Vytelle brings innovative Droughtmaster event to Rockhampton
19 May 2025By WritersWho
Vytelle, a global precision livestock company accelerating genetic progress in cattle, announced its title sponsorship of the first-ever Droughtmaster Queen of the Ring event.
Following the success of previous King of the Ring competition, this groundbreaking female-focused showcase will highlight superior maternal traits and genetic excellence in the Droughtmaster breed.
The Vytelle Queen of the Ring will be held at CQLX, Gracemere on Monday, 15th September 2025, bringing together 15 of the best Droughtmaster females to be auctioned at the “Drinks with Droughties” function the night before the National Bull Sale.
The event underscores Vytelle’s commitment to advancing genetic improvement throughout the global beef industry, according to Vytelle’s Andrew Donoghue.
“Vytelle is proud to partner with Droughtmaster Australia for this landmark event celebrating female genetic excellence,” said Andrew Donoghue, Regional Director Australia/New Zealand.
“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to accelerate genetic progress and help Droughtmaster producers identify their most valuable animals. Our work with Droughtmaster breeders in both IVF and feed efficiency technology has demonstrated how integrated innovations can drive significant improvements in profitability and sustainability.”
“This comprehensive approach has delivered impressive results for Droughtmaster breeders like the Donaldson family of Medway Droughtmasters, who coincidentally purchased the inaugural King of the Ring champion, Rondel Domino, for $32,500 at the 2024 Droughtmaster National Sale. By utilising Vytelle’s technology to identify bulls with superior Net Feed Intake (NFI), they’ve been able to select animals that maintain optimal growth while requiring significantly less feed – a critical profit driver in beef production. Meanwhile, on the breeding side, they’ve been able to tap into their best female genetics more optimally through hormone-free IVF.”
The Queen of the Ring competition will evaluate females based on crucial maternal traits including fertility, structural soundness, temperament, and production efficiency – all vital characteristics for sustainable and profitable beef operations. The event provides breeders with valuable benchmarking opportunities while showcasing the breed’s genetic advancement.
Simon Gleeson, CEO of Droughtmaster Australia, expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership.
“It’s ideal to have Vytelle on board as the title sponsor for our first-ever Queen of the Ring event. This showcase focusing on female excellence represents our shared commitment to comprehensive genetic improvement. Vytelle’s expertise in both in vitro fertilisation and feed efficiency technology makes them the right partner for an event centered on advancing the genetic potential of the Droughtmaster breed.”
Vytelle’s precision livestock platform combines biotechnology with data analytics to help producers identify their most genetically valuable animals. This partnership aligns with the company’s mission to provide producers with tools and insights to make more informed breeding decisions, particularly through their advanced IVF programs that have been utilised by prominent studs like Rondel Droughtmasters.
The Vytelle Queen of the Ring will take place during the “Drinks with Droughties” function, creating an exciting atmosphere that is expected to attract the top Droughtmaster breeders and buyers from across Australia. This female-focused competition creates a perfect complement to the Droughtmaster National Bull Sale, which has seen bulls sell for as high as $220,000 in recent years.
“Showcasing elite female genetics is crucial for the continued advancement of the Droughtmaster breed,” added Gleeson. “The Queens selected for this event will represent the foundation of future herds, embodying the traits that make Droughtmasters Australia’s natural wonder breed – adaptability to harsh conditions, excellent maternal characteristics, and commercial productivity.”
