'Logical choice' of a bull wins first broad ribbon for newly-formed stud

"There's no smoke and mirrors there, that bull is what you see, and I think that's a bull that can add value in a lot of herds."

Those were the words said by international judge PJ Budler when describing the junior champion bull at the 60th Herefords Australia National Show and Sale, held at Wodonga Exhibition Centre, Vic, on May 14.

After exhibiting for only two years under their own stud prefix, Paul and Natalie Manwaring, Oak Hill, Cootamundra, claimed their first broad ribbon with their 19-month-old sire, Oak Hill Universal U009.

The judge for the show, PJ Budler, Texas, USA, said the bull was a logical choice.

"This is what I call balanced, his masculine with mass and muscle, extremely sound and flexible on his feet and legs," he said.

"He's a bull with really good testicle size and suspension, his scrotal circumference EBV doesn't read as well as that, but he's got one of the better circumferences and shapes in the class.

"He's got incredible muscle over his top hip and rump.

"This bull has really balanced estimated breeding values all the way through, he's got calving ease, he's balanced on growth, and he has some muscles and some fat to him. That's a tool that can be used in a purebred operation in a stud very easily."

He weighed 914 kilograms, while having rib and P8 fat scans of 14 millimetres and 23mm, respectively, while also recording an eye muscle area of 131 square centimetres.

Oak Hill Herefords stud co-principal Paul Manwaring said it was a great win for the young family's stud.

"We're grateful for the opportunity to get some good cows backed by Mawarra genetics," he said.

"It's been a privilege to work with good cattle, and bringing one or two good ones a year is our aim.

"He's been a good calf all the way through, he's been a bull with no faults."

The family has been involved with the breed in the past 25 years through his parent's stud, Rose View Herefords.

Mr Manwaring said the bull's sire, Mawarra Infuential Q162, had worked well for the program, also siring the family's sale bull exhibited at last year's show and sale, Oak Hill Titan, who sold for $16,000.

Reserve champion junior bull was awarded to Talumbi Unhinged, exhibited by Caleb Croker, Yarra.

Mr Budler said the bull jumped out at him both in the flesh and on paper.

"He's so masculine through the head, neck and shoulder, he's so full in his hips for rib and deep and soft in his centre body and the most athletic bull in this class as he flexes off those hind legs, he reaches through his shoulder," he said.

"The testicular size and shape on this bull is good, and he has got some natural width. He's a three-dimensional bull, tonnes of quality in him."

The 19-month-old bull, 842kg, was by Injemira Robert Redford, and out of Kymarney Regal Q002.

He recorded an eye muscle area of 129sq cm, as well as rib and rump fat scans of 12mm and 19mm, respectively.