Key points:
- Seven young bulls join Hereford Australia Super Sires catalogue
- Elite sires embody balance of high-performing genetic traits suited for grain and grassfed operations
- Super Sire Glentrevor Trust N909 has son inducted into the program
AN elite group of young sires from across the country has been inducted into the ranks of the Herefords Australia Super Sires catalogue.
The cohort of seven bulls includes Dalkeith Randy R090, Elite K124 5069 (AI), Poachers Run Ryder R023, Quamby Plains Rival R269 (AI) (PP), Tobruk Southern Cross S15, Wirruna Rockefeller R355 and Ke Warra Maxwell R156 (PP). The additions bolster the Super Sires line-up to encompass bulls from two studs which have not before been represented in the program.
Herefords Australia Breed and Business Development Manager, Kathleen Allan, said the Super Sires initiative was launched in 2018 with the aim of identifying elite young bulls within the breed. “The program draws young sire candidates expressing a balance of favourable traits at the highest level,” Ms Allan said.
“The bulls selected first meet the strict BREEDPLAN criteria and are then endorsed by the breeder and embody the high-performing genetics producers are seeking to enhance their operations for both the grass and grain fed markets.
“The Super Sires program is an exciting initiative of Herefords Australia. It enables commercial producers to accelerate genetic gain in their herd through access to superior genetics.”
“This year, we have inducted the progeny of another existing Super Sire bull – a ringing endorsement of the program which has established itself as a key initiative within the Hereford breed.”
Kathleen said the new bulls inducted to the catalogue offered greater diversity to the Super Sires team, and with 29 bulls now listed, breeders had greater choice when selecting Super Sire genetics to use in their operations.
Dalkeith Randy R090 is out of Dalkeith Nipper N082, a bull sold to Remolea Poll Herefords, Clifton, Queensland, by breeder Ant Martin, Dalkeith Herefords, Cassilis, NSW.
Mr Martin used R090 in the stud herd as a yearling last year and has calves on the ground, and will retain him for another year as a back-up sire.
Mr Martin said championing premium, top-end sires had great benefit for the commercial industry seeking high-performing traits to instil within their herds.
“These bulls don’t arrive in huge number so we should propagate their genetics,” Mr Martin said.
Kay Payne, Elite Poll Herefords, Gundy, NSW, now has four bulls in the Super Sires program with the induction of K124 S069, and focuses her own breeding program on calving ease, growth, and carcase traits.
“We like good growth to 400 days to enable people to get their progeny off in the first 12 months,” Ms Payne said
“It’s also a big help for lowering ossification in the MSA Index, lifting compliance and getting more kilograms on the ground.”
Ms Payne said Elite K124 S069 had a well-balanced EBV profile combining muscle with intramuscular fat and red meat yield, and his dam, KMPJ10, was a much-valued breeder with a good production record.
“I hope the Super Sires program encourages commercial and seedstock producers to aim for a commercially relevant and acceptable animal and to look at calving ease and use the Hereford breed above others,” she said.
Tasmanian breeder Victoria Archer, Quamby Plains, Hagley, was excited to have the stud’s second bull to be inducted into the Super Sires program, Quamby Plains Rival R269.
“He has good structure, great thickness, excellent carcase traits and a great balanced performance in EBVs,” Ms Archer said.
Incoming sire, Tobruk Southern Cross S15 is a son of fellow Super Sire Glentrevor Trust N909.
Tobruk Southern Cross S15 was purchased by Lachy and Lou Day, Days Whiteface, Bordertown, for $91,000, a breed record for a yearling bull.
Breeder Damian Halloway, Tobruk Beef, Wagga Wagga, NSW, said the young sire delivered the sought-after combination of performance and phenotype.
“He goes back to our foundation Rose family cow bought from Pine Hill Poll Herefords from the Hicks family,” Mr Halloway said.
“The dam has had a really strong breeding record up until now and she will be flushed to increase her presence in our herd.
“Super Sires is a great program and is about identifying cattle with EBVs of a particular, high standard.”
Poachers Run Ryder R023 is the first bull in the Super Sire program for Tasmanian Hereford breeders Dion and Julia House, Poachers Run Herefords, Smithton. R023 is out of Banemore Lastday P158, purchased by the Houses from the Banemore Herefords dispersal in Penshurst, Victoria, and by Yavenvale Knockout N312. The young sire is now in a Tasmanian commercial herd.
Formerly commercial breeders, Mr and Ms House purchased 19 cows and a bull from Banemore Herefords, formerly owned by David and Judi Jenkin, and, added PTIC females from Wirruna and Mawarra Genetics to found their stud.
“We love the inclusiveness and really feel part of the Hereford family,” Ms House said.
