People
Shaun and Jo McGuigan
Founders of Cree Santa Gertrudis Stud
With over 42 years of experience in the beef cattle industry, Shaun has built a solid foundation of expertise. Before graduating from Emerald Agricultural College, he worked as a stock salesman and auctioneer at Primac, followed by a Head Stockman role with Heytesbury Pastoral Co. In 1992, Shaun established the Cree Santa Gertrudis Stud. Since then, Cree has successfully conducted 10 on-property bull sales, averaging $10,000 for 70 to 80 bulls, with a remarkable 95% average clearance rate.
Jo, raised on a commercial cattle station alongside her three older brothers, brings a wealth of experience to the operation. After graduating as a Travel Consultant, Jo worked alongside Shaun while raising their two sons, accumulating 40 years of experience in the beef cattle industry. She is also an Alumni of the 23/24 Advancing Beef Leaders program, further enhancing her knowledge and skills in the sector.
Andrew and Andrea Delforce
CREE Satellite Herd - ANADEL Rural: "Where Quality Counts"
With over 30 years of experience in the rural sector, Andrew and Andrea Delforce bring a wealth of expertise to their work. Prior to establishing their current management role at Meatant Cattle in Augathella, they spent 17 years in managerial positions with TVF Pastoral, overseeing operations at ‘Rawbelle’ in Monto and ‘Minnie Downs’ in Tambo.
ANADEL Rural established their satellite herd in 2023 with the introduction of 24 CREE stud cows, which were PTIC to several of Cree’s leading sires. The progeny are raised and weaned in the western Queensland area of Augathella, with selected heifers retained and bred as yearlings. Male progeny are transported to ‘Kiah’ in Thangool, where they undergo assessment, selection, and preparation for the annual sale as 2-year-olds, all while being managed under the stringent Cree program.
The ANADEL herd is driven by performance, with comprehensive data collection and submission to Breedplan to ensure the highest standards of breeding and herd management.
Breeding Philosophy
Quantified performance through validated genetics.
The stud is managed with a commercially orientated focus, breeding cattle that are functional and sound, that can rear a calf with good weaner weights, re-breed each year, and do this regardless of season and environment.
Our History
Shaun and Jo have a deep-rooted history in agriculture, both having grown up on grazing properties in central Queensland and the North Burnett. Their passion for Santa Gertrudis cattle began at an early age—Jo’s parents were involved at Eidsvold Station the year she was born (1972), while Shaun’s parents introduced Santa Gertrudis bulls into their commercial herd the year he was born (1967).
The Cree herd was initially founded from a purebred Hereford herd, with the introduction of the first Santa Gertrudis bulls in 1967. The core focus of the Cree Stud has always been to breed cattle that are adaptable to the harsh Central and Northern Australian climate, are fertile, consistently produce strong weaners each year, and possess a manageable temperament.
In its early years, the Cree herd was showcased in the show ring, where it was highly competitive in both the Santa Gertrudis and Bos Indicus categories. However, in recent years, the emphasis has shifted from showing cattle to performance recording, largely due to the increased feeding requirements to remain competitive in the show ring.
At Cree, we place a strong emphasis on breeding cattle with longevity. Many producers have experienced the benefits of the rigorous management practices applied to the Cree breeders. Short joining periods and low maintenance ensure that only females with exceptional stayability are retained. This selective breeding strategy proves especially beneficial during dry times, as the true advantages of the management practices become evident.
The Cree herd is extensively recorded, with numerous traits measured for each year’s calf drop. The highest-performing animals are recognized for their genetic merit. As George Box famously said, “All models are wrong, but some are useful.” With this in mind, we believe that the combination of BREEDPLAN and Predictor Plus provides valuable data that we can confidently use to identify and record the traits necessary to drive genetic improvement.
As a seedstock producer, Cree is proud to be the first and currently the only Santa Gertrudis herd to have been awarded a 5-Star rating for Completeness of Recording, which has led to an increased demand for our high-performing animals. Our sires are raised in a healthy, well-managed environment, and we adhere to the following practices:
- Animals are grown on natural grazing pastures
- All cattle meet Immune-Ready guidelines
- Certified by Australian Accredited Cattle Vets
TIMELINE
Shaun’s grandfather, John Richard (Dick) McGuigan, ran a Hereford herd at “Kooyong,” Monto.
Purchased Hereford cows from “Woolton Station,” Theodore, and sold stud bulls annually.
Stud cows were purchased from Ernie Zillman (Old Rawbelle Poll Hereford Stud, Eidsvold). Stud bulls were also sourced from the Brisbane Exhibition Stud Sales.
Tom Pownall, Dick’s brother-in-law, purchased a Santa Gertrudis bull (“Risdon,” Warwick) at the first Santa Gertrudis sale, initiating the crossbreeding program with Herefords.
William John McGuigan (John) joined the partnership with Shaun’s grandfather, Dick. John recognized the benefits of crossbreeding Santa Gertrudis/Hereford cattle, which had been successful for his uncles, Tom and Geoff Pownall.
Shaun’s parents, John and Merriel, purchased two Santa Gertrudis bulls from Eidsvold Station and nine Gyranda bulls from Geoff Pownall. Three Brahman bulls were also introduced to enhance adaptability.
John’s brother, Bruce, learned the art of pregnancy testing and introduced the practice into the “Kooyong” herd, a practice that continues today, over 50 years later.
Shaun and Jo joined the partnership with Shaun’s parents, John and Merriel, and the grading-up program began.
Registered with BREEDPLAN (ABRI) and began electronic data entry through STOCKBOOK.
