The
Sandy
Family
Swifts
Creek, Victoria
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"The
genetic superiority of the Mawarra bloodline has assisted us to maintain
the quality
of
cattle for which we strive."
Peter, Robyn and
Jim Sandy, January 2009
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Our family
has known and dealt with the Sykes family for many years. The Mawarra Stud
is a reflection of the Sykes’ honesty, integrity and dedication to the
Hereford breed. We have found their pursuit of superior genetics has set
their stud as a leader in the Hereford Society and l believe will continue
to be so for many years to come. We have always been impressed with the
high quality of bulls that are presented on an annual basis. Impressive
and informative also is the Mawarra website. Its detailed data and ease
of navigation makes it a useful tool in researching and selecting bulls
for potential purchase.Our family have been purchasing Mawarra bulls for
at least the last 27 years during which time they have stood the test of
time in our Hereford and Hereford/ Shorthorn cross enterprise.Over many
years our calves have consistently featured in the opening pens of the
Omeo leg of the March Mountain Calf Sales.
2005 our top steers
$800.00 & our roan heifers made $845.00 our sale average $744.00
2006 our top steers
$724.00 & our roan heifers made $880.00 our sale average $675.00
(Omeo Sale average
steers $632.00 & heifers $568.00)
Our steers topped
the Omeo Sale in 2008 @ $690.00.
(Omeo Sale average
for steers $543.00)
Calves taken Feb.
2008
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First cross
herd
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Calves taken
Feb. 2008
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First cross
herd
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Simon,
Rowena & Janet Turner,
"Turner
Partnership"
Bindi
Victoria
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"Congratulations
to the Sykes family on consistently producing a quality bull breeding program
that maintains important traditional values and at the same time embraces
new and proven practices in the industry. We wish them every success with
their future breeding ventures."
Simon
& Rowena Turner 2009
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We run a self replacing, Spring
calving, Hereford breeding herd and aim our production at both prime and
store market. We find that Spring calving gives us greater flexibility
of management, when working with varying seasons and markets. We also look
for good constitution in an animal - frame, ability to walk, strong maternal
traits and good figures in the 400 day weight. We have been buying Mawarra
bulls consistently for ten years and believe they have significantly
contributed to improving our herd, giving us consistency, improved maternal
traits, and a good selection of heifers as future breeders. They have also
helped us breed cows with a sound constitution enabling them to do well
under tough conditions which the high country often experiences.The cows
are joined in October/November and are taken to the bush lease in December
with Spring-drop calves at foot. We maintain a young breeding herd fit
enough to take to the high country. The cows and calves have to climb 2500
feet in 6 kilometres so they need to have a sound constitution, good feet
and be able to travel well. Most years calves are weaned and brought
home from the bush in March, between six and seven months of age, while
the cows are not mustered until April/May. The cows endure the challenging
conditions that the High Country presents, still performing well under
these harsh conditions.The steers are generally turned off in summer at
16-18 months and averaging approximately 420-450 kilograms live weight.
A large portion of our steers are sold direct into feedlots. The sooner
we can have the steers close to maximum entry weight, the quicker the turn
off period, hence better feed utilization. With the improvements in our
maternal and carcass traits that Mawarra bulls are delivering for us, we
anticipate being able to achieve entry weights in a shorter time frame.
Note: Over the past couple of years, with difficult seasons to contend
with, we have been able to achieve daily weight gains of .85 to .90 of
a kilo per day at 400 days.
Cows returning
from the high country
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At home at Bindi
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Keith
& Sue Davies
Gelantipy,
Victoria
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"The
strong maternal lines in the Mawarra breeding herd, combined
with
the diverse sire battery, has enabled us to consistantly find replacement
sires to increase the quality & productivity of our own breeding program."
Keith
& Sue Davies, 2008
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We run 130 breeders on our 1200
acre property at Gelantipy in the High Country of far East Gippsland. The
foundation herd was sourced over thirty years ago from the renowned mountain
herds of Creamy Pendergast, the Soutter family, Keith Rogers & Gelantipy
Station. We have always used Mawarra sires. The extreme seasonal
conditions faced by our cattle in this mountain environment put strong
demands on the animals doing ability & soundness, we find the Mawarra
cattle to excel in these areas. They also display longevity, we have females
consistantly producing beyond ten years of age. In 2005 we topped the Gelantipy
Calf Sale with steers, both steers & heifers in 2007 & steers again
in 2008 & 2009, our pens have been sourced by repeat buyers for a number
of years. We were the inaugral winners of the Gippsland Hereford Female
Challange in 2003 & have been runners up each year until 2007 when
we again took out the overall prize. At a Field Day held by the Gippsland
Hereford Group we welcomed forty people to inspect our herd.Visitors to
our herd & buyers alike are impressed with the consistant line &
extra length that our cattle display.
