Vale Allan Robert Kranz, passed away 10-5-2017 aged 69 years.

Allan Kranz and Steve McCourt at the 2017 Beef Week in Mount Gambier

Allan grew up on the West Coast of South Australia where he met and married the love of his life Jennifer. They had three children Mark, Allison and Andrew. Most of Allan’s life was spent as a stock and land agent which took the family eventually to the South East.  Allan was transferred as branch manager for Bennett Farmers to Lucindale, then Dalgetys at Millicent and then to Mount Gambier where he was a partner in Norman Goldsworthy & Kranz for many years. Upon retiring from the many late nights and phone calls he went to manage a friend’s cattle property which was spread around the district. I remember him telling me it was a 240km trip to check the waters.

While being an agent in the Mount l became one of his many clients. He became increasingly interested in the cattle l was breeding as he could see from the kill sheets that the 2 tooth bullock’s that l was growing out were of equivalent weight as his other clients but 6 months younger.

Grand Champion Steer Hoof and Hook

So it came to pass that in 2004 he and Jennifer bought a line of Salers cows off me and a bull off Ian Blake. The Salers herd he bred from these became a passion.  He entered grass fed trials every year but was always pipped at the post because of fat level so he bought a Shorthorn bull to improve that aspect. In 2016 he gave one of his young steers to Grant High School for their annual feed, show and hang competition with other South East Schools. His steer took all before it on the hoof and hook winning 2016 Grand Champion steer or heifer on hoof and hook. Allen put another two steers into the school program this year so he will be competing for a while yet.

This bull was never halter broken

 

We have lost not only a dear friend and respected cattleman but a very passionate Salers breeder. The bull in the photo was bred by him and is now owned by David Miller. This bull never had a rope on him but Allan could rub him all over.

Cheers Allan, thanks for the memories,

Steve McCourt and family.

 

Allan (second in on the left), the classic cattle yard pose when inspecting cattle.
Photo taken at the 2012 Australian Salers AGM in SA.