asked if the popular ‘Wombramurra’ Black and Red Composites will be retained. The answer is yes and they will be improved by the introduction of a higher percentage of the ‘new’, more moderate Simmentals which will also include Breedplan data.

We now have a web site which we will progressively build on www.blacksimmentals.com.au . We can also keep you up to date with news if you wish to forward your email address. Please complete the section below and return by fax on 02 6769 3286, or preferably send Andrew an email at andrew@blacksimmentals.com.au  . Please advise any change of address or if you no longer wish to be on our mailing list.

Yours sincerely

P.G. Howarth