Mellowood Red Angus stud is no stranger to the breed’s national show and sale, but the 2018 event will mark the young stud’s debut as an exhibitor and vendor.
Gavin and Sarah Knee, from Loomberah, near Tamworth, and their children Ryan and Katie, first purchased through the sale in 2015.
They’ve since built their stud to include 15 registered females, based on bloodlines from Goondoola, Goonoo, GK Livestock and Pine-Villa studs.
Eleven-year-old Ryan is particularly keen, and will be parading at Dubbo.
The family has history with the breed, as Mrs Knee’s parents previously had the Monterey Red Angus stud, also at Loomberah.
The Knees decided to start the stud after success with commercial Red Angus bulls.
“We’ve crossed commercial black cows with Red Angus bulls and some of our best feedlot steers have come from that cross,” Mr Knee said.
“We’re producing bulls with good structure and high growth rates, so an early maturing bull, as that's what we’ve used over our black cows to get steers to 450 kilograms to 480kg as soon as possible.”
The family will offer for sale two bulls – 15-month-old Pine Villa Nero N101, by Pine Villa Knockout from Pine Villa Gabby, and Mellowood Marlin, an 18-month-old son of Barrhon Lodge Jackaroo and Goondoola Miss Rumba H02.
”They’re both nice lengthy bulls with good volume and structure,” Mr Knee said.