Herefords hit new heights at Warragundi

Story sponsored by Warragundi Pastoral.

WARRAGUNDI Pastoral are set to offer a well finished line of 30 Poll Hereford bulls, along with 14 stud heifers and 16 commercial heifers at their annual production sale on August 21.

Owners Matt and Deb Kelley will be welcoming visitors to inspect the full catalogue at their Open Day on-property at 'Warragundi West', Currabubula, from 9.30am- 4pm Friday 7th August.

"We're really proud of the entire catalogue this year, they've been out on oats and they are looking in great shape," Mrs Kelley said.

"We've got some serious sires on offer with some real stud potential and top end commercial sires filling the catalogue."

Stud sires with progeny on offer include Injemira Anzac LO27, Injemira Anzac H006, Days Gallipoli, Days Banner, Churchill Kickstart, Yalgoo Jet and Sevenbardot Cooper L48.

"Our bulls this year are some of the best exhibits of the breed you'd find anywhere backed up with strong EBV's and we're very happy with the draft."

The sale comes after Warragundi's recent success in the ACM's Sire Shootout with Warragundi awarded honours in the 'British Breed' section.

The performance adds to an impressive history of show ring success for the breeders that includes most successful exhibitor at the 2016 and 2017 Royal Easter Show and taking the holy grail of the stud beef showring in 2018, winning the RAS Interbreed bull and Urqhart Trophy for the supreme beef animal of the show with Warragundi Minnesota.

Shootout winning bull Warragundi Pasadena WRGP055 sells as Lot 4 on August 21.

Out of a consistent performing Remitall-West Game Day cow, Warragundi Pasadena was named grand champion Hereford bull at his only outing at the 2020 Barraba Show and has impressive data to back up his superb phenotype.

"Pasadena is Homozygous Polled and in the top 10 per cent of the breed for 200, 400 and 600 day growth, days to calving, scrotal size, EMA, IMF and rib and rump Fat and all Performance indexes" Mr Kelley said, adding to Shootout judge Steve Crowley's description of Pasadena as "very hard to fault".

So impressed by the sire, the Kelley family currently have him with 20 stud cows and will be retaining semen for in-herd use only.

Other star lots joining Pasadena in the sale ring will be Lot 5, Warragundi Patriot P030, another homozygous polled son of Days Gallipoli.

Patriot is one of the thickest and best topped bulls to be found in the breed offering faultless conformation, cosmetics and eye appeal and a massive EMA of 7.6 placing him in the top 1pc of the breed.

Warragundi Precedence P202 follows as Lot 6, the first son on offer by Injemira Anzac H006. Another homozygous polled bull in the top 5pc of the breed for all growth traits and the top 10pc for EMA and IMF.

Another sire of note is Lot 7 Warragundi Pride another Days Gallipoli son.

"As a breeder it is very rewarding when a bull like this comes along. This is a bull that deserves a big opportunity within the stud breed."

Picture perfect, with superb carcase characteristics and a whopping EMA of 7.3 placing him in the top 1pc of the breed.

A high percentage of bulls in this year's offering are homozygous polled and have EMA's in the top 10pc of the breed which, Mr Kelley says, are very desired traits for the stud and top end commercial breeders.

"It's not just in the show ring where Warragundi bulls are praised," Mr Kelley said, adding Warragundi bulls are enjoying a tremendous reputation across all states of the country.

"We have bulls working on stations in the Northern Territory, across to the Tablelands and down to properties in Tasmania and Victoria's High Country," he said.

Mrs Kelley said it was a testament to the breed to see how well the bulls have performed in the Northern Territory.

"These cattle are perfect at adapting to suit the environment," she said.

"They're kings of the grass - they are unparalleled on grass and their doability and temperament is so important from an MSA point of view.

"The Barber Family at 'My Skinner Station' have praised how they have adapted and performed in a harsh season," she said.

The Kelley's said they have noticed a growing interest from producers wanting to use Poll Hereford cattle in commercial crossbreeding programs and say the weight advantages are "undisputed".

Like many livestock producers across the country, Warragundi is taking advantage of a good season after years of devastating drought.Its been a real blessing to be able to get oats in early and have the cattle on crop and not be constantly feeding on a daily basis as we have been doing for the past couple of years

With the season set to continue through to the sale, the Kelley's are hoping for a good run through to next year and beyond for all farmers.

"We'd just like a run of good seasons and not have to go through what we have been," Mr Kelley said.

Prior to the sale on August 21, the family will be hosting an open day on August 7, 9am-4pm, when the full sale team will be on display and a clear COVID-19 protocol will be in place.

"We welcome anyone interested to come and inspect our operation and stock at our property in Currabubula."

Sale flyers and catalogues are to be found on their website, visit: warragundi.com.au.

Story sponsored by Warragundi Pastoral.