HEREFORDS Australia
New indexes for sustainability and carcase traits
Value adding with grass-fed beef direct to consumers
Feedlot performance wins again for Hereford
Leading the world in innovation, sustainability and food solutions
Editor
Kim Woods - Outcross Media 0499 772 860
Email: kim@outcrossmedia.com.au
Art direction and design
Michelle Hoffman 0409 643 947
Email: mh_design1@outlook.com
Advertising
Annette Weatherstone 0428 844 937
Email: annette.herefords@gmail.com
Michelle Hoffman 0409 643 947
Email: mh_design1@outlook.com
Publisher Herefords Australia
ABN 86 121 714 332
Email: info@herefordsaustralia.com.au www.herefordsaustralia.com.au
P: 02 6772 1399
Chief Executive Officer
Alastair James
Member Services and Operations Manager
Ambrose Kenney
RD & E Specialist
Hamish Chandler
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Olivia Pearce
Registry and Membership Services Assistant
Naomi Oehlers
Office and Accounts Coordinator
Stephanie Archibald
Youth Coordinator
Nikki Martin
Board of Directors 2024
Marc Greening - CHAIRMAN
Ian Durkin - DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Sam Becker - DIRECTOR / RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Annie Pumpa - DIRECTOR / MEMBER LIAISON REPRESENTATIVE
Sam Broinowski - DIRECTOR / YOUTH LIAISON
REPRESENTATIVE / FINANCE, AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Our cover image of steers being finished on Italian ryegrass pasture for the Coles GRAZE grass fed program was taken by Edmund Laffan, Deloraine Rural, Morven, NSW. The commercial herd of 1000 cows has a 75 year history and also finishes for the AMG grass fed brand.
20 New indexes for sustainability and carcase traits
26 Value adding with sustainable grass-fed beef direct to consumers
62 Women in Beef: outback challenges with Rebecca Cadzow
4 Chairman’s report
5 Chief executive officer’s report
6 Leading the world in processing innovation
10 From the rangelands to the international stage
12 Ticking the boxes on performance off grass
14 News: Scandinavian study tour
15 News: welcome Alastair James 16 Boosting Norfolk Island genetic sustainability
18 Hereford wins beef breeds battle again
30 Crossbreeding for resilience and carcase quality
32 32 Herefords consistent with weight gains in trial
34 Feedlot performance wins again for Hereford
50 Taylor most potential breeder winner
51 Youth Coordinator’s report
52 Youth President’s report
53 Future Breeders and Leaders in the spotlight
56 Tabby a travel scholarship winner
59 Junior profile: Sam Garvin
61 Peewee profile: Dustin Paton
68 Hereford beef in demand at AgQuip
69 Notching up a milestone –Doodle Cooma
72 Notching up a milestone –Allendale
74 Spring bull sales wrap
78 Glen Innes Show and Sale
79 Tributes flow
82 Single bloodline feeder sale
83 Gippsland Performance sale
DIRECTORS
Mark Baker, Tom Nixon, Ben Rumbel and Alex Sparkes
All mail to:
LOCKED BAG 7, ARMIDALE, NSW 2350 The Herefords Australia magazine is published twice a year by Herefords Australia Limited. Articles appearing in the Herefords Australia magazine do not necessarily represent the policies, opinions or views of Hereford Australia.
36 Hereford herds benchmark genetics in grain fed trial
38 Roundup of the Royal Show results
42 National youth committee profiles
46 All the results of the National Youth Expo
84 Around the store sales
90 Board of directors
91 Regional contacts
92 Advertisers Index
93 Breeder’s directory
94 2024 events calendar
Dear Members,
It is with great pleasure I accepted the role of Chairman of Herefords Australia Ltd (HAL) in May 2024. After working closely with Ian Durkin, the immediate past Chairman for the three previous years, it has been a smooth transition. Ian did a wonderful job in progressing the board and organisation to a modern organisation with systems in place for board innovation, and policy direction therefore giving the staff the reins to implement and drive progression in all areas.
In May of 2024 we welcomed two new board directors in Tom Nixon and Ben Rumbel. These inclusions further add to the skill set of the board with a progressive, youthful board that is without doubt the envy of all breed societies in the industry.
I would also like to thank the board for all their hard work in driving the organisation in line with our strategic pillars, really transitioning all aspects of HAL into a modern organisation that is focussing on real world commercial profit drivers for our members. It is a hard task at times that members don’t necessarily see, but the clarity and focus on our goals certainly doesn’t go unrecognised by the leadership team.
Also, in 2024 we welcomed our new CEO Alastair James, continuing on in HAL attracting high calibre industry leaders. It has been a wonderful transition with Alastair really stepping into the team with ease. Alastair’s work behind the scenes and really ‘getting up to speed’ on all issues has been nothing short of amazing. Alastair brings to the table fantastic business acumen, member-based organisation management skills and the all-important network within the beef industry at all levels.
I really look forward to the positive contribution Alastair will have for our breed in the years to come. I would also like to thank Michael Crowley for his contribution in all areas and
Marc Greening
it is with great pride that we as an organisation played a part in positioning him for the role of Managing Director of MLA.
For Herefords as a breed moving forward there has really been some interesting and exciting moves within industry that are extremely positive for our breed and industry.
Industry has the opportunity to move to value-based marketing (VBM) where you get paid for the quality of product supplied and not just get paid on outdated subjective measurables, such as coat colour. The first step in this evolution is the move by industry to change breed language definitions to align our Australian industry with international competitors. This will give Herefords a huge market opportunity to really promote our crossbreeding credentials that align with our marketing strategies of MSA compliance and sustainability.
You will see our organisation promoting until we are blue in the face the advantages of reduced days to slaughter and increased fertility whilst improving MSA index outcomes. This is without doubt the number one on-farm sustainability metric that aligns our breed with the breed of the future and as we all know is what Herefords are strong at.
In 2025 I look forward to seeing as many members as possible at the World Hereford Conference in October at Kansas City, USA. I have no doubt this will be an exciting educational opportunity for members to attend with some great take home messages and instilled confidence that we have some world leading genetics coming from our members here in Australia.
I look forward to really promoting, refining and ultimately growing the breed in 2025 with our dedicated staff, board directors and members.
Warm regards,
Marc Greening CHAIRMAN
Dear Members,
Since starting in August this year, I have dedicated my time to understanding the business, getting out and meeting some of you and working closely with my team and the Board to implement efficiencies and execute on our strategic plan’s goals.
One of those goals is sustainability for the organisation, our members and the industry. The HAL Board and I are intent on achieving this by growing the Hereford breed’s market share through strongly and repeated promoting the key sustainable characteristics our breed excels in, those being the fertility, eating quality and reduced days to slaughter.
As part of the October BREEDPLAN analysis we released two new indexes, the Sustainability Production Index and the MSA Production Index. Both of these indexes are an important part of the breed’s strategic direction helping producers deliver on both improved sustainability outcomes and consumer expectations around eating quality.
With regard to eating quality, I had the opportunity to visit Teys in Wagga Wagga in October with Herefords Australia RD&E Specialist, Hamish Chandler, to collect samples to help grow our reference population for eating quality traits. The results from these will in-turn improve the accuracy for genomic predictions.
We collected samples from 55 grass-fed purebred Herefords sourced from our collaborator herd based in Ruffy, Victoria. A special thanks to Tim Hayes, Tarcombe Herefords and the team at Teys Wagga.
All steers graded MSA (Meat Standards Australia) with indexes of 60 and above. The average MSA index was over 62 and average MSA marble score was over 332. This is an encouraging result and a testament to our breed’s ability to produce exceptional quality beef from any production system.
During my time in the Riverina, I was fortunate enough to visit several members in the area. Engaging face-toface conversations has been invaluable for understanding the various drivers in your businesses and how we as an organisation can help deliver efficiencies and provide value. I look forward to meeting more of you as time goes on.
As I joined the organisation, we celebrated outstanding results at the RNA Paddock to Palate competition, where Devon Court Herefords pen of Hereford and Hereford infused steers were awarded in the MSA eating quality and weight gain classes. These results further reinforce the Hereford breed’s superior carcase attributes for eating quality along with weight gain off both grass and grain.
Alongside EKKA, the Norman Hotel in Brisbane, otherwise known as “Australia’s worst vegetarian restaurant”, ran the Battle of the Breeds competition where Herefords were again awarded as the champions for best eating quality for a second consecutive year. As a result, Hereford steak featured prominently on the menu throughout November, providing an excellent opportunity to promote our breed.
This year we announced a transition to a single annual edition of the Herefords Australia magazine. This highquality glossy magazine will be produced at the end of each
calendar year, in addition to our other robust advertising, marketing and promotional offerings to support your upcoming sales and events.
We have also implemented changes to streamline our processes, resulting in the announcement of moving to direct-tolab DNA processing for our members. These improvements enhance our efficiency and free up valuable time for the organisation to deliver on our strategic priorities and continue to improve the value proposition for our members.
I was thrilled to attend the inaugural Rural Bank Future Leaders and Breeders Forum held in Brisbane on October 23-24. This event was held in response to member feedback seeking a forum to educate and encourage 20- to 45-yearold beef industry enthusiasts in the early stages of their agricultural careers.
The event attracted participants from across Australia, all of whom left with renewed enthusiasm and increased knowledge about the beef cattle industry. I extend my sincere gratitude to our sponsors; their support is essential to facilitating such events, and the knowledge gained is invaluable for the future leaders of our breed and industry.
Looking ahead to 2025, I am excited to announce the Harris Farms Markets Hereford Australia National Youth Expo will take place at Canberra exhibition park from July 10-13. This venue allows us to host more animals and participants in a world class facility. Additionally, we have four talented youth members competing in the Young Breeders Competition during the Herefords World Conference in Kansas from October 18-26, 2025.
2025 is already shaping up to be a monumental year, as we will also celebrate our 60th National Show & Sale (Wodonga) on May 14-15. This milestone event promises to be a spectacular showcase, and I encourage you to reach out to your commercial bull-buying clients to invite them to our flagship event.
As we move into the new year, I want to express my gratitude to my dedicated team at Herefords Australia and our board of directors. Their hard work and determination are essential as we strive to achieve positive outcomes for our breed and members.
I wish you all a joyous, safe and merry Christmas. I am looking forward to working with each of you in 2025.
Warm regards,
Alastair James CEO
THE Hereford breed’s emerging leaders were given an insight into the future of the Australian beef industry with a tour of the purpose-built Kilcoy Global Foods innovation centre, a leader in robotics and world class processing equipment.
A tour of the Kilcoy Innovation Hub on the Sunshine Coast was a highlight of the inaugural Herefords Australia Future Leaders and Breeders Forum held in Brisbane in October.
The tour gave the participants a deeper level of understanding of the beef supply chain, career opportunities and cutting edge innovation in the red meat sector.
Kilcoy has five state of the art Australian facilities and is renowned for premium quality and innovative practices.
The global food company is recognised as one of the most modern in the country, after embarking on a transformative journey over a decade ago focused on improving efficiencies and safety across all its facilities.
From an innovation hub to robotic programs, world class facilities, fifth quarter initiatives and industry leading sustainability practices, Kilcoy is not only reshaping its own operations but also setting new standards for the industry.
ABOVE: Robotic scribes in action at Kilcoy Global Foods.
BELOW: Kilcoy Global Foods’ Australian facilities are among the most modern in the country.
KGF Australian President Jiah Falcke said innovation was ingrained in the company’s culture.
“The KGF team is driven by a passion to continuously improve, to relentlessly pursue excellence ad with that passion comes innovative out-of-the-box thinking every day,” Mr Falcke said.
“It’s our technology that really sets us apart. We’re embracing artificial intelligence and all that it can do for our business, and we are excited by the possibilities.”
A first of its kind in Australia, The Hub was developed in partnership with Meat and Livestock Australia, the
Australian Meat Processing Corporation (AMPC) and Kilcoy Global Foods.
The Hub features an ultra-modern commercial kitchen, research and development facilities, dry ageing cabinets and an immersive paddock to plate virtual reality experience.
In partnership with AMPC, Kilcoy Global Foods pioneered a first of its kind robotic scribe cutting system designed to improve yield, safety and accuracy – cut after cut.
The robotic scribes use 3D cameras, vision processing, imaging
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Sire: Tondara Mason P037
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cameras, and AI tasks to find where they need to cut. This step is critical for boning room success – it scribes the cuts, gives boners the right pattern to follow and optimises yields.
“We’ve built our reputation on 70 years of exceptional quality, and this technology pushes that a step further. It gives us the accuracy we need from a yield perspective, product specifications and product consistency,” Mr Falcke said.
“Our customers open their boxes and notice the difference.”
As part of their transformative journey, KGF continues to invest heavily in their Australian facilities to bring them up to the most modern standards. This includes a major overhaul for their primary Kilcoy facility and two newly acquired Victorian plants at Kyneton and Lance Creek.
KGF officially opened the foods solution facility in Bells Creek in late 2023 to deliver multi-protein food solutions across raw and cooked for domestic and export markets.
As part of their 100 per cent carcase utilisation commitment, KGF launched a new brand and product line, Kilcoy Nutrition. Using their premium beef organs which are in high demand for their rich nutritional content, Kilcoy Nutrition uses an innovative spray drying process to transform beef liver, heart and lung into a super-fine powder.
Highly versatile, the powder can be blended with other ingredients to create a unique formulation. Packed full of protein, vitamins and minerals, Kilcoy Nutrition products are a great way for people to enrich their dietary intake and reach their health goals.
The Kilcoy Nutrition range has multiple product applications including capsules and tablets and in pet treats, kibble and toppers.
Together with their suppliers, customers and communities, KGF is pursuing new and improved ways to deliver fresh,
natural, healthy and convenient food solutions that have a reduced impact on the environment and precious natural resources.
Innovation is just as important in their approach to the environment as it is with food, and the company leans on the latest technology to minimise their environmental impact.
Key examples of this are the new state-of-the-art Biomass Boiler at the Kilcoy facility, which eliminates their reliance on coal, generating their own electricity, best in class water management, a zero-waste commitment and circular land management practices.
It is this innovative approach to sustainability that has earned the company its Climate Active Carbon Neutral Organisation certification at its Kilcoy and Kyneton facilities, and Birtinya head office.
“For us, improvement is infinite. We strive to deliver the best, time after time, and are willing to push the boundaries and think differently,” Mr Falcke said.
Learn more at kilcoyglobalfoods.com
TOP PIC: Beef on display in the chiller cabinet at the Innovation Hub.
ABOVE: The Innovation Hub has an ultramodern commercial kitchen.
LEFT: The world-class Biomass Boiler at Kilcoy Global Foods.
By Kim Woods
HEREFORD cattle free ranging across eight million hectares in central Australia are producing some of the world’s most premium organic grassfed beef.
They contribute to OBE Organic Beef, a company established in the 1990s as Australia’s oldest farmer-owned organic beef supply chain and first organic beef exporter.
Formed by a group of far-sighted pastoral families, the company was founded on mainly Hereford herds finished on diverse native rangeland pastures in the harsh, arid Channel country of South Australia and western Queensland.
Each property is certified by third party auditors to comply with Australia’s National Standards for organic and biodynamic produce, and the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program.
The beef is free of antibiotics, added hormones, genetically modified feed, and raised on pastures free from chemical treatments.
Annual organic certification inspections ensure the producers have stocking rates appropriate for the region taking into consideration feed production capacity, health, nutrient balance, and environmental impact.
OBE Organic Managing Director Dalene Wray AM said the company exports to more than 12 countries,
including the Middle East, Asia and its largest export market of the USA.
“We have lots of unique selling points from certified organic, grass fed, family-owned, sustainable and from the Channel Country rangelands – each of those are important to different customers around the world,” Ms Wray said.
“We have the luxury of having amazing certified organic grass fed and sustainable beef from an amazing part of the world giving us a compelling case for customers to choose our product over an alternate.
“That product is largely based on the Hereford breed as they do well in the harsh environment of low rainfall and heat. All our imagery use Herefords and it is a nice example of a sustainable beef brand.”
Ms Wray said Herefords were performing for OBE Organic through the supply chain on meat and fat colour.
“As a beef exporter, we have to meet state and federal government requirements when it comes to animal welfare, and when the animal is handled well that typically results in good carcase characteristics,” she said.
“Texture and tenderness are managed through the wet ageing of the carcase. The unique flavour profile comes from the way animals choose their own diet among the native species of the rangelands.
“We buy steers, heifers and cows and have a market for all of them – steer and cow product are sold domestically and all around the world.”
Ms Wray said producers with low maintenance, pasture-based systems were ideally positioned to take on the three-year transition to organic certification to open future marketing opportunities.
The company’s animal welfare strategy aims to develop a process to monitor performance using existing data, participate in industry animal welfare initiatives and enhance the feedback loop to producers using behaviour theory to encourage change.
Cattle are transported to a USDA approved certified organic processing facility on the east coast of Australia under strict certified organic standards. All feed provided to animals in transit is organically certified and on arrival at the processing facility cattle are kept in yards dedicated exclusively to organic stock.
The beef travels through an unbroken cold chain from the time it leaves the processing facility until it reaches its final destination where it is stacked fresh in premium retailers and restaurants.
Ms Wray said large global hotel chains had sustainability quotas with chefs obligated to purchase a percentage of their food and beef inventory from sustainable sources, with OBE Organic filling the niche.
“A Brisbane butcher shop we supply has many vegans and vegetarians as new customers. They are wanting to start putting meat back in their diet but want it to be more sustainable, clean, and safe or with a guarantee of integrity.
“We are proud of what we are doing what we are doing – we wouldn’t be here if consumers weren’t buying our product. We do sell to more and more places around the world, but as one market opens, another closes so we have to have a product with market flexibility.
“Producers need to present an animal to the market in the best possible condition and genetics has a key role to play in that.”
By Kim Woods
HEREFORD and black baldy cattle are ticking the boxes on weight gain, carcase quality and temperament for one of the premium suppliers to the Coles GRAZE grass-fed brand.
Gippsland grass finishers Gary and Samantha Owen finish 1500 British bred steers and heifers a year for Coles GRAZE and receive no price differential between the breeds.
After a decade of finishing cattle for the grass-fed brand, the couple has been impressed with the Hereford and Hereford infused cattle’s early maturity, quiet temperament, finishing ability and carcase quality of MSA compliance, fat cover, yield and eye muscle area.
They are specialists at optimising pasture growth to achieve average daily gains of up to 2.5kg in spring to finish at 280kg carcase weight with 4mm of rib fat.
As third generation farmers, Gary and Samantha trade as Budgaree Beef, at Budgaree, and also operate a 300cow dairy herd and a herd of 30 Hereford breeding females supplying weaners for the grass-fed enterprise.
Last year, the black baldy weaners from the breeder herd finished at 280kg carcase weight at just 16 months.
Set in a 900mm rainfall zone, the 810ha property ranges from light grey, sandy to deep red soil types supporting high performance Italian ryegrass pastures. In 2007, the family expanded the dairy business to include beef.
“Our main target is to supply Coles GRAZE with grass-fed beef and, apart from winter months, we send 48 head a fortnight but this increases to 48 head a week from January through to June,” Mr Owen said.
“We have a resowing program where our pastures are renovated every year, and any paddocks damaged from wet weather are oversown in the autumn with Italian ryegrass.”
Grazing management focuses on strip grazing behind a single electric wire and moving the steers and heifers every one to two days to fresh pasture. Winter rotations are 40 to 60 days and spring down to 15 days with excess pasture cut for pit silage for the summer-autumn feed gap.
Soil tests determine the fertiliser regime but it is mainly super potash, ammonium sulphate and a strategic use of nitrogen applications through winter and early spring.
Mobs of 200 to 250 cattle are introduced to pastures at 2400 to 2500 kilograms of dry matter per hectare and are moved once the pasture reaches 1300 to 1500kg DM/ha, resulting in average daily gains ranging from 1.1 to 2.5kg depending on the season.
“We aim to finish the cattle as fast as we possibly can to an average carcase weight of 280kg,” Mr Owen said.
Mrs Owen said the cattle were sourced either direct from preferred suppliers, AuctionsPlus or the Hamilton, Bairnsdale, Wodonga and Mountain Calf sales.
“Because we have a turn off carcase weight of 280kg, we have a small window of movement and the hardest part is to source the right shaped cattle that will perform for us,” she said.
“As we buy and transport our own cattle, most of them are bought off farm, through AuctionsPlus or from repeat suppliers.”
The couple select yard weaned, moderate framed and early maturing Hereford, black baldy and Angus steers and heifers of 330-350kg liveweight.
They have been impressed by the weight gain and finishing ability of the black baldy due to the heterosis or hybrid vigour.
“As we have cattle go through the yards once a week, we can monitor closely what groups are doing from the various farms and provide that feedback to our suppliers,” Mrs Owen said.
“More suppliers are wanting to know how their cattle perform on the carcase feedback, particularly the MSA grades.”
Mr Owen said the cattle need to be yard weaned and have a quiet temperament to enable them to socialise quickly and gain weight.
“For the Coles GRAZE program, cattle have to be declared grass fed while a small percentage goes to the Greenhams Never Ever program where they have to be grass-fed and antibiotic free.”
A COMMITMENT to deepening client collaboration and genetic outcomes, ensuring a smooth generational handover, and leading by example with a commercial expansion has opened international opportunities for one Hereford seedstock operation.
Peter, Deanne and Logan Sykes, of Mawarra Genetics, Longford, Vic, will undertake an international study tour of processing facilities, sustainable food production, waste energy solutions and cattle herds in Denmark and present on the stud’s breeding objectives and the Australian industry at a Finnish beef industry seminar in November.
The study tour also includes Peter and Logan judging cattle at northern Europe’s largest agricultural fair, Agromek.
The family received the tour for winning the Gippsland Food and Fibre Innovation and 2024 Gippsland Agribusiness of the Year awards, judged by an independent panel of judges and announced on May 31.
The awards recognised the demonstrated approach to adopting new and innovative technologies and a willingness to share knowledge and experience with others in the industry.
Mawarra Herefords was established in 1963 by Robert and Helen Sykes and during the past 60 years of successfully breeding stud cattle, the business has seen three generations of family dedicated to producing superior Hereford genetics in Gippsland.
