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Beef livestock - agricultural & rural farm news

Beef

At Willack Poll Hereford stud, even the dog is red!

Ron Radford was pleased with the growth and muscle of his draft of 18 month-old Lynford Park Blonde d’Aquitaine bulls. The included new bloodlines to the stud, such as from Canadian sires. The Radfords’ stud has polled and horned animals and his long-term aim is to grow his poll offering. He said since establishing the herd in 2003 and using top genetics in AI and natural breeding programs, he was producing cattle that had Blondes’ characteristic meat value including leading dressing percentage, which were used successful in crossbreeding over British breeds to add muscle. Mr Radford is pictured left with first-time visitor Greg Steer, Glengarry.

William Lack said there had been more visitors at Willack Poll Hereford’s Beef Week open day than in previous years. He said he’d continued to use an AI synchronisation program, selecting where possible the top bulls at the Dubbo and Wodonga national Hereford events, and buying and using their semen. He has introduced Valma Honkey Tonk to the program and purchased Mount Difficult Kenneth at that stud’s dispersal. He said the herd, including sale bulls, had benefited from a good season. Mr Lack is pictured right with ABS Australia’s Kim Sultana, Paul Quinlan and Brian Enbom.

Sharyn and Colin Wright (pictured left with repeat buyer Brendan Flynn, Ensay) said they had continued to introduce new bloodlines into Sharinda Angus stud, Winnindoo, with this year’s sale bulls by sires all known for calving ease, including Vision Unanimous 1418. Mr Wright said the bulls by Vision Unanimous had great thickness, with added strength and volume. He said the best thing to have happened to the stud in the past year was the 52 millimetres of rain received in the days before the Beef Week open day!

Innesdale Angus principal Geoff McInnes, Winnindoo (pictured right with repeat buyers Justin and Melissa Ainsworth, Stradbroke West) said this year’s offering of bulls exemplified the soundness, carcase traits, doing-ability and outstanding temperament for which they breed. The 14-16 month-old bulls include the stud’s first sons of Black Stamp Equator F01.

Ken (pictured) and Kathy Gray were excited to be showing of their Kenroy Poll Hereford cattle, that had impressively calm temperaments. Mr Gray said it was a small stud that was big on quality. He said it had taken eight years and now they had “the type of cattle I’m after” thanks to having a good foundation stock and using the best AI sires from throughout Australia and the world, for example these photographed cows are in-calf to Mawarra Mustang.

The team at Warringa Herefords and Poll Herefords, Yarram, had a busy morning, with new and potential buyers visiting. Bill Kee said he was very pleased with the inquiry, with three rising two-year old bulls sold by lunchtime, including one to an Ensay stud and two to commercial producers. He said the draft of sale bulls included sons of Bowmont Z458 Victory Blend that had proved popular thanks to their volume and carcase quality. Mr Kee is pictured right with return buyers George and Lorraine Simmons, Woodside.

Ken Gray showed just how quiet Kenroy Poll Hereford cows are.

At Warringa Herefords and Poll Herefords, Yarram, this son of Bowmont Z458 Victory Blend was all too happy to pose for a picture!

Lynton and Campbell (9mo) Hill, Anne Marie Henderson, Darren McAinch, Ellie Woodgate, Nigel Hodge, Billy Henderson, Rodney Pretty and Paul Sykes at Karoonda Hereford stud, day 6. Paul Sykes said the stud had hosted a steady flow of visitors from 7.30am, to view the horned and polled Hereford bulls on show.

Glenmaggie's Mick Higgins joined Ensay's Kerry and Phil Geehman at Bluey Commins' Nunniong Hereford stud, who had 40 bulls on show, half polled. Mr Commins' pasture was of as much interest as his bulls, as a good season showed high stands of lush clover and grass.

Travelling a long distance to make Newcomen Herefords their first stop of day six were South Gippsland's Geoff Coghill and Kevin Brislin, flanking Philip Gay, of Kingston, all owners of polled Hereford studs. Mr Coghill and Mr Gay, in particular, were looking for new bulls to infuse into their own breeding programs.

Bairnsdale's Mark Norling with Mundook principal Gary McAinch and stud manager, Peter Crawford. Mr McAinch had sold two of these bulls, plus one other, by lunchtime on day 6, all to East Gippsland buyers.

Rainy conditions did not deter visitors to Charellen Poll Hereford stud on day 6 - stud principal Stan Walker is pictured with Hazelwood North beef breeders, Pat and Kevin Hourigan. Mr Walker had a number of people visit who were interested in polled genetics and sold one bull during Beef Week.

Moorooduc's Geoff Coghill, Mt Eccles' Kevin Brislin and Kingston's Philip Gay, with Mawarra principals Peter and Logan Sykes. Peter Sykes said about 50 people, from across Victoria, visited the stud on day 6, where 100 2yo and rising-2yo bulls were on show.

Beef Week Day Six – East Gippsland

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