DESPITE the mercury hitting the mid-30s and a hot blustery wind showering the paddocks with bark from the old redgums, Nillahcootie Park the home to Riga Angus welcomed a steady trickle of visitors to the stud for day five of Beef Week.
Alongside existing and potential clients, various industry representatives from stock agents to semen companies and members of the Beef Week committee visited the Mansfield enterprise on February 4 with cattle penned for inspection.
As an eight-day annual event showcasing over 150 studs across the state, southern NSW and eastern South Australia, Beef Week represents a great opportunity to compare what is on offer and engage with breeders about their stud direction.
Riga Angus have been participating in the initiative for the last 26 years.
“Last year we had pens overflowing with stock, however this year the display was smallish mostly due to the hot weather forecast,” said stud principal Vera Finger.
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Despite a smaller showing than previous years, feedback was very positive with the stud receiving several requests for their sale catalogue.
“Yearling bulls were thought to present well and well on track to meet their sale-day weight targets,” said Vera.
“Yearling bulls representing a draft of excellent Dunoon Recharge sons and an interesting selection of Knowla So Right sons were several people’s picks on the day.
“Numerous Millah Murrah Quartz sons also took the eye, as well as S Right Time.”
With the stud gearing up for the dispersal of their spring calving herd to run in conjunction with their annual autumn sale scheduled for April 9, Vera said there has already been significant interest in the females.
“The females comprise a mix of older and newer genetics such as Sydgen Black Pearl, Boonaroo Gravity, Ben Nevis Newsflash, Karoo Realist, Murdeduke Quarterback, Knowla So Right as well as some of our Riga Angus homebred sires,” she said.
Pregnancy tested in calf with aged foetal pregnancies, the majority are pregnant to Stokman Solution, Millah Murrah Sunstruck and Cluden Newry Uppercut.
“Apart from Stokman Solution being a New Zealand bull from whom we already have calves which we are retaining and are so far very impressed with, the other bulls are out of renowned Australian breeding programs,” Vera said of the offering.
“Both sire lines are relatively new and upcoming genetics which have the potential to add significant value to their progeny.
“Special mention here goes to Cluden Newry Uppercut, a much talked about bull, who effortlessly combines phenotype as well as one of the most powerful data sets in recent times.”
Vera believes there will be some very special pregnancies to look out for with this bull, with the dispersal offering an unique opportunity to secure these sought-after genetics coupled with over 50 years of Riga Angus breeding credentials and proven bloodlines.
Alongside a selection of sale stock available for viewing at the Beef Week open day, there were heifers penned for the return of Beef Week’s heifer challenge after a brief hiatus.
“We enjoy showcasing our females as they are the engine room of our operation,” said Vera.
“Many expressed their surprise at the excellent condition of the females which to date had not received supplementary feeding.
“The very essence of the type of female we try to breed is one that is efficient but is supported with supplementary feed if and when required should tough conditions prevail.”
Of note, Riga Angus will only be dispersing their spring herd whilst retaining their autumn herd, as the Finger family look to concentrate their efforts.