The family is committed to deepening client collaboration and genetic outcomes, ensuring a smooth generational handover and leading by example with a commercial expansion.
A strategic expansion began in 2018 with the purchase of an additional property, the installation of a 9-span centre pivot, solar bore, laneways and cattle yards. This created a sustainable farming environment focused on key objectives including optimal health outcomes, productivity, and business longevity.
The expansion unlocked financial potential by leveraging existing equity to strengthen Mawarra’s position.
Mrs Sykes said increased capacity allowed for optimised cash flow and resource allocation.
Over the past five years bull and female sales have increased and lower variable costs have been achieved by reducing reliance on external inputs.
“Diversification and expansion provide resilience against market fluctuations and a changing climate, while facilitating future succession plans,” she said.
Mawarra has participated in the Victorian Government’s Farm Livestock Monitor Project since 2020 exceeding Gippsland averages for key metrics year on year.
Adapting to change has meant focusing on market diversification, leveraging a strong business position to mitigate risk and proactive succession planning.
Mrs Sykes pointed to personal development, strong leadership and client engagement as being crucial to success.
“Our dedicated team of advisors assist us with strategic planning and succession, marketing, land and water management, genetic acquisition, and exploring new avenues to build on the
growth we’ve already achieved,” she said.
“We connect clients with processors and backgrounders, creating a datadriven ecosystem to continuously improve Mawarra branded cattle through the supply chain.”
Mrs Sykes said the business was committed to a seamless generational hand over with experienced team members transitioning to mentoring and client relationships, while mid-level members take on leadership roles.
“We brought people in from the outside to guide us and talk through the options to ensure everyone, including other family members not involved in the business, was at the table in the conversation and respected in the space.”
“We have done the same with our own children - the conversations have been going on for a long time using Shine at Business to facilitate.
“Fostering personal development opportunities for our team is a high priority. Positively contributing to each team member’s feeling of value and well-being translates to a culture in which we all enjoy working towards common goals.”
RED meat industry
executive Alastair James officially stepped into the role of Herefords Australia chief executive officer on August 7.
Alastair’s recent tenure as CEO of the Red Meat Advisory Council and extensive experience in senior roles with industry representative bodies brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective to Herefords Australia.
He replaces Michael Crowley who left to take up the role of managing director of Meat and Livestock Australia.
Alastair James
Residing in Canberra, ACT, Alastair is passionate about advancing the Hereford breed and driving results for our members.
He is committed to the excellent work in enhancing HAL’s sustainability credentials and promoting the superior performance of Herefords Australia vision including highlighting the breed’s efficiency and sustainability –qualities that make Hereford an exceptional choice for Australian beef cattle producers.
“I extend my thanks and appreciation to Michael Crowley, whose leadership has left Herefords Australia in a solid position,” he said.
“My focus will be on advancing our strategic priorities, particularly in sustainability and adapting to the evolving market landscape.
“Herefords have always been a vital part of the supply chain, and our breed’s advantages, such as reduced days to slaughter, superior body condition scores on less feed, and improved fertility, position us well for continued success.
“Our commitment to sustainability will remain at the forefront as we highlight these genetic benefits through targeted marketing and increased awareness.
“The extensive carcase data collected under Michael’s tenure has provided us with invaluable insights to Hereford‘s performance across various production systems.
“This work will continue to be a cornerstone of our efforts to showcase the breed’s advantages.
“I look forward to working together as we advance our mission and achieve even greater results for our members.”
By Kim Woods
ONE of Australia’s most prominent Hereford herds is contributing genetics into the Norfolk Island cattle herd to boost genetic diversity and shore up domestic food security.
James and Nicki Pearce, Yavenvale Poll Herefords, Adelong, operate one of the nation’s largest seedstock Hereford herds at more than 1400 stud and commercial breeders, and have harvested embryos from elite females with the assistance of Breeder Genetics for the island.
The project is funded under the Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast.
Supported by the Australian Government and Norfolk Island Regional Council, the assisted program will introduce much needed new genetics into the existing herd through embryo transplants. In a 2019 report the genetic gain in island cattle was described as “parlous” with ageing bulls, inbreeding and little use of artificial insemination.
The program was designed in partnership with the Norfolk Island Cattle Association to directly address some of the key challenges faced by the cattle industry, which is one of the oldest surviving industries on the island with grazing records dating back to 1796.
CONSUMERS have voted the certified organic Hereford steaks served at Roma’s 4.5-star Overlander Homestead Motel as the best in Western Queensland.
The Overlander is owned and operated by Charles and Amanda WeymanJones and features Hereford beef born and raised in the Channel country and processed by OBE Organic Australia on its menu.
The Overlander Restaurant and Steak House has a traditional a la carte menu, but it is the Australian Hereford steak which has won over the consumers.
Mr Weyman-Jones said customers regularly fly in from Brisbane just for their favourite steak.
In a competition run by the Courier Mail, the meat eaters of Western Queensland were asked to vote for the best steak in the region with more than half voting for the Overlander.
The 50-seat restaurant is open seven nights a week, serving about 420 meals a week, and has always featured Hereford beef, including Hereford Prime in the past.
“We now source certified organic Hereford beef as eye fillet, cube roll, OP and ribs, and it is promoted as OBE Organic Australia beef on the menu,” Mr Weyman-Jones said.
It responded to community concerns about the sustainability of the local cattle population.
James and Nicki Pearce worked with Jack Laurie, Breeder Genetics, to collect embryos from elite females at Yavenvale for implantation in females within the island’s herd of 1000 Hereford, Angus, Simmental, Limousin, Devon, South Devon and Norfolk Blue cows.
“We were pleased to be involved in the project and contributing to a sustainable beef industry on Norfolk Island with outcross genetics from Yavenvale, creating genetic diversity and shoring up their beef supply,” Mr Pearce said.
Breeder Genetics founder and director Jack Laurie said Angus, Hereford, Speckle Park, Simmental and Red Angus frozen embryos and semen were implanted to boost genetic diversity of the beef cattle population.
“The project aims to increase food security as well as the agricultural beef production and sustainability of the industry on the island. All saleable cattle supply the island’s domestic market,” Mr Laurie said.
The embryo implantations were carried out by technicians from Holbrook Breeders Australia with the first calves due mid-March.
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By Olivia Pearce
IN an impressive display of culinary excellence, Herefords have secured victory in the Battle of the Breeds competition for the second consecutive year.
The competition is hosted by the Norman Hotel, Woolloongabba, and supported by JBS Australia.
This popular annual event invites diners to rate their favourite steak from four different breeds, and the winning steak is prominently featured in the restaurant throughout October.
The competition this year showcased a 70-day grain-fed Hereford sirloin, which went head-to-head with entries from the Droughtmaster, Brangus, and Charolais breeds.
Executive chef Frank Corenti, who oversees the kitchen at the Norman Hotel, described the competition as close and exciting.
Diners were invited to sample 40gram portions of each steak and rate them on a scale from one to 10 based on ‘liking’, ‘juiciness’, and ‘tenderness’.
Herefords Australia director Tom Nixon expressed pride in the breed’s continued success.
“It’s very encouraging to win the Battle of the Breeds competition again, especially after our breed topped a blind taste event involving beef producers at the Norman in early August,” Mr Nixon said.
“Competitions like this help show us we’re on the right track. Our successes ultimately hinge on eating quality.”
JBS Australia’s feedlots manager James Palfreeman emphasised the importance of cattle preparation before entering the feedlot.
“All of the cattle had been fed for 70 days on a wheat-based ration at Beef City and processed at Dinmore as part of the RNA’s Paddock to Palate competition,” he said.
“The effort cattle producers put into preparing the animals makes a significant difference in performance.”
Herefords Australia chief executive officer Alastair James elaborated on the breed’s focus on sustainable
productivitydriven outcomes throughout the entire supply chain.
“Herefords excel in fertility, weight for age, feed efficiency, carcass quality, longevity, and docility,” he said.
“These factors add considerable value to producers’ businesses and complement nearly every other breed in crossbreeding programs across the country.”
GENOMICS
Whole herd genomically tested to identify homozygous polled bulls, genetic conditions and improved EBV accuracy
DISPOSITION
Herefords Australia CEO Alastair James and James Palfreeman, JBS, at the Norman Hotel. Image: Tania Cousens
Docility scores and docility EBVS to improve temperament
GROWTH
Mr James noted the breed’s Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading performance, where voluntary contributions of 35,000 carcass records from central Queensland to Tasmania show the breed is consistently ranking in the top 25-30 per cent of all carcasses graded nationally on the MSA Index.
He also emphasised the importance of identifying and producing highquality animals to meet market demands.
200 & 400 day growth averages in top 20% of breed for 'T' calves
“What stands out is that we have heavy cattle with young skeletal maturity, which is a big driver of the MSA Index.
Enquiries and inspections
Wirruna Poll Herefords “Spring Valley” Holbrook
“Our marbling results highlight our capacity to produce premium quality beef that competes on a global scale.”
PREPARATIONS are underway for the 2025 World Hereford Conference to be hosted by the American Hereford Association in Kansas City, Missouri in October.
The program includes a welcome reception at the American Herefords Association headquarters on October 22, followed by educational sessions on October 23-24 and the closing reception on October 24. The program then moves to the Young Breeders Fitting and Showing Competition, American Royal National Junior Hereford Show and International Genetics Sale.
The conference will include a property tour from October 16-21 of Montana, which is home to 2.5
million head of cattle and some of the most pristine Hereford operations in the US.
The pre-tour will take attendees on an experience seeing Hereford cattle, agricultural history and US landmarks.
A post-tour on October 26-29 will take in the Sandhill sites and mountain views of Nebraska. An optional tour on October 26-29 is Lone Star and Sooner states, and Oklahoma City.
Each country represented at the Conference can have a team of four young breeders to take part in the Young Breeders Competition hosted at Kansas State University, taking part in a variety of skills-based events.
Whole herd genomically tested to identify homozygous polled bulls, genetic conditions and improved
Whole herd genomically tested to identify homozygous polled bulls, genetic conditions and improved EBV accuracy
MARBLING
Highest herd for genetics of IMF averaging in top 5% of Hereford breed to boost MSA index DISPOSITION
Docility
Docility scores and docility EBVS to improve temp erament
Top 15% of breed for eye muscle area & better muscled steers PROFIT POTENTIAL
2023 calves average in top 5% Hereford breed for $index values showing profitable balance of traits
CALVING EASE
Low birth weights & calving ease in top 25% of breed
for
By Hamish Chandler
SUSTAINABILITY, productivity, and quality are all key attributes of the Hereford breed and an important part of our strategic plan.
The new indexes and analysis enhancements implemented as part of the October Hereford BREEDPLAN analysis were all focused on helping Hereford breeders make faster rates of improvement for each of these attributes.
The new indexes, Sustainability Production Index and MSA Production Index, take a balanced approach to selection by placing emphasis on all of the major trait groups that influence production, quality of product, cost of production and sustainability.
The Sustainability Production Index describes the genetic differences for profitability in a self-replacing Hereford herd finishing steers on grass with a strong focus on sustainability.
The MSA Production Index describes the genetic differences for profitability in a self-replacing Hereford herd that grain finishes steers at heavier carcase weights, and because of this there is a strong emphasis on targeting higher MSA grades.
The most important enhancements to the Hereford BREEDPLAN analysis were updating the weighting used to combine relationship information from pedigree and genomic records, and a new Single-Step Calving Ease model.
These enhancements were implemented as they improve the accuracy of Hereford BREEDPLAN EBVs. Higher accuracy is directly proportional to higher rates of genetic progress as it essentially means we are making the right selection decision more often.
Addressing sustainability from a breeding perspective can be seen as a three-step process; developing and implementing new indexes as the first step, capturing better information for traits that are important to improving sustainability as the second or medium-term step, followed by the development of new traits that better describe sustainability in the third or longer-term step.
Now these enhancements have been implemented, we can start shifting our focus to the next step of capturing better information.
The current published EBV for an animal is the best estimate of that animal’s genetic merit to use when making a selection decision, we usually make our selection decision irrespective of accuracy value.
However, the rate of genetic improvement for your herd or for the breed is directly proportional to the accuracy of the EBVs being used to make selection decision. Higher accuracy EBVs have more information contributing to their calculation and are more reliable estimates of an animal’s genetic merit. In turn, the response we get to selecting
animals using an index depends on the accuracy of the component traits that make up the index.
When we only have access to a basic BREEDPLAN analysis that uses pedigree information and phenotypic measurements of an animal’s performance, the accuracy of an animal’s EBVs are determined by a number of factors including:
• the heritability of the trait,
• whether the animal has been measured for that trait,
• how effectively those measurements can be used (data quality),
• measurements for correlated traits, and
• information available for relatives.
If we were to use a genomics only (GBLUP) evaluation the accuracy of an animal’s EBVs would be determined by:
• the heritability of the trait,
• size of the reference population, or in other words the number of animals with both a phenotypic measurement and genotype for that trait, and
• the relationship between that animal and the reference population.
However, Hereford BREEDPLAN uses a Single-Step approach that uses all available pedigree data, phenotypes and genotypes at the same time. This means all of the points listed above can have an impact on an animal’s EBV accuracy depending on the data that is available.
Table 1 (see page 22) combines data from two sources. Data in the Phenotype only column shows the average accuracy values from a Hereford herd with typical data recording practices and data quality for the breed. These accuracies are for young animals with some of their own phenotypes but no progeny information.
The herd records data for birth, growth and scan traits, but like many others does not record mature cow weight or reproductive traits. Data in all other columns has been generated from a predictor tool that has been developed by Moore et al from AGBU as part of an MLA funded project L.GEN.1904. This tool uses empirical data from the Hereford reference population to allow us to predict as closely as possible the accuracy values we would expect to see for individual animals under different recording scenarios.
Data in the Genotype only column has been generated by the predictor tool assuming that the animal has a genotype only and no other information. The Phenotype & Genotype column models what happens when an animal has the accuracy values shown in the Phenotype only column as a starting point and then has a genotype added into the analysis.
The final column shows the improvement in accuracy that is seen when we genotype an animal that already has some phenotypes being used.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20
Table 1:
Accuracy predictions for individual animals derived from L.GEN.1904 predictor tool.
As illustrated in Table 1, the accuracy of a young animal’s Birth Weight EBV based on phenotype alone is around 71% or a little better depending on data quality. The same animal with a genotype only would be expected to have an EBV with and accuracy of around 79%. If that animal has both phenotypes and a genotype included in the analysis the resulting accuracy would be around 85%.
That is a significant improvement in accuracy from the phenotype only result. As accuracy is directly related to the response to selection, we would expect to see a similar improvement in the response to selection.
At the other end of the scale, Table 1 also shows that the accuracy of Retail Beef Yield EBV for an animal in the same herd where the accuracy based on phenotypic data is likely to be around 45%, noting that in this case we are relying on phenotypes for correlated traits as we can’t directly measure carcase traits on breeding animals. In this case the accuracy of an EBV derived from genomic information is likely to be 16% and the accuracy from both phenotype and genotype is predicted to be 47%.
Considering the heritability of both Birth Weight and Retail Beef Yield is in the moderate range, why are the accuracy values of the genomic EBVs for these two traits so different?
The answer to this question is shown in Table 2. The Hereford breed has a significant reference population of animals that have both phenotypic records for birth weight and geno-
types of close to 66,000. In contrast the reference population for retail beef yield is very low which limits the accuracy of EBVs.
Overall, the Hereford breed has a good reference population for birth weight, growth traits and ultra-sound scan traits. The reference population for carcase and reproduction traits is much smaller. This means breeders need to rely on combining both phenotypes and genotypes in a Single-Step analysis to get EBVs with higher accuracies. How we continue improving the accuracy of EBVs for these traits becomes an important question.
In addition to showing the total number of phenotypes recorded and the number of records in the reference population for the Hereford breed, Table 2 also shows the improvement in predicted accuracy values for different traits as the size of the reference population increases. Again, this data has been generated from another predictor tool that has been developed by Moore et al from AGBU as part of an MLA funded project L.GEN.1904.
This modelling shows that adding another 2,000 records to the reference population for Birth Weight and 400 Day Weight would have little impact on further improving the accuracy of genomic EBVs for these traits. In contrast the other traits show improvements of between 5 and 29 percentage points depending on how many records are in the current reference and the heritability of the trait.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22
The records that contribute to the Hereford reference population come from several different sources. These include structured research projects, cooperator herds or data from other commercial supply chains, and data collected from stud herds. Each of these pathways has its advantages and disadvantages.
Structured research projects typically allow good quality data to be collected for traits that are not routinely collected as part of normal farming practice and are particularly useful for the development of new traits. The Southern Multi Breed project and the Low Methane Beef project are examples of structured research projects that include Hereford cattle.
Herefords Australia are working with ABRI to test the impact of the Southern Multi Breed data coming into our BREEDPLAN evaluation. This data will help improve the accuracy of genomic EBVs for many of our existing traits and plays an important part in the second step of our genetics sustainability strategy. Likewise, data from the Low Methane Beef project is an important part of our third, longer-term strategy to develop EBVs for traits that better describe sustainability.
Data captured from commercial supply chains is often the most cost-effective way of collecting data on a per animal basis. However, the data is usually much lower quality and means much larger volumes of information are needed to generate EBVs of similar accuracy in comparison to data from structured projects. For this reason, Herefords Australia relies on coopera-
tor herds to allow data to be collected from commercial herds but with a greater degree of planning and data capture.
This approach allows cost effective recording of carcase traits that cannot be recorded in stud herds and continues to grow the reference population for these traits and in turn improve accuracy.
Stud herds have always been an important source of phenotypic data for use in genetic analyses, however they are often overlooked as a source of data of reference populations. Data collected in stud herds is the reason why the Hereford BREEDPLAN analysis has access to a large reference population for birth and growth traits. Traits that are routinely collected on farm can be utilised as part of the reference population as long as those animals have also been genotyped.
For this reason, it is important to encourage breeders wherever possible to record phenotypes for the traits that are included in the indexes. Of particular importance are the reproductive and cow traits such as Days to Calving, Gestation Length and Mature Cow Weight.
These traits represent a significant proportion of the emphasis of the new indexes but have limited data available now. By recording data for these traits breeders will see a greater response from using both the EBVs and indexes.
If you would like any additional information on how to record any of these traits you can go to the BREEDPLAN web site https://breedplan.une.edu.au/help-centre/ or contact the Herefords Australia office.
Sires of Melville Park Dehorned Bulls
•Pute Nascar N13
•Warwick Court Nicholls N142
•Mawarra If Only Q264
Sires of Melville Poll Bulls
•Kidman Formula One N140
•Bowen Vincent V1
•Guilford Nirvana N79
•The Ranch Remington R028
•Bowen Magistrate M241
•Kanimbla Tundra P110
•Bowen Patriarch P017
•Melville Nawson N499
Dehorned and Poll Bulls
By Kim Woods
VALUE adding grass fed commercial Hereford cattle via direct beef sales using digital platforms has not only been financially profitable for a South Australian family but resulted in the breed’s eating quality rapidly gaining favour with consumers.
The McInerney family’s business, Garryowen Direct Beef, is built upon principles of sustainability and regenerative agriculture, where the health of the land and the well-being of the cattle are paramount.
They are committed to employing sustainable practices that promote resilience and adaptability in the face of changing climatic conditions.
Garryowen Direct Beef comprises grass fed Hereford beef packs from antibiotic and hormone free yearling steers and cull heifers finished to 450520kg liveweight.
This year the family farmed through one of their driest years in 124 years with 165mm received to spring in a 525mm average rainfall zone at Riverton in the mid north of South Australia.
Mark McInerney is the fifth generation on the property “Garryowen” and works alongside his wife Rachael and parents Jim and Kaye McInerney. Jim’s father Vin established the Garryowen Poll Hereford stud in 1955, with the stud due to mark its 70th anniversary in 2025.
The cattle herd dovetails with a continuous cropping enterprise of wheat, barley, canola, beans and lentils, domestic and export hay production, and an opportunistic lamb finishing operation. The family also runs a hay and straw contracting business with the help of two full time employees, one casual and contract labour.
The 1600ha aggregation is split between the cattle grazing in the Barossa and cropping at Riverton.
The stud and commercial herd comprises 230 autumn and spring calving females, grazing permanent perennial ryegrass and clover pastures in hill country.
Mark McInerney runs the stud and commercial herd on a second property in the Barossa Valley. Image: McInerney family
The family has focused on producing 60-70 paddock reared bulls each year with a large portion going to purebred Hereford herds producing feeder weight cattle off pastoral stations in upper South Australia, western NSW and the Northern Territory.
“There are some fairly arid areas where we send these bulls, so we target high fertility, calving ease coupled with early maturity, and a good temperament,” Mark said.
The stud has used mainly natural joinings and runs the herd under commercial conditions, recently using genetics from Kilkerrin, Minlacowie, Morganvale, Allendale and Grathlyn. Bulls and females are also sourced from the Dubbo Poll Hereford Sale.
“We are looking at growth traits, hitting those target 400- and 600-day weights, and in recent times have seen the importance of producing animals with the positive carcase traits of eye muscle area, intramuscular fat and retail beef yield,” Mark said.
“Chasing these traits has given us confidence with the direct beef sales, that our customers get to experience a
product that is high end but also great value for money.”
The family uses AgriWebb to keep track of herd management and livestock production assurance requirements and recently installed newly designed low stress cattle yards across each of the properties to help with production efficiencies.
Traditionally, the grass fed, antibioticfree steers and cull heifers are finished on cereal and legume pastures or perennial ryegrass and clover pastures and sold direct to processors or as backgrounders through local store markets at Mt Compass or Dublin.
“The purchase of extra grazing land gave us the opportunity to start finishing a few steers and cull heifers - when beef prices were ordinary 12 months ago, we saw an opportunity to value add when people began inquiring about beef,” Mark said.
“We just dipped our toe in the water and the positive feedback we received blew us away. People are really interested in the grass fed and finished beef.
“We are lucky we have an abattoir and onsite wholesale processor 20 minutes away at Kapunda. The animals are transported there with all the killing, processing and packaging done on site keeping it simple and cost effective.”
