Valma Stud buys record-breaking Poll Hereford bull

Andrew and Caroline McLauchlan from Valma Stud at Whitemore have paid the highest price for a Poll Hereford bull in Australia this year - and they couldn’t have been happier when he finally arrived in Tasmania a few weeks ago.

The bull, named Stand Alone, is regarded as one of the top young Poll hereford bulls in the country and the couple were determined to add his genetics to their herd.

Plans to attend the 10th annual on-property sale held by Talbalba Herefords at their property Delamere, near Millmerran, Queensland, went awry due to the timing of lambing, so they made the $65,000 purchase without seeing the impressive animal in the flesh.

The purchase was made easier by partnering with Cam Clements of Nova Poll Hereford Stud in West Ridgley, where Stand Alone will share his stud duties.

It’s not the first time the McLaughlans have purchased from Talbalba Herefords, and Andrew said they know and trust the breeder and after viewing videos and data they were comfortable making the purchase.

“We relied heavily on the data and information from the breeder,” Andrew said.

“We have tremendous faith in Steve and Debbie Reid who operate the stud as we’ve paid even more for a bull from them in the past - three years ago we bought Talbalba Kingswood for $102,000 which was also a record then and he’s done exceptionally well.”

The couple are passionate about red and white cattle despite the breed falling out of favour in recent years.

The farm is running about 110 breeding females and some older cows plus a small herd of 30 commercial cows.

The dominance of Angus cattle in the beef market has not tempted the Laughlans, who say they love nothing more than to see the red and white cattle grazing in the paddock.

“With our herefords we’re trying to breed bulls with longevity so people get value for money,” Caroline said.

“We’ve always put a big focus on temperament too, farmers and cattle producers are getting older, not younger, and they want to deal with calm cattle and make everything easier.”

The McLaughlans looked closely at the carcass traits of their new bull, keeping in mind they might want to put him over Angus cows to get baldy calves.

“The weight gains are even better in cattle with that hybrid vigour,” Andrew said.

“Buyers just want the weight in the carcass because it means more dollars per animal.

“I think there will be a real swing towards cross breeding going forward and for us as breeders as well.”

Valma consists of 700 hectares criss-crossed with public roads and laneways in the heart of Whitemore.

Four centre pivots and one linear deliver good water supply from underground, a dam and a mini irrigation scheme owned and operated by local farmers.

Also well known for three generations of breeding Poll Dorset sheep and crop production, the push towards Poll Herefords came after the couple met 14 years ago at a Hereford bull sale in Wadonga, New south Wales.

“We used to grow a lot of vegetables and seed crops but Caroline’s background with her family’s stud and love of cattle influenced the direction of the farm,’ Andrew said.

“My grandfather Lyall Stewart was a founding member of the Poll Dorset sheep in Australia - we’re actually plot number two and one of the oldest studs in the world but that side of the business is now in the hands of my sister.

“We have our own Valma Poll Dorset Stud and the Hereford stud which both reflect the restructuring of the farm over time to suit the next generation.

“My parents did a wonderful job giving us a start in what me and my siblings wanted to do and we hope to use a similar template and build a future for our two boys in case they want to go farming.”

Valma will have about 340 white Suffolk and Poll Dorset rams in its December sale.