Keith & Sue
topped the Gelantipy Calf Sale on March 17th, 2008 with their top pen of
weaner steers averaging 358kgs at $605/hd.
Their second pen
topped the sale at $610/hd. Their top pen of heifers was second top price
at $400/hd.
Cows at "Boyare"
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Visitors inspecting the herd during
a Gippsland Hereford Group Field Day
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Cows & calves at "Burramaronga"
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The
Foster Family
Haven
Park
Casterton,
Victoria
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"We
have been using Mawarra Sires for the last six years. We feel that the
female progeny have excellent temperament and milk. We have consistently
sold steer calves at 340 kilograms."
Graham,
Shirley, Rick & Nancy Foster 2007
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Haven Park
results at the Annual Casterton Weaner Sale
*2005
Top selling pen of Hereford steers
*2006
Top selling pen of Hereford steers
*2007
Top selling pen of Hereford steers &
Best Presented
Pen of Hereford steers.
*2008
Best Presented Pen of Hereford Heifers.
Heaviest pen of
Hereford steers & Heaviest pen of Hereford heifers.
*2009
Steers & Heifers: Heaviest pens & Hereford Top Prices
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The Foster
Family have been very pleased with the Mawarra
Millennium daughters. Their sons by Mawarra
Pinocchio made up a significant proportion of the heaviest calves in
2008 & 2009.
2008
Steer calves average weight 387kgs @ $715/hd or $1.85
2008
Heifer calves average weight 341kgs @ $535/hd or $1.57
2009
Steer calves average weight 372 kgs @ $730/hd or $1.96
2009
Heifer calves average weight 334kgs @ $581/hd or $1.74
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Heaviest Pen
of Hereford Steers
Casterton Weaner
Sale January 2008
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Best Presented
Pen of Hereford steers
Casterton Annual
Weaner Sale 2007
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Cows by a dam at Haven Park
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Rob
&
Heather Francis
Yallaroo
H. S.,Vasse, Western Australia
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"Over
the years the friendship and respect for the Mawarra genetics and the Sykes
family continue to grow as we have
proved
both to be honest and practical, as I am sure
purchasers
of Mawarra cattle will prove for themselves.
I
cannot recommend the Sykes’ and Mawarra too highly.”
Rob
& Heather Francis 2007
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We have used several Mawarra sires
over the years and have had only good results with all of them. Mawarra
Gladiator produced Yallaroo Valentine V07 for us with this sire winning
the Grand Champion Bull ribbon at Perth Royal Show in 2002 & 2003,
as well as leading our winning team of three, defeating twelve other teams
of all breeds in 2003. Valentine is still sound and admired by all who
see him at Yallaroo. We had outstanding results with
Mawarra
Kahlua and his females are among our best breeders. Mawarra
Nostalgia
needs no introduction in Australian Hereford circles, and
he also left us with extra growth, muscle and milk in his daughters, with
a son retained in the Yallaroo herd. In 2007 we purchased semen in
Mawarra
Sandstorm at the Wodonga Show & Sale.
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John
(Buff) Rogers
Black
Mountain, Victoria
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Mr.
J. K. (Buff) Rogers, an astute cattleman from Black Mountain in Victoria's
high country, has been
buying
bulls from Mawarra for over thirty years.
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Buff is a key
vendor at the annual Bill Wyndham & Co. Special Spring Sale where his
calves are highly sought after.
Buff was a class
winner and overall runner up in the Gippsland Hereford Group's Female Challenge
in 2007.
Yearlings sold
7th August, 2007. These calves were born August/Septemer 2006. Owing to
very tight seasonal conditions half the 2006 drop were weaned early in
January, the remainder in April as normal. The later weaned calves were
miles ahead of the earlier weaned ones. We picked out 40 of the better
steer calves (one truck load) which were put onto a crop of short term
rye grass in mid May. They did exceptionally well, their curfew weight
being 410kg average. They looked good in the saleyards, the first pen of
20 making $850/hd and the second pen making $830/hd.