The carcases are then picked up in bulk packaging and placed in an on-farm storage facility ready for collection by customers in the Clare Valley, Barossa, Gawler, Yorke Peninsula and local Riverton area.
Carcase weights have varied from 240 to 270kg, but the family aim for a heavier carcase to optimise the boxed beef yield while balancing the purchase cost for the customer.
“As a seedstock producer we have always promoted the Hereford breed but now we are also on the flipside, having the opportunity to promote the breed’s great flavour, tenderness, marbling and eating quality to consumers,” Mark said.
“We were aware of the demand for grass-fed beef out there but didn’t realise how big it was. That has been the big selling point for us as it is the product consumers are chasing.
“The feedlot industry is so important for the Australian beef industry going forward but I believe there is an avenue for people to pursue that grass fed beef and the clean, green story that goes with that.
“We aim to incorporate regenerative grazing and pasture management in our beef operation to achieve sustainability.
The carbon footprint of this beef is minimal as it is processed close to our point of production and picked up by our customers locally.”
Garryowen Direct Beef is sold as either a quarter, half, or full carcase.
A quarter pack typically includes shin osso bucco, bolar roast, blade steak, chuck mince, seasoned roast brisket, scotch fillet steak, rib roast, skirt mince, sirloin porterhouse steak, fillet steak, rump steak, crumbed schnitzel, topside sandwich steak, corned silverside, gravy beef diced and sausages.
“This is the most cost-effective way from a processing point of view so we can pass the savings onto the customer and the customer gets to choose how they pack the meat into portions to suit a family, couple or individual,” Mark said.
“Feedback has told us people enjoy doing that process. There is opportunity going forward to break that animal down to a one-eighth or smaller pre-packaged portions. This would give the customer greater flexibility in regard to the up-front purchase price and storage space.
“This could allow for further expansion into the metropolitan area as our farm is located on the urban fringe only one hour from the CBD of Adelaide.
“When customers come on-farm to pick up their orders, they are excited to meet us and hear our story. We were surprised the first order of four animals sold in less than 12 hours to total strangers via local social media.
“We did another one a month later with a similar response and then decided to incorporate an automated ordering system on our website. We are now in a routine of processing once a month and people can subscribe through the website to alert them via electronic direct mail to processing dates.
“In an ideal world we all want to see beef prices return close to where they were 24 months ago. Our customers are getting great value for money and able to buy a premium product, but the limitation is people are still outlaying a lot of money to purchase in bulk. So, it is about finding that balance between offering the product at an affordable price by breaking the animal down more into smaller portions, without a big increase in processing cost.”
Garryowen Direct now services more than 160 customers with new customers subscribing and ordering each month.
Mark said consumers were interested in the health benefits of grass-fed beef, being lower in total fat and calories, and higher in omega 3 fatty acids.
“Herefords are close to our heart; we are passionate about them and try to promote them as best we can. And now being able to talk about the great eating qualities is good for the breed,” he said.
“This has been a great experience – there is no better feeling than someone reaching out after they have purchased your product to say how much they love it. People just love the story of a family business which has been running cattle for 70 years as ethically as possible.
“For others considering selling direct, building a good relationship with your processor while having a streamlined and simple ordering system for customers is critical in cultivating that paddock to plate experience.”
At MERAWAH, our emphasis is on producing large drafts of industry relevant bulls with thickness, do-ability and the ability to add extra kilos to our customers’ calf drops. With our cow herd looking better than ever and a great drop of calves on the ground, we look forward to seeing you in 2025.
Your chance to see another great set of bulls with some outcross genetics will be on ...
Tuesday, July 15 @ 1pm 60 BULLS
By Kim Woods
HEREFORD infused cattle are proving fit for purpose in a semi-arid environment and commanding up to a 15c/kg premium in the market place for one Queensland family.
Trading as Ballater Pastoral Company, Alastair Anderson, his wife Lyn, and son Steven, run 800 Droughtmaster and Hereford/Droughtmaster breeders on 14,980 ha 110km southwest of Hughenden.
They use Hereford bulls in a terminal crossbreeding system, turning off both F1 steers and females into the store markets for feedlot buyers. The Andersons are finding the crossbred is sustainable and fit for purpose in the challenging environment.
Both red coated breeds have complementary traits with the crossbred benefiting from additional weight gain in the calves through hybrid vigour while the red baldy stands out to buyers in the saleyards.
The family sold 15- to 18-monthold Hereford/Droughtmaster and pure Droughtmaster steers in a special Blackall weaner sale with the crossbreds eliciting a 15c/kg premium over the straightbreds.
Set in a 350mm rainfall zone, the station comprises open downs country with pastures of Flinders and Mitchell
grass and was drawn in a ballot by Alastair’s father, Ronald, in 1935.
Alastair has subdivided the station from an original four paddocks into cells ranging from 1214ha to 2429ha, complemented by central laneways for ease of management.
The family lost around half their herd in devastating floods in 2019 and are still rebuilding their numbers off the back of good seasonal conditions.
They find the Hereford/ Droughtmaster cross resilient to the challenging semi-arid to arid climate and gives them market flexibility.
Ronald had always been a keen Hereford producer, changing from sheep to cattle in the 1950s, using genetics from southern and central Queensland. He was proud to win the carcase competition at Townsville show with pure Herefords against the Bos indicus.
Over the years Alastair had transitioned to using Droughtmaster genetics until he received a market signal.
“Jack Burgess, GDL Blackall, suggested I go back into using Hereford bulls over the younger Droughtmaster heifers to meet that Blackall market,” he said.
“The buyers prefer the baldy faced crossbred cattle. Recently I had six decks of cattle go to Blackall with
one pen of 24 Droughtmaster steers standing next to a pen of 24 Hereford cross, all of similar weights. The crossbreds sold for a 15c/kg premium.
“The Hereford is adding weight and carcase quality – the feedlot buyers like the softness and finishing ability of the crossbred cattle.”
At the 2024 Lambert Infused feeder and weaner sale at Blackall saleyards in September, Ballater Pastoral exhibited the winning steer and heifer pens under 300kg with Hereford cross cattle, and sold them for the top weight for age price of 396c/kg or $1123.
Alastair likes the quiet temperament of the Hereford, and sources bulls from Lambert stud.
He studies the BREEDPLAN estimated breeding values before inspecting the bulls for body length and muscle pattern.
“The buyers like that long carcase and I also like to see a good butt shape. I look for calving ease, a lower birthweight, above average 400-day growth, and the rib and rump fat,” he said.
He finds the Hereford bulls adapt readily to the semi-arid environment and is impressed with their longevity and fertility. The family began joining Hereford bulls to 120 heifers and have now increased that to 270.
Heifers are classed on structural soundness and body length, joined at 14 months to calve as two-year-olds, with the herd averaging a 96 per cent calving rate. All F1 females are sold at Blackall weaner sales as feeder heifers at 12 to 15 months of age.
The herd comes past the yards four times a year with the calves being yard weaned for 10 to 14 days before growing out on pasture.
“The marketplace is certainly giving us the signal we are doing the right thing by using Herefords,” Alastair said.
HEREFORD and Hereford infused steers continue to steam ahead off pasture in Australia’s only grass-fed trial at the 49th Lardner Park Steer Trial in Victoria.
The steers are grazed on a mix of ryegrass and clovers and supplemented with a molasses based mineral feed. At the second weigh the overall herd average daily gain was 1.15kg and increased to 1.38kg at the third weigh on September 3.
At the fourth weigh on October 8, the overall herd average daily gain was 1.15kg.
Trial coordinator Anthony Willems said the variable weather conditions had affected pasture moisture content and weight gains with the herd average weight gain during September being 0.91kg per day.
A purebred Hereford steer entered by Stan and Denise Walker, Charellan Poll Herefords, Pearsondale, Vic, is placed second in the overall liveweight daily gain on 1.54kg.
Seven producers with 10 purebred and infused Hereford teams have entered the Warragul based trial which began in July with 92 mixed breed steers entered from 30 producers from Victoria.
The purebred entrants comprise Charellan Poll Herefords; James O’Malley, Molesworth Pastoral, Molesworth; Steve Robinson, Moorville Herefords, Koonwarra; Geoff Gooch, Rathlyn, Sale; Alistair Black, Riverline, Myrtlebank; Tim Hayes, Tarcombe Herefords, Ruffy; and David Meikle, Tarwin Poll Herefords, Meeniyan.
The Hereford infused teams are Shorthorn/Angus/Hereford entered by Alison Burgess, Yan Yean, Vic, Simmental/Hereford from Moorville Poll Herefords and black baldy from Barb Stewart, Riverbend, Kernot, Vic.
Charellan led the way in the Hereford entries at the second weighing with a top average daily gain of 1.74kg, second overall behind the leading entry from Amphitheatre Pastoral Partnership on 1.96kg. Charellan also had the fourth highest average daily gain on 1.63kg.
Charellan came out of the third weigh in third place with a top average daily gain of 1.86kg. At the fourth weigh, the team had a top average daily gain of 1.17kg.
Moorville also recorded an above average weight gain of 1.71kg and 1.60kg for their Poll Hereford pair at the third weigh and 1.31 and 1.30kg at the fourth weigh.
The Rathlyn team recorded a 1.54kg at the third and 1.40kg at the fourth weigh, Riverline a 1.46kg, at the third weigh, Molesworth at 1.40kg at the third weigh, Tarcombe at 1.37kg on the third weigh and Tarwin had a top individual average daily gain of
1.29kg at the third and 1.34kg at the fourth.
Of the Hereford infused teams at the third weigh, the black baldy recorded a top individual average daily gain of 1.46kg, the Simmental/Hereford recorded 1.43kg, and the Shorthon/ Angus/Hereford 1.63kg.
The fifth and final weighing was held at Lardner Park on November 15 before processing on November 18.
Compliant with Coles QA grass fed program, the aim is to achieve the best outcomes during trial information and data collection, and purchase price on carcase meat when the trial is finished in late November.
HEREFORD and Hereford infused cattle are among the biggest intake of entries from three states in the Beef Spectacular Feedback Trial.
A total of 114 teams, up from 91 in 2023, have been nominated for the 120-grain fed trial at Teys Australia’s Jindalee Feedlot at Stockinbingal, in southern NSW.
The Hereford teams are from Les Douglas, Cheviott Hills Ag, Big Springs and Tim and Jemma Reid, JTR Cattle Co, Roslyn; while the black baldy teams are from past feedlot winner Bill Garnock, Boco Pastoral Company, Nimmitabel; Ken
Sylvester, Ken Sylvester Pastoral, Lindsey and Kate Carter, Dorrigo; and Reid family, Melon Pastoral, Roslyn.
The cattle were inducted on August 22 with 564 cattle averaging 415kg liveweight and 95 per cent meeting specifications.
They are being fed a steam flaked barley ration, recording an average feed intake of 15.95kg per day after 40 days on feed, and will exit the feedlot on December 14.
The winners of the trial will be announced at a presentation dinner in early 2025.
By Kim Woods
CELEBRATING its 27th anniversary, the 2024 RNA Paddock to Palate competition demonstrated that for superior eating quality and weight gain off grass, you can’t po past Hereford.
The competition is one of Australia’s richest beef supply chain competitions offering almost $55,000 in prize money and comprising the best aggregate weight gain, carcase and MSA (Meat Standards Australia) eating quality.
The competition is split into three classes: 100-day HGP Export, 70-day HGP Trade and 100-day HGP-free Export into which producers enter pens of six steers fed at JBS Australia’s beef City Feedlot, Toowoomba, Qld.
The winners across all phases were awarded at the RNA Paddock to Palate beef industry dinner presented by JBS Australia at the Brisbane Showgrounds on August 8.
Devon Court Herefords, Drillham, Queensland, entered six teams of Hereford and Hereford infused (black baldy) steers.
In the 70-day HGP trade class, Devon Court had the highest individual Meat Standards Australia index of 60.47, placed fourth overall on 656.5 points and was third for MSA eating quality on 335.25 points from the 112 entries from 16 exhibitors.
The high scoring MSA Index Hereford steer had an ossification 110, lean meat yield of 60.17 per cent, and marble score 2.
In the feedlot phase, the Devon Court team was second in the individual weight gain average at 2.53kg per day, with the team averaging 2.42kg/day - +0.14kg per day above the class average of 2.28kg.
In the 100-day export HGP free class, Devon Court placed first in the eating quality pen of six on 324.81 points and a black baldy steer had the highest individual MSA index score 67.04 from the largest class in the competition with 252 entries.
Sired by a Devon Court Hereford bull and out of a commercial black baldy female, the steer had a marble score 3, ossification of 110, eye muscle area of 93sqcm, dressing percentage of 54.02 and lean meat yield of 58.8 per cent.
A Hereford steer entered by Tom Nixon, Devon Court Herefords, Drillham, placed second in the weight gain of the feedlot phase with an average daily gain of 2.53kg per day. Images: Devon Court
From a feedlot entry weight of 420kg, the steer achieved an average daily gain of 2.14kg and a carcase weight of 342.5kg
The Devon Court team had an average carcase weight of 322kg, dressing percentage of 53.6, rib fat 8.5mm, marble score 1.71, eye muscle area 74.43sqcm, lean meat yield 59.14 per cent, and MSA Index of 63.63.
Devon Court principal Tom Nixon said the competition exposed his cattle to potential buyers resulting in commercial advantages.
Grass fed Devon Court beef is value added into a gourmet pie served at the annual bull sale with all funds going back to the Dulacca Kindergarten.
Rib fillet and striploin steaks from the winning 100-day grain fed Devon Court steers in the 2024 RNA Paddock to Palate were served under the Royal 100 brand at the Miles Windsor Hotel Motel.
The steaks were selected by JBS Australia and prepared by T&J Butchery, Miles.
Mr Nixon said heavy rain and humidity had made feeding conditions challenging for the Paddock to Palate competition steers, but the health status and immune competence of the Herefords shone through.
“Hopefully these results encourage other producers of Hereford and Hereford infused cattle to enter the competition. If any commercial or seedstock producers would like to talk about how to enter, I would be only too happy to go through what’s involved.”
Hereford and Hereford infused steers from Devon Court performed well across all phases of the 2024 RNA Paddock to Palate feedlot and carcase competition
By Kim Woods
HEREFORD and Hereford infused cattle are proving their finishing ability off grain in the inaugural 100-day grain fed Inverell Feedlot Trial and Carcase competition.
With $6000 prizemoney on offer, the trial is hosted by Glen Innes and Inverell agency Colin Say & Co Pty Ltd in conjunction with Bindaree Beef, at the Myola Feedlot, Croppa Creek, NSW.
The trial has drawn 37 teams comprising 185 head of British bred, European and Bos indicus cattle.
Exhibitors were required to enter teams of five head with the competition starting on August 1, a field day held on October 30 and the final weighing day on November 20.
The cattle were processed on November 20 by Bindaree, carcases judged on November 21 and the presentations will be made on November 29 with points awarded for average daily weight gain and carcase quality for both individual and team entries.
The trial comprised two classes with entry weights of 375-410kg and 411450kg liveweight.
All cattle had to be pre-treated with Bovilis MH + IBR, be milk tooth and be HGP-free.
Points were given to the highest individual weight gain and the highest group weight gain.
Entries were yarded at the Inverell saleyards and judged by Bindaree’s grainfed supply chain manager Zac McInerney for their conformation, condition, weight gain, finishing ability and market suitability. The Myola Feedlot purchased all of the cattle.
A pen of black baldies, aged 11 to 12 months and averaging 442kg, from Mark and Wendy Campion, Amos Vale Herefords, Pinkett, were the reserve champion pen on the day.
The steers were sired by an Amos Vale Hereford bull and out of black baldy cows.
There were four Hereford teams entered by Younger Herefords, Inverell, Supple Whiteface, Guyra, Jindalee
Herefords, Kings Plains, and Amos Vale Herefords, Pinkett, NSW.
Colin Say & Co director Shad Bailey said the trial was designed to give commercial and seedstock producers feedback to better their operations and create market pull through for the genetics.
“There has been a big push to offload cattle as feeders or selling then as weaners which are then primarily targeted to feedlots. Feedback is crucial for both the seedstock and commercial producer, providing them with vital data and ensuring sire selections are correct and allowing benchmarking against other producers,” Mr Bailey said.
“We are partnering with Bindaree and have had an unbelievable response from producers with entries. Next year we would like to increase the involvement from studs by increasing the classes.”
Mr Bailey said the field day involved presentations from Zac McInerney on the rations, performance of the trial cattle and supply feeder steers to specifications.
“We aim to make this an annual event and open it to entries from a wider area. It’s about thinking outside
the square – the more information we can give back to the clients, the more profitable they become.”
Hereford steers from Vern, Margaret, Geoff and Gemma Younger, Younger Herefords, Inverell, weighed 454kg at 14 months, had been weaned onto hay and pasture, then backgrounded for a short time on forage oats before entering the trial.
The family finishes steers on forage crops for the Teys Grasslands program but entered the Myola trial to evaluate their cattle’s performance in a feedlot.
The majority of the 500 spring and autumn calving cow herd are AI bred using Fixed Time AI.
The herd had been totally Line One bred for 25 years and the Youngers continue to use the latest Holden and Cooper genetics from the USA, where they are renowned for their maternal traits, weight for age and carcase quality.
“We target the grass-fed market –the steers consistently grade with an MSA Index of 61+ with marble scores of one to three,” Vern said.
“The last load of 56 head averaged 362kg carcase weight with an MSA Index of 62.03 at 23 months of age.”
THE Hann family made it a backto-back breed champions with the same genetics at the 2024 Royal Brisbane Show with their female Truro Queenie S147 (P).
Queenie, and her calf, Truro Queenie V019, swept through the cow 30 months and under 60 months to be sashed as senior champion female and finally grand champion Hereford female under judge Glen Waldron, Elite Cattle Company, Meandarra.
The June 2021 drop cow is a halfsister to the 2023 Royal Queensland Show champion of champions bull Truro Sherlock S188, both sired by Yalgoo Peacemaker P034.
Exhibited by Scott and Pip Hann, Truro Herefords, Bellata, NSW, Queenie had been sashed as reserve senior champion female at Beef Australia 2024 and was shown at the Ekka with her seven-month-old heifer calf by Yavenvale Ripcord R049.
Mr Hann said the family was pleased to see their strong Peacemaker bloodlines achieving so highly again, building on the success with Truro Sherlock at last year’s EKKA.
The grand champion bull was Kianma T-Rex T002, exhibited by Kierin and Nikki Martin, Kianma Herefords, Forbes, NSW, and following up triumphs as senior champion Hereford bull at the
2024 Royal Sydney Show and grand champion bull at Beef Australia 2024.
Sired by Eathorpe Precision P040, the 25-month-old bull weighed 1030kg and had a raw eye muscle area of 126sqcm, a rump fat depth of 17mm and rib fat of 12mm.
Junior champion bull was WRL Romeo son, Callaway R075 Uno U007, exhibited by Mark and Nikita Duthie, Irvingdale, Qld, and reserve champion went to Courallie Q274 Terminator exhibited by David and Mel Hann, Inverell, NSW.
The junior champion female was Courallie S022 Marianne U001, sired by Courallie J DCP005 Prime S022, while in reserve was Jindalee Miss Minerva U018 exhibited by Angus and Eunice Vivers, Jindalee Herefords, King Plains, NSW.
The reserve senior champion female was Callaway 173D Kit Kat S008.
Te-Angie Herefords, Wongwibinda, NSW, showed the reserve senior champion bull Te-Angie Turbo T004, won the pair of bulls and was named as the most successful Hereford exhibitor.
In the junior judging, Emerald Dean, St Mary’s Catholic College, Casino, was sashed as the champion junior judge. Ms Dean has been showing cattle since she was 12, inspired by her father’s passion for Herefords to pursue her interest in the cattle industry.
By Kim Woods
KIANMA Top Shelf T014 (ET) (PP) swept the ring with senior and grand champion bull and supreme champion exhibit at the 2024 Royal Melbourne Show for central west NSW breeders Kierin and Nikki Martin.
The bull went on to compete in the Interbreed where he took the Bickleys Transport Reserve Supreme Senior Champion Beef Bull under Canadian judges Janelle and Trent Liebreich.
Kierin and Nikki, from Kianma Poll Herefords, Forbes, were named as the most successful Hereford exhibitor.
Kianma Top Shelf T014 (ET) (PP) is a son of Yarawa South Paradise P112 and out of Rilo Park Princess M002.
Judge Jack Nelson, Pine Lodge, Vic, said the October 2022 drop bull was hard to fault with thickness, power, square hips, a beautiful front end, structural soundness, spring of rib and depth and volume.
Reserve champion senior bull was Mills Umpire U001, exhibited by Peter Mills, Mills Poll Herefords, Northwood, Vic. Umpire is by Tycolah Pandora M037 and out of Hollylodge Bellona N005 with Mr Nelson admiring the bull’s length and extreme muscle pattern.
Kierin and Nikki Martin exhibited the September 2023 drop Kianma Matchless U007 to junior champion female. Matchless was sired by Mawarra Outstanding L140 and out of Kianma Matchless P009.
In the Hereford ring judge Jack Nelson was looking for style, eye appeal, refinement, depth and volume in the females.
“Coming out of the largest class of the day, I admire the wedge shape in this female, the beautiful refined front end, and she is super feminine and stylish,” he said.
While the senior champion female was the only entry in her class, she came up against the stylish junior champion to take the grand champion sash for Amanda Watkins, Sundene Poll Herefords, Wagga Wagga, NSW.
The March 2022 drop Sundene Irish Girl T006 (P) and her May 2024 drop bull calf, Sundene Viktor Krum, sired by Wirruna Roland R242, impressed the judge with her strong top, good udder and structural soundness.
“She is doing a good job on her bull calf. A young cow that is only 30 months of age and calved at 26 months is deserving of the grand champion female. She will really breed on in the future,” Mr Nelson said.
The first calf heifer was sired by Morganvale Periscope P016 and out of Sundene Irish Girl P016. It was the first grand championship win for Sundene at a royal show.
