Among the most influential cow families in the Te Mania herd are the Lowan, Barunah, Jedda, Wargoona, Dandloo, Mittagong and Beeac maternal lines. These families form the backbone of the breeding program and have contributed significantly to the performance, fertility and maternal strength for which Te Mania genetics are recognised.
Today, descendants of these seven maternal lines account for 87 per cent of Te Mania’s active herd of more than 3,500 breeding females. Their influence extends well beyond Te Mania itself, with stud breeding females from these families having been selected by seedstock operations throughout Australia and internationally.
The impact of these maternal lines on the wider Angus breed can be traced through foundation females exported or sold to prominent breeding programs. Examples include VTMH5+88 from the Dandloo family, sold to Dunoon Angus in 1994, and VTMR426+96 from the Lowan family, which was sold to Russell Phelps in the United States and Handbury Angus in 2004.
These families have also been represented through some of Te Mania’s most influential AI sires. TE MANIA BERKLEY B1 traces to the Lowan family, TE MANIA AFRICA A217 to the Jedda family, TE MANIA KIRBY K138 to the Beeac family and TE MANIA NEBO N424 to the Wargoona family. Through widespread AI use and the strong demand for their sons, these maternal lines continue to shape Angus herds across Australia and overseas.
For Te Mania Angus, the success of the program remains firmly linked to a simple breeding philosophy: genetic progress begins with outstanding females. The enduring influence of the Lowan, Jedda, Barunah, Wargoona, Dandloo, Mittagong and Beeac families is a testament to the value of retaining a strong focus on maternal performance, fertility, structural soundness and longevity.
Pictured are Te Mania Lowan Q475 and Te Mania Jedda Q454, representatives of two of the herd’s most influential and enduring maternal families.
