When two businesses come together, the goal is to build a stronger alliance and deliver even better results to customers.

When Angus producers Suzy and Jim Martin of Welcome Swallow joined forces with Alpine Angus, they set out to achieve just that — or as they put it, ‘‘double the bull power, double the choice and double the after sales service’’.

Alpine Angus and Welcome Swallow concluded an agreement to merge their programs in October 2015 after the sale of the Martins’ property Illalangi, which ran the Welcome Swallow herd.

‘‘It’s very unusual for a stud to disperse and merge with a stud like this,’’ Mrs Martin said.

‘‘This is a true merger not just the sale of some genetics.’’

Alpine Angus purchased female genetics, all embryo calves and more than 50 bulls from the Welcome Swallow herd last year.

Alpine Angus principal Jim Delany said the merger was an exciting new chapter.

While the studs have merged, they will be displayed at different locations during Beef Week.

The 64 Welcome Swallow bulls, which will be on agistment, will displayed at Rayners’ farm at 220 Lidgerwoods Lane, Birregurra on Saturday, January 30 and Tuesday, February 2.

The Alpine Angus Beef Week open day will be held at Rosewhite on Friday, January 29.

‘‘It’s a very important day for us and for the whole stud industry because it gives people a chance to compare programs and meet the people behind the programs in a relaxed environment, which means that you can learn a lot more, get a feel for what’s on offer and compare what’s on offer,’’ Mrs Martin said.

‘‘The significant thing about our programs is that there is a very clear focus on offering beef produce that has improved efficiency through calving ease and growth spread whilst at the same time maximising market access through carcase quality.’’

Starting a business together requires a shared vision, and something Welcome Swallow and Alpine Angus are both heavily focused on is making their animals easy to work with.

‘‘We are both very passionate about the temperament of bulls — we demand our bulls to be well mannered and easy to handle,’’ Mrs Martin said.

Both producers also have a proactive approach towards business, and Mrs Martin said Welcome Swallow and Alpine Angus had formally adopted an extensive, three-year guarantee and after sales service policy.

‘‘We see the sale of a bull as the beginning of a relationship, not the end of a deal,’’ she said.

The Martins and Alpine Angus producers will maintain regular contact with clients to monitor how their sold bulls and females are producing and breeding.

‘‘If a client has a bull that breaks down during joining, we both keep a supply of spare bulls so we can help clients in an emergency — that’s a free service,’’ Mrs Martin said.

The next step in the merger will be the Alpine Angus/Welcome Swallow sale at Rosewhite on Wednesday, March 30.