Andrew Manson, Wanrua Poll Herefords, Newry, Vic, exhibited the junior bull champion, Wanrua Uno U237, which came out of the calf class.
The October 2023 drop bull was sired by Tondara Mason P037 and out of Mawarra Shamrock 033.
Mr Nelson described the junior champion as having a smooth muscle pattern, depth of hindquarter and carcase.
Reserve junior champion bull was Legacy Unit U016 (S), a son of Legacy Selection S002 and out of Legacy Lady S003, exhibited by Brett and Emily Keeble, Legacy Poll Herefords, Zeerust, Vic.
Wanrua also exhibited the best pair of bulls and the sire’s progeny group while Kianma won the breeder’s group.
Ben and Katelin Davies, Wild Bear Herefords, Meadows, SA, won the best two females under 20 months.
In the hoof and hook competition, Finley High School, NSW, exhibited a Hereford steer bred by John and Maree Doyle, Finley, and sired by Glentrevor Matty, to win the domestic 400480kg class and go on to be champion domestic carcase.
Grant High School exhibited a Speckle Park/ Hereford/Angus cross steer to win the led heavy domestic 481-560kg class heat four under judge Tom Wilding-Davies. Lockhart Central School also exhibited three purebred steers.
A NEWLY minted Hereford stud dominated the broad ribbons in the Hereford ring at the 2024 Adelaide Royal Show.
Starr Hampton, 17, and her father Tom established their Hampton Poll Hereford stud just two years ago at Harrogate on foundation females from Morganvale Poll Herefords, Willalooka, SA.
With the help of her father and friend Sadie Rose Knight, Starr exhibited the junior and grand champion female, Morganvale Vanity U174 (P).
Vanity was sired by Wirruna Querido Q266 and out of Morganvale Vanity Q049.
Hampton stud also showed the senior champion female Morganvale Gem T63 (AI) (P), a May 2022 drop daughter of Mawarra Terminator Q274 and out of Morganvale Gem N271.
She was shown with her July 2024 drop heifer calf, Hampton Valley V001 by Wirruna Qantas Q036.
Judge Ben Crowley, Tycolah Poll Herefords, Cobbadah, NSW, presided over 24 entries from four studs.
Ben Langford, Monterey Poll Herefords, Rockleigh, exhibited the junior champion bull, Monterey Endure U006 (AI) (PP), a son of US sire NJW 79Z Z311 Endure 173D and out of Monterey Nikki R048.
The 722kg bull went on to be sashed as grand champion and is now set for the 2025 Herefords Australia Wodonga National Show and Sale.
Monterery went to win the pair of bulls and breeders’ group while Urrbrae Agricultural High School won the sire’s progeny group, was second in the breeder’s group and declared the Most Successful Hereford Exhibitor.
In the led steers, a Hereford entry Allendale Stuart Little U116 was first in the schools purebred light domestic steer 390-450kg liveweight, with Mount Compass Area School exhibiting the third place steer, Wild Bear Damo U030, bred by Ben and Katelin Davies, Wild Bear Herefords, Meadows, SA. Wild Bear Damo U030 went on to claim third in the Princess Royal
Station best heavy domestic eating quality carcase. The steer was sired by Wirruna Katnook K74 and out of Wirruna Page J495 and had an EBV of +1.1 for intramuscular fat and +6.1sqcm for eye muscle area. The carcase weighed 291kg, graded with an ossification of 110, a marble score 2 and MSA Index of 65.22.
Ben Davies was pleased to see the 11-month-old steer grading marble score 2 after finishing on a barleybased ration.
“His MSA Index was the second highest in the class and really shone for eating quality. We have been focused on eating quality and marbling in our breeding program and it is starting to show through,” Mr Davies said.
“Kate and I have both come through junior programs, so we try to give a bit back and donate steers to Mount Compass Area School.”
Keith Area School showed Morganvale Pastoral Querido to fourth in the school’s heavy domestic hook 280-300kg class and received the Herefords SA Inc prize for the school exhibiting the highest scoring Hereford
steer on the hoof and hook, and the highest Hereford sired steer on the hook combined.
The carcase also received the Herefords Australia prize for any purebred Hereford steer on the hook gaining 82 points or over.
In the schools purebred export class for 588-635kg liveweight, Naracoorte High School exhibited a Hereford steer to fourth, Days Ultracool bred by Days Whiteface, Bordertown.
A Hereford entry, Puddin n Pie, from Lakota Livestock, Long Cross Farms, placed third on the hoof in the 390430kg class and sixth on the hook in the purebred light domestic 200-250kg carcase weight.
Urrbrae Agricultural High School placed third in the schools light domestic on the hook 200-250kg carcase weight with Poll Hereford steer, Urrbrae Uggy.
Days Whiteface placed fifth with a Hereford infused steer in the crossbred heavy domestic 498-540kg class while a Shorthorn/Hereford/Limousin steer was fifth in the crossbred light domestic hook 200-250kg.
PRESIDENT
Cassie grew up in Cootamundra, NSW, on her family’s Hereford and mixed grazing property where the Bush family have run Herefords since 1953.
She is undertaking a double degree in Law and Agriculture at the University of New England, aiming to contribute to and achieve better policies for the Australian agricultural industry.
Aleacea is from Dulacca, Qld, has completed a Bachelor of Agriculture and gained work at a Condamine feedlot. She grew up on a Hereford stud and started in the youth movement at the age of five. Aleacea started her own Hereford stud and became heavily involved with the Herefords Queensland Youth.
GENERAL COMMITTEE
Grace grew up in Sydney and relocated to Armidale in 2021 to study a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England.
“I hope to work with the committee to facilitate nationwide programs, engaging youth in all aspects
of stud and commercial breeding to create networks within the Hereford breed, further gaining opportunities in the broader industry.”
GENERAL COMMITTEE
Tabby lives on a beef cattle property in northeast Victoria and is studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science through Charles Sturt University. Outside of university, she works fulltime at the Northern Victorian Livestock Exchange in an administration role.
Herefords Australia Youth is an organisation she is passionate about and, after attending four Hereford Youth Expos, she is looking forward to working behind the scenes with the committee.
GENERAL
Emily lives on her family’s beef cattle property on the edge of the Liverpool Plains in NSW. She has always had a passion for working with cattle and a few years ago established her stud Eclipse Poll Herefords. She is undertaking a Bachelor or Rural Science at the University of New England, Armidale, with the goal of a career in meat science or genetics.
SIRES:
-Glen Goulburn Hendon Q006
-Glen Goulburn Sherlock N001
-Grathlyn Starter S042
-Glen Goulburn Fairbank T039
-Ivy Bank Tangambalanga T014
-Tycolah Volcano T060
Email: gg.pollherefords@gmail.com
Mitchell lives on his family’s beef cattle property at Quipolly in NSW. He has a passion for Herefords and the beef cattle industry, and enjoys preparing and showing cattle. Mitchell started his own Poll Hereford and Shorthorn stud, MT Livestock. His longterm goal is to focus on stud stock sales.
Lottie enjoys being a member of the committee and is excited for the growth of Hereford Youth as a collective. “I aim to raise awareness of the reliability of the Hereford breed and encourage kids in pursing their goals in the agricultural industry. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Hereford Youth.”
Tom joined the Hereford Youth Committee in 2023 and was able to take part in organising and competing at the National Youth Expo in 2024. “I look forward to next year being able to focus on developing a career in agriculture and learning within this industry.”
Caitlyn is studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with CSU and working for the NSW DPIRD in the agenviro laboratories. She first got involved in the Hereford breed at the 2017 National Youth Expo. “I have met some amazing people through the Hereford youth events, and am excited for what the future holds for HAL youth,” Caitlyn said.
Established 1969
By Helen De Costa
WAGGA Wagga’s Charlotte Nugent has made her Herefords Australia National Youth Expo debut one to remember, securing two grand champion titles.
The 22-year-old was named grand champion parader and grand champion junior judge after competing against four other age champions in each competition for the two top titles.
The Harris Farms Herefords Australia National Youth Expo was held at Cootamundra, NSW, on July 11-14, drawing 150 competitors from NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
Miss Nugent said it was her first time claiming the top title at a national youth show for paraders, while having been named grand champion junior judge at the Angus Youth Roundup earlier this year.
“I actually only started showing cattle when I was in Year 7 with the school program and built up from there,” she said.
“I’ve just met so many amazing people and made so many connections in the industry.”
In the junior judging, Miss Nugent won the grand champion banner over pee wee champion, Jock McDonald, Tarcutta, junior champion Lucy Godbolt, Wodonga, Vic, subintermediate champion, Luca Compton, Cherrybrook, intermediate champion, Matilda Cronin, Narromine and the senior champion, Tabitha Manson, Mewry, Vic.
In the paraders classes, judge Kate Loudon, Dubbo, said there were five confident paraders as her age group champions.
Brodie Scott, Invergowrie, claimed the pee wee champion paraders title, with The Lagoon’s Max White named junior champion, Max Humphries, Oberon, the sub-intermediate champion, Canowindra’s Jack Smyth the intermediate champion and Miss Nugent the senior champion, prior to claiming the grand champion paraders banner.
In the cattle classes it was Sugarloaf Jewell U174, led by Mackinley Klippel, Towong, who was named grand champion female of the show.
The young nine-month-old female progressed from the junior female championship to compete against the intermediate champion female, Rayleigh Queenie U121, led by Florance McDonald, Canowindra and the senior champion female, Llandillo Blush U43, led by Fletcher Hall, Gunningbland.
Judge Scott Myers said the grand champion was a standout female when she came into the ring.
This is the second time the Jewell female line has claimed a champion ribbon for the Klippel family at a national Hereford youth expo, with Mackinley’s brother Layne, winning junior champion female two years ago with a sister of Jewell U174.
Queensland’s Drew Weller claimed the grand champion herdsman title, winning a clipping chute donated by Kianma Poll Herefords, Forbes.
Lola Quirk, Forbes, received most improved novice for the show, while William Van Gend, O’Connell, received the Wild Bear Scholarship to the South Australian Heifer Expo late this year.
Two schools were announced winners of the school steers competition, Condobolin High School and Yanco Agricultural High School both receiving a steer donated by Kirraweena Glenholme Hereford stud, Cootamundra.
Tabby Cross, Indigo Valley, Vic, was the winner of two special awards throughout the show, with one being the Jason Sutherland award and the Herefords Australia travel scholarship.
1. Grand champion parader Charlotte Nugent, Wagga Wagga, with Antony Williams, Harris Farm Markets, paraders judge Kate Louden, Dubbo and Geoff Bush, Glenholme Kirraweena Herefords, Cootamundra. Images: Helen De Costa
2. Around 150 competitors attended the National Youth Expo from four states.
3. Chelsea Hall, Fletcher Hall and Rory Hutchinson.
4. Harrison Guy is presented with the champion owned award by Lee White.
5. Grand champion female Sugarloaf Jewell U174, with cattle judge Scott Myers, The Rock, Mackinley Klippel, 11, Towong, Vic and Olivia Pearce, Herefords Australia.
By Helen De Costa
A FEELING of disbelief ran through 20-year-old Emily Taylor after hearing her name announced as the Most Potential Breeder Award Winner at the 2024 Harris Farm Markets National Hereford Youth Expo.
The young Quipolly Hereford breeder was one of 30 applicants to enter for the award and who had a chance to take home JTR Golden Vanity U034, a 12-month-old heifer, donated by Tim and Jemma Reid, JTR Cattle Company, Roslyn.
After attending her first Hereford heifer show Wodonga in 2018, Miss Taylor hasn’t looked back, now being able to add Canadian sire Harvie OVHF Medcalfe 55J and 2021 Miss World competition runner-up, Wirruna Golden Vanity M261, to the pedigrees within her genetic pool.
“I’ve always had an interest in the Herefords,” she said.
“My grandfather always ran Hereford bulls over every type of cow, so I’ve seen what Herefords can do in that sense.
“I have been to a few other heifer shows with different breeds and it just consolidated that I want to be in the Herefords and where I want to stay for a very long time.”
Now with a growing stud of her own breeding, Miss Taylor said hearing she had won Golden Vanity U034 was unbelievable.
“For me, she’s really going to be a big part of my herd, she’s going to go right to the top.
“She’s going to bring in genetics that I would have never been able to afford or source myself, so this is really going to take my stud to the next level.”
Emily went on to show the heifer to reserve junior champion Hereford female at Melbourne Royal Show and junior champion Hereford female at Quirindi Show.
Most potential breeder award sponsors Tim and Jemma Reid were no strangers to the youth program, both fourth generation producers, while coming up though the ranks of the youth movement.
Mrs Reid said Miss Taylor had put blood, sweat and tears into her program and was really starting to gain traction.
“We feel that the heifer would really help propel Emily forward and she’d be able to do a lot for the heifer as well,” she said.
“Emily works really hard for her team, a lot of youth competitors look up to Emily, I know our two children do.
“We’re really proud to be able to offer Emily the heifer because we know that she is going to go to a very, very good home.”
Mr Reid said the couple were passionate about the youth and where it was heading, while striving to grow as many exhibitors in the Hereford industry.
“We wanted to find someone that was going to use this heifer and support the youth and we thought that Emily was the right applicant,” he said.
“Emily and her brother Mitch brought a team of cattle to provide ballot animals to other kids at the expo, both being young and competitors themselves, that’s to be commended.”
With the main prize being the heifer, the Reid family also donated straws of semen from Harvie OVHF Medcalfe 55J to Queensland’s Drew Weller.
I WANT to start off by saying a huge thank you to all our sponsors, supporters and volunteers, we had a massive year for 2024 and it really can not be done without them.
We had another successful expo under our belt - 150 competitors and 155 head of cattle with a sell out dinner function of over 300 people. Congratulations to the committee for running yet another exceptional event.
A big thank you to those committee members whose term has finished up. Without their passion for our youth members, it wouldn’t be as successful as it is now. You all do a fantastic job of mentoring the younger members into becoming the emerging leaders we are seeing.
The committee is now ramping up and beginning preparations for 2025, which excitingly will be held at Canberra from July 10-13, 2025. We urge all young people who are willing, to come along and have a go! If you would like to get involved with the youth program, please reach out.
We have hit the ground running after Expo with committee applications opening, calendar photo competition and calendar advertisement opportunities. We also opened applications for the Young Breeders Competition at the
World Hereford Conference in October 2025.
We are super excited to be sending four enthusiastic youth members as a team to represent Australia at the World Hereford Conference in Kansas City. This will lead into the organisation of training days throughout 2025 which we hope to open to the wider youth membership. Spots will be limited so keep your eyes open for release dates.
Keeping this in mind we are fundraising for the team and currently have a 100 Club fundraiser going now. Head over to the Herefords Australia Website home page to purchase your tickets, there is a fantastic prize pool to win from.
Nikki Martin YOUTH CO-ORDINATOR
REFLECTING on what a remarkable year 2024 was for Herefords Australia Youth, this year has been a testament to the dedication, passion, and hard work of our youth members, volunteers and supporters.
One of our highlights for 2024 was undoubtedly the annual Herefords Australia Youth Expo. This year, it was held in Cootamundra with more than 140 enthusiastic participants attending from across the country to celebrate their shared passion for Hereford cattle.
The Expo featured a broad range of activities designed to educate and inspire the next generation of Hereford cattle producers.
From cattle handling and judging competitions to educational workshops and networking opportunities, there was something for everyone.
All participants demonstrated exceptional skills and a deep understanding of Hereford cattle and the beef cattle industry in general. The level of competition was fierce, but it was the spirit of learning that stood out.
The success of the Youth Expo was not just measured by the number of participants or the quality of the competitions.
It was also about the connections and friendships made. The event provided a platform for young Hereford enthusiasts to meet like-minded individuals, share experiences and build lasting relationships.
We were also fortunate to have industry experts to join us as educators and judges. Their presence added immense value to the event, offering participants insights into the latest industry trends and best practices.
As we celebrate the achievements of 2024, we are equally excited about what lies ahead for 2025!
The preparation for the World Hereford Conference is already underway and we are excited to see what our Australian Youth Team bring forth for the competition in October 2025.
This was my first year as the Herefords Australia Youth Committee President, and I can confidently say the future of Herefords Youth looks bright!
Our committee is built on the passion and dedication of our young members, and their commitment is inspiring. We are proud of our accomplishments this year and excited about the journey ahead.
I would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported Herefords Australia Youth this year, including our volunteers and mentors. To our generous sponsors, your contributions have been invaluable.
We look forward to seeing everyone in 2025 and make sure you stay tuned for all of the Hereford Youth events and programs set to make next year our best one yet!
Cassie Bush YOUTH PRESIDENT
YOUNG and emerging beef industry leaders from across Australia gathered in Brisbane on October 23-24 to hear from a range of industry experts.
The inaugural Rural Bank Herefords Australia Future Leaders and Breeders Forum brought together rural banking, global markets, breeding, sustainability and genomics experts to present on best practice to the next generation of beef producers.
ABOVE: Participants visited the Kilcoy Global Foods Innovation Hub.
LEFT: Owen McClure, Marc Greening, Ambrose Kenney, Cameron Holliss, Andrew Turvey and Hamish Chandler attended the forum.
The forum brought together participants aged between 20 and 45 years to gain valuable business skills and a deeper understanding of the beef industry.
Herefords Australia chief executive officer Alastair James opened the event by thanking sponsors and discussing the importance of young people to the industry’s future.
The audience heard from ACM Agri national livestock manager Brett Tindal on the future of marketing, Elders national livestock manager Peter Homann on the global beef market, Louise Freytag and Angus Keene, Rural Bank, and Protein Production Vets founder Lachlan Strohfeld on best practice in breeding.
The formal proceedings closed with a guest speaker panel on the intersections between production, efficiency, and sustainability, including Andrew Turvey, Willinga Pastoral Co, Julia Waite, CN30, and Hamish Chandler, Herefords Australia, before the group travelled north to tour the Kilcoy Global Foods Innovation Hub on the Sunshine Coast.
The evening featured a dinner function with guest speaker AuctionsPlus general manager Paul Holm.
Participants heard how data driven breeding decisions can enhance production and profitability with senior technical product specialist, Andrew Byrne, at Neogen Australasia, the largest genomics testing facility in Queensland.
This was followed by a tour of the Genome Innovation Hub in Gatton focusing on genomic technologies to reduce emissions and improve profitability with the University of Queensland’s Professor Ben Hayes.
HEREFORDS Australia Youth committee members from the one family have dominated the junior judging at the 2024 Melbourne Royal with a swag of titles in beef and grain.
Mitchell Taylor was sashed as the 2024 National Beef champion junior judge, capping off a big year for him, while his sister Emily was National Grains Young Judges champion –the first siblings to win a national competition each at the same event run by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW and Agricultural Shows Australia.
Mitch, 18, of Quipolly, NSW, had previously showed his talent to emerge as champion intermediate herdsman, reserve champion parader, champion junior judge and grand champion junior judge at the 2023 Herefords Australia National Youth Expo at Parkes.
The Year 12 student went on to be an associate judge in the Hereford ring at Beef Australia 2024 at Rockhampton, Qld and was the 2024 RAS/ASC beef champion junior judge at the Royal Sydney Show.
At Melbourne, he judged Hereford and Red Poll heifers and Hereford bulls and spoke publicly on the Hereford heifers.
“It has been a great journey this year and this win topped it off,” he said.
Mitch has his own Hereford and Shorthorn stud, MT Livestock, and going forward has mapped out a career in the stock and station agency sector, specialising in stud stock auctioneering.
Mitch lists his auctioneering mentors as Tom Tanner, Davidson Cameron & Co, Gunnedah, and John Settree, Nutrien Ag Solutions stud stock manager, Dubbo. He works part time for Davidson Cameron & Co and has the goal to become a livestock and property agent.
“The part time work involves yarding, mouthing, weighing and scanning cattle at weaner, prime, female and bull sales, and helping to assess cattle for online sales,” he said.
Mitch is now keen to pass on his knowledge, skills, and advice
Mitch and Emily Taylor, Quipolly, NSW, are congratulated after their wins in the beef and grains judging at the Royal Melbourne Show by Victorian Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins, Brad Jenkins, CEO Melbourne Royal Show, left, and Matthew Coleman, president Melbourne Royal Show, right. Image: Michael Parry
to younger members of Herefords Australia Youth.
Emily has her own stud, Eclipse Poll Herefords, and has completed the second year of her rural science degree at the University of New England. Emily was the recipient of the CM Hocking Scholarship for 2022, putting the proceeds of the award towards her university studies.
Emily, 20, qualified to compete at the nationals at Melbourne in the grain judging – the first national finals to be held for grain.
She had previously judged fruit and vegetables at Sydney, winning reserve champion junior judge, but this year was her first-time judging grain. Emily was required to judge four samples each of wheat, barley and canola on variety, weight, protein or oil content, pest, weather or harvest damage, quality, and potential markets.
“I still like my cattle and prefer the Herefords over anything else, but agronomy is something I may do some work experience during the break. This time last year I had no idea how to judge grains and to win the Nationals this year was surprising,” Emily said.
“There was a little pressure on Mitch to win after I won in the morning. Mum
and Dad were pretty excited we had both done well.”
Victorian Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins congratulated the siblings on their win.
Whilst running 20 breeders in her stud, Emily has already had a busy year successfully running the Herefords Northern NSW Youth Camp in January 2023 at Glen Innes as president, was a vendor at the Dubbo Poll Hereford Show and Sale, performed sponsorship duties for her role on the Herefords Australia Youth Committee, took cattle to the National Youth Expo at Cootamundra in July and exhibited the reserve junior champion heifer at Melbourne.
She also helps at Rayleigh Poll Herefords at Narrabri, where she is gaining further knowledge and experience in the stud stock industry.
Emily attended the Herefords Australia Future Leaders and Breeders Forum and was especially keen to hear the latest around genetics and the Kilcoy Innovation Hub. She then prepared and helped students show steers for Calrossy Anglican School, Tamworth, at the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza to finalise the year.
By Helen De Costa
TABBY Cross was named the winner of the Jason Sutherland award and Herefords Australia Travel Scholarship at the 2024 Harris Farm Markets National Hereford Youth Expo held in Cootamundra July 11-14.
