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Soprano hits the high notes to take grand champion bull at Wodonga

By Kim Woods

Glendan Park Soprano S115 hit all the high notes on his way to taking out the coveted grand champion bull of the 58th Herefords Australia National Show.

A total of 160 junior, intermediate and senior bulls from 53 vendors vyed for the broadribbons under judge Ben Noller, Palgrove, Bukkulla, NSW, at the Wodonga Exhibition Centre on Wednesday, May 10.

Glendan Park Soprano S115 (AI) (PP), exhibited by Alvio Trovatello, Glendan Park Herefords, Kyneton, Vic, emerged from the intermediate classes to be sashed intermediate champion and grand champion bull.

The 24-month-old bull weighed 1010kg, had a whopping eye muscle area of 141sqcm, scanned at 17mm on the rump and 10mm on the rib, and had a scrotal circumference of 41cm.

Sired by Allendale Jackal P176, Soprano ranked top 1 per cent on BREEDPLAN for 600-day weight at +119kg and carcase weight at +81kg.

Judge Ben Noller described Soprano as a big performance bull with frame, weight, extra length, beautiful hips and hindquarter.

Alvio Trovatello said that Soprano was out of a strong cow family with the dam, Glendan Park Moth G142, breeding 12 calves in 13 years, and moves “like a cat” for such a big bull.

He paid tribute to Andrew Green for preparing the bull for his showring debut.

As National Show and Sale Committee chairman, Mr Trovatello said the strong crowd and large catalogue of bulls was a credit to the breed.

Scott Lewington, Kymarney Herefords, Uranquinty, NSW, exhibited the junior champion bull, Kymarney Techno S022 (AI) (PP), a 21-month-old son of New Zealand sire Koanui Techno 3062.

The young bull weighed 820kg, had a raw eye muscle scan of 127sqcm, 15mm on the rump, 9mm on the rib and a scrotal circumference of 41cm.

Ben Noller said Techno stood out for his extra carcase, spring of rib, butt shape, ideal fat, large eye muscle area and big scrotal.

Tim Hayes, Tarcombe Herefords, Ruffy, Vic, exhibited Tarcombe Sling Shot S200 to reserve junior champion bull.

The 21-month-old bull weighed 890kg, scanned with an eye muscle area of 130sqcm, 18mm on the rump, 10mm on the rib and a scrotal circumference of 41cm.

By US sire TH Masterplan 183F, Sling Shot ranks top 2 per cent for 400-day weight at +81kg, top 6 per cent for carcase weight at +71kg and top 5 per cent eye muscle area at +6.5sqcm.

Mr Noller admired the carcase shape of the moderate framed bull along with his softness, fleshing ability, structural soundness, hips and butt shape.

The Sykes family, Mawarra Genetics, Longford, Victoria, exhibited the reserve intermediate champion, Mawarra Valley S198 (AI) (PP).

The 23-month-old son of Kanimbla Power Town P067 weighed 972kg, had the biggest raw eye muscle area in the catalogue of 147sqcm, 21mm of rump fat, 12mm on the rib and a scrotal of 39cm.

Mr Noller praised the bull’s medium frame package, fat cover and large eye muscle area.

The Sykes family’s success continued into the senior champion where Mawarra Vice Admiral S081 (AI) (PP) stole the show with a tremendous weight of 1024kg.

Grand champion bull Glendan Park Soprano S115 with handler Andrew Green, vendors Alicia and Alvio Trovatello, judge Ben Noller and Michael Crowley, Herefords Australia CEO.

The 27-month-old son of Mawarra Showtime P277 scanned with an eye muscle of 140sqcm, 22mm on the rump, 13mm on the rib and a scrotal of 42cm.

He ranks top 1 per cent for eye muscle area on +7.7sqcm, top 2% for carcase weight on +77kg, top 4% for rib eye yield at +2.1, top 4 per cent for milk, and top 6 per cent for 600-day weight at +106kg.

Mr Noller said Showtime was a big framed, mobile bull with carcase and softness.

Young stud master Caleb Croker, 21, secured his first broadribbon at the Wodonga National when Talumbi Sid (AI) (PP) was sashed as reserve senior champion.

Sired by Yarawa South Paradise P112, the 25-month-old weighed 938kg, scanned at 130sqcm, 18 and 10mm, and a scrotal of 40cm.

For Caleb, it was the second time as a vendor at Wodonga and said it was exciting to be among the broadribbon winners.

“This has been my dream after watching my grandfather and uncles show here – it has always been a goal to win a ribbon here,” he said.

Caleb established the Talumbi stud at Yarra, NSW, at age 12 and runs 35 breeding females in conjunction with his family’s Bolong stud herd.

“We did an embryo program to boost numbers and we have just weaned 18 bull calves so we will really start offering bulls in the next few years,” he said.

“It’s pretty cool and exciting to be here – I have spent plenty of time watching from the sidelines and seeing everyone win ribbons but to finally actually be part of it is pretty special.”

The most successful exhibitor of the show was Mawarra Genetics.

Herefords Australia chief executive officer Michael Crowley paid tribute to Bruce Gunning, Emu Holes Herefords, Quirindi, for the family’s 102-year membership of the society.

Mr Gunning paid tribute to his grandfather for founding the stud in 1921, his father Jack and uncle Bob for keeping the stud going.

As a former HAL director, Bruce said he was proud to be associated with the Hereford breed.

1. Junior champion bull Kymarney Techno S022 with Nicholas Byrne-Quinn, vendor Scott Lewington, Kymarney Herefords, Uranquinty, Ryan Bajada, Elders, Adrian Whitehead, Virbac and judge Ben Noller.

2. Reserve senior champion Talumbi Sid with Caleb Croker and judge Ben Noller.

3. Senior champion bull Mawarra Vice Admiral S081 led by Logan Sykes with judge Ben Noller.

4. Reserve intermediate champion bull Mawarra Valley S198 held by Logan Sykes, Scott Colbert, Beachport Minerals, and judge Ben Noller.

All Images: Kim Woods