GORDON Moon has been breeding Hereford cattle all his life, with the biggest benefit being the breed's temperament.
Mr Moon and his children Jessica and Nicholas run about 150 Hereford breeders and 1500 Merinos on 1400 hectares at Wulgulmerang, with the cattle run on their property and forest runs.
The Moons use mostly Glenellerslie genetics, along with Mawarra and Karoonda.
"We look for good temperament, a good coat and a moderate-sized bull that's nice and deep - well-fleshed, with good bone," Mr Moon said.
"We've had quite a few Glenellerslie bulls, and they seem to suit our country.
"We should have about 250 breeders, but we're down 100 because of the dry season.
"We lost our high country runs after the 2003 fires, so now we've got forest runs, so we put cows there after the calves are weaned.
"That gives the cows a chance to eat a bit of scrub which might help avoid grass tetany."
We used to sell straight off mum, but for the past three years we've yard weaned them and for the last two years we've got a premium. Buyers like them quiet and able to eat, so it's a premium of $30 to $50 a head.
- Hereford breeder Gordon Moon, Wulgulmerang
All calves, except the best heifers, are sold as weaners at the local Galantipy saleyards in autumn.
"We used to sell straight off mum, but for the past three years we've yard weaned them and for the last two years we've got a premium," Mr Moon said.
"We feed while on mum to get them to used to eating hay or silage, then they go into the yards, then small paddocks where they're handled with the dogs every day or two. Buyers like them quiet and able to eat, so it's a premium of $30 to $50 a head."
The property has a mix of native and cocksfoot-based improved pastures, and part of the country is set up for rotational grazing.
Mr Moon is in the process of developing more paddocks and fencing the rest of the land.
"We get more feed if the paddocks are spelled. A rest over winter helps paddocks bounce back in spring."