Jason Sutherland was a passionate Hereford breeder, who passed away in June 2015.
Many say he was someone that always looked out for others, while being a large supporter of the youth and was highly regarded by all those who knew him.
Miss Cross, 21, said it was a privilege to win the award and to be able to be on the committee to work together for the same goal: putting together a great youth program for likeminded members in the industry.
On the same night the young Victorian youth member was also named the 2024 Herefords Australia Travel Scholarship recipient, receiving $5000 to go towards a trip of her choice to enhance her knowledge within the industry.
Miss Cross attended her first Hereford heifer show in 2018, and hasn’t looked back, attending every expo, while holding a position on the Herefords Australia youth committee for the past two years.
Olivia Pearce, Herefords Australia, Tabby Cross, 2024 Travel Scholarship recipient and Kierin Martin, Kianma Poll Herefords. Image: Helen De Costa
228,000
4,200+
She plans to use the scholarship to help her travel to the United States next year in October.
“I’m going to travel to various different studs, feedlots, nutrition places and then hopefully tie that in with the World Hereford Conference at the end of October in Kansas City,” she said.
Judges Olivia Pearce, Herefords Australia, and Kierin Martin, Forbes, said Miss Cross’ application stood out as it was evident she had put a lot of thought and research in, with her plans not only to visit the studs and showing aspect of the US, but also the commercial industry.
“Tabby really highlighted she wants to learn more about livestock processing, saleyards and meat works; as well as get a better understanding of how they are addressing issues in the beef industry such as climate change, market volatility and consumer behaviour” Ms Pearce said.
“She’s very passionate about the Hereford industry.”
WILLIAM York dominated the herdsman and parader championships at the Herefords Queensland Youth Affiliation annual camp and also scooped the coveted Most Potential Breeder Award.
Drawing 80 young cattle handlers, the camp was held on June 28-30 at Dalby showgrounds with educational rotations including AI demonstrations, activities with ACE Genetics, parading practice with Tammie Robinson and Aderian Nixon, clipping demonstrations with Travis Luscombe, nutrition talks with Aleacea Nixon, junior judging practice with Kirrily Johnson-Iseppi and Andrew Lyn on meat cuts.
William York, Wallumbilla, was named as the most potential cattle breeder and won WRL Brooke U091 (P), a 10-month-old daughter of Yalgoo Render R118 donated by the Russell and Edna Lowien, WRL Herefords, Dalby,
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The 20-year-old runs a registered stud, Wilsam Herefords, in conjunction with his parents commercial Hereford operation. He has been a member of the HQYA for three years and also took home the champion herdsman award and reserve champion parader.
Hamish Swanborough, Inverell, NSW, impressed over judge Hayden Hanson to be sashed as grand champion parader and reserve champion herdsman.
The reserve most potential cattle breeder and reserve champion junior judge was Colby George, Casino, NSW, while the Hereford Queensland Youth Ambassador Award was won by Grace Collins, Armidale, NSW.
Myles Gilliard took out the Junior judging champion and public speaking champion.
Abby Dwight-Nowland was reserve champion public speaker and also received the Lyn Zillman Award.
Following the annual general meeting, Mitchell Portbury has stepped down as secretary and the position filled by Grace Collins. Aleacea Nixon remains as president, vice president is Abby Dwight-Nowland, treasurer William York, senior liaisons are John Shannon and Steve Reid.
Committee members are Tom York, Kelsie Wilkes, Liam Swanbrough, Jill Burgess, Clancie Gollan, Fletcher Ash and Fred Collins. CONTINUED FROM PAGE
By Kim Woods
SAM Garvin always stands out from the crowd with his presentation, finesse and professionalism beyond his years when it comes to parading cattle in the showring.
The 14-year-old from Orange, in central NSW, was identified for his natural skills with cattle handling and snapped up by several studs to show their bulls and females at major events on the Hereford calendar.
Although his family breed Angus cattle, he was introduced to the Hereford breed through the Herefords Australia Youth buddy program where a senior mentors a pee wee.
“At my first heifer show in 2016 at six I had Keirin Martin as my buddy, and it all went from there. He has been a mentor to me ever since,” Sam said.
In 2022 Sam cruised through the heats at the Herefords Australia National Youth Expo at Wodonga to win champion junior and grand champion parader, making it back-to-back titles after taking out the grand champion parader at the 2019 Expo at Parkes.
Paraders judge Jamie Hollis, Killara poll Herefords, Pittsworth, Qld, rated Sam as the clear winner.
“He blew me away with how experienced and professional he was,” Mr Hollis said.
“I would be happy to have him on the halter of my animals.”
Sam paraded Kianma Matchless S04 and paid tribute to his father Chris Garvin for helping him hone his skills.
“I love the expo for its atmosphere, meeting people and learning new things,” he said at the time.
Sam then went on to the National All Breeds Heifer Show at Blayney where
Sam Garvin parades the grand champion heifer at the Herefords Australia National Youth Expo at Parkes in 2023.
he won the junior champion herdsman, the junior champion junior judge and grand champion parader.
In the junior heifer division, Sam Garvin paraded Kianma Matchless S04 to win their classes with Kianma Matchless S004 sashed junior champion heifer.
Sam’s winning streak continued at the 2023 Youth Expo, again dominating the sub-intermediate division being
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Our commitment to market savvy selection will ensure our bulls give clients market premiums
t More calves to sell... our years of selection for CE daughters and CE direct ensure more live calves
t Better growth at early ages... selection emphasis on 400 day wt. gives more weight to sell and better ossification for top MSA indexes
t Better market compliance... from balanced selection for growth, fat, muscle and IMF to suit processor grids
t Outstanding EMA’s... selected to achieve better yields and dressing percentages for increased returns without compromising CE
t More IMF... to enhance eating quality for consumers, achieve higher MSA indexes and better Feedlot acceptance
Our sale bulls regularly rate in the top 5% for CE, 400 day growth, EMA, IMF, Yield and $Indexes
All bulls poll tested, sire verified and free from genetic diseases
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champion junior judge, champion parader and grand champion herdsman.
He expertly paraded Kianma Matchless S022 to senior and grand champion female.
This year Sam graduated to the big time, parading bulls for the Ardno stud at the 2024 Wodonga National, including a first place with Ardno Titan T413.
A Year 9 student at James Sheahan Catholic High School at Orange, Sam has a busy program after school helping his father with the stud and halter breaking heifers and young bulls to earn money for genetic purchases. He is waiting for the first calves to be born from a frozen embryo purchase.
He joined Herefords Australia Youth in 2018 and competed as a pee wee at his first Youth Expo in 2019, winning grand champion parader.
Sam has no idea how he did it and admitted he was “shocked”.
“A few different people help me with my parading skills including Kierin Martin, Annie Pumpa and my dad.
“They gave me tips on how to stand an animal for judging, staying calm and focusing on what you have to do. If you are calm, the heifer will stay calm.
“Even if you have a shocker, go back to the basics and work on remaining calm.”
Sam said presentation including cleanliness of his gear and equipment was important, with his mother Kylie influencing him from a young age.
“I started working with my dad showing cattle at Sydney Royal and I have since branched out to other shows with Kierin Martin at the Wodonga National, Melbourne Show and Dubbo National.”
Cricket and cattle are Sam’s two passions, and he is looking forward to showing animals with the school’s new ag team.
He also enjoys the junior judging and is building his skills in public speaking. Sam has ambitions to study at Charles Sturt University to become a large animal vet, in the footsteps of his grandfather who founded the Orange Veterinary Hospital.
“Hereford Youth are a great group of people and I have made plenty of new friends – it is pretty much like a big family, and I enjoy networking, meeting people, and growing self-confidence.
“I would like to apply for the Herefords Australia Youth scholarships when I’m older to visit AI centres in America.”
He likes to study US and Australian genetics with good marbling and phenotype. Sam eventually aims to judge cattle at royal level and serve on the Herefords Australia Youth committee.
“I look for AI sires with good growth, calving ease, positive fat, and above breed average for marbling. I like the females to be feminine yet have muscle and size.
“I want to thank Herefords Australia, my parents and all my mentors for their help along the way.”
NINE-year-old Dustin Paton has a dream to become a farmer and is well on the way to starting his own Hereford stud with his foundation heifer arriving this year.
The Herefords Australia Youth pee wee member is a Year 3 student at St Michaels Catholic School, Tallangatta, and this year kick started his own yet-to-be-named stud with the purchase of a Hereford heifer from the nearby Sugarloaf Creek stud.
Dustin lives on a beef and dairy farm at Tallangatta, in northeast Victoria, with his parents Andrew and Jacqui, and his two siblings, Hayley and Bob.
Hayley, 7, also attended her first Herefords Australia National Youth Expo this year, winning first in the heifer class and third in paraders using a ballot heifer from John and Renae Keith, Allenae stud, Roslyn, NSW.
The Paton family runs a commercial Hereford herd of 230 breeders, finishing progeny for grass fed programs and export markets, alongside a dairy herd of 250 cows on the fertile flats of the Mitta and Tallangatta valleys.
Mr and Mrs Paton took their children along to the 2022 National Youth Expo at Wodonga when Dustin was six years old.
“I’ve always loved cows and wanted to pursue that love for Dustin – he talks about being a farmer in the future. He just loves his cows,” Jacqui said.
With just a little help from mum and dad, Dustin started his own stud this year with the purchase of a $4000 heifer, Sugarloaf Lady Like U131 from Andy and Serena Klippel, Sugarloaf Creek Herefords, Corryong, at their annual sale.
Dustin enjoyed making new friends and learning new skills at the 2024 Herefords Australia Youth National, particularly the pee wee paraders class. He was matched with senior buddy Tabitha Manson and placed fourth in the herdsman class.
“The kids are networking for the future, and it is fantastic for their growth, independence, self-confidence, and selfempowerment. They are learning cattle handling, public speaking, and how to express themselves and the new friends they make is probably the biggest thing,” Mrs Paton said.
“They come home excited for the next one. Dustin got to lead his own heifer at the National and also showed her at the Tallangatta show.”
Mrs Paton said the Sugarloaf heifer would be artificially inseminated with assistance from Brandon and Brittany Sykes, Mawarra B Herefords, Howlong, NSW.
“We are going through the process of choosing a sire with help from Brandon and Brittany,” she said.
“The plan is to start with one heifer and slowly build a herd and by the time Dustin is a teenager he will have himself a nice little stud. Hayley is also planning to have her own stud.”
Pee wee Dustin Paton with his buddy Tabitha Manson in the paraders at the Herefords Australia National Youth Expo. Image: Helen De Costa
“I see children being involved with cows as a good thing, teaching them responsibility and they are having good, clean fun outdoors.
Mr Paton is impressed with the breed’s docility and performance. In 2024 he was presented with a certificate for 25 years of commercial membership of Herefords Australia Limited.
By Kim Woods
REBECCA Cadzow doesn’t even turn a hair at driving a road train of Hereford steers on a 9000km return trip from paddock to feedlot.
Although born and raised near Armidale, in northern NSW, she has spent her adult life helping to run an 11,000 head herd of Poll Herefords in one of Australia’s more challenging environments 200km northeast of Alice Springs.
Rebecca has worked alongside her husband Steve Cadzow to drive sustainability, productivity, environmental resilience and profitability on Mt Riddock Station.
The 2700sqkm station is split by the spectacular Harts Range and measures 160km long.
Set in a 300mm rainfall zone, Mt Riddock is home to a Poll Hereford
herd of 4500 breeders established in 1961 by Steve’s parents, Dick and Ann Cadzow.
The arid rangelands are predominantly red sandy loam soils supporting some Mitchell grass plains and predominantly buffel grass.
Dick and Ann were passionate about Hereford genetics and sold bulls privately throughout the Northern Territory to repeat buyers under the stud prefix, Corkwood, based on Sevenbardot and Merawah blood lines.
After the couple’s passing, the stud was disbanded but the recent purchase of a property at Uralla, in the NSW New England, will enable the establishment of a nucleus herd of elite stud females for herd bull production under the Corkwood prefix for Mt Riddock.
“Our eldest daughter has completed an artificial insemination (AI) and
pregnancy testing course while studying equine veterinary science –she is investigating the ideal Hereford genetics for the stud and will carry out the AI work in the stud heifers,” Rebecca said.
The family has added Days Whiteface bulls to the herd in recent times and ex-stud cows are used to breed the herd bulls. They have culled the herd heavily on Mt Riddock to now have a highly fertile and functional female, capable of surviving in the arid environment and raising progeny suitable for the feeder market.
“I really like a clean, neat and tidy herd and it’s nice to look into a yard of 1000 to 2000 beautiful Poll Herefords,” Rebecca said.
She said the breed’s resilience, adaptability, fertility and doing ability suited the station’s environment.
“We have a few rotational paddocks that when the buffel grass is optimal, even in a bad year the cattle are averaging 0.4kg of daily gain and in a good year it can be well over 1kg a day.
“We put the frame on the cattle so they can walk between watering points.”
The Mt Riddock herd is European Union accredited and turns off milk tooth steers and surplus heifers at 420kg liveweight for the EU feeder market, primarily to Princess Royal Feedlot, at Burra, South Australia, or heavy grass fed two-year-old bullocks to South Australian processors.
“Last week, I was in a road train and my husband the other, and we did 9000km for the week. I’m sure there are other wives driving road trains on the stations, but I get the job of going everywhere,” Rebecca said.
“We make sure the cattle have been fed oaten hay (sourced from SA and NT) and have electrolytes before transport. The feeder steers and heifers are trucked to Alice Springs, weighed and fed overnight, and then transported 1200km to the feedlot. They are unloaded at the feedlot by mid-morning the next day.
“Princess Royal love the temperament of the cattle, their ability to settle and grow. They know they will get the weight on the frame. They are usually our first-round weaners aged 10 to 12 months.
“When selling over the hooks, we ensure the cattle are well hydrated – we cross-load as soon as we arrive in Port Augusta, not waiting until the next morning. We get the
cattle straight to the processor at Naracoorte to ensure MSA compliance and consistent carcase quality.
“Hereford beef has high eating quality; the breed’s temperament is beautiful, and the cattle are adaptable to arid conditions – one year we had 25mm of rain for the year and yet the Herefords hung on.
“Our carcase weights for both our steers and cull cows are good. The cows are loaded at 14 to 16 a deck and they are well over 850kg liveweight.”
The commercial herd requires up to 40 new bulls a year and the Cadzow’s select on average birthweight, above average 200- and 400-day weights, above average frame score, and structural soundness.
Retained heifers are vaccinated for pestivirus and treated for lice and worms at weaning and run with the bulls for eight weeks at 15 per cent to increase conception rates. Empty heifers are sold to the feedlots.
Steve and Rebecca had been juggling three stations, a helicopter mustering business and Rebecca’s full-time teaching career in the indigenous communities when they decided to undertake a life audit in 2010, paring their portfolio down to the single station and one helicopter.
“The life audit was the best thing we ever did – we got our succession sorted with Steve’s parents and sister. The new block at Uralla is part of our succession plan for our children,” Rebecca said.
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When it comes to sustainability at Mt Riddock, it started with Steve’s father Dick, a passionate Landcare advocate who transformed the station’s eroded soils and rabbit infestation.
“Steve is passionate about his Landcare, slowing water down to make the most of rainfall and encouraging a diversity of native species,” Rebecca said.
Mt Riddock was one of the first pastoral properties to implement rotational spell grazing after receiving a Centralian Landcare Management Association grant.
The shift to increased productivity, profitability and sustainability was dramatic.
Thousands of ponding banks were created along survey lines to slow runoff, retain soil moisture and promoting native pasture growth.
Twelve smaller paddocks, each measuring four square kilometres, were fenced off with cattle grazing each paddock for a maximum of 21 days before the pasture is spelled for 10 to 12 months to allow grasses to seed and rehabilitate.
The smaller paddocks also allow for controlled matings of heifers to increase conception rates.
“The pastures were just buffel grass but now there is up to eight to 10 different species of grasses. We have also observed an increase in biodiversity of small reptiles and birds,” Rebecca said.
“By removing the cattle, even if there is no rain event, there is still a growth event with the plants making use of the soil moisture. The rejuvenation time is phenomenal compared to continuous grazing.
“We ensure there is at least three years’ worth of feed in front of us at any given time to increase business resilience during drought, and if the forecast is for dry conditions, we start destocking in a big way.
“The carrying capacity has increased from 100 cows (continuously grazed) to over 2000 steers rotationally grazed each year.”
The cattle are given urea and pre and probiotic lick blocks to increase digestibility of the native pasture.
The family has invested heavily in technology including walk over weigh scales and automated drafting systems
allowing controlled mating, calving weights of heifers, and average daily gain of weaners.
“The walk over weigh system allows us to identify a sick animal and gives us a chance to see how the cattle are performing on the feed as a whole herd,” Rebecca said.
“We can identify the heifers which have calved or are late calving and cull any poor performers. We are tough when it comes to cull rates in the heifers, anything dry in the first and second round at pregnancy testing is gone on the truck. As a result, conception rates are 85-90 per cent.
“The cow herd comes through the yards twice a year with calves branded and weaners removed, and cows preg tested.
“Calves are born in November/December, branded in March/April and weaned in September. The calves are put through a weaning program in the yards, educating them with horses and a helicopter, and fed Rhodes grass hay.”
On Mt Riddock checking water troughs could mean a 400km trip over rough terrain. A Remote Livestock Management System now couples existing communication technology with satellite imagery to monitor bores and water troughs.
There is no longer a full time bore man and all staff can check water levels via telemetry on their phones or iPad.
“The first bore we put a telemetry system with a remote stop-start function on was 90km from the homestead and it paid for itself in under three weeks in diesel, labour and vehicle costs,” Rebecca said.
“Every bore at Mt Riddock is now on the telemetry system and solar powered. We can check the bores and walk over weigh systems from anywhere in the world, giving us peace of mind about the water and stock.
“All of this data helps us make informed decisions, enabling us to work to sale dates, ensure the stock are on a rising plane of nutrition so they are fertile and growing, and provide our feedlot buyers with average daily growth so they are better informed.
“Our aim is to produce the most kilograms of beef in the shortest amount of time.”
The station is run with five full time labour units in addition to Steve and Rebecca.
“Our herd is now sustainable genetically as we have culled anything not superior enough to be there. We are continuing to install new watering points, stock yards, lane ways and fencing to increase the business resilience,” Rebecca said.
“Laneways stretch from one end of Mt Riddock to the other, and all of the yards are connected so if we do have an area that is not sustainable or coping with the season, we can easily destock that area in a day.”
Rebecca said a key to a sustainable business model was a succession plan where everyone at the table was respected and heard.
“A big part of the dynamics of a family enterprise is having those conversations together. We are thankful for the legacy we can carry on because of Dick and Anne.”
Rebecca is looking forward to slowing down to have more time for her hobbies of cheese making and competitive cutting.
Over the horizon, the Cadzow’s are planning to attend the World Hereford Conference in the USA in 2025 to bring back the latest innovations in the breed.
SOUTHERN Australian feedlot demand buoyed prices in the red centre’s Combined Agents Alice Springs steer and weaner sale on July 4 with Hereford feeder steers hitting $1493.
Selling agents Elders. Red Centre Rural, Grant Daniel Long, Pro-Stock Central, and Eagleson & Co yarded 4120 milk and two tooth and weaner Herefords, black baldies, Hereford infused, British bred and Bos indicus cattle at the Bohning Yards, Alice Springs.
Bruce Cameron, Elders reported the offering of pastoral steers to be in fresh forward store plus condition with five major South Australian and Victorian feedlots operating with three ex-Queensland, local and Queensland restocker enquiry pushing prices to above expectations.
Heavy grass-fed Hereford steers weighing over 350kg liveweight sold for $1019-$1493 or 280-330c/kg while pens weighing under 350kg liveweight finished at $809-$1020 or 268-300c/kg.
In the black baldy steers, the heavy grass-fed pens over 350kg settled at $1074-$1526 or 296-340c/kg and those under 350kg made $809-$1108 or 286-324c/kg.
The Hereford infused (Santa Gertrudis cross) finished at $1152-$1326 or 294-298c/kg.
Active buyers included Princess Royal Feedlot, Burra, SA, Charlton Feedlot, Victoria, Roxborough Feedlot, Miles, Qld, Australian Country Choice and Don Costello.
Ben and Nicole Hayes, Undoolya Station, Alice Springs, topped the Hereford run with a draft of USDA and EU certified steers weighing 515kg and returning $1493 or 290c/kg to Princess Royal Feedlot.
JLT Pastoral, Lucy Creek Station, topped the Herefords on a cents per kilogram basis at 330c/kg, or $1320, for steers weighing 403kg and bought by Princess Royal.
Fogarty Family Trust, Palmer Valley Station, Alice Springs, topped the balck baldy draft with their USDA and EU certified steers weighing 449kg, milk and two tooth and bred in the desert, making $1526 or 340c/kg to Teys Charlton Feedlot. The family equalled the top cents per kilogram price of 340c/kg with a second pen weighing 423kg and also selling to Teys Charlton.
JLT Pastoral also sold the top pen of Hereford infused cattle, Santa Gertrudis/Hereford cross, weighing 445kg and returning $1326 pr 298c/kg.
Todd River Pastoral, Alice Springs, opened the Hereford run with a pen of Injemira blood steers, 12 to 16 months, USDA accredited, milk tooth and 374kg, and knocked down to Princess Royal for $1152 or 308c/kg. Their seconds weighing 354kg made $1019 or 288c/kg.
McCarthy Bros sold a large run of milk and two tooth black baldy steers with their tops weighing 445kg and selling for $1415 or 318c/kg. Their seconds weighed 396kg and sold for $1212 or 306c/kg to Teys Charlton.
Datamars presented committee and life member Nicole Hayes with a hand scanner. Images: Centralian Beef Breeders Association
In the showring at the Alice Springs Show, Lachie and Lou Day, Days Whiteface, Bordertown, SA, exhibited the champion Hereford and supreme champion bull.
The two-year-old Days T243 impressed judge Chris Thompson, Yorketown, SA, with his overall capacity. The bull later sold for $7000 to Todd River Pastoral, Alice Springs, NT.
