A little star with winning ways

THE first progeny of record-breaking bull Cluden Newry Uppercut in Tasmania, possibly Australia, has landed two weeks early at Toliver Angus.

Owners Sue and Colin Hill were excited to spot the 38kg heifer on Sunday – with another 15 embryos from other donors including TVAQ16 also set to produce exceptional offspring in coming weeks.

Uppercut U15 was bred at Longford by Jock Hughes and smashed the state’s auction record when he sold to Lach McKenzie from Victoria for $275,000 in March.

The record-breaking sale beat the previous top price of $240,000 which was paid for a bull from the Archer family’s Landfall stud in 2023.

The bull’s exceptional estimated breeding figures, along with good conformation and type, made him highly desirable.

Mr Hill had picked up on the bull’s potential eight months before the sale, thanks to a tip from his embryo vet when he was on site for fertility testing.

“He mentioned he’s been taking semen from Uppercut U15 for an AI company and that he was very good,” Mr Hill said. “When I looked up the figures I really liked what I saw, so I got in touch with the supplier hoping to get 40 straws but could only get 10, at $100 each.

“We had some cows we were flushing for embryos and the three leftover straws went to three heifers, so we’re expecting 10 to 12 calves from him this spring season.”

The cow that calved early is considered one of the best on the Lulworth property, and wasn’t due until July 11.

However, the healthy weight confirmed the calf was more than ready to hit the ground and Colin and Sue’s grandson, Hayden Harper, who is a part of the farm’s succession planning, is ready to take care of the busy calving season as more progeny arrives.

Mr Hill received the rest of the Uppercut straws when available four months after his initial purchase and then he ordered some more, spending $9000 all up on semen.

Another 20 embryos and 31 AI heifers were impregnated in autumn and another 30 embryos are ready to transplant this spring.

“It’s worth it when you know you’ve got a good bull with great genetics – his estimated breeding values are very good,” Mr Hill said.

“I’ll be keeping all the female offspring for further breeding and maybe one bull.”

The Hills kept all of their wiener calves this year and recently sold the last of the finished steers to JBS.

“The prices were just too low to sell calves at Powranna this year but processing beef prices have been good,” he said.

“I believe calf prices will improve if we get some more rain.”

The lack of rain in recent years has the Hills concerned and prompted major investment in irrigation.

With the recent irrigation upgrades and a new fertiliser regime the Toliver property is achieving a higher carrying capacity than ever before.

“Dryland farming is so hard and we really had a scare in recent years with the dry weather,” Mr Hill admitted.

“Our weather recordings come from Low Head and this season we recorded 130mm to July 1, when the average for this area is 300mm. And that’s on top of last year’s drought conditions.

“We struggled last year and we’ve learnt from that, installing an irrigation bore and 2.2km of irrigation lines and we’ve become very strategic with our watering which has really paid off.”

Together with the calves from other proven sire genetics, Toliver Angus is expecting more Uppercut offspring to take advantage of the increased feed that will be available in autumn and spring.

“Seeing this first calf born I think is a real milestone for Angus breeding in Tasmania. 

“To have a bull of such high calibre, bred in Tasmania, improving our herd, makes us very proud.”