The 58th annual Herefords Australia National Show and Sale was held at the Dubbo Showgrounds on June 4.
This year’s show drew 56 entries from 24 breeders across four states.
The EU index and Supermarket index Performance classes were held first and judged by Steve Chapman of JBS Australia.
The Performance classes were judged on a points system out of 100, with 40 points allocated for structure, 30 points for indexes and a further 30 points for market suitability.
In the EU index class, Morganvale Naughton exhibited by Morganvale Pastoral of Keith, SA came away with the champion sash.
The July 2017 drop bull was sired by Days Fabulous K173 and tipped the scales at 888kg with an impressive EU index value of $141.
Steve Chapman was very impressed with Naughton’s carcase capacity and sire prospect.
“Any processor would be happy with the carcases of the progeny of this bull.” Mr Chapman said.
The reserve champion EU sash was presented to another South Australian bull; Allendale Imperial N114, exhibited by Allendale Studs of Bordertown.
Imperial weighed 884kg and had an EU index value of $139.
Steve Chapman described Imperial as a “cracker” and “really thick all the way through.”
The supermarket index class saw Rayleigh Nullabor N069 come away with the champion sash.
Exhibited by the Holcombe family of Burren Junction, Nullabor was sired by the $70,000 record setting sire Bowen Calibre K207.
Nullabor caught Mr Chapman’s attention with his good maturity pattern and carcase attributes.
“His early maturity pattern is really good and there is a lot of yield in this carcase.” Mr Chapman said.
Nullabor continued his winning streak throughout the day to come out on top in the traditional show classes and be sashed grand champion bull by judge Steve Reid of Talbalba Herefords.
At 24-months of age, Nullabor weighed 926kg and scanned with an EMA of 130sqcm, rib fat of 14mm, rump fat of 22mm and a scrotal circumference of 40.5cm.
Nullabor boasted an impressive set of Breedplan figures, with rib and rump fats in the top 1% of the breed, EMA in the top 10%, and all indexes in the top 5%.
Coupled with an impressive set of data, Nullabor’s thickness and movement particularly appealed to Mr Reid.
“He’s just so thick and really strong through the top line.
“He’s got terrific indexes and moves really well for a bull that’s so thick.” Mr Reid said.
The junior section of the show saw a clean sweep for Grathlyn Pastoral Company taking both the champion and reserve sashes.
Junior champion was awarded to Grathlyn Holy Field N019, who also took the reserve champion sash in the supermarket index class.
Sired by Days Elaborate J59, the August 2017 drop Holy Field scanned with the highest EMA in the catalogue at 140sqcm.
The judge described Holy Field as an “extremely powerful bull” and was very impressed with his structure and muscle shape.
“He has outstanding muscle shape, he’s high indexing with a good head and eye.
“There’s characteristics about him that make him a real stud sire.” Mr Reid said.
Reserve junior champion was awarded to Grathlyn Notorious who stood second to Holy Field in their class.
A Koanui Techno 3062 son, Notorious was a high indexing and high growth bull, with 400- and 600-day growth figures in the top 1% of the breed.
In the intermediate division, reserve champion was awarded to Allendale Extrovert N159, who came in just behind grand champion bull Rayleigh Nullabore N069.
Extrovert was sired by Allendale Gambler L143 and weighed in at 894kg with a raw EMA of 127sqcm.
Mr Reid described Extrovert as “very structurally correct” with really good movement.
Allendale also took the champion sash in the senior division with Allendale Imperial N114 who had been sashed reserve champion in the EU class earlier in the day.
Mr Reid was once again pleased with the structure and movement of the bull.
“He’s very structurally correct and moves really well.
“[This is] a bull that’s really going to take our breed forward.” Mr Reid said.
Reserve senior champion bull was awarded to Rayleigh Nostradamus N047 who was also sired by Bowen Calibre K207.
Mr Reid described 892kg Nostradamus as “a real carcase bull” with a strong spine.
Rayleigh topped off their successful morning in the show ring by being awarded the President’s Shield for the top team of three bulls.
The Rayleigh team was composed of the grand champion; Rayleigh Nullabor N069, reserve senior champion; Rayleigh Nostradamus N047, and Rayleigh Nathan N094.
Mr Reid was impressed by the evenness of type among the three Rayleigh bulls, describing the team as having a lot of depth of body and lots of thickness.
“They’re very worthy winners.” Mr Reid said.
Rayleigh stud principal Jeff Holcombe was delighted with their stud’s result on the day.
“You try for a lifetime hoping for a day like this and it’s finally happened.” Mr Holcombe said.
Champion EU index bull; Morganvale Naughton with Herefords Australia General Manager, Andrew Donoghue, Allan Morgan of Morganvale Poll Herefords, and judge Steve Chapman of JBS Australia.
Reserve champion EU index bull; Allendale Imperial N114 exhibited by Alastair Day.
Champion supermarket index bull; Rayleigh Nullabor N069, led by Sarah Holcombe of Rayleigh Poll Herefords with Herefords Australia Director Pat Pearce and judge Steve Chapman.
Reserve champion supermarket index bull; Grathlyn Holy Field N019, held by Andrew Rayner with Herefords Australia Director Pat Pearce.
Junior champion bull; Grathlyn Holy Field N019
Reserve champion junior bull; Grathlyn Notorious.
Champion and reserve junior bulls from Grathlyn Pastoral Company.
Intermediate champion bull; Rayleigh Nullabor N069, held by Sarah Holcombe with John Settree of Landmark and judge Steve Reid of Talbalba Herefords.
Reserve champion intermediate bull; Allendale Extrovert N159.
Senior champion bull; Allendale Imperial N114, presented by Hannah Bourke of Neogen Australasia, with Alastair Day of Allendale and judge Steve Reid.
Reserve senior champion bull Rayleigh Nostradamus N047. (Photo credit: The Land)
Grand champion bull; Rayleigh Nullabor N069. L to R: Andrew Donoghue, Sarah Holcombe, Pat Pearce and Steve Reid.
Rayleigh’s winning President’s Shield team composed of the grand champion; Rayleigh Nullabor N069, reserve senior champion; Rayleigh Nostradamus N047, and Rayleigh Nathan N094.
