Chasing the holy grail of a perfect beef carcase

Waroona Murray Greys tops at $5500 for bulls, $4100 females

Article by The Land

The $5500 top-priced bull, Waroona France P2, purchased by Greenwich Park Pastoral Company, Greenwich Park near Goulburn. Photo: Murray Grey Society The $4100 equal top-priced female, Waroona Taree L30, bought by Benooka Park Murray Greys. Photo: AuctionsPlus

Waroona Joan L11 with a bull calf-at-foot sold to Woodbourn Murray Greys, Tas. Photo: AuctionsPlus

The strong cattle market and a great season in Central West NSW saw a solid result for the Hobbs family at their Waroona Murray Grey Production Sale near Molong last Friday.

There were eight bulls sold from the 13 offered to a top of $5500 and average of $4187.

Females were in demand, with a complete clearance of 12 stud females to a top of $4100, twice, and averaging $2641, while all 20 commercial pregnancytested-in-calf (PTIC) heifers sold to $2300 and averaged $2250.

The $5500 top-priced bull was Waroona France P2, a son of Woodbourn France F48 out of Waroona Clarette E12, which was purchased by first time buyers Greenwich Park Pastoral Company, Greenwich Park. The $5500 top-priced bull, Waroona France P2, purchased by Greenwich Park Pastoral Company, Greenwich Park near Goulburn.

Described as a well muscled bull, suitable for both cows and heifers, the two-year-old stood out for the amount of meat he was carrying according to Waroona principal Graham Hobbs.

France P2 was one of a draft of five bulls purchased by Greenwich Park for an average of $4300, as well as the top pen of 10 commercial PTIC heifers at $2300. Two stud females shared the $4100 top price honours, Waroona Taree L30 and Waroona Joan L27. Both were purchased by Benooka Park Murray Greys, Bega.

Taree L30 was also by Woodbourn France F48, while Joan L27 was by Golden Hero H7. Both were in calf to Woodbourn Larry L9.

Stud interest continued with Woodbourn Murray Greys, Tas, picking up Waroona Joan L11 with bull calf-at-foot, Waroona Quenton Q47, for $3000. Kym Carlton of Carlinga Murray Greys, Boggabri, also purchased seven cows.

Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon and Co stud stock conducted the Helmsman auction that was interfaced with AuctionsPlus.

AYR PARK 10TH ON PROPERTY SALE RESULTS

Stud and commercial buyers drove the 10th Ayr Park On Property sale to a top price of $10,500 and a complete bull clearance. With plenty of repeat buyers and new buyers on the day bidding, it drove the bull average to $5,077. Annika Whale, Double A Cattle Co. Cowra paid $10,500 for the top priced bull Ayr Park Quincey Q11, a son of Ayr Park Legend L31 and out of Ayr Park Robbie J46, a bull suitable for heifer joinings, boasting a calving ease figure +2.4, being in the top 10% and a birth weight figure of +2.3 sat him in the top 20%. The bulls carcase EBV’s were also a highlight, ranking him in the top 5% for rib and rump fat and top 10% for IMF.

Among the other major buyers were Neil Cummins a repeat buyer from Crookwell who purchased lot 8 for $6,000. Errowanbang Murray Greys, Carcoar purchased lot 3 for $5,000 and a yearling bull, lot 13 for $3,500. They also purchased lot 22, an in calf heifer for $3,000. New buyers, D.Violi from Griffith purchased lot 7, an Ayr Park Major son for $6,000. Ray Doak, Tillinga Murray Greys ACT purchased lot 14 a yearling bull for $5,500. G&T Refshauge purchased two bulls, lot 11 for $5,000 and lot 15 a yearling bull for $4,000. Other new buyers were Greenwich Park Pastoral purchasing lot 9 for $5,500 and Gunthorpe Ogle, Moree purchasing a bull and a heifer.

Sold 11 of the 15 females offered. The top priced female sold for $5,000 was lot 18, Ayr Park Antoinette P2 with her first calf at foot selling to Guy Burnett, Maefair Murray Greys Marrar who also purchased two unjoined heifers. New buyers Bill Richardson, Mouyi Murray Greys Brindebella purchased two females for a top of $4,000 and R&J Livestock purchased two joined heifers for $3,000 each. We were very pleased with the sale considering the severe drought we have been through for the last two years and then the uncertainty of COVID 19, not knowing if we could go ahead with the sale and have people on property. By going with Auctions Plus it helped our sale greatly as there were quite a few people bidding online, we will use them again in future sales.

We would like thank everyone who attended our sale, purchasers and everyone who supported us on Sale day. A big thank you from Ian And Narelle.

Wundam Park Silversmith

selling at WA Supreme Sale, Brunswick • 18.2.16 YOU WIN

when you buy BULLCO GENETICS

SA BREED

Our Annual Murray Grey January weekend this year was held in the Adelaide Hills. Focusing on the areas of Gumeracha, Meadows, Woodside and Mt Torrens, showcasing different attractions in the area.

Unfortunately, just before our weekend up in the hills, a major part of the area was razed by the Cudlee Creek Bushfire. We still decided to continue with our social weekend in the area to help support the local businesses that had been affected. Which in some ways seeing the devastation and driving through area’s affected gave you more of an understanding of how and what some of our members, communities and people had been through. Some managing to save their belongings, and unfortunately some losing everything.

