Central Victorian Hereford stud's pen of 10 heifers takes out challenge win

A prominent Hereford stud in central Victoria has taken out the Stud Beef Victoria Heifer Challenge as part of Stock & Land Beef Week, amid a selection of quality heifer exhibits.

Twenty-two studs from across Victoria, South Australia and NSW entered a pen of 10 heifers into the challenge.

Heifer Challenge judge Duncan Newcomen, Yea, picked Glendan Park Hereford stud, Barfold, as the winners of this year's competition.

Mr Newcomen said despite the competition being very close, Glendan Park's pen were "clear winners".

"They were a beautiful line of heifers," he said.

In second place was Eloora Shorthorn stud, Cavendish, which Mr Newcomen described as a "beautiful line of Shorthorn cattle".

In equal third place were Schipps Red Angus, Wagga Wagga, NSW, and Wattlewood Angus, Lang Lang, in what Mr Newcomen said were "outstanding lines of females in both situations".

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Mr Newcomen said in judging each pen, he put particular emphasis on temperament.

"Obviously now it's so important to have good temperament in your cattle, nobody wants bad cattle," he said.

"We looked at their age, their pregnancy tests, their feet, their udders and generally their structure.

"The old saying goes, the only reason we run females at home is to rear a calf, and that's what we looked at.

"And I'm pleased to say we didn't find one pen of heifers that showed any of those bad traits."

Mr Newcomen said it was a huge task judging cattle across the eight-day event.

"We started in Mount Gambier, SA, and finished on the other side of Wagga Wagga," he said.

"We travelled up in the fire areas where people have been having a hard time and I understand what they're going through, we've been through that all ourselves.

"Everybody was very kind to us and it was very pleasing to judge the cattle."

He said he was impressed with the quality of heifers on display, particularly given the tough seasonal conditions being felt by a lot of producers.

"The pleasing thing about [the event] was there were outstanding lines of cattle everywhere we went," he said.

"[It shows] people still have confidence in the beef industry.

"The quality and type you exhibited gives us great confidence in the future of the beef industry."

Mr Newcomen judged 22 pens of heifers of different breeds, including Angus, Hereford/Poll Hereford, Red Angus, Shorthorn, Limousin, Charolais and Murray Grey cattle.