“It has been such a rewarding journey and we just have to keep adding to the recipe to make it better for our children in the future. It’s about providing cattle with good genetics and structural soundness for the next generation.
“R023 was a standout from birth and always Dion’s favourite out of the three Yavenvale sons we offered at our sale this year. He is a long and correct Yavenvale Knockout son with beautiful structure, temperament and EBVs.”
Ke Warra Poll Hereford Stud is derived from the Hilandale Stud and is the result of breeding programs seeking excellent cattle for over 70 years. Geoff and Jan Coghill, Ke Warra Poll Herefords, Moorooduc, Victoria, are participating for the first time in the Super Sires program with Ke Warra Maxwell R156.
Maxwell is a son of Wirruna Nolan N146 a sire selected by Ross Coghill and co owner David Meikle as being the best in that sale in their opinion. Nolan has bred excellently for Ke Warra and Tarwin.
Ke Warra Maxwell was purchased by South Australian producers Tom and Amy Honner, Minlacowie, Brentwood and Carolyn Mudge, Maildaburra Poll Herefords, Streaky Bay.
Mr Coghill said Maxwell had exceptional herd improving EBVs, superior phenotype, a great temperament and was spotted as a 12-month-old by Amy Honner on social media.
Southern NSW seedstock producer Ian Locke, who with the addition of Wirruna Rockefeller R355 now has a team of five Wirruna bulls in the program, said the Hereford breed was offering more elite bulls with a multi-trait balance fitting the Super Sires’ criteria.
“Sires gives an indication to most seedstock and commercial producers of aspirational traits to target,” Mr Locke said.
“Seedstock producers can use bulls with those traits so they can also breed a Super Sire, and commercial producers are using the Super Sires as they believe it will lift their compliance with market specifications, especially on carcase traits.
“So far, those elite genetics have been at a commercial price.
“I am a supporter of the Super Sires program and am trying to present bulls with good calving ease and carcase traits.”
Background on Super Sires
The first bull selected for the Super Sires program was Wirruna Matty M288 who has gone on to prove himself in several stud and commercial herds across Australia.
The seven new Super Sires joining the existing 22 in the program to now include:
- Wirruna Matty M288 (Phase One Sire)
- Ravensdale Spark M037
- Glentrevor Trust N909
- Wirruna Pilot P054
- Elite M202 P101
- Tarcombe McLaren Q203
- Injemira Robert Redford Q287
- Elite M202 Q008
- Jarrah Fortune Q236
- Kidman Hitman Q067
- Quamby Plains Qantas Q467
- Tobruk Queenstown Q004
- Wirruna Quarterback Q281
- Warringa Rumpole R206
- Warwick Court Quick Q030
- Wirruna Qantas Q036
- Elite Trust Q066
- Yavenvale Romeo R055
- Morganvale Ravioli R41
- Days Godfather R077
- Injemira Kickstart P093 R153
- Tarcombe Lottery R208
Bulls eligible for nomination by their breeder to be part of the Super Sires program are identified in June and December each year and must meet a selection criteria including:
Animal Details
- Animal is active
- Animal is male
- Registration Status: HBR
- Age range – Four (4) consecutive calving years: (e.g., Round 1>= 2016 & <= 2019) with rollover in November each year
- Sire Verification (SV)
- LD (low density) genotype analysed
- Recessive condition status – HY Status: HYF or HYFU, DL Status: DLF or DLFU, IE Status: IEF or IEFU, MSUD Status: MSUDF or MSUDFU
BREEDPLAN
- Observed post-birth weight performance: 200day and/or 400day and/or 600day (min. 2 traits)
- Observed Scrotal Measurement
- Observed Ultrasound Scan data (Fats, EMA, IMF%)
- TOP 25% Calving Ease DIR (%), Calving Ease DIR (%) Acc. > 35,
- TOP 25% 400 Day Wt (kg), 400 Day Wt (kg) Acc. > 60,
- = > Breed AVG. Scrotal Size (cm), Scrotal Size (cm) Acc. > 60,
- TOP 25% Eye Muscle Area (sq cm), Eye Muscle Area (sq cm) Acc. > 40,
- TOP 5% IMF (%), IMF (%) Accuracy > 45,
- TOP 5% $Index
Those wishing to purchase semen from the Super Sires must contact individual breeders/owners for semen pricing and purchase.
The full catalogue of Super Sires can be found here
Once a nominated bull is accepted into the Super Sires program, he will remain classed as a Super Sire regardless of future changes in his EBVs or indexes.
Wirruna Rockefeller R355
Tobruk Southern Cross S15
Poachers Run Ryder R023
Elite K124 5069 (AI)
Dalkeith Randy R090
Ke Warra Maxwell R156
