Yavenvale Herefords involvement at the Wodonga Hereford National Sale and Show began 51 years ago, with the purchase of the grand champion bull.
Last year, co-principal James Pearce continued the family’s long history at Wodonga, purchasing the top price bull, Yarrandabbie Jingle, for $40,000.
Raising Herefords since the 1920s, Yavenvale Herefords, Yaven Creek breed bulls to sell to commercial producers across Australia.
Calving 750 stud females anually, Mr Pearce said naturally this type of operation requires a quality bull, therefore the weighty 862 kilogram 19-month-old caught their eye last year.
One of 44 junior bulls sold at the 2015 sale, the top bull was sold by Andrew and Leanne Green, Yarrandabbie Poll Herefords, Uranquinty.
Maintaining a focus on enhancing genetics, Mr Pearce said the decision was made to bring out-crossed genetics into the herd, to create a new bloodline.
“By purchasing a sire such as this, we are able to continue putting quality genetics into our herd; out-crossed genetics will help us do this," Mr Pearce said.
Since arriving at Yavenvale, Yarrandabbie Jingle has joined with 40 cows in autumn and 45 in spring.
“We have calves on the ground right now and they are showing great promise; now we will wait until they are big enough to sell as bulls," he said.
Boasting estimated breeding values of +4.5 for estimated eye muscle area and +79 for a 600 day growth, the long term plan for Jingle is to continue being the natural sire for the growing herd at Yaven Creek.
The strength of the Yavenvale herd is no doubt a product of their driven focus on performance rather than measurements.
“The breed has a number of positive aspects, weight for age, fertility and docility are on-farm profit-drivers for us, and in our case, as we continue to improve our carcass merit, it all adds up to a pretty complete package," he said.
“We've been loyal to the breed for one simple reason: it's the most profitable for our business and I really see it continuing that way, well into the future.”
Recently, the stud held their most successful on farm sale, selling 106 bulls at their highest average of $6934.
“We are pleased with the direction we are travelling in, it's all about taking bits of everything and trying to make it into a complete package and then multiplying it over a number of cattle."
Looking forward to the Hereford National Sale and Show, the Pearce family will set their eyes on suitable sires to maintain the strength and success in their herd.
“Wodonga is a great networking opportunity and brings a range of studs under one roof."
