Stud History
In 1947 a Shorthorn herd was purchased with Dangarfield. Hereford weaners sold in the south which was where the money was, so Graham sold the Shorthorn herd and replaced them with pure Herefords. Graham formed a great friendship with the late David Bassingthwaighte when David was Primaries Manager at Wallumbilla. When David starting talking Brahman cattle, Graham was keen to listen although he didn’t buy any.
In 1958, David turned up at Dangarfield with a Brahman/Santa Gertrudis cross bull and said "I can’t sell these, so use this one and see what happens". The bull was big, nearly black and bellowed in a high pitch tone - as an 8 year old boy on a pony Robert kept his distance. Neighbours were alarmed that someone would use a brindle bull over jolly fine Herefords. As Graham had been a heavy weight boxing champion at the Townsville Naval barracks during the war, threats went no further.
The bull was a great success and Graham went on to purchase more red Santa bulls. The Herefords were phased out by 1968 and the stud was registered in 1983.
 |
 |
L to R: The late Graham Adams, Bill Carn, Robert Adams, the late Dave Bassingthwaighte,
|
Robert being presented the SGBAA
|
Dangarfield had been selling commercial bulls in the paddock for several years before joining the Wandoan group with their first classified bulls. One of these first bulls, Dangarfield A34, was bought by Alastair Bassingthwaighte and was a prolific calf getter. He went on to be top performing sire at the Yarrawonga-Waco sale in 1991 with the most sons in the sale - 8, and the top average of $8,600. Beginners luck or not, the bug had bitten.
In 1989 Dangarfield, Utopia Downs and Orana formed the Dawson River Santa Gertrudis Breeders Sale. Over time Utopia Downs and Orana closed their studs, with Dangarfield now selling at their own on property sale in "The Shed" at Kingswood in September each year. Dangarfield’s annual bull sale has a strong following with an annual return buyer percentage ranging from 91 to 94% each year over the last 5 years. One of the most talked about aspects from their sale is the strong local and repeat buyer’s support which they receive each year.
Dangarfield commenced showing cattle in the stud ring in 1989 and have had their share of success with some prized wins. Their first major success was with Dangarfield Cleo winning the Junior Champion Heifer at Beef ’94. One of their most significant triumphs was winning Senior and Grand Champion Bull at Beef ’97 with Dangarfield Eyewitness. He later sold for $10,500 to the Powell family from Biggenden. Before being sold as a 2 year old, Eyewitness was used for a season and is still used through AI today. Many of Dangarfield’s cattle bloodlines trace back to this sire.
Eyewitness’s award, along with Dangarfield Elle winning Reserve Senior Champion Female helped them to also pick up most successful exhibitor. Elle’s stable mates, Eccentric and Elegance, were 3 out of only 4 cows on the grounds awarded 100/100 points possible with their Breedplan assessment for Beef ’97.
Dangarfield Lieutenant won Reserve Junior Champion at Beef in 2003 - he no longer carries out active stud duties as he passed away at 11 years of age. His bloodlines are still used in ET work today. Many other awards have been won at feature shows including Emerald, Dirranbandi and Nanango to name but a few.
 |
 |
Dangarfield Monty held by Ben, being presented with his class win at Brisbane
|
Dangarfield Elle: Reserve Senior Champion Female Beef 1997 |
 |
|
Dangarfield Eyewitness: Grand Champion Bull Beef 1997 |
|
Dangarfield have also supported their local shows and Beef Weeks with bullocks. In 2003, they won our most prized award, the S.G.B.A.A National Steer Trophy. In 2009, Dangarfield won its class at Beef Week’s prime cattle championships winning the EU class - pen of 10 steers.
At the conclusion of the event, discussions with the judges indicated that the steers were deserving of a broad ribbon, although there was none for grain assisted cattle. This result gave Dangarfield 3 ribbons from the last 4 Beef Week Prime Cattle Championships, with only a single pen entered each year.
In 2010 Dangarfield Senator won his Bos Indicus Interbreed class of 25, then went on to win Junior and Grand Champion followed by Interbreed Champion at the 2010 Springsure show. He was later sold to the Wolff family’s Canowindra Stud at Emerald.
 |
Ben Adams (second from left) being presented with Dangarfield's first place in the EU
|
 |
L to R: The late Graham Adams (Senior), Graham Adams (Junior), Ian Walker holding Strathmore Fugitive, Robert and Ben Adams. |
 |
L to R: The late Alf Chambers, Robert Adams, Rodney Phillips and Keith Sewell with Utopia Scratch 'n' Win. |
Beef Week 2012 saw remarkable success for Dangarfield in the Stud Cattle Ring:
- Junior & Grand Champion Bull Dangarfield Universe (PS) (by Dangarfield Quarterback (P)). Dangarfield Universe (PS) was also a top 10 finisher in the Beef Week 2012 Interbreed Competition
- Reserve Junior Champion Bull Dangarfield Uluru (by Dangarfield Power House)
- Reserve Senior Champion Bull Dangarfield Tornado (by Dangarfield Quarterback (P))
- Reserve Senior Champion Female Dangarfield Tulip (by Warrillee Vernon)
- Prime Cattle 3rd Place (from 33 entries) - Pen of 10 steers 560/740kg, 0-4 teeth, 100 days grain fed. 10 steers ave. 19 months of age, weight 666kg, selling for 224c/kg - $1,491. Thanks to Talbingo feedlot for the preparation of our show bullocks.
Dangarfield Universe (PS) went on to be sold for top price of $40,000 to the Martin Family in our 25th Annual Sale in 2013. We have had the opportunity to secure a half share back in Dangarfield Universe (PS) and are greatly impressed with his daughters.
 |
L to R: Dangarfield Universe (PS), Ben Adams, judge Scott Dunlop with sponsors Rick & Alice Greenup making the presentation.