THE Shorthorn Spring Fling sale is a family affair for the Collins siblings, who will offer cattle in the Tamworth sale for the third time.
Luke, Shae and Lochie Collins run the family stud Kinsley Vale Shorthorns, which was established by their parents Frank and Denise in 1992.
Once they were old enough to manage the herd, the Collins kids took over, and they now run the 50-breeder herd on the family property and a lease block at Tamworth, as well as agistment at Condobolin.
Luke, an agriculture teacher at Yanco Agricultural High School at Leeton, looks after the cattle on agistment, while Shay and Lochie, who work for a local refrigeration and air conditioning company, manage the Tamworth cattle.
We're producing easy doing stock. At the moment, with the majority of NSW experiencing a dry conditions, producers need bulls that are going to breed females that can perform in a tough season.
- Luke Collins, Kingsley Vale Shorthorns
Foundation animals came from Yamburgan Shorthorns, Narrabri and Sprys Shorthorns, Wagga Wagga.
The stud’s focus is producing functional, structurally sound cattle that can thrive in varying climates, Luke said.
“We’re producing easy doing stock,” he said.
“At the moment, with the majority of NSW experiencing a dry conditions, producers need bulls that are going to breed females that can perform in a tough season.”
The siblings sell their bulls privately and through two multi-vendor sales, Shorthorn Spring Fling and the breed’s national sale at Dubbo.
They’ve already had some good sale results this year, selling two Yamburgan Zeus H140 sons, Kingsley Vale Missile M13 and Kingsley Vale Madagascar M1, at Dubbo for $9000 and $7000 respectively.
They’ll have two 22-month-old bulls – Kingsley Vale M&M M6 and Kingsley Vale Morton M7 – on offer at Tamworth.
Luke said they hoped to build the stud to between 80 and 100 breeders.
“The long-term goal is to boost stud numbers and move into a more commercial entity.”