Reserve champion female was won by Hereford cow bred by Undoolya Station and exhibited by the Department of Education. The same combination also won the led steers with Hereford Uppercut.
Nicole Hayes, Undoolya Station, Alice Springs, exhibited the champion interstate female, which had been bought at the Kerlson Pines dispersal.
Mitchell Pears won the junior handler 13 to 18 years and the Rabobank Award while Clementine Meunster received the Boulview Nangaringa donation heifer.
In the multivendor Alice Springs Bull sale run by Pro-Stock Central, 27 bulls were offered with 24 sold a top of $13,500 to average $5820. Tom Honner, Minlacowie Herefords, Minlaton, had five bulls in the sale to average $6300 and topped at $8000 for the September 2022 drop Minlacowie Tyler sold to Undoolya Holdings.
The five bulls from Days Whiteface sold to $8500 and averaged $7300, with the top price lot Days Lancelot T063 bought by Mount Riddock Station, NT.
• A cow herd selected on milk & udder quality
• Mr Muscles – sons of Yavenvale Rambo, Yavenvale Red Hot & Matariki Nautical: all top 5% of the breed for EMA
• IMF Explosion – sons of Yavenvale Romeo, TH Masterplan & KCF Bennett Resolve G595: all top 1% of the breed for IMF
• Curve benders – sons of Yavenvale Powerhouse, Limehills Stellar & Quamby Plains Reagent R611
Sire of the future SHF Kilogram F158 K390 (PP) ranks in the top 2% of the breed for yearling weight, rib eye area, marbling EPDs and all indexes. Yavenvale owns the Australian semen rights.
By Kim Woods
HEREFORD beef sourced from the Bindaree Food Group kept the visitors to one of the nation’s biggest field days coming back for more as they munched their way through almost 3000 steaks.
AgQuip at Gunnedah in northern NSW attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across the country each year with Herefords Northern NSW members owning their own building at the site, guaranteeing hungry patrons a great steak every year.
This year members served up 2922 steaks, 448 sausage sandwiches, 305 Hereford beef pies and 161 beef bacon and egg rolls across the three days.
They were assisted by students from The Armidale School while the Hereford beef pies were made by Stewart Latter, The Bread Basket, Kurri Kurri, NSW. Stewart, a head judge for the Baking Association of Australia, supplied 4000 bread rolls, 400 pies and 50 loaves of bread to Herefords Northern NSW.
The beef bacon supplied by Claystone Meats, Canberra, was a medal winner after the business received a bronze for the product in the 2022 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show. The Hereford beef sausages were supplied by Texas Butchery, Queensland, and sourced from Greg Scurr, Tahlan Poll Herefords, Casino, NSW.
Members also had the Herefords Australia merchandise trailer on display and Northern Group caps for sale. Visitors were able to read the back story on how the beef came from cattle renowned for their docility, meet MSA grading specifications and were the foundations of Australia’s beef trade.
Herefords Australia Youth members Emily and Mitch Taylor, Eclipse Poll Herefords and MT Livestock, Quipolly, NSW, had several young bulls on display.
Money raised by the site at AgQuip is put towards promoting the breed throughout the region and supporting youth programs.
Herefords Northern NSW president Scott Hann thanked sponsors Santos Ltd for a grant for new barbecues and cash desk cut outs donated by APS Mobile Welding Pty Ltd.
Mr Hann also thanked AgQuip co-ordinators Graham and Felicity Reeves who used their annual leave for the week to oversee the operations and team of 14 people per day.
Mr Hann said customers were coming back repeat times, loving the quality of the steak, complimentary tea and coffee, and undercover seating.
“The Hereford steaks came from 100-day grain fed cattle through Myola Feedlot from Bindaree Beef and visitors loved the eating quality, flavour and tenderness,” he said.
“We are now using all Hereford product and even our buns and bread are made by a Hereford breeder.
TOP PIC: A grant was received from Santos Ltd for new barbecues.
ABOVE: Hereford pies from the Bread Basket are served at the site.
“In acknowledgement of the assistance received from The Armidale School, we donate $1000 to their ag club each year. We also had a good number of Herefords Youth members, including those who participate in the Glen Innes youth camp, help us this year each day and it was an absolute god send.
“We opened early to serve breakfast for the trade stalls and they loved the beef bacon and egg rolls. It was nice to offer a beef product for breakfast.
“A lot of commercial producers call into the site each day and Herefords Australia provided us with plenty of promotional brochures to give out, including the northern crossbreeding brochure and our own Northern Group member’s directory.”
Mr Hann said the group works hard to promote the breed across the region each year and holds stud tours, educational seminars, open days, and workshops for members.
“Our group holds a Christmas herd tour in late November and this year the New England will feature. This will be followed by the Glen Innes junior heifer show in January.”
By Kim Woods
2024 marks a significant milestone for the southern NSW based Doodle Cooma Poll Hereford stud as it celebrates 75 years of dedicated breeding.
The Schipp family prides itself on producing high performing bulls with outstanding temperament, suitable for various climates.
Stud principal Daryl Schipp said the longevity and success of Doodle Cooma was a testament to the family’s commitment and meticulous approach to breeding.
“As a family run business, we put every effort and resource into improving our property and cattle,” Mr Schipp said.
“We have a long-term commitment to the industry, and this is evident in
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our approach to breeding – we are not after any short-term fixes or fads but are focused on improving the traits that will have a benefit to the profitability of our clients.”
Herefords Australia presented the Schipp family with an award at the 59th Herefords Australia National Show and Sale at Wodonga in 2024.
Carcase quality runs through the veins of the family with Daryl’s great great grandfather, Thomas Edward Tucker, operating a thriving butchery servicing the mining populations of Temora and Barmedman.
Doodle Cooma is Aboriginal for “sweet waters” where the stud was founded at Henty, NSW in 1949 by Alf Pitson based on the best Cudgeena females. The stud held its first reduction sale in 1964.
In 1971 the stud was purchased by the Schipp family and moved to Wagga Wagga. Daryl took over the management of the stud in 1975 while still at high school when his father, Hon Joe Schipp OAM, entered state politics.
The National Beef Recording Scheme was started at the stud in 1976 along with the purchase of many renowned sires and AI programs using the best bulls available in Australia and overseas.
The stud held several successful bull sales through the 1990s with many studs and top commercial herds purchasing sires and females.
In 1997 stud female Doodle Cooma Marvel 184 had the best growth EBVs of any Poll Hereford cow offered in Australia that year.
Doodle Cooma exhibited steers at the Sydney Royal Easter Show and local hoof and hook competitions over the years.
Daryl contributed to the breed by being founding secretary/treasurer of the Twin City Junior heifer show in Albury which set the benchmark for heifer shows around Australia.
Holding that position for 10 years, he was then elected president of Riverina Poll Hereford Breeders Group for many years before it merged with Southern NSW Hereford Breeders Group.
During the millennium drought cow numbers dropped from around 100 to 80 but a solid core of commercial buyers kept bull sales ticking over.
Doodle Cooma then transitioned to selling their top bulls at the Herefords Australia national Show and Sale Wodonga and the Dubbo Poll Hereford Bull sale.
Cattle have been sold to all eastern states including Tasmania where a bull purchased at Wodonga won senior champion at Hobart Royal Show.
Daryl and Trish, with their adult children Zoe and Adam, have implemented a long-term plan to build new infrastructure, regenerate native pastures, increase tree cover, foster biodiversity and ensure a smooth path to farm succession.
Trish’s wealth of expertise and knowledge, and manager of Doodle Cooma Pastoral Company accounts and administration, is the backbone of the business as the enterprise grows and adapts to changing times.
Urban encroachment from the city of Wagga resulted in the family moving the stud to Alfredtown around 10 years ago and they have used innovative practices to increase both productivity and sustainability.
Clean energy generated by solar panels power a new 135m deep bore, the homestead and internal electric fencing.
“A day of sunshine generates enough electricity to fill a large water storage tank – the solar power is working quite well for us,” Mr Schipp said.
“We have completed a lot of boundary and internal fencing – most of the boundary is double fenced with a 3-4m buffer to give us peace of mind when running bulls.”
The buffer is planted with trees to create shade and shelter for the stock and wildlife.
“We have fenced off extensive areas of a creek running through the property so we can control the grazing pressure. The creek banks are restoring their vegetation and there are new native trees coming through,” Mr Schipp said.
“On the higher country we have a project putting in different tree species ranging from natives on the better soils to quick growing pines on the ridge country.
“Any wash-out areas are fenced off and planted to trees – in the long term it will be worthwhile with several thousand planted already.
“If we remain slightly understocked, we can stay close to 100 per cent ground cover. We cull fairly heavily so we are not degrading pastures and we are noticing reductions in soil erosion.
“Through the hottest part of the summer there will still be green shoots underneath the dry grass and the pasture bounces away in the autumn break.”
The property has many native pastures of mainly kangaroo and red grass, along with improved pastures of lucerne.
“When we fertilise the hill paddocks we mix clover in with the super phosphate. We have spread lime and seen the benefits over time.
“We will spray out a paddock and direct drill an American tetila rye grass which is lasting up to three years on our creek country, giving us the opportunity to spray out broadleaf weeds and the cattle do well on it.”
Another priority was to replace the old inefficient cattle yards with a new steel set designed with efficient workflow, non-slip concrete base, hydraulically operated crush with full vet section and side squeeze, and a holding capacity of 150 cows.
The Schipps regularly host agricultural science students from Charles Sturt University, so operator safety was a high priority in the design.
Mr Schipp said the rotary force and hydraulic crush had increased labour efficiency, reduced workloads by half and increased animal welfare.
The family wean their steers at seven months of age on the creek flats, finish them on pasture up to 18 months old and sell through the prime markets at Wagga. A freeze brand helps to differentiate the steers for buyers seeking the Schipps genetics.
Always passionate about genetics, Daryl had previously worked on
stabilising a new composite, Riverina Red, comprising Hereford, Red Angus and Shorthorn until the project was curtailed by severe drought. He believes Hereford are an ideal base female in crossbreeding programs with their temperament, fertility and feed efficiency.
“Combining these traits together gives commercial breeders an efficient and sustainable animal that can be used in pure breeding or crossbreeding operations,” Mr Schipp said.
“The pressure is on cattle breeders to demonstrate they are taking sustainability seriously and by adding Hereford genetics to their breeding program, commercial breeders can demonstrate they are committed to the long-term productivity gains and environmental sustainability of their business.”
FOURTH generation Hereford breeder Angus Day accepted a certificate from Herefords Australia marking the Allendale stud’s 75-year history at the 2024 Herefords Australia Wodonga National Show and Sale.
The Allendale brand and program is synonymous with the Hereford breed nationally and internationally with genetics in many Poll Hereford herds in Australia.
This was highlighted at the 2011 Dubbo National Poll Hereford Sale where the Allendale bloodline featured in the pedigrees of 39 per cent of the 127 sale bulls, giving a strong endorsement of how well the Allendale bulls breed on in other herds.
A herd of 200 breeding females, Allendale regularly introduces new genetics from throughout Australia and overseas to complement and improve its breeding program.
Founder of the Allendale stud, Allen E Day, was a great judge of livestock. He established the Allendale Suffolk stud in 1931 at Alma, SA, followed by a Tamworth pig stud in 1935, Dorset Horn stud in 1938, Poll Dorset stud in 1956 and Landrace pig stud in 1957. The first Poll Hereford cattle arrived in 1949 founded on Munduney, Yellowie and Merryville genetics.
In 1960 the Allendale stock was relocated to Bordertown, SA, minus the pigs which were dispersed. In 1974 the stud in partnership with Lyell Stuart, Valma stud, paid $28,000 for the 12-month-old bull Glen Osmond Field Marshall. Unfortunately, Allen died shortly afterwards, and his son Graham and wife Prue took over the management.
Graham followed the mould and has been heavily involved in the show scene with both sheep and cattle for
Angus receives the 75-year membership certificate from HAL. Images courtesy Allendale Stud
many years, attending his first Sydney Royal in 1952 and showing their first Allendale stock at Sydney in 1971.
He has not missed a Royal Adelaide Show since 1947 and considers showing to be a valuable opportunity to give back to the industry through
judging and encouraging younger breeders.
Graham has judged in New Zealand and South Africa, and both sheep and cattle at every Australian Royal Show, as well as being a mentor for young people.
The stud hit the headlines in 2003 when Allendale National W168 sold for a new record price of $85,000 at the Dubbo National Poll Hereford Show and Sale to Hilton Kensit and Robert O’Reilly, and setting a price benchmark within the stud which still stands.
Dubbo and Wodonga have been the major sale venues for the stud’s top end bulls until the decision was made in recent times to transition to an onproperty bull sale.
Over the 50 years of the Dubbo Poll Hereford National the Allendale stud has been the most successful exhibitor seven times, has had the grand champion bull seven times, won the president’s shield seven times, and achieved the then record price of $85,000.
In 2010, the family partnership was dissolved with the third generation Alastair and his wife Jayne taking over Allendale and Lachlan his wife Lou operating Days Whiteface.
Today, the 1214ha property is run by Alastair, Jayne and son Angus who tag 350 stud calves a year, run a small herd of commercial cows as recipients, and 700 stud Poll Dorset, Suffolk and White Suffolk ewes. The family sells 80 bulls and 250 rams a year.
Alastair is known within the industry for his judging abilities, having judged Herefords at Wodonga, Sydney, Dubbo, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide.
Among the most widely used sires is Allandale Anzac E114 which has become a whiteface legend after selling to Centennial and Injemira studs for $30,000 in 2011. His dam Allendale Dawn B22 had nine sons topping at $40,00 and averaging $18,100. He is known for his easy doing progeny with extra carcase.
Tagging themselves as the “red meat specialists”, Allendale’s quest is to offer the most commercially relevant article with a high level of genetic merit remaining a constant.
“We are running our young bulls in large contemporary groups and select on a balance of traits. I believe in not only BREEDPLAN but also type and am a stickler for sheaths, testicles, and eye setting,” Alastair said.
“We weaned our bull calves this year at three to four months of age and can see the muscle already along the top line, giving us an indicator of the genetic improvement we are making.
“There are no second chances here for the females as fertility is so important.
“We have such a loyal band of clients who are also friends which is one of the most satisfying things about stud breeding. Having venues like Wodonga and Dubbo is so
important for the Hereford breed as people can get together and make new friends.”
Family patriarch Graham was honoured with an Order of Australia Medal in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services to livestock breeding.
In 2020 Allendale and Days Whiteface studs combined to market their bulls at the one venue while 2021 marked the largest offering of homozygous polled bulls to date – 67 in total.
By Kim Woods
COMMERCIAL and seedstock producers snapped up $10 million worth of Hereford bulls in a strong spring onproperty sales season to average a solid $9955.
A total of 1255 polled and horned bulls were offered with 1008 sold under the hammer for an 80 per cent clearance, top of $110,000 and gross of $10,035,605 across 36 on property and online sales.
Topping the season’s high prices was Cascade Poll Herefords, Currabubula, NSW, creating a new stud record for themselves at $110,000 for Cascade Tosca T042 (AI) (PP) to the Trovatello family, Glendan Park Herefords, Kyneton, Vic.
Tosca was sired by Injemira Fortune M152 Q034 and out of Cascade Largess N051 (P).
The July 2022 drop bull weighed 948kg, had a 135sqcm eye muscle area, rump fat of 18mm, rib fat of 11mm, a scrotal circumference of 46.5cm and a raw intramuscular fat of 7 per cent.
Cascade cleared all 31 bulls to an average of $12,677, with bulls going west to Birdsville and north to Eidsvold, Qld. The previous Cascade stud record stood at $56,000.
Manager Jack Smith was so impressed with the young bull’s sire, he bought Injemira Fortune M152 Q034 from the original buyer.
He said the Tosca cow family was one of the best at Cascade and the young sire showed plenty of thickness and correctness.
Long-time clients the Cook family, Kindon Station, Goondiwindi, outlaid the season’s second top price of $70,000 for the 31-month-old, 978kg Ironbark P071 True Grit T035 (AI) (H) from the Ironbark Herefords sale at Barraba, NSW, in September.
In the largest offering on the spring circuit, a total of 100 bulls were cleared under the hammer from 130 by the Spencer family to a solid average of $10,230. Australian Food and Agriculture secured 12 bulls for their Coonamble aggregation to average $9166 and seven bulls for Boonoke, Deniliquin, to average $9428.
New clients Sam and Sarah Becker, Jarrah Herefords, Banana, Qld, outlaid $40,000 for Yalgoo Tambo T185 at the Yalgoo Genetics sale, Walcha. The bull ranked top one per cent on BREEDPLAN for 600-day weight at +120kg and scrotal size, top 2 per cent for carcase weight, 400-day weight and gestation length, and top 3 per cent for days to calving. The sale cleared all 39 bulls for an average of $10,487.
Greenwood Poll Herefords, Triabunna, Tasmania, secured the top price bull, Mountain Valley Thunder T172, for $36,000 at Ian and Shelley Durkin’s Mountain Valley Poll Herefords sale at Coolatai, NSW. Thunder was sired by The Ranch Payroll P031 and out of a Kidman Breakaway E214 daughter. The sale cleared 36 from 38 bulls for an average of $12,917.
The Nixon family, Devon Court Herefords, Drillham, recorded their best average yet at $13,100 and cleared 33 from 34 bulls to a top of $36,000 to repeat buyers and new clients.
The 828kg top price bull Devon Court Top Secret T133, a son of Mawarra Top Secret, was snapped up by new clients John and Kate McLoughlin, Rolleston, Qld, for joining to Santa Gertrudis cows.
Steve and Debbie Reid, Talbalba Herefords, Milmerran, Qld, topped the season’s sale averages on $14,666, clearing 63 from 66 bulls to a top of $34,000. The heterozygous polled Talbalba Laptop T050, a son of Talbalba Techno R036, was snapped up by Nowley Pastoral, Burren Junction, NSW. Bulls were sold from Yeoval in central NSW to Blackall in western Queensland, Cameron’s Corner in the south west and Boonah in the east into pure and crossbreeding herds.
Merawah Poll Herefords and Tenaru Poll Herefords, Boggabilla, NSW, recorded a 100 per cent clearance of 54 bulls and topped at $24,000 five times to post a strong average of $14,371.
The top price bulls were Merawah Big Deal T032, sold to R & M Dawson, Moura, Qld, Merawah Enduro T016, to Nutrien Coonamble, NSW, via AuctionsPlus, Merawah Phantom T012 to Bogong Pastoral Co, Condobolin, NSW, and both Merawah Lay Off T128 and Merawah Showtime T051 to Mt Riddock Station, Alice Springs, NT.
Merawah sold 46 from 46 bulls to average $14,664 and Tenaru sold nine from nine bulls to average $13,012.
The Crowley family held their Tycolah and The Cottage onproperty sale in July with a top of $28,000 to Andrew Quirk, Pinnacle Poll Herefords, Forbes, NSW, for a son of Allendale Bingara K184, Tycolah Vocal T067. A total of 41 from 45 bulls were sold for an average of $10,131.
The Higgins family, Curracabark Poll Herefords, Gloucester, NSW, sold 15 from 19 bulls to a top of $26,000 and average of $12,800. The top price bull, Currracabark Thailand T446 was bought by Pam and Malcolm Shelley, Kaludah Herefords, Cooma, NSW.
Steve and Jodi Peake, Bowen Stud Cattle, Barraba, NSW, cleared all 36 bulls to a top of $24,000 and average of $12,812. The top price lot, Bowen Tenterfield T100 was
bought by David and Olwyn Lyons, Melville Park Herefords, Vasey, Vic.
The Carlow family, Kidman Poll Herefords, Dubbo, NSW, sold 31 from 39 bulls to a top of $22,000 and average of $9581. First time buyer Matt Avery, Adelaide Hills, SA, took home the top price bull, the 970kg Kidman Pied Piper T062 destined for his station at Broken Hill, NSW.
Commercial feeder steer producer Phil Duddy, Pinkett, NSW, paid the top price of $22,000 for Amos Vale Kenworth T003 at the Amos Vale Herefords bull sale at Pinkett. The sale resulted in 27 from 29 bulls averaging $9814.
One of the first sales of the season was the Halloway family’s Tobruk Poll Herefords, Wagga Wagga, NSW, with 14 out of 15 bulls sold to a top of $20,000 for Tobruk Ultimate, and an average of $7142.
The Sykes family, Mawarra Genetics, Longford, Vic, outlaid $20,000 for VP Broadway T066, a son of Churchill Broadway 858F, at the Vielun Pastoral Co stud sale at Mudgee, NSW. The bull had been used over 40 heifers. A total of 19 from 26 Hereford bulls sold for an average of $9333.
Ben and Leanne Rumbel, Supple Whiteface, Guyra, held their first on-property sale on August 13, recording a top price of $20,000 for Supple Tutu (PP) to the Gunn family, Sevenbardot Poll Herefords, Goondiwindi, Qld.
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Grant and Kylie Kniepp, Battalion Herefords, Dundee, NSW, and Graeme Newnham, Cara Park Herefords, Delungra, held their sixth annual sale, topping at $18,000 three times, clearing 22 from 28 bulls and averaging $10,272.
The Battalion team averaged $9099 with 11 from 12 sold and a top of $18,000 for Battalion Mojo T124 to the Robertson family, of Goulburn, NSW.
Cara Park topped at $18,000 for Lot 9 to Bruce and Pam Gunning, Quirindi, NSW, and Lot 11 to John and Maree Smith, Woodenbong, NSW, to result in a clearance of 11 from 17 bulls to average $10,636.
One of the nation’s most northern studs, Jarrah Genetics, Banana, Qld, sold 32 from 33 Hereford bulls to a top of $18,000 and average of $8187. The top priced bull, Jarrah Robert Redford T218, was the first of the stud’s sons of the $160,000 Injemira Robert Redford Q287 and was bought by new clients Russell and Amanda Hay, Taroom, Qld.
James and Nicki Pearce, Yavenvale Poll Herefords, Adelong, paid the top price of $18,000 for Elite N022 T270 via AuctionsPlus at Kay Payne’s Elite Poll Herefords sale at Gundy, NSW.