Cree Stud was officially registered as Stud #1944.
Implemented farm biosecurity measures.
Achieved a 4.5-star rating for Completeness of Recording.
Began incorporating genomics into breeding practices.
Introduced shorter seasonal joining: 90 days for breeders, 60 days for yearling heifers.
Achieved a 5-star rating for Completeness of Recording.
Introduced Predictor Plus and began carbon footprint tracking.
At Cree, we place a strong emphasis on breeding cattle with longevity. Many producers have experienced the benefits of the rigorous management practices applied to the Cree breeders. Short joining periods and low maintenance ensure that only females with exceptional stayability are retained. This selective breeding strategy proves especially beneficial during dry times, as the true advantages of the management practices become evident.
The Cree herd is extensively recorded, with numerous traits measured for each year’s calf drop. The highest-performing animals are recognized for their genetic merit. As George Box famously said, “All models are wrong, but some are useful.” With this in mind, we believe that the combination of BREEDPLAN and Predictor Plus provides valuable data that we can confidently use to identify and record the traits necessary to drive genetic improvement.
As a seedstock producer, Cree is proud to have been awarded a 5-Star rating for Completeness of Recording, which has led to an increased demand for our high-performing animals. Our sires are raised in a healthy, well-managed environment, and we adhere to the following practices:
- Animals are grown on natural grazing pastures
- All cattle meet Immune-Ready guidelines
- Certified by Australian Accredited Cattle Vets
TIMELINE
1930
Shaun’s grandfather, John Richard (Dick) McGuigan, ran a Hereford herd at “Kooyong,” Monto.
Purchased Hereford cows from “Woolton Station,” Theodore, and sold stud bulls annually.
1940
1943
Stud cows were purchased from Ernie Zillman (Old Rawbelle Poll Hereford Stud, Eidsvold). Stud bulls were also sourced from the Brisbane Exhibition Stud Sales.
Tom Pownall, Dick’s brother-in-law, purchased a Santa Gertrudis bull (“Risdon,” Warwick) at the first Santa Gertrudis sale, initiating the crossbreeding program with Herefords.
1952
1956
William John McGuigan (John) joined the partnership with Shaun’s grandfather, Dick. John recognized the benefits of crossbreeding Santa Gertrudis/Hereford cattle, which had been successful for his uncles, Tom and Geoff Pownall.
Shaun’s parents, John and Merriel, purchased two Santa Gertrudis bulls from Eidsvold Station and nine Gyranda bulls from Geoff Pownall. Three Brahman bulls were also introduced to enhance adaptability.
1967
1970
John’s brother, Bruce, learned the art of pregnancy testing and introduced the practice into the “Kooyong” herd, a practice that continues today, over 50 years later.
Shaun and Jo joined the partnership with Shaun’s parents, John and Merriel, and the grading-up program began.
1992
1999
Registered with BREEDPLAN (ABRI) and began electronic data entry through STOCKBOOK.
Cree Stud was officially registered as Stud #1944.
2000
2012
Implemented farm biosecurity measures.
Achieved a 4.5-star rating for Completeness of Recording.
2020
2021
Began incorporating genomics into breeding practices.
Introduced shorter seasonal joining: 90 days for breeders, 60 days for yearling heifers.
2022
2023
Achieved a 5-star rating for Completeness of Recording.
Introduced Predictor Plus and began carbon footprint tracking.
2024
Sustainability
people
We are a family-run business built on a deep passion for our land and cattle. Our respect for one another, along with our commitment to our clients and supporters, forms the core foundation of our operations. We take great pride in maintaining accuracy and accountability in all aspects of our work.
Health and Safety
At Cree, the health, safety, and well-being of our family, business relationships, and clients are integral to our workplace culture. We maintain a safe environment, equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to manage risk effectively and minimize harm.
cattle
The Cree Herd Sustainability Program began with seasonal joinings, focusing on the ability to breed and finish cattle at a young age. The herd is supported by a BREEDPLAN 5-Star rating for Completeness of Recording, with over 12 months of data input into Predictor Plus. Predictor Plus is a grazing management software designed to assist Australian producers in optimizing the nutrient supply to their herds while identifying the nutritional deficits within their operations. This enables the delivery of superior production outcomes, directly benefiting the bottom line. By integrating these tools, Cree is able to:
- Forecast grazing strategy outcomes
- Measure livestock Scope 1 emissions
- Measure breeder fertility
Land
Cree is dedicated to responsible stewardship of the natural environment in which we operate. The health of our land directly impacts the quality of the animals and products we produce, as well as the long-term sustainability of our business. Many of our operational inputs are derived from renewable energy sources, such as solar-powered pumps, and we have transformed former cultivation paddocks into productive Leucaena pastures.
Clients
At Cree, our motto—“Quantified performance through validated genetics”—reflects our commitment to scientific accuracy. Quality is a cornerstone of our operations, and it is essential for our clients to achieve maximum profitability.
“Quantified performance” means scientifically proven results, not mere opinion. The performance of Cree progeny is validated through proven genetic systems.
All sale progeny are meticulously recorded, and full performance disclosures are provided in easy-to-understand graphs, comparing each animal’s performance to the breed average.
We strive to offer stud sires that will enhance your herd genetically and maximize your profitability. Additionally, we pride ourselves on delivering sale bulls directly to your door, ensuring their safe arrival for your convenience.
Cree stands firmly behind our breeding program and offers an open-door policy, allowing you to observe firsthand the management practices that underpin our success.
Let's please Enhance Your Herd to Enhance Your Future
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