A bull from the top of New South Wales has made his way south to feature in the sire lineup of two well-known East Gippsland Hereford studs.
Valley Vista and Karoonda Hereford studs, run by the Hodge and Sykes families respectively at Buchan and Gelantipy, joined together to purchase Mountain Valley Vavoom V161 (PP) for $26,000, the equal second-top price at the Mountain Valley sale near Coolatai.
Valley Vista stud principal, Rick Hodge, said MV Vavoom was the fourth sire from the Durkin family’s high-performing stud to be used at Valley Vista.
“He was our first choice after inspecting a large number of bulls so it was good to get him,” Mr Hodge said.
“MV Vavoom will be utilised across both studs to produce quality, functional cattle that complement our existing breeding programs and continue to provide consistency for our customers locally and interstate.
Mr Hodge said the bull had a proven pedigree and type that closely aligned with the shared breeding objectives of Valley Vista and Karoonda.
“He fits the direction of both studs,” he said.
“He’s well balanced, with good fat and muscle coverage, a perfect skin and the overall quality and functionality we look for in our Herefords.
“His maternal pedigree is at the top of the tree and highly prized at Mountain Valley Herefords, with his sire consistently producing sons selling in the $20,000–$30,000-plus range, topping the Mountain Valley annual production sale for three consecutive years.”
Mr Hodge said they were confident Vavoom would be an asset to both studs.
Mountain Valley hosted its 33rd annual sale in mid-July, offering 36 bulls which all sold, to a top of $28,000 and an average $16,027 for the Poll Herefords. The stud’s 42-head Angus contingent topped at $20,000 and averaged $11,809.