New clients Paul and Sally Fry, Collinsvile, Qld, bid online to secure Lotus Teriq T214 for the top price of $16,000 for use over their Brahman cows at the Lotus Herefords sale at Glen Innes, NSW. Bulls sold to three states to average $8166.
The Holcombe family, Rayleigh Poll Herefords, Narrabri, NSW, topped at $16,000 twice and cleared 23 from 28 bulls for an average of $9652. The top price bulls, Rayleigh Truman T4 and Rayleigh Tottenham T76 sold to repeat buyer G & W Steiner, Coonamble, NSW.
Long-time client Graham Bell, Gravesend, NSW, outlaid the top price of $16,000 at the Truro Whiteface sale at Bellata, NSW, for 918kg Truro Ten to One T196, a son of Yalgoo Peacemaker P034.
Ian and Diana Locke, Wirruna Poll Herefords, Holbrook, NSW, sold Wirruna Top Stuff T150 for the top price of $15,000 to Kay Payne, Elite Poll Herefords, Scone, NSW. Walkabout Apairies, Milawa, bought the second top price of $14,000, Wirruna McLaren M175.
The O’Leary family, Remolea Poll Herefords, Clifton, Qld, sold 46 out of 52 bulls to top at $14,000 twice and average $7674. Repeat buyer Morris Winter, Kingaroy, Qld, bought Remolea Tobruk T047, while Andrew Rayner, Grathlyn Pastoral, Mudgee, NSW, bought Remolea Tex T065.
David and Kate Collins, Glenwarrah Herefords, Bundarra, NSW, sold bulls to a top of $14,000 for Glenwarrah Mumbai T96 bought by Jim and Dianne Freeman, Tyringham. A total of 17 bulls sold from 22 offered for an average of $8058.
Long term clients C A Hauff & Son, Blackall, paid the top price of $14,000 for Lambert Tiger at the Bredhauer family’s Lambert sale at Blackall saleyards. The Hauff family bought three bulls for an average of $12,000.
Phil and Robyn Reid, Berridale, paid the top price of $12,500 for Telfordvale Unbelieve-a-bull at the Bendock Park Herefords sale at Delegate, NSW. Antony and Barb Martin, Dalkeith Poll Herefords and Herefords, sold bulls to a top of $12,500 to Chris Lethbridge, Mitchell, Qld.
Barry and Fay Hicks, Gundowring, Vic, paid the top price of $11,500 for Yavenvale Terrific T922 at the second annual online spring sale for Yavenvale Poll Herefords, Adelong, NSW.
Ironbark Herefords had the largest offering for the spring season.
Image: Hart Rural Agencies
The multi-vendor Casino Bull and Female Sale at NRLX Casino on June 28 resulted in 25 horned Hereford bulls sold from the 33 offered by McPherson, Anson and Dundee Echo Park studs to a top of $9000 and average of $5640.
Poll Hereford bulls from Pocupar, Old Bonalbo and Mayfield, Lindendale, averaged $5160 and topped at $6000.
The final Tummel bull sale was held on July 23 with 29 of 34 bulls selling to $8500 four times and the average was $6788.
The final sale of the spring circuit on October 11 culminated 88 years of breeding and the 55th Warren Point Poll Herefords Bull Sale for the Lethbridge family at Mitchell, Queensland. A total of 45 bulls cleared from 50 to a top of $18,000.
In the females, Tobruk Poll Herefords cleared all 11 females to a top of $4000 and an average of $2715 while Hillview Herefords, Tyringham, NSW, sold seven heifers to a top of $3000 twice and an average of $2428.
Rayleigh Poll Herefords cleared 11 from 15 heifers to a top of $4000 twice for Rayleigh L Tessa U31 and Rayleigh S Faith U133 to average $2412.
Supple Whiteface offered seven cows and calves at their on-property sale with two lots selling to $5000 each.
Truro Whiteface offered 16 females and sold seven to a top of $5000 for a daughter of Yalgoo Peacemaker P034, Truro Marianne S198 and her calf, and an average of $3642.
Wirruna Poll Herefords sold 10 joined heifers to a top of $6000 for Wirruna Miranda T249, to Green Hills Livestock Pty Ltd, Woodend, Vic, and average of $4350 while three pens of PTIC heifers, 23 to 25 months, to a top of $1900 and average of $1833. The 31 females in total averaged $2632.
Kianma Herefords, Forbes, NSW, cleared three stud heifers to a top of $7500 for Kianma Princess U008, a daughter of Mawarra Terminator Q274.
By Ro Koebel
A COMBINATION of phenotype and genetic data resulting in Courallie J P022 Ledger T017 being sashed grand champion bull at the 79th annual Glen Innes Bull Show and Sale.
Held at the Glen Innes saleyards on July 24, the show classes were judged by Doug Bennett, Casino, NSW.
At 24 months of age Ledger T017 tipped the scales at 935 kilograms with the second largest EMA scan in the catalogue of 136 square centimetres and was declared intermediate and grand champion. The bull was exhibited by David Hann, Courallie J, Inverell, NSW.
Second place in the intermediate class was awarded to another Courallie J sire, with Courallie J Q9039 Unique T031 taking home the ribbon.
In the junior bull class, the winner was Bahreenah Toulouse, a 22-month-old son of Mountain Valley Pindari P046, exhibited by Jane Leake, Bahreenah Poll Herefords, Tingah.
First placed senior bull and the prestigious “Yardsmen’s Pick” was awarded to Willgoose Fairsome T093, exhibited by Phil ad Lyle Yantsch, Spring Creek, Qld.
Sired by Yagaburne Nightwatch N298, the May 2022 drop Fairsome T093 weighed 945 kilograms with an EMA of 133 sqcm. Willgoose went on to win the champion pen of three bulls.
Second place in the pen of three was awarded to the Courallie team which comprised of the grand champion Courallie J P022 Ledger T017 and second placed Courallie
J Q9039 Unique T031, along with Courallie J M288 Matty T012.
Courallie’s show success continued with a win in the champion pen of six, culminating in the Inverell based stud being named most successful exhibitor of the show.
The female show classes saw a clean sweep for longtime Glen Innes vendor Roger Kneipp of Dundee Echo Park Herefords, Dundee, NSW, with Dundee heifers being awarded first place in the junior and senior heifer classes.
Senior champion heifer was awarded to two-year-old Dundee Cherry Ripe T317 while junior and grand champion heifer was presented to Dundee Constance 78 U332.
Show success turned to sale success with both the grand champion bull and grand champion female taking top honours in the sale ring.
Courallie J P022 Ledger T017 sold for the top bull price of $10,000 via AuctionsPlus to Paul Dal Bosco, Puckapunyal, Victoria.
Champion heifer Dundee Constance 78 U332 sold unjoined for the top female price of $4250 to Tom Bell of Killarney, Qld. In all, 10 of 13 females lots sold to average $3250.
Dundee sold all six of their females offered in the sale, to a top of $4250 twice and an average of $3625. Dundee Cherry Ripe 88 T317 sold for the equal top price to JD Gibb, Cootamundra, NSW.
The 2025 sale and the 80th annual event is something the Glen Innes Show and Sale committee are looking forward to according to committee chairman Peter Weller.
THE stud stock industry paid tribute to wellknown livestock transport identity
Stephen Smith as a family man with humour, charm and a passion for rural life after he died at 61 on July 10.
According to the eulogy given at his service, Stephen lived life to the full and “enough to have seen it twice”.
“The trust from his clients to cart many hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bulls was why he was considered the best in the business. Good equipment and even better drivers were the keys to his success.
“The cattle and sheep industry were a big part of Stephen’s life, his work took him around Australia meeting breeders, stock agents and colleagues.”
Stephen was born in 1963 to parents Richard “Dick” and Jenny Smith, who had founded Dick Smith Transport, a specialist stud stock carrier business.
Stephen completed his education at South Dubbo Primary School, then Barker College, Hornsby, before leaving school in Year 10 to complete a plumbing apprenticeship.
After travelling the world in 1985, he married Sharon in 1986 and began working for his parents in 1988, buying his first truck in 1989.
The couple had two sons Simon and Matthew and daughter Hayley, and they took over ownership of the business in 1996.
The job took Stephen across NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory before pivoting into management following an accident to further develop the business.
Outside of work Stephen enjoyed spending time at Burrendong Dam, rugby league, horse racing and clay target shooting.
He was an active member and president of the Dubbo Field and Game, and vice president of The Macquarie Club, Dubbo.
His funeral was on July 26 at the Dubbo City Crematorium and he is survived by his parents Dick and Jenny, brother Geoffrey, wife Sharon, children Simon, Matthew and Hayley, and his eight grandchildren Imogen, Nora, Gracie, Harry, Evelyn (deceased), Freddie, Charlie and Tommy.
ROBERT Kitchener Lethbridge was born on June 2, 1946, the youngest child of Bob and Thelma Lethbridge (née Loughnan) and passed away on July 15, 2024.
Robert took immense pride in the Lethbridge family’s deep roots in Queensland’s Maranoa region, first at Forest Vale and later at Warren Point, established in 1902. As the third generation to run Warren Point, he carried on the family legacy with dedication.
Upon returning to Warren Point, Robert took over the management of the property alongside his father and brother-in-law, Peter Doveton. Tragically, he lost his father at the age of 22, but Robert’s commitment to the family enterprise never wavered.
Robert was deeply involved in the Mitchell community. At just 20 years old, he became one of the youngest presidents of the Mitchell Show Society—a position he held with great pride, even though he was too young to sign a cheque! His dedication to the Show Society continued until his health began to decline five years ago. Robert was honoured with life membership and the role of Patron for his many years of service.
A committed member of the Mitchell Rotary Club for over 35 years, Robert served as president and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his service. He and his family warmly welcomed overseas exchange and international study teams to Warren Point, fostering connections across the globe.
Robert also served as a councillor for Booringa Shire Council for many years, continuing until the council
HEREFORD producers were saddened by the passing in July of John Birdsey at the age of 88 and formerly of the River Perry Poll Hereford stud, Perry Bridge, East Gippsland.
John was a great supporter of the whiteface cattle and performance recording, being one of the first studs to adopt BREEDPLAN performance recording.
Over the years he was involved in breed groups as a committee member of the Gippsland Poll Hereford Group and the Victorian Poll Hereford Association.
John and his wife Mary conducted the River Perry Poll Hereford stud from 1974 until its dispersal in 2014. John had been working for Dr Disher at Strathfieldsaye which was the first Hereford stud in Gippsland. He was approached to manage the Delamore stud for Dr Alan Goble and they both travelled Australia extensively searching for stud cattle.
John went on to manage his own stud full time and was a regular attendee at the Dubbo National Show and Sale, buying many sires at this event. This was an important part of the calendar each year where he made many friends and acquaintances in the stud industry.
amalgamations in 2008. His leadership extended to the establishment of the Mitchell Sporting Complex, where he served as president until his health no longer permitted.
Robert was also an astute cattleman, respected for his deep knowledge and love of cattle. He was a familiar face in the show ring, both as an exhibitor and a judge. He held positions on the Queensland Poll Hereford Society and served as a Director of the Australian Poll Hereford Society. The family’s long association with Poll Hereford cattle, dating back to 1936, was a source of great pride for him. He instigated the first on property bull sale at Warren Point in 1970 – this year will be the 55th annual on property sale.
At the age of 19, Robert met the love of his life, Beth, and they remained best friends ever since. They married on November 30, 1968, at the age of 22, and built a life filled with love and companionship.
Above all, Robert’s greatest pride was his family. He was devoted to his children, Andrea and Christopher, and adored his grandchildren, Rio and Lois, who affectionately called him “Bowana”—a name given by his daughter-in-law, Marietta, which means “Boss” in Africa.
John was a great supporter of performance recording and was an early participant of BREEDPLAN. He ran his operation in a regimented manner, with high standards and no cutting corners. In all this time his aim was to have his own on-property bull sale which he eventually achieved.
John was involved in all aspects of the stud industry and contributed in many ways. He was a committee member and office bearer for many years with the Gippsland Poll Hereford Breeders Group, the Victorian Poll Hereford Association, and many other rural organisations.
He was instrumental in the establishment of a bull show and sale in Bairnsdale which ran for 10 years and exhibited cattle at Wodonga and Whittlesea bull sales and Victorian Female Classic Sale. He regularly showed at all Gippsland country shows and participated in local carcase competitions.
John died on July 28, 2024, and is survived by his wife Mary, son Rick and daughter Angela.
A CHAMPION of the Hereford breed, Terry Snow AM is remembered for the bold projects he undertook including the developments at Canberra Airport and Airport Business Parks, Constitution Place, Denman Prospect and Willinga Park, on the South Coast.
His unwavering dedication to building outstanding developments reflects a commitment to excellence and quality that will resonate for generations to come.
The grandson of Civic’s first general store owner, Terry was a business leader with his innovative spirit and relentless pursuit of excellence. He transformed the Canberra Airport precinct into a world-class aviation hub after it was purchased from the Federal Government in 1998. He was a true entrepreneur: when he had an idea, he pursued it doggedly, taking risks and pushing the boundaries of architectural design.
Terry was more than a successful businessman; he mentored numerous people in their businesses and pursuit of their dreams. Terry’s generosity touched the lives of many, and he lived by his own words “if you see someone struggling you give them a helping hand”.
Beyond his everyday generosity, his profound dedication to philanthropy began initially in the Canberra region when, in his mid-40s with his brother George, he created The Snow Foundation in 1991. Over the past 15 years, his generosity
extended across Australia as he grew The Snow Foundation and, more recently, established Snow Medical, driven by a deep sense of social responsibility.
In his 60s, he purchased land at Bawley Point on the South Coast, but instead of retiring, he feverishly built an incredible world-renowned property, Willinga Park, with remarkable equestrian facilities. Herefords Australia supported the Gold Buckle Campdraft Championships at Willinga Park.
In 2019 Terry purchased Juandah Plains and Glendoan near Wandoan in Queensland and eventually put together a portfolio of nine properties covering 58,704ha, running a Hereford and Hereford cross herd. Terry liked the breed’s docility, above average weight gains off grass, MSA compliance and ability to hit the supermarket grid specifications.
“We select for functional cattle that can handle Australian outback conditions. Good growth rates, carcass and fertility are essential,” Peter says.
By Kim Woods
QUEENSLAND’S only multi-vendor single bloodline store sale for Hereford genetics topped at $1805 and grossed more than $1.1 million on September 2.
Grant Daniel Long and Nutrien Ag Solutions hosted the third annual Lambert Infused feeder and weaner sale at Blackall saleyards, yarding 1035 Hereford, Hereford infused and Charbray steers and heifers to average $1075.
A total of 591 heifers averaged $936 or 282c/kg while 444 steers averaged $1260 or 377c/g. Heifers topped at $1326 or 334c/kg and steers topped at $1805 or 410c/kg.
GDL Blackall branch manager Jack Burgess said feeder competition mainly from the southern Darling Downs operated on the feeder cattle pushing the market above normal rates by 1015c/kg, and the trade and backgrounder steers were firm to 10c/kg dearer due to quality.
Hereford feeder steers weighing 465kg sold for 388c/kg to return the sale top price of $1805. Image: GDL Blackall.
weaner steers 280-350kg averaged 380c/kg and the lighter pens under 280kg averaged 384c/kg.
“Those buyers of the trade and backgrounder steers were local to the central highlands and some heifers were orders for future breeders to go to NSW,” Mr Burgess said.
He said the sale had attracted new buyers this year off the back of a growing reputation for quality cattle.
Mr Burgess said buyers like the Hereford temperament and market flexibility as either trade or heavy feeders or finishing to bullock weights.
“These Hereford cattle always meet expectation – they line up and look brilliant, very easy to sell as grown cattle. The top steer price of 410c/kg or $1805 was very good as Blackall as it was a little more than what the feedlots quote giving us a good premium for the right type of cattle.”
Lambert Pastoral principal Scott Bredhauer said this year’s single bloodline sale of Hereford and Hereford infused cattle was the biggest offering yet.
“A repeat client bought around 500 Herefords and Charbrays for finishing on cereal crops or pasture at Tambo and Cunnamulla properties to feedlot weights,” Mr Bredhauer said.
“A buyer who bought Tony Hauff’s Hereford cattle last year put them through a feedlot for 130 days for processing at Kilcoy and they looked magnificent. The same buyer bought his and our heavy steers this year at 388c/kg.
“We had some new buyers attend this year, including from Charleville.”
In the sale breakup, heavy heifers over 350kg averaged 291c/kg, the pens weighing 280-350kg averaged 295c/kg, and the lighter pens under 280kg averaged 274c/kg.
Feeder steers over 400kg averaged 384c/kg, backgrounding steers at 350-400kg averaged 359c/kg,
Last year’s sale topped at 688c/kg and grossed $1.8 million.
Vendors vied for $5000 in prizemoney and a $1000 bull credit donated by the Bredhauer family, Lambert Pastoral Company, Charleville.
The judge of the six classes was commission buyer, lot feeder and producer Tim Turner, Glenmorgan.
Hughenden producer Alastair Anderson, Ballater Pastoral Co, took out classes one and two, steer and heifer pens under 300kg, with Hereford cross cattle.
The Glover family, based at Tambo, and their Hereford cross heifers won the 301-380kg heifer class.
For the heavier classes, CA Hauff and Sons won the steers 381-520kg category, with Hereford cattle, going on to claim the overall champion pen of steers.
CA Hauff & Son, “Colart” and “The Springs”, Blackall, offered a draft of Hereford feeder steers averaging 423kg and milk tooth, to return 388c/kg and $1643.
Lambert Pastoral Co sold 18- to 20-month-old Hereford feeder steers weighing 465kg for 388c/kg to return the sale top price of $1805. They also sold weaner steers for the sale top on a cents per kilogram basis of 410c/kg and weaner heifers for a top of 334c/kg. Their Hereford cross heifers, weighing 337kg, sold for 330c/kg or the top heifer price per head of $1115.
CG Glover and Son, Prospect, Tambo, sold Hereford cross heifers weighing 362kg for 292c/kg or $1060 while Nathan Dickson and Tanya James, The Lake, Aramac, sold Hereford cross steers, averaging 299kg, and returning $1041 or 348c/kg.
A YOUNG son of Herefords Australia Super Sire Wirruna Real Deal R105 and out of a daughter by a Super Sire topped the 4th annual Gippsland Performance Herefords online bull sale on September 4.
Warringa Ultimate U208 (AI) (P) sold for the equal top of $10,000 by Bill and Minnie Kee, Warringa Herefords, Sarsfield, to Millring Pastoral, Toongabbie, Vic.
The bull’s dam, Warringa Priscilla Q209, was sired by Wirruna Matty M288. Ultimate ranked in the top 2 per cent of the breed for intramuscular fat, the southern selfreplacing and northern self-replacing indexes, top 3 per cent for days to calving and southern baldy maternal index, top 4 per cent for gestation length, 400-day weight and northern baldy terminal index, and top 5 per cent for 200-day growth.
Ultimate also ranked top 5 per cent for carcase weight, top 10 per cent for 600-day weight and eye muscle area, top 15 per cent for scrotal size and top 20 per cent for rib fat.
Warringa Usman U213 (AI) (PP) also sold for $10,000 to Tarwin Ridge, Tarwin Lower, Vic. Sired by Yavenvale Red Hot R501, the young sire ranked in the top 10 per cent of the breed for carcase weight, eye muscle area, top 15 per
cent for southern self-replacing, northern self-replacing and southern baldy maternal indexes, top 20 per cent for rump fat, retail beef yield and northern baldy terminal index.
A total of 15 bulls were offered with nine sold to an average of $7333.
Vendors were Stan and Denise Walker, Charellan Poll Herefords, Pearsondale, Bill and Minnie Kee, Warringa Herefords, Sarsfield, David Meikle, Tarwin Poll Herefords, Meeniyan, and Bill Lack, Willack Poll Herefords, Heyfield, Gary and Jill McAinch, Mudook Herefords, Sarsfield.
“It was pleasing the bulls sold to both existing and new clients,” Mr Kee said.
Willack Poll Herefords also offered a selection of 10 females, all meeting the Gippsland Performance Herefords selection criteria. Four lots were sold for $2000 each to S and J Robinson, Koonwarra, Vic.
All bulls were Herdbook registered, sire verified, poll status, DNA tested, had full Hereford BREEDPLAN EBVs and market selection index values.
They had to meet strict performance driven selection criteria, were independently structurally assessed, fertility and semen tested.
By Kim Woods
QUALITY heavyweight grass fed Hereford steers and three-in-one breeding units were in demand from buyers at national store sales across the spring, with prices hitting $2470 and $2650 respectively.
Hereford producers were busy turning off their heavyweight grass-fed steers this spring with those weighing over 350kg liveweight commanding $1820-$2470 or 347-401c/kg. Yearling purebred steers brought $990-$1720 or 329-482c/kg and feeder steers settled at $1190-$1700 or 351-434c/ kg.
Backgrounding steers made $1030$1290 or 382-388c/kg, the heavier end of the steer weaners over 350kg liveweight brought $1208-$1840 or 340-418c/kg and the lighter weaners under 350kg finished at $730-$1400 or 362-450c/kg.
In the females, yearling Hereford heifers made $910-$1497 or 268401c/kg, feeder heifers $970-$1030 or 297-375c/kg, heavier weaner heifers over 300kg brought $970-$1030 or 297-375c/kg, and the lighter pens under 300kg settled at $690-$900 or 272-430c/kg.
Joined heifers with calves sold for $1740-$2650, joined cows and calves made $1650-$1800 while PTIC heifers brought $1580-$1840 and PTIC cows $1560-$2310.
Non station mated cows with calves made $1440-$2440, and unjoined heifers with calves finished at $1900$2580 while unjoined cows averaged $1515.
In Victoria, heavy grass-fed steers at Bairnsdale topped at $2440 or 368c/kg when J, T and A Stevens, Bruthen, sold 662kg Herefords and their seconds weighing 602kg made $2320 or 385c/kg in August. K and L Murphy sold purebred steers weighing 686kg for $2470 or 360c/kg and their seconds weighing 626kg for $2380 or 380c/kg.
