Broadribbon trifecta for Mawarra Genetics as Whiteout takes grand champion

It was a stunning trifecta for the Sykes family at the 2024 Herefords Australia National Show and Sale at Wodonga with junior, intermediate and senior bulls culminating in the grand champion sash. 

The family’s Mawarra Genetics, of Longford, Vic, exhibited the junior and grand champion, Mawarra Whiteout T290 (S), the intermediate champion, Mawarra Whip Cracker T229 (PP), and senior champion, Mawarra Western Star T060 (AI) (PP) under international judge Shane Bedwell. 

Mawarra Genetics also exhibited the reserve senior champion, Mawarra Las Vegas T057 and received the Most Successful Exhibitor.  The 27-month-old was sired by Mawarra Emperor, weighed 950kg, had an eye muscle area of 138sqcm, and ranked top 1 per cent for intramuscular fat at +2.9 per cent. 

Held at the Wodonga Exhibition Centre, the Herefords Australia National Show drew 122 bulls from 45 vendors, including five new vendors of Ardno, Chanel, Kalara, Oak Hill and Winchester studs.  

The 21-month-old Mawarra Whiteout T290 was sired by Mawarra Showtime P277 and out of Mawarra Miss Titania 127. Weighing 924kg, the young sire had a raw eye muscle area scan of 136sqcm, rump fat of 25mm and rib fat of 16mm, and a scrotal circumference of 40cm. 

Whiteout ranked top 2 per cent on BREEDPLAN for milk at +26kg, top 5 per cent for eye muscle area at +7.0sqcm, positive fats, top 9 per cent for carcase weight, and top 15 per cent for 400- and 600-day weights.  

Judge and American Hereford Association chief operating officer and director of breed improvement Shane Bedwell was impressed with Whiteout’s quality, shape, power, and athleticism. 

“He can get out and move and is really genuine in terms of shape. I like how he comes over his top and is elite in terms of his hind leg. He has a set of figures to back him up,” Mr Bedwell said.  

Vendor Peter Sykes said the National was the bull’s showring debut and his sire had been used heavily in the Mawarra herd with semen sold overseas.  

He said the stud had last scored a champion trifecta in 2011 and this year was extra special with their three children, Brandon, Logan and Taylah, handling the bulls.  

Intermediate champion, the 22-month-old Mawarra Whipcracker T229, weighed 850kg and scanned with a raw eye muscle area of 128sqcm, rump fat of 16mm and rib fat of 10mm. he ranked top 2 per cent for 400- and 600-day weight, carcase weight at +82kg, and eye muscle area at +8.0sqcm. This combined with top 4 per cent intramuscular fat.  

Whipcracker was sired by Oldfield Quantum Speed Q029 and out of Mawarra Minerva 199 Q304. 

Mr Bedwell liked the bull’s style, shape, moderate frame, front end, plus growth and end product figures on BREEDPLAN. 

Senior champion, the 27-month-old Mawarra Western Star T060 weighed in at 1012kg, and scanned with an eye muscle area of 147sqcm, rump fat of 23mm, rib fat of 14mm and scrotal circumference of 40cm. Sired by Mawarra Star Attraction and out of Mawarra Minerva 188, the bull ranked top 3 per cent for 600-day weight at +114kg and carcase weight at +78kg.  

Mr Bedwell described Western Star as a “big index bull” with a nice structure, top line, and hind leg quality.  

Kalara Tik Tik Boom T004 (AI) (ET) (PP), exhibited by Jamie Hollis and Mikayla Passmore, Kalara Poll Herefords, Clifton, Qld, was sashed as reserve junior champion. 

The 20-month-old bull was by US sire TH Masterplan 183F and weighed 938kg with an eye muscle area of 137sqcm, rump fat of 22mm, rib fat of 13mm and scrotal of 42cm. 

He ranked top 4 per cent for scrotal size, top 5 per cent for 400-day weight, and top 15 per cent for retail beef yield. 

“This bull is incredible in terms of presence, style, thickness, and is really athletic in terms of his hip and hind leg, and has the paperwork to back him up,” Mr Bedwell said.  

Danny and Debbie Hill, Granite Hill Herefords, Bungendore, NSW, exhibited the reserve intermediate champion bull, Granite Hill Toro T010 (ET) (PP). Sired by Injemira Robert Redford Q287 and out of Kerlson Pines Annie L1, the 914kg bull had an eye muscle area of 128sqcm, rump fat of 16mm, rib fat 10mm, ranked top 3 per cent for eye muscle area at +7.5sqcm and carcase weight at +79kg. This combined with top 6 per cent for birthweight at +1.0kg.  

“Everything fits about this bull, his birthweight, calving ease are on the right side. He is a bull that offers quite a bit in growth – he is a neat bull visually and how he scans, and has a lot of volume and doability,” Mr Bedwell said. 

He thanked Herefords Australia for the invitation to judge the hallmark event. 

“For this legacy in the breed and for what all the breeders have accomplished, this show highlights the testament that you have of making cattle very functional, deep red, heavily pigmented, extra athletic, sound and doing an excellent job of combining a lot of the traits. 

“Herefords are in the best place to do both maternal and offer the end product and eating quality necessary for a demanding consumer that has fallen in love with high quality beef. Herefords in my opinion are in a great place to drive this industry forward.”