Cows at Black Mountain
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Buff receiving the Gippsland Hereford
Female Challenge Runners Up Award 2007
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A selection of Buff's heifers
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Arthur
Trethowan,
Woomargama,
NSW
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“I
wouldn’t keep buying them if I didn’t like them!”
Arthur
Trethowan 2006
As a
repeat volume buyer Arthur has purchased 37 bulls from
Mawarra
since 2000 ranging in price from $2,000 to $18,000.
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I always look
at the people before I buy a bull. The Sykes family provide a good, honest
service. The cheaper bulls I’ve bought perform as well as the ones at the
dearer end. In 2005 I had a calving percentage over 95% for my heifers.
Mawarra cattle display good temperament, are easy to handle and have high
fertility rates. The bulls also have longevity, I have an eight year old
Mawarra bull still siring calves in the top pens.
I topped the
Wodonga market in early November 2005 with 38 x 2 ½ year old steers
coming out at $1269. In early October I sold 180 x 18-19 month old steers
who made $2.30/kg, the tops making $1078.
Arthur sold 115
rising 2yo heifers, due to calve February, at Wodonga on January 16th,
2009. The magnificent line of pure Mawarra blood females topped at $1380
for an average of $1360. Landmark Albury Livestock Agent Trent Boers in
opening said the heifers were “…as good as you’d ever want to see, by
sires, and joined to sires, purchased from Mawarra, one of the best studs
in the country.” After the sale Trent commented “They are a magnificent
line and they sold accordingly.” Successful purchasers included David
Trethowan, Cookardinia and Molly Reed & Geoff Beavis, Moorac Partnership,
Holbrook.
The steers pictured
below were weighed at 20 months and averaged 670kgs. Five of them weighed
over 700kgs.
When asked when
he would sell them Arthur replied ……
”When I get sick of looking at them!”
Pure Mawarra blood
steers 17 months
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Pure Mawarra blood
steers 17 months
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Rising 2yo heifers,
due to calve February,2009 topped at $1380 for an impressive average of
$1360.
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30 heifers
(10mths) average
weight 307kgs ~
$540
Wodonga Annual
WeanerSale
January 2009
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Peter
& Leonie Adams
Staghorn
Hat, Victoria
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Dear Mawarra
Folk,
You may think
me stange sending you this last photo of our much loved M. Kruger, but
wanted you to know he had a good life and was in good nic until going off
in old age to the abattoirs – I didn’t want him sold in the yards in case
someone mistreated him in his old age. He has left behind many beautiful
off-spring. Best regards,
Peter & Leonie Adams
P. S. He had
many photos taken with the children …..SO QUIET!
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Mawarra Kruger
Age: 9+ years
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M. Kruger was
purchased at our 2000 Sale for the top price of $9,750.
Sire:
Charvel Lawful Dam: M. Miss Titania
95
The letter and
photograph were received in February 2008.
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The
Walsh Family,
Granite
Flat Pastoral Co.
Mitta
Mitta, Victoria
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“We
have used Mawarra Sires for a long period of time because of
their
quiet temperament, structural soundness and true to type
Hereford
markings.We are happy with their offspring.
Congratulations
to Mawarra Hereford Stud
on
the presentation of the bulls each year.”
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Mike Walsh
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Selection of the
Granite Flat steers 2007
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Granite Flat Past. Co. sold 80 weaner
steers in January 2007 at Wodonga topping at $545 for an average of $530.
In 2008 their tops made $672.
28 steers (8-10mths)
av.weight 300kgs ~ $620
Wodonga Annual
Weaner Sale January 2009
The
Walsh family will keep their
top
calves to sell later in the year
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Selection of the
Granite Flat steers 2009
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Ashley
Fyfe, Manager,
Rosetta
Downs, Rosedale, Victoria (2006)
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Mawarra
Bulls don't discriminate...
....they
don't
care
what
color
your
cows
are!
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I manage an
Angus herd comprising 240 cows. In 2004 a decision was made to diversify
& purchase a Hereford bull. Mawarra North Square was used over 101
cows with one of six Angus bulls rotated with him. I also used him
to mop up over 120 heifers after our AI program. Out of 101 calves there
are 57 black baldy’s all of which I am really impressed with. They are
showing tremendous bone, thickness, growth & weight for age.
Further to
this story, Ashley sold weaner heifers in March 2006. Separating the Angus
heifers from the Black Baldy's he received $460/hd for the Angus and $560
for the Black Baldy's. He has since purchased two more bulls from Mawarra.
