The Land

Boost fertility, carcase attributes with Weebollabolla bulls

This year the Munro family will hold its 53rd bull sale, offering 52 commercially-focused Shorthorn bulls.
This year the Munro family will hold its 53rd bull sale, offering 52 commercially-focused Shorthorn bulls.

This is advertiser content for Weebollabolla Shorthorns.

TOP quality, commercially-focused Shorthorn sires, from one of the country's leading studs, are available in the Weebollabolla Shorthorns 53rd annual bull sale on Friday, September 18, on-property and online.

The Munro family has been associated with Shorthorn cattle since acquiring Weebollabolla in 1873, with the bloodlines going back to the Hall brothers of Scone, whose ancestor Thomas Hall was a leading breeder of Shorthorns in England.

This year the Munros will hold their 53rd bull sale, offering 52 commercially-focused Shorthorn bulls.

The operation includes 400 performance recorded cows, commercial backgrounding cattle, a 1000-head feedlot and 6400ha of dryland cropping at Weebollabolla, Moree, and Boonal, Boggabilla.

"We have a highly valued team of managers in place as well as dad, Sandy, on hand to assist where required," managing director Jen Jeffreys, who's based at Delegate, said.

The Weebollabolla stud herd is run under strict commercial conditions. Fertility is key, with heifers artificially inseminated annually at an average age of 13 months.

The stud has been focusing on carcase attributes without losing sight of fertility.

"We have improved growth, eye muscle area and intramuscular fat, while maintaining calving ease and moderate birthweight and mature cow weight in the herd - a juggling act," Mrs Jeffreys said.

"Our involvement with different beef brands over the years has shown marbling is crucial.

"Some processors have been introducing payments based on the MSA (Meat Standards Australia) index feedback.

"There is a direct correlation between marbling and higher indexes due to the impact on meat eating quality."

Lot 48, Weebollabolla Pythagora P86, in this year's sale.
Lot 48, Weebollabolla Pythagora P86, in this year's sale.

Weebollabolla bulls are renowned for their longevity and fertility, with clients reporting conception rates of more than 95 per cent.

"What's really pleasing is our bulls are lasting more than eight years," Mrs Jeffreys said.

"Only last month I received a photograph of Weebollabolla Higgins H82 from Chris Francis of Gobothery, Forbes, who's rapt with his performance and longevity."

Weebollabolla Higgins H82, who's been used in the commercial herd at Gobothery, Forbes.
Weebollabolla Higgins H82, who's been used in the commercial herd at Gobothery, Forbes.

That longevity and ability to thrive in a range of conditions is highlighted by clients being located from Tasmania to central Queensland.

"We still continue to run bulls as one mob throughout their life so they never have any dramas integrating into our clients herds and possibly is another reason why our bulls go the distance," Mrs Jeffreys said.

"We breed bulls for self-replacing herds that want longevity in their females, so our focus is on structure, fertility, weight for age in their progeny, plus carcase attributes to supply quality beef programs."

Weebollabolla Lignum L14, one of the many bulls purchased by long-time commercial client Chris Francis, Gobothery, Forbes, who is impressed with their longevity.
Weebollabolla Lignum L14, one of the many bulls purchased by long-time commercial client Chris Francis, Gobothery, Forbes, who is impressed with their longevity.

The majority of Weebollabolla's clients are targeting the feeder market for premium branded beef programs, with some selling progeny as weaners and others breeding top quality females to be sold as replacement females.

"Heifers are sought after just as much as the steer portion due to their performance in feedlots and renowned carcase quality," Mrs Jeffreys said.

"It is exciting to see, finally, breeders being rewarded with superior money for replacement females.

"Weebollabolla intends to offer a line of commercial females for future breeders so stay tuned."

The Munro family has 52 Shorthorn bulls on offer in its September 18 sale, to be held online and on-property at Weebollabolla, Moree, beginning at 1pm.

All bulls have been structurally assessed by beef consultant Dick Whale from Independent Breeding and Marketing Services.

Weebollabolla director Sandy Munro and livestock manager Andrew Lawrence, pictured with agents Brian Kennedy and Bruce Sheppard, Elders, inspecting Weebollabolla's 2020 sale bulls.
Weebollabolla director Sandy Munro and livestock manager Andrew Lawrence, pictured with agents Brian Kennedy and Bruce Sheppard, Elders, inspecting Weebollabolla's 2020 sale bulls.

Clients will be able to view all lots on Elite Livestock Auctions and AuctionsPlus prior to the sale, including bull photos and footage taken by Ben Hooper of Clear Vision Imaging.

"In anticipation of the impact of COVID-19 we had all bulls assessed by Dick in May, so that our clients are able to buy with confidence," Mrs Jeffreys said.

"Given the border restrictions with Queensland and Victoria, we are happy to hold any bull purchases if there are any border issues."

This is advertiser content for Weebollabolla Shorthorns.