We started on Friday 17th with a visit to Sharen and Robert Randell’s - Kenton Murray Grey Stud at Gumeracha. A great start to the weekend with a great turn up for the delicious barbecue and chat while watching the sunset and having a walk around their stud. It was great to catch up with friends and meet some new members. This made it a very relaxing evening.

On Saturday we made our way to Meadows to start a busy day where we were shown around Richard and Kathy Koral’s Silver Angus Stud, we all enjoyed learning about their breeding programme and having a look at their beautiful herd of Murray Greys.

After an early start we were all happy to find the Meadows Bakery for an early lunch before heading to the home property of Richard and Kathy’s to have a

look at the Tarlina Stud cattle that they had purchased earlier in the year.

We then ventured to Woodside for a self-guided visit to the Woodside Cheese Wright’s and Melba’s Chocolate Factory, both were enjoyed by all, especially the chocolate factory, I think the kids (large and Small) enjoyed the chocolate factory best, with quite a few purchases made.

We then headed to the Charleston Pub Beer Garden for our AGM, followed by dinner inside. A great place to relax for the end of a busy day and I think everyone was enjoying a drink by now.

Sunday, we visited Tracey and Andrew Caire’s - Moorilla Rise Murray Grey Stud, at Mt Torrens for morning tea and a look around their cattle, there was also a tour of some of the fire ground for anyone Anyone with an interest in Murray Grey cattle are very welcome to attend, whether you have a stud, a commercial breeder or just love Murray Greys we would love to see you there!! Contact SAMGBPG if you would like to come along.

wishing to have a look. We then all had a lovely lunch followed by a very relaxing afternoon with people leaving when they needed to head home.

Well done everyone for a great weekend and great company enjoyed by all who attended.

Our Annual Murray Grey January weekend for 2021 will be held on the 15th to 17th January. We are planning to be in the Clare Valley area. A great area with plenty to see and do. Denise Fabris beeamma@bigpond.com

MURRAY GREYS SUITED TO KING ISLAND CONDITIONS

By Linda Mantova

Producing commercial cattle on King Island since he was a young man, Charles Lumsden, believes the Murray Grey breed are suited to the harsh conditions of Bass Strait, home to the renowned Roaring Forties winds.

Charles and his wife, Elizabeth, own three properties on King Island, with a young Murray Grey herd of 500 head running on a total of 588 hectares, including some leased country.

Growing up on a dairy farm in north east Victoria, Charles began his involvement with King Island from a young age, with his grandfather, Wallace Henry, first farming on King Island over a century ago.

“Grandpa Henry went to King Island in 1910, modelling himself on the great Sidney Kidman, and eventually became known as the Cattle King of King Island,” Charles said.

“Up until the 1950’s he owned 2400 hectares on the island, and when he passed away in 1961, my mum inherited 92ha at Cape Wickham in the north of the island, which we still own,” he said.

“Mum managed it herself until I was in my mid 20’s and I became involved in the family property in 1980. I was in the police force in Melbourne at the time, and because of King Island’s close proximity, I could spend all my time-off on the property.”

However, Charles first fell in love with the Murray Grey breed in 1976, while attending Marcus Oldham College. “I was herd testing at Shepparton when I saw these fat placid white cows and asked the farmer what they were - that was my first exposure to Murray Greys,” he said.

“I remember thinking if I ever have cattle I’d have Murray Greys.”

Fast forward 40 odd years, and the Lumsdens have 280 breeders running on their prime King Island country, utilising set stocking for most of the year.

At present, the family owns Rocky Point (92ha) at Cape Wickham; Boggy Creek (114ha) on the west coast of King Island, purchased from the family in 2017; and Mt Stanley Homestead (100ha) near the port of Grassy on the southern end of the island, purchased in January, 2016; as well as leasing a further 80ha on Lymwood, and 200ha on the Sea Paddock, which is a family property joining Boggy Creek with million dollar views over the ocean.

Charles said his Murray Greys had adapted well to the weather conditions, and despite the winds, which are ferocious in winter, and the rain, their dry cow’s winter on their Boggy Creek property.

“We have coast hills and bull rushes, and the cows all calve there from September onwards,” he said. “It’s the best maternity ward that I know of, as the cows get protection from the winds and the rushes protect the calves. They don’t get overfat there and I have never lost a cow calving ever. “We have always loved their temperament, and confirmation. The cows are small so they are economical to run, and don’t leave a big footprint on the soil,” he said.

“Effectively you can run more Murray Greys per acre so the cost per cow is less, and on our pug country, the cows are less likely to do damage to the land. They have small calves, with very low birth weights, that grow and fatten quickly.”

Those are the attributes that attracted the Lumsdens to Murray Greys, which they market predominantly to Greenham’s at Smithton in Tasmania.

“When I’m down on the island, I usually get a buyer out and he selects them out of the paddock. We also sell weaners to other producers on the island – the cattle we breed are well respected.”

Historically, the Lumsdens have utilised Woodbourn bloodlines, from Charles Wallace’s stud in Tasmania, and Charles said he preferred to buy bulls out of the paddock.

“Some years ago we purchased a bull that was the son of Willalooka Nagahoe and we kept his daughters. Presently we have a bull which has Willalooka Nagahoe in his pedigree. Our heifers and younger cows have been mated to him, and we are very pleased with his progeny.”