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The
Binnie Family
Maeranie
H. S.
Singleton,
N S W
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'Pen of Three'
Glen Innes 2005
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Mawarra Iddy Bitty
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Mawarra
Iddy Bitty was purchased at Wodonga in 1999. He was used in the stud from
1999 to 2003. He has proved to be a significant sire
with the quality
of his females as well as his sons. 2005 was the first time in many years
that we have shown any cattle,
a son of Iddy
Bitty gained a blue ribbon in a junior class in Wodonga and we won the
'Pen of Three' in Glen Innes,
two of which
were by Iddy Bitty. Their average EMA’s were over 130sq. cms with
a frame score over 7.
To follow on
from Iddy Bitty we have purchased Mawarra Outstanding
by Mawarra Kahlua and his calves are
showing promise.
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Don
& Kay Belcher
Woodside,
Victoria
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"The
Sykes family are in attendance at our sales and have inspected our herd
which enables them to advise us further in the selection of bulls.”
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We farm
a grazing property at Woodside, in Victoria, near the coast. We purchased
our first Mawarra bull in 1990. Our aim was to breed cattle with good temperament,
increase our cows milk, and frame size. Under the guidance of Robert &
Peter, and our stock agent David Phelan, we have managed to achieve noticeable
improvements. Mawarra provide Breedplan figures for all their bulls. We
have found this to be a valuable tool in the selection of our bulls. The
Open Days give clients the opportunity to inspect the bulls for sale and
their dams, making sale day easier.
*Don & Kay won
the Gippsland Hereford Female Challenge in 2006. They are pictured receiving
their award for Class Winner in the Gippsland Hereford Female Challenge
2007 from Gippsland Hereford Group President, Mr. Barry Newcomen.
*2007 Result: 45
steers averaged 317kgs @ $600.88/hd
*2008 Result: Equal
top selling pen of Hereford Steers. David Phelan & Co. sale, Koonawarra
Feb. 26th
*Don & Kay
have achieved the top selling pen of Hereford steers for seven years running
at the David Phelan & Co. weaner sale.
*2009 Result: 42
steers sold, purchased by repeat buyer Barney & Nancy Sewell.
Top of $590/hd
~ Average weight 266kgs ~ Average Price $565
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Red
Hill H. S.
Euroa,
Victoria
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1st
Production Sale, February 2008
13 sons
by $60,000 Mawarra Nostalgia sold
to the top price
of $40,000
for an average of $9885. (Gross $128,500)
2nd Production
Sale, February 2009
Top
price of $10,000 (reached twice)
Both
Lots sired by Mawarra Nostaglia.
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Red Hill Royalty,
$40,000
Sire: Mawarra Nostalgia
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The
Pretty Family,
Jacandra
H. S.
Jindivick,
Victoria
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"Jacandra
Bannister, Senior Champion Bull Melbourne Royal 2008, sired by Mawarra
Private Eye. This bull displays all the strengths that the Mawarra
bloodlines have added to our herd."
Rod
& Judy Pretty
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The
Young Family,
Strathvalley
H. S.,
Rochester,
Victoria
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“Mawarra
Kahlua has been an
exceptional
sire for us"
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Mawarra
Kahlua has produced two Junior Champion heifers & one Reserve Junior
Champion heifer at the 2004 & 2006 Sydney Royal Shows. One son sold
to Reedy Creek Hereford Stud & is reportedly breeding well, another
son (Poll) selling to Gunyah Poll Hereford Stud. Kahlua is leaving beautiful
females for us with great milk & very neat udders & teats, his
progeny are long, sound, very strong & attractive cattle with great
volume.
Mawarra Kahlua daughters
are pictured above at Sydney Royal 2004.
L-R: Junior Champion,
Reserve Junior Champion both exhibited by SVH, Mawarra
Minerva 586 - top price Hereford female exhibited by Mawarra.
SVH Irishmaid - Junior Champion Poll Hereford Female Sydney Royal Show
2006
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Bill
& Judy Wells,
Boho
South, Victoria
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Bill
& Judy purchased their first bull from the
Sykes
family, Mawarra Thologolong,
at Wodonga
National 1985.
Both
cows and bulls have been purchased since 2002 |
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Since moving
from Ournie Station in early 2003 we have restocked our new property “Bambara”
Bobo South with Mawarra cattle both females & bulls. The herd being
diverse enough to provide an outcross with our
main sire Mawarra Natural
by Yallaroo Tornado. Since
moving to Bambara we have had two very ordinary years
weather wise but steers sent to Wodonga 30th June 2006 managed to
top the sale at $780 (12 months).
