Grand Champion
Victorian Poll Hereford stud Tarcombe Herefords, Ruffy, have taken out this year's Australian National Show and Sale, at Wodonga, with one of the youngest bulls exhibited on the day.
Tarcombe Justin PO16 (AI) (ET) (P), a February 2018-drop bull, was entered in the Top of the Drop division, before going on to be sashed grand champion.
Judge Lachlan Day, Day's Whiteface, Bordertown, said he thought he might have found his grand champion, when Justin was part of the first parade.
"I was really happy with the four bulls I had out for grand champion but I won't say I was surprised, as he was the bull I liked best," Mr Day said.
"He had a really good muscle pattern, for his age, cracking data, with a really good growth spread and carcase data."
Mr Day said Justin had an early maturing pattern and his estimated breeding values stacked up.
"Plus he has got a good set of testicles and walks out really well," he said..
"I think he is a bull that can contribute significantly to our breed."
Justin was sired by Wirruna Justin J13 (AI) (PP) out of Mount Difficult Lorna B123 (P).
He had figures of a +3 kilogram birthweight, +36kg 200-day weight, +62kg 400-day weight and +80kg, 600-day weight.
He had Breedplan figures of a +7.4square centimetre eye muscle area, +1.5millimetre rib and +2.0mm rump, with an intramuscular fat of +1.3per cent.
Stud co-principal Tim Hayes said he was surprised by the win.
"I think a lot of him, he's got a lot to offer, but I don't go into these competitions and think I am going to win," Mr Hayes said.
"The judge liked his softness, his shape and the performance behind him."
Justin was an ET calf out of what Mr Hayes said was a great cow.
"We've got full sisters of this bloke that we will keep on farm."
"When I first saw him s a calf, I thought he was a ripper.
"I just like the shape of him, he had thickness, which is what we breed for - natural thickness."
Senior Division
The champion senior bull was also from Tarcombe, with their two-year-old bull, Tarcombe Fort N093 given the ribbon.
Judge, Lachlan Day said he liked the bull's visual masculinity and structural correctness.
"He had a really nice set of numbers and maturity pattern," Mr Day said.
The bull was sired by Wirruna Fort F382 and was calved by one of Tarcombe's own, Tarcombe Venus.
Tarcombe co-principal, Tim Hayes said they had thought of bringing to national show last year but decided to keep him home and use him.
"He's a lovely calf, good balance, good EVB's to back him up and by a great sire and a really good dam," Mr Hayes said.
He had figures of a +5.5kilogram birthweight, +38kg 200-day weight, +60kg 400-day weight and +86kg, 600-day weight.
He had Breedplan figures of a +4.3square centimetre eye muscle area, +1.3millimetre rib and 1.9mm rump, with an intramuscular fat of +1.3per cent.
Mr Hayes said being recognised for both their youngest and one of their oldest bulls was unexpected but something they felt very proud of.
The reserve champion senior bull was Ravensdale Hotwire N014, from Ravensdale Poll Herefords, Holbrook.
Intermediate Division
A very strong intermediate division was presented, with Mawarra Gunsmith N146 from Mawarra Herefords, Longford taking home the champion ribbon.
Judge Lachlan Day, said the almost 11-month-old was the most complete bull.
"He's got a nice muscle capacity, nice sheath, testicles are good, he's just a really complete bull," Mr Day said.
Logan Skyes of Mawarra Herefords said he was one of their favourites.
"He's really thick and has plenty of length, he's got good top line and an even set of numbers, we just love his softness and the lift he has got up the front," Mr Sykes said.
The bull was one of their heifer, Mawarra Impluse 61's first calf and was sired by Mawarra One and Only L018.
He had figures of a +5.9kilogram birthweight, +35kg 200-day weight, +63kg 400-day weight and +94kg, 600-day weight.
He had Breedplan figures of a +5.4square centimetre eye muscle area, -0.1millimetre rib and -0.7mm rump, with an intramuscular fat of +0.4per cent.
Mawarra have had the grand champion bull at the National Show four years in a row.
The reserve champion in the intermediate division was Ravensdale Blackhawk N081, from Ravensdale Poll Herefords, Holbrook.
Junior Division
A son of one of Australia's most expensive bulls, purchased by Holbrook, NSW Hereford stud Ravensdale, took out the junior champion ribbon.
Ravensdale Bushranger N200 (PP) is an August-2017 drop son of Injemira Anzac K220 (AI) (PP), out of out of Ravensdale Shamrock J291 (AI) (ET) (P).
Anzac was purchased by the stud in 2016 for $110,000.
Judge Lachlan Day, said he liked the length of Bushranger's body, and how we walked out.
Bushranger had Hereford Group Breedplan figures of a 5.4kilogram birthweight, 38kg 200-day weight, 59kg 400-day weight and 87kg 600 day weight.
The 838kg bull had figures of an eye muscle area of +5.3square centimetres, rib of +0.8millimetres and rump of +0.9mm.
Ravensdale's Brian Burgess said the stud had six bulls in the junior division so was set up for a good chance at success.
"We have bought 17 bulls to the sale, so we have brought a type of bull we think is appealing to the commercial market and the judges comments reinforced that," Mr Burgess said.
The reserve champion in the junior division was Mawarra Ransom N364 from Mawarra Herefords, Longford.
Top of the Drop
Grand champion bull, Tarcombe Legend won the top of the drop division while the reserve champion went to Allendale Gallipoli from Allendale Studs, Bordertown, SA.
Last year was the first time the top of the drop division was included at the Hereford National Show.
But although there was strong representation in the division in its maiden year, there were only four entries this year.
Rob Hayes of Tarcombe Herefords said it was disappointing.
"It went very well last year and so it surprised us that there were only four," Mr Hayes said.
Most Successful Exhibitor
The most successful exhibitor of the day was Ravensdale Poll Herefords from Dalriada, Holbrook with the junior champion bull, reserve champion intermediate bull and reserve champion senior bull.
Brian Burgess of Ravensdale said they were ecstatic with the result.
"We've been breeding cattle for 15 years and we've sort of had a slow climb to get industry recognition and we've got that now," Mr Burgess said.
He said they've also done well at the National Hereford sale in recent years. They sold all 10 bulls they brought along in 2017 and in a tough season last year, managed to sell 17.
Mr Burgess said the stud's aim was to build an even line of bulls that will appeal to the commercial breeder.