FOR generations, descendants of South Australian pastoralist and philanthropist, Peter Waite, have managed vast pastoral leases in the State, but it wasn’t until the mid-1970s that Poll Herefords were introduced to help carry on that dynasty by the Mutooroo Pastoral Company and Morgan and Wells families.
With the acquisition of the 4800 square kilometres that make up Quinyambie Station last August from S. Kidman and Company, a major restocking program began, with many quality females bought in from Victoria.
Breeders and heifers are also being transferred from Mulyun-garie Station, a cattle and sheep property of 2250sqkm, where the Poll Hereford commercial herd was originally stationed.
At Wodonga in March, 200 Poll Hereford steers from Mulyungarie met a strong market, with the top 22 weaners at 240 kilograms selling at $796 or 331 cents a kilogram.
Company managing director, James Morgan, is adamant that just because the Poll Herefords are station bred, this doesn’t mean they may lack quality.
“We have paid a lot of attention to breeding and style in our cattle and put as much effort into classing them as any good commercial guy does,” Mr Morgan said.
“So Mulyungarie cattle are, without fear or favour, among the best quality you will find.”
These days all of Mutooroo’s aggregation is located in South Australia and managed by Mr Morgan, who is based at Outalpa, near Lilydale, on the southern fringe of properties that stretch from south of the Great Barrier Highway and north from Mulyungarie Station to Quinyambie Station, with Cockburn as the postal address.
He managed Mulyungarie for 12 years before being appointed managing director.
Mr Morgan (pictured) said the family had used good quality bulls over the years within the Mulyungarie herd, which now had 4000 head made up of 2500 breeders plus heifers and steers.
The heifers were being moved progressively to Quinyambie Station.
“We sent 700 heifers over last year and will do the same again this year,” Mr Morgan said.
There were now 5500 head, after 3500 females had been added to cattle that came with the purchase.
“We’re heading for 6000 breeders, which will eventually breed up to all Poll Herefords,” he said.
“I’m working on an eventual total of 11,000 head, including breeders, heifers and steers on Quinyambie.”
Mr Morgan said the Mulyungarie herd was originally built on Heatherdale blood.
“Heatherdale had a massive impact on our herd,” he said.
Other bloodlines came from Allendale, Minlacowie, Warrensville and Morganvale – all based in SA.
Mr Morgan said bulls ran with females all year-round at a two per cent joining rate, and cattle were mustered twice a year for weaning and branding.
“Heifers are shuffled out on their own to grow out, while steers are trucked to sale when making up a decent line,” he said.
They were sold where the market was best, either at Wodonga, Swan Hill, Dubbo, Adel-aide or even the Charlton feedlot.
Mr Morgan said in a year like this, the company could turn over up to 1500 steers.
“But we’re aiming at 3500 steers a year when we get into full operation,” he said.
The company also intended to breed its own bulls for its herds.
“We’ll buy top working bulls from studs and produce our own herd bulls in our own breeding program,” he said.
“We might be needing 50 to 60 bulls a year, so we’ll produce a volume of those at Mulyungarie.”
The season on all the company properties had been “extraordinary”, Mr Morgan said.
Last year Quinyambie had received 750 millimetres in what was usually a dry 162.5mm average rainfall area, while Mulyungarie had collected 575mm.
“We have lakes everywhere, some of which will not dry out for another 12 to 18 months,” he said.
“All the low-lying areas have still got quite substantial amounts of water in them.”
“The cattle love it – they wander in, get a drink and walk out and graze on the fringe.
“There’s a huge amount of feed on both properties at present.”
Don’t miss this week’s Northern Hereford Advantage insert.