We are very
happy with our purchases & consider ourselves return buyers, having
been great supporters of Ironbark
cattle at Ournie
we consider the Mawarra cattle their equal for this environment
(sub alpine).
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The
Allen Family
South
Boorook H.S.
Mortlake,
Victoria
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Mawarra
Sentimental
Purchased
for $24,000 at Wodonga National 2008
South Boorook 2010
Sale 9 Sentimental sons sold to $22,000 (the sale top price) and recorded
an average of $7,333.
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Mawarra
Horizon
Purchased
at Wodonga National 1997
for $16,000. His
48 sons grossed $257,686
to a top of $22,000
for an average of $5,368.
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Paul
& Dianne Marshall,
Orbost,
Victoria
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The
Marshall family have purchased females and eight bulls from Mawarra
since 2003.
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Heifers to calve
early 2008
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Paul &
Dianne Marshall topped the weaner steers at Bairnsdale on 12th May, 2006.
Their draft of 56 Hereford steers, March-April drop, sold to $760.
The seconds sold for $745 and the cattle averaged $735.
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Mawarra Rackman
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The
Webb Family,
Kobyboyn,
Seymour,
Victoria
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Mawarra Kestrel
$6,000
Purchased at our
2000 Sale
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“We
have been using Mawarra bulls since 1994. In that time we have
seen
a significant improvement in milk production and growth rates."
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Mawarra High
Profile $5,000
Purchased at our
1997 Sale
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We have
been impressed by their soft coats and the Mawarra temperaments. The entire
drop of 2006 autumn steer calves were turned off at 10 months averaging
323 kgs, despite a very tough season. Moreover, we have valued the continued
interest the Sykes family has shown in their bulls and the stock they produce.
The
Webb Family have purchased 24 bulls from Mawarra since 1994.
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The
Warner Family,
Athlone,
Victoria
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"This
photo was taken today of our Minnies purchased at your 35th Annual Sale.
Lot 71 Minerva 580 and calf Minerva 750. They are loving life in Athlone
and the grass is now starting to grow and they are really adding on lots
of condition."
Regards,
Andrew & Roslyn
Letter & photograph
received May 2008
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Dam: Miss Titania
305
Sire: Reedy
Creek Debonair
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"Really
thrilled with the genetics of the little group and we are really enjoying
watching them develop."
Photos
received November 2009
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Minerva 580 &
River
Boy bull calf
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Gary
Jones,
Karuby
Hereford Stud,
Toora,
Victoria
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"In
my opinion they are one of the best
herds
of cattle I have seen in the country."
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I have been
fortunate enough to see the Mawarra herd on a number of occasions. I have
seen them in good times and in tough times and they always impress with
their ability to perform under any conditions. At Wodonga National Rod
Pretty & I purchased Mawarra Private Eye for $10,000 and this was in
no small part as a result of his dam whose previous calves I have seen.
I believe the Mawarra breeding program to be one of the reliable
ones in the country. Producing cattle with excellent growth combined soundness,
docility, ability.
The cows I have
purchased have adapted quickly to our environment and compliment our program.
We will continue
to support Mawarra and wish the Sykes family the best with their continued
breeding endeavours.”
Mawarra Private Eye $10,000 Wodonga National 2005
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The
McEachern Family
Ardno
Hereford Stud,
Inverleigh,
Victoria
|
Mawarra
Sandstorm $52,000
Reserve Senior
Champion Hereford National 2007
Purchased in partnership
with Newcomen H S
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The
McEachern Family have
purchased
five sires from
Mawarra
since 1992
At
Ardno's 50th Annual Sale in 2009
four
12 month old Mawarra Sandstorm heifers sold to a top of $3,500
to
record an average of $3,125.
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18 Mawarra
Oasis sons have sold to $22,000 for an average of $7,055.
~Ardno Action -
$22,000 Top price Ardno Sale 2007 ~Ardno Burr - $13,000 Top price
Ardno Sale 2008 ~Ardno Chilly $10,000 2009
~Ardno Deliver
- $20,000 Top price Arndo Sale 2010
Mawarra Bingo $6,500
Equal top price
Mawarra Annual
Sale 1992
|
Mawarra Jamaica
$6,000
Hererford National
1999
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Mawarra Oasis $16,000
Hereford National
2004
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Ardno Action $22,000
Top Price Ardno
Sale 2007
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