Fertility and longevity a focus for Wokolena

Restockers wanting quality spring calving heifers cannot go past the Wokolena Pastoral offering at the invitational Premier Angus Breeders Sale.

The multi-vendor sale, hosted by Reiland Angus, will be held on February 21 at 11am at the Gundagai saleyards.

Wokolena Pastoral, of Wagga Wagga, will offer 74 July-August 2016 drop heifers, Reiland blood, and pregnancy-tested-in-calf to Reiland bulls to calve from July 30 over four weeks.

The heifers were bred, weaned and depastured at Wokolena Pastoral’s property, Kyeamba South.

Co-principal Lach Harris said the heifers were joined at 14 months of age to low birthweight bulls to calve as two-year-olds.

Mr Harris said the heifers were classed on structural soundness, temperament, fertility and longevity.

“These heifers are certainly not culls – they are surplus to our needs,’’ he said.

“Their sisters pregnancy tested empty were sold on AuctionsPlus, averaging 440kg, for $1130.

“We are supporting the Premier Breeders sale as people can be assured and confident they are getting quality cattle.

“All our heifers are yard weaned and well educated to dogs and bikes.

“They have to perform and don’t get a second chance to be fertile.’’

Bulls are sourced at both the spring and autumn Reiland sales for Wokolena Pastoral’s herd of 1200 cows.

The Kyeamba South property runs 750 autumn and spring calving cows, with European Union accredited steer progeny finished on grazing cereals to feedlot entry weights of 450kg for JBS Australia.

“The Reiland blood cattle perform well – the bulls are run under commercial conditions and are well suited to our environment,’’ Mr Harris said.

“When selecting bulls we look at BREEDPLAN figures for 400 and 600 day weight, eye muscle area and intramuscular fat, along with structural soundness.

“For heifer bulls, we look at the calving ease of the cow families behind the individual sire.’’

Mr Harris said Wokolena had used Reiland bulls for the past 15 years and was appreciative of the genetic and marketing advice provided by the stud.

“It is now an integral part of our business,’’ he said.