Cashmere Droughtmasters
Cashmere Droughtmasters
Cashmere Cattle, owned by John Atkinson and his family, is a leading Australian Droughtmaster program built on decades of disciplined selection. The herd emphasizes fertility, structural soundness, adaptability, temperament, and maternal performance under challenging Australian conditions. Relying primarily on proven homebred sires, the program focuses on producing consistent, low-input cattle that calve unassisted, thrive on forage, and remain productive for the long term.
Cashmere Cattle’s Droughtmaster breeding program run by John Atkinson is built on a foundation of Droughtmaster genetics, reflecting decades of careful selection and refinement. Over the past 20 years, they have integrated genetics from numerous studs but have primarily relied on sires from within their own program to maintain consistency and quality.
The herd is rooted in foundation Droughtmaster genetics, with bulls sourced selectively over the past two decades. However, most sires used today are homebred to preserve uniformity and desirable traits. Finding new genetics is challenging, given the breed's geographical limitation to Australia. While various studs have been tested, many introduced undesirable traits and were subsequently culled. Using multiple outside bulls has been found to dilute type and uniformity.
Cows must meet strict performance standards, consistently getting pregnant, calving, and raising a high-quality calf unassisted. They must pass structural assessments for feet, legs, and overall soundness, have no buffalo fly marks, and maintain a calm temperament. Aggressive cows are culled to ensure safe handling for the family-run operation. Bulls must be standouts from weaning to maturity, originating from strong maternal lines with faultless udders. They must have strong presence and sire appeal, excellent structural integrity and walking ability, and superior semen quality, testicular development, and underline conformation.
Due to the mineral-deficient land, cattle receive phosphorus and mineral supplements throughout winter. Seasonal management practices help optimize nutrition and herd health.
A true family operation, John, his wife, and their three young children handle all of the operational duties without outside employees. While embryo transfer was previously utilized, it was discontinued due to low success rates, averaging 3-4 embryos per cow. Artificial insemination remains part of the breeding program. EPDs are not commonly used within the breed, as John finds that many who rely on them often neglect fundamental selection principles.
