About Us
Mac & Gayle were both born and bred with horses and cattle in their blood. Mac grew up on a remote cattle property “Myall Springs” two hours west of Collinsville in Northern Queensland. The Burdekin Dam was constructed on their property, so despite losing some of their best cattle country, they now have the luxury of an abundance of water. Ironically, Gayle grew up on the headwaters of the Burdekin River, on a cattle property called “Valley of Lagoons” that looked as good as it sounded. It too is an isolated cattle station about two and a half hours west of Ingham. Though horses and cattle were a part of their lives from very early on, neither Mac nor Gayle actually got into the competitive side of the horse sporting arena till after they had each left school.
Mac competed in his first draft in his early teens and Gayle was 17. From then on they were hooked. Mac & Gayle were married in 1999 and moved to Cantaur Park on 6th September 2000. “Cantaur Park” their horse stud was formed soon after. They also took over management of the Lamont Stud Droughtmaster herd. Gayle’s grandfather, Monty Atkinson was the founder of the Droughtmaster breed and this stud was formed in his memory.
Gayle had a horrific accident on the property in August 2002, while renewing the fence around the house. Mac was operating the tractor and Gayle was shoveling the dirt away from the posthole digger. Somehow Gayle’s glove caught on a release pin and she became entangled in the PTO shaft. The auger was almost all the way in the hole, so there was a very small gap for her body to be thrown around in. Gayle revolved around the shaft numerous times and in doing so her right arm, shoulder socket and shoulder blade was twisted off immediately and on top of many other severe injuries, the nerves that controlled her left arm were all torn out of the spinal cord, rendering her left arm completely paralysed. Medical help took 2 hours to arrive, and after a long and painful recovery Gayle & Mac made the decision to remain at Cantaur Park despite it’s somewhat remoteness.
Gayle has learnt to do many things with her feet. Mac has welded handles low down on the slides in the cattle yard to enable Gayle to use them and she has also learnt to work the drafting gates with her feet. Gayle also has a modified 4-wheel motorbike so she can participate in the mustering. She has learnt to drive all of the work vehicles, truck, tractor etc, all of which are not modified in any way. Undoubtedly this has been a huge challenge for them, but they have overcome adversity in an attempt to get their lives back to doing what they love most – breeding horses and cattle.
OUR HISTORY
Mac & Gayle Shann both have a long history of breeding cattle on both sides. Gayle’s Grandfather Monty Atkinson, was the founder of the droughtmaster breed. It all started back in 1910 when 2 North Queensland graziers imported 2 Zebu (Bos indicus) bulls into the area from the Melbourne Zoo. In 1921 Robert Lamont (Monty) Atkinson made an important observation when riding 2 mares to a blood stallion at Bluff Downs Station near Charters Towers. Monty had seen several Zebu/British crossbreed cattle. They were in good condition in comparison with the rest of the cattle he saw. These were the descendants of the bulls sent north in 1910. Monty then set about developing what ultimately became the Droughtmaster breed.
In 1922 Mont & his father Bob were in Sydney purchasing horses for the cane fields and visited the Taronga Park Zoo. There was a Zebu cow and calf imported from India. They eventually purchased the bull calf for 20 guineas and when he reached 6 months old he was weaned and was put on a boat heading for Townsville. Unfortunately he died of travel sickness on the boat and this stalled proceedings for a while.
In the early 1930’s a consignment of Brahman cattle were imported by a syndicate of graziers (including Monty’s brother, Ken) and the CSIRO. Mont then had access to 3 red half-bred bulls. Throughout the following years the best progeny of these crossed over the Shorthorn and Shorthorn/Devon herd were retained.
The breed Mont was aiming for had to be fertile, a dominant colour and docile, withstand the severe enviroment of the tropics, have tick resistance, eliminate eye cancer problems, yet still retain some of the better attributes of the Bos Taurus breeds. It came at a time when graziers were looking for answers. Drought, heat, ticks and general hard times were causing severe losses in British herds in the north.
In 1952 Monty instigated a meeting in Townsville and the Australian Zebu Cross Beef Cattle Breeders’ Association was formed. In 1956 this society was divided into 3 groups, these being the Braford, Brangus & Droughtmaster. The Droughtmaster Stud Breeders’ Society commenced in 1962. Monty was the Patron of the breed from 1966 to 1985.
Droughtmasters’ today have seen huge successes and general popularity because they are so adaptable and are such an easy care breed. Monty would be proud of what has become of his breed.
In 2002 the Droughtmaster Sale MAGS was started. It has grown from strength to strength and Mont’s son, 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, sell at this sale.