The Camp Pastoral, Bairnsdale, sold 560kg steers for $2250 or 401c/kg and a lighter pen at 509kg for $2020 or 396c/kg. Batty and Valentin sold
steers weighing 648kg for $2400 or 376c/kg while Chris and Mary Wheeler, Buchan South, sold 340kg steers for $1420 or 417c/kg.
Other heavy grass-fed steers at Bairnsdale made $1820 or 338c/kg for a pen weighing 537kg and sold by S Omifologi and G and S Woodward sold 656kg steers for $2280 or 347c/ kg and 18- to 20-month-old steers, 574kg, returned $2120 or 369c/kg for Byarook Pastroral, Gelantipy. Gnarwyn, Warncoort, sold steers weighing 430kg, Ennerdale blood, for $1510 or 351c/kg and Keith Davies sold Mawarra blood steers, 12 to 14 months and 340kg, for $1180 or 347c/kg. Kent Park and Partners sold 250kg weaner steers, Karoonda and Newcomen blood, for $990 pr 396c/kg and 255kg steers for 413c/kg or $930.
Simon, Rowena and James Turner, Turner Partnership, Bindi, sold a run of 113 11- to 12-month-old steers weighing 351kg, to a top of $1450 or 413c/kg. Ken and Kym Skewes, Ensay, sold a draft of 90 Hereford steers, 10 to 11 months, to a top of $1290 or 421c/kg for a pen weighing 306kg. Fraser and Penny Barry, Bindi Station, sold mixed sex calves including 225kg steers for $840 or 362c/kg and 195kg steers for $730 or 405c/kg.
At the Pakenham saleyards second last store sale, W Burdett, Flinders, sold heavy Hereford steers, 544kg, for $1880 or 339c/kg. At Leongatha, a run of 84 12- to 13-month-old heifers weighing 310kg, from L and S
Marriott, Tarwin Lower, sold to $1190 or 383c/kg to a breeder from Loch. The remaining pens sold to 401c/kg or $1210 to a South Gippsland breeder and lot feeder.
Avalon Herefords sold Banemore blood steers, 544kg, for $2000 or 368c/kg at Ballarat.
Deloraine Rural, Beveridge, sold a draft of 56 yearling steers, Mountain Valley and Tycolah blood, 358kg and 15 to 16 months, for $1180 or 329c/ kg. A and N Hocking, Dingee, sold station mated heifers, Glendan Park blood, 518kg, two years, and calves for $1740.
Perkins Pastoral, Mansfield, sold station mated ex-Ravensdale stud cows, 673kg, seven to eight years, and PTIC to Days Imperial Q101, Days Kakadu Q021, Days Hemisphere Q060 and Injemira Fortune P239 for $1720. Ellenthorpe Herefords, Girgarre, sold station mated heifers, Wirruna and Iron Shoe Lodge blood, 476kg, 22 to 24 months, and joined to a Poll Hereford bull for $1700 or 356c/kg.
3L Pastoral, Alexandra, sold non station mated cows, Guilford blood, 614kg and four years, with black baldy calves for $2440. Tarcombe Herefords, Ruffy, sold non station mated ex-stud heifers, 508kg, and 25 to 26 months, with spring drop calves by Tarcombe and Wirruna sires for $2300.
Alva Downs, Coleraine, sold station mated Injemira blood Hereford cows, 7.5 years, and PTIC to an Injemira bull for $1710. Trustee for the Rua Family
Trust, Upper Lurg, sold station mated cows, Glen Goulburn blood, 505kg, and three to eight years, with calves, for $1800.
Kent Park Partners, Mount Taylor, sold a draft of PTIC cows, Karoonda and Newcomen blood, 600kg, six to eight years, and joined to a Mawarra bull for $1800, and the seconds for $1650.
A and M Boatman, Ararat, sold a run of 42 weaned steers, Rhodenvale
blood, 273kg, and 10 to 12 months, for $1100 or 402c/kg.
At Yea, Lynn and Pam Vearing, Glen Goulburn Poll Herefords, Whittlesea, topped the market with first calf heifers with autumn drop calves and rejoined for $2650. H Adams, Yarra Glen, sold 439kg steers for $1700 or 387c/kg to Melbourne based commission buyer Campbell Ross.
At Wodonga, Reid Trust, Howlong, sold steers, 14 to 16 months, 304kg,
for 388c/kg or $1180 and the seconds at 245kg for $990 or 404c/kg. The heifer portion weighing 294kg made $900 or 306c/kg, and the seconds at 253kg made $780 or 308c/kg. P and M Kirk, Everton, sold Hereford steer weaners, 256kg, for $940 or 367c/kg and R and M Trethowan sold heifers, 20 months and scanned empty, for $1400 or 340c/kg, and the seconds at 356kg for $1090 or 306c/kg. Broken Wire,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 86
Pinnacle is proud to welcome into the herd. Vocal, top-priced bull from the Tycolah sale, was selected for his genuine low birthweight, perfect structure and balance. Please contact us directly for details: Andrew and Jessica Quirk 0458 160 375 You can also find and follow us on Facebook!
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 85
Mitta Mitta, sold heifers, 18 months, and 462kg, for $1370 or 296c/kg.
Also at Wodonga, D and K Mills, Balldale, sold 485kg steers for $1780 or 367c/kg and Tarabah Livestock Company, Morundah, sold 180 heifers, 14 to 17 months, for a top of $1225 or 340c/kg. Barry and Fay Hicks, Gundowring, sold a run of 75 weaned steers, 422kg, Yavenvale blood, and 12 to 13 months, for $1730 or 409c/kg and the seconds weighing 348kg for $1400 or 402c/kg. The heifer portion weighing 345kg made $1030 or 297c/kg.
Heading into NSW, Oakburn Pastoral Co, Walcha, sold a run of 50 feeder steers, 435kg, and 11 to 12 months, for $1570 or 360c/kg. They had been finished on an oat crop and averaged 1.5-2kg/day in weight gain.
Okeview Pastoral, Scone, sold a draft of 49 weaned heifers, Bowen and Cascade blood, 262kg and nine to 11 months, for $870 or 331c/kg. D and A Knight, Quirindi, sold Ironbark and Warragundi yearling steers, 347kg, and 11 to
12 months, for $1350 or 388c/kg. The antibiotic-free steers had been grass fed on an oat crop with an average daily gain of 1kg.
KEA Farms, Tamworth, sold weaned Cascade blood heifers 335kg and 10 to 12 months, for $1260 or 375c/kg while L and A Charlton, Tamworth, sold 516kg unjoined cows, 29 to 30 months, with calves by Tarcombe and Mawarra bulls, for $2050. Martin Bros, Cassilis, sold Dalkeith blood feeder steers, 13 to 15 months, and 413kg, for $1455 or 351c/kg.
Ingleside Pastoral, Boorowa, sold Injemira blood yearling steers, 367kg, and 11 to 12 months of age, for $1400 or 381c/kg while J Keelan, Wallenbeen, sold Injemira blood, EU accredited, feeder steers, 394kg and 11 to 12 months, for $1540 or 390c/kg.
R and R Key, Emmaville, sold EU accredited non station mated cows, Cascade and Supple blood, 433kg, and five years, with calves, averaging 120kg, for $2040.
G Hughes, Tenterfield, sold PTIC heifers, Anson blood, 457kg, and 26 to 30 months, for $1580. Coolah Creek Partnership, Coolah, sold Dalkeith blood steers, 363kg, and 11 to 12 months, for $1520 or 418c/ kg. Charlton Bros, Dubbo, sold non station mated heifers, 472kg and 24 to 26 months, with calves for $2500.
Station mated heifers, EU accredited, Yalgoo and Injemira blood, 490kg and 20 to 23 months, were sold by Nerstane Pastoral, Walgett, for $1840. Okeview Pastoral, Scone, sold a draft of 218 yearling steers, Bowen and Cascade blood, with the tops aged 11 to 13 months and weighing 439kg, returning $1700 or 387c/kg.
A pen of Hereford vealers, 11 to 12 months, and 451kg, from Heather and Mark Blundell, Clovelly, made $1578 or 350c/kg at the Braidwood store sale. SR Pastoral, Clovaas, sold non station mated cows, Centennial, Yalgoo and Yavenvale blood, 468kg and seven to 10 years, with calves averaging 68kg for $1440.
Robilliard Ag, Junee, sold non station mated heifers, two years and 523kg, with black baldy calves for $2580. R and V Jacka, Tarcutta, sold station mated Injemira blood heifers, 452kg, and aged 24 to 26 months, for $2200 while Injemira Beef Genetics, Book Book, sold non station mated heifers, Inejmira blood, 426kg and 2.5 years, with calves sired by Injmeira Robert Redford Q287 sons for $1900.
Deloraine Rural, Morven, sold a run of 74 feeder steers, Mountain Valley, Tycolah and Merawah blood, 375kg, and 16 to 17 months, for $1460 or 389c/kg and the seconds weighing 324kg for $1190 or 367c/kg. John Blight & Co, Willbriggie, turned off a run of 50 Wirruna blood feeder steers, 360kg, and 11 to 13 months, for $1500 or 416c/kg.
Heifers bought out of the Omeo leg of the Mountain Calf Sales were onsold by Moonaree Pastoral, Berrigan, as backgrounders, The draft of weighing 234-287kg, and nine to 10 months, made $710-$860 or 298-300c/kg. Doyles Farm Produce, Berrigan, sold backgrounding steers, 331kg, and 10 to 12 months, for $1290 or 388c/kg
and heifers, 314kg, for $970 or 308c/ kg.
Non station mated cows, 554kg and four years, Tycolah and Kanimbla blood, with April/May drop calves, returned $2340 for Jaci Pty Ltd, Edith, while unjoined heifers, 433kg, with calves for $2360.
Burrongong Pty Ltd, Urana, sold station mated heifers, Injemira blood, 535kg, and 29 to 30 months, with calves, for $2230 and Woomargama Station, Woomargama, sold heifer weaners, 180kg, for $775 or 430c/kg.
In South Australia, Elders Mildura bought the Hereford steer draft from KG Feast & Son to $1510 or 370c/ kg for 408kg PCAS Warrensville blood steers at Mount Gambier.
Kentish and Sons, Mount Gambier, sold Yavenvale blood PCAS accredited April-May 2023 drop steers weighing 479kg for $1840 tor 384c/kg to Nampara. Dismal Swamp, Kalangadoo, sold a draft of 107 PCAS Melville blood steers, 14 to 16 months and 381457kg, for an average of $1620 at Mount Gambier.
Warrensville and Allendale blood cows, 614kg, two to 13 years, and calves, made $2010 for C and P Ker, Naracoorte. Talara, Edenhope, had some of the heaviest heifers with their two-tooth Herefords weighing 465kg and making $1497 at Naracoorte.
Avondale Pastoral, Keith, sold a run of station mated cows, 780kg, Kerlson Pines blood and six to 12 years, for $2310 and younger cows, 663kg, and three to four years, for $2100. Glenarm Nominees, Mount Gambier, sold feeder heifers, Injemira and Ardno blood, 400kg and 17 to 18 months, for $1300 or 324c/kg.
Non station mated cows, 541kg and 40 to 42 moths, Sheldon blood, with July/August drop calves, returned $1990 for Schulz Livestock, Coonalpyn.
Across to Western Australia where ED Wedge, Gingin, sold Hereford steers, 355kg, for 340c/kg or $1208 at Muchea store sale. Moolyall Farms sold yearling heifers, 447kg, for $1420 or 318c/kg at Mt Barker. Newhome Farm, Koojan, sold Hereford cross steers, 391kg, for $1290 pr 330c/kg
CONTINUED ON PAGE 88
and Hereford cross heifers, 346kg, for $969 or 280c/kg at Muchea.
At Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, JLT Pastoral sold a run of 484kg Santa Gertrudis/Hereford heifers at $1347 or 278c/kg and the backgrounder heifer portion at 301kg made $778 or 258c/kg. JLT Pastoral also sold black baldy cows, 632kg, for $1921 and Hereford cows, 515kg, for $1515.
North to Queensland where N and D Shannon, Texas, sold Braelyn blood steers, 379kg and 18 to 22 months, for $1280 or 337c/kg. T and J Scriven, Mungindi, sold a draft of 72 11to 12-month-old feeder steers, 342kg, and sired by Rayleigh, Mountain View, and Oldfield bulls, for $1320 or 385c/kg and 68 backgrounder steers, 269kg, for $1030 or 382c/kg. The heifer portion weighing 253kg made $690 or 272c/kg.
months, for $1720 or 407c/kg, and the seconds weighing 392kg made $1640 or 418c/kg. The yearling heifer portion, weighing 363kg, and 13 to 14 months, made $1440 or 396c/kg.
Mersey Valley Contracting, Lemont, sold yearling steers, 234kg and 11 to 12 months, for $1100 or 469c/kg and yearling heifers, 242kg, for $910 or 375c/kg. R Spillane, Beaulah, sold feeder steers, 391kg and 12 to 14 months, for $1700 or 434c/kg and feeder heifers, 339kg, for $1160 or 341c/kg.
Yearling steers sired by Tarcombe McLaren via AI and out of Limestone Valley and Greenpoint cows, weighing 284kg and aged 10 to 12 months, returned $1220 or 428c/kg for C Lee, Needles.
Strawberry Fields Industries, Powranna, sold yearling steers, Quamby Plains and Mawarra blood, Greenhams Never Ever accredited, 383kg and 12 to 15 months, for $1540 or 401c/ kg and the heifer portion weighing 380kg for $1450 or 381c/kg. K and A McLauchlan, Whitemore, offered yearling steers, 354kg, Greenhams Never Ever accredited, Valma blood and 12 to 17 months, for $1710 or 482c/kg. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 87
N, R, C and D James, Wandoan, sold PTIC cows, 601kg, joined to Devon Court and Tycolah bulls, and aged nine to 13 years for $1560. At Blackall store sale, Jim Scully, Blackall, sold Santa Gertrudis/Hereford cross steers averaging 303kg for 418c/kg or $1218. Sunwood Pastoral, Chinchilla, sold Remolea blood weaned heifers, 241kg, for $665 or 275c/kg.
Cootabynia Pastoral Company, Blackall, offloaded 201 Hereford cross steers to average 350c/kg and weighing 395kg to return an average of $1381 a head at Roma store sale.
Down to Tasmania where Nova Poll Herefords, West Ridgley, sold weaned steers, 266kg and nine to 10 months, for $1200 or 450c/ kg while A and A Scott and Co, Wesley Vale, sold trade heifers, 394kg, and 18 to 19 months, for $1060 or 268c/kg.
K J Boys, Rocky Cape, sold Shangri La blood yearling steers, 422kg and 13 to 14
Meet our team for 2025. For the benefit of the membership, included are details for the Herefords Australia Limited Board of Directors
Marc Greening
CHAIRMAN
Mobile: 0411 043 039
Email: marc@injemira.com.au
Sam Broinowski
DIRECTOR, YOUTH LIAISON REP and FINANCE, AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Mobile: 0429 476 221
Email: sambroinowski@bigpond.com
Tom Nixon
DIRECTOR
Mobile: 0427 276 182
Email: tom@devoncourt.com.au
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Mobile: 0427 299 012
Email: ianthomasdurkin@bigpond.com
DIRECTOR and MEMBER LIAISON REPRESENTATIVE
Mobile: 0458 660 091
Email: annie.pumpa@outlook.com
DIRECTOR
Mobile: 0421 044 528
Email: benrumbel@icloud.com
DIRECTOR and RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Mobile: 0417 576 667
Email: sam@jarrahcattle.com.au
DIRECTOR
Mobile: 0424 152 950
Email: mbaker@herefordsaustralia.com.au
DIRECTOR
Mobile: 0428 270 381
Email: sparkesy2@gmail.com
Hunter Valley Herefords Association
Jessica Grosser, Secretary
893 Hinton Rd, Nelsons Plains NSW 2324
M: 0456 800 533
E: mondeo.p.h@bigpond.com.au
Herefords Australia
Northern NSW Association
Amy Rawson, Secretary
3/25-27 Chisholm Street, Inverell NSW 2360
M: 0437 385 681
E: amy.louise.rawson91@gmail.com
Herefords Australia Northern NSW Youth
Lucy Crowley, Secretary
M: 0429 034 578
E: herefordsnorthernnswyouth@gmail.com
Sydney Regional Herefords Breeders Group
Ellen Hussein, Secretary
2 Eskdale Close, Narellan Vale NSW 2567
M: 0411 089 578
E: ellenhussein@gmail.com
Western Regional Herefords Association
Brooke Rayner, Secretary
“Grathlyn’’, Hill End Road, Via Mudgee NSW 2850
T: 02 6373 8677
E: grathlyn@gmail.com
Southern NSW Hereford Breeders Group
Brittany Sykes, Secretary
PO Box 435, Cootamundra NSW 2590
M: 0408 734 696
E: brittanysykes@outlook.com.au
Southern NSW Hereford Youth Group
Helen De Costa, President
28 Taber Street, Uranquinty NSW 2652
T: 0448 353 764
E: hdecosta@bigpond.com
Herefords Queensland Association Inc
Julie Nixon, Secretary Colville Park 1091 Dulacca South Road, Dulacca QLD 4425
M: 0414 253 936
E: weetalabah@gmail.com
Herefords Queensland Youth Association
Grace Collins, Secretary
M: 0455 248 509
E: stockyardscarves@gmail.com
Victorian Herefords Youth Group
Elle Woodgate, Secretary
1 Armstrong Street, Buchan Vic 3885
M: 0428 192 229
E: victorianherefordyouthgroup@outlook.com
North East Victorian Herefords Group
Ferruccio Tonini, Secretary
RMB 1045, Glenrowan Vic 3675
T: 03 5766 2417
E: glenpoll@internode.on.net
Herefords Gippsland
Lauren Hill, Secretary
M: 0427 750 250
E: lauren@karoondapark.com
Corrangamite Hereford Breeders Group Inc
Margaret Allen, Secretary PO Box 105, Mortlake Vic 3272
Northern Herefords Group Inc
Debbie Young, Secretary PO Box 109, Rochester, VIC 3561
M: 0417 370 385
E: strathvalley@bigpond.com
Herefords SA
Kaye Butler, Secretary PO Box 1369, Williamstown SA 5351
M: 0477 889 748
E: herefordssa@gmail.com
Western Australia Herefords Association
Sandra Woods, Secretary 1791 Westdale Rd, Beverley WA 6304
T: 08 9647 2029
M: 0439 964 720
E: terraneil@wn.com.au
Tasmanian Performance Herefords
Judy Fry, Secretary
206 Plummers Rd
South Forest TAS 7330
T: 03 6458 3364
M: 0418 319 689
E: jamena1@bigpond.com
Herefords Australia 16 Uralla Road
Locked Bag 7, Armidale NSW 2350
T: +61 2 6772 1399 - Fax: +61 2 6772 1615
Office hours: 8am to 4pm
E: info@herefordsaustralia.com.au
•
17-19 Herefords Northern NSW Youth Camp Glen Innes, NSW
29 Wild Bear Beef Week bull sale Hamilton, Vic
29 Wilkah Beef Week open day Vasey, Vic
29 Emigrace Beef Week open day Warrabkook, Vic
29 Melville Park/Melville Beef Week open day Vasey, Vic
29 Days Whiteface Beef Week open day Bordertown, SA
30 Tee Jay Beef Week open day Hawkesdale, Vic
30 Ennerdale Beef Week open day Dundonnell, Vic
1 Glen Goulburn Beef Week open day Glenburn, Vic
1 Andtravern Beef Week open day Lancefield, Vic
1 Glendan Park Beef Week open day Kyneton, Vic
2 Tarwin Beef Week open day 2 Meeniyan, Vic
2 Spring Run Beef Week open day Wingeel, Vic
3 Warringa Beef Week open day Sarsfield, Vic
3 Mawarra Beef Week open day Longford, Vic
3 Newcomen Beef Week open day Ensay, Vic
4 Rosstulla Beef Week open day Beechworth, Vic
4 Tarcombe Beef Week open day Ruffy, Vic
5 Kirraweena/Glenholme Beef Week open day Cootamundra, NSW
5 Injemira Beef Genetics bull inspection day Book Book, NSW
5 Yavenvale Beef Week open day Borambola, NSW
5 Glenellerslie Beef Week open day Adelong, NSW
5 Doodle Cooma Beef Week open day Wagga Wagga, NSW
5 Yarram Park Beef Week open day Willaura, Vic
5 Wirunna Beef Week open day Holbrook, NSW
7 Truro Whiteface autumn sale
10 Days Whiteface Beef Week open day SA
11 Glenellerslie annual bull sale
Bellata, NSW
Bordertown, SA
Adelong, NSW
12 Ennerdale annual bull sale Dundonnell, Vic
16 Hereford National Youth Expo entries open
17 Yarram Park bull sale
19 Yavenvale annual bull sale
21-23 Royal Canberra Show
23 Days Whiteface mature cow dispersal
24 Days Whiteface bull sale
Willaura, Vic
Borambola, NSW
Canberra, ACT
Bordertown, SA
Bordertown, SA
24 Sugarloaf Creek Herefords bull sale Towong, Vic
25 Injemira Beef Genetics annual bull sale Book Book, NSW
26 Wirruna bull and female autumn sale
28 Glendan Park annual bull sale
3 Wilkah annual bull sale
3 Melville Park/Melville bull sale
5 Tarcombe annual bull sale
6 Kirraweena Glenholme annual bull sale
12 Nunniong annual bull sale
12 Newcomen annual bull sale
14 Courallie J complete female dispersal
17 Mawarra Genetics sale
18 Black Stump bull sale
18 Karoonda annual bull sale
20 Wanrua Poll Herefords inspection day Newry, Vic 21-23 Tasmanian Junior Beef Expo Deloraine, Tas
Wanrua Poll Herefords bull sale Newry, Vic
Schipps Beef Production sale inspection day Alfredtown, NSW
4 Schipps
Holbrook, NSW
Barfold, Vic
Vasey, Vic
Vasey, Vic
Ruffy, Vic
Cootamundra, NSW
Ensay, Vic
Ensay, Vic
Narrabri, NSW
Longford, Vic
Blackall, Qld
Gelantipy, Vic
