Seasoned campaigners of the Ausmectin Southern Beef Week, Danny and Debbie Hill, Hillview Angus Stud, Bungendore are hoping for another year of repeat custom as they open their doors to the public.
The Hill’s started Hillview Angus nineteen years ago, now running eighty stud cows on their 129ha property.
Each year culled cows are replaced in the herd by the top quality heifers.
At the stud’s inception cows were sourced from Comfort Hill, Sutton Forest; Lancamaree, Bega; Circle 8, Goulburn, and Mount Hunter, Camden.
Mr Hill said his aim was to consistently breed marketable, structurally sound Angus cows.
“Easy calving, medium to large frame Angus cows that will produce docile progeny, with growth rates exceeding the breed average is the goal.
“We think we have achieved that,” he said.
Hillview Angus purchases semen from about eight bulls each year, notable sires this year include Elrington Identity, Carabar Docklands, EF Complement and Lawson’s Invincible.
“Buying a variety of semen each year creates a good mix, We AI our cows initially and then join with a back up bull if they fail to get in calf.”
The back-up bull this year came from Kenny’s Creek Angus Stud, Boorowa.
At this years Canberra show Mr and Mrs Hill were awarded Junior and Grand Champion with their bull Hillview Legget.
Mr Hill said that Beef Week open days are a great opportunity to showcase and sell his bulls, and that it allowed relationships to develop between studs and prospective buyers.
“Last year we sold 16 or 17 bulls on the Sunday, Beef Week has built itself a good name through the years, so you get a lot of people coming from all over to see whats on offer.
“We have been involved for six or seven years. We have found that the Sunday suits our return buyers, so they are coming back each year,
“We have seven or so return buyers that will buy each year, and it’s great to have built those relationships,” said Mr Hill.
At this years event, Hillview Angus will be offering 20 bulls for sale by private treaty.
Selling the majority of his cattle locally, Mr Hill said that Beef Week had become his main event for offloading bulls through the year.
