More than 5000 bulls from 196 studs will be on display in the upcoming Stock & Land Beef Week across the Border region.
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The value alone of the bulls is estimated at more than $35 million, spread across 26 individual breeds.
That, Beef Week director Geoff Phillips said, was how much was expected to be realised in sales both during the event and at on-property bull sales during February and March.
Beef Week this year runs from January 29 to February 6 and will take place at studs in Victoria and the Riverina.
Thirty-five of the studs will have on-property bull auctions during the autumn bull selling season, with 2500 bulls catalogued.
These will all be on display for buyers to inspect during Beef Week.
“The 161 studs in Beef Week that do not have on-property sales will offer bulls during Beef Week and will also have on display bulls catalogued for the big multi-vendor national sales coming up at Wodonga and Dubbo later in the year,” Mr Phillips said.
“We estimate another 2500 bulls will be cleared by these 161 studs.”
The two best represented breeds in Beef Week – the biggest of its type in Australia and showcasing the nation’s leading beef genetics – are Angus with 58 studs and Herefords with 57, followed by Limousin with 17 and Charolais and Simmental with 10 each.
But that list is not the end of it, as other breeds to feature include the long-established Shorthorn, South Devon, British White and Belted Galloway. Newer breeds to Australia including Speckle Park and Wagyu will also be on display.
“All breeds have a contribution to make to the beef industry, depending on target markets and the environment in which they need to operate,” Mr Phillips said.
He said stud breeders would be available at host properties to explain the attributes of various breeds, as well as discuss and advise on the needs of stud and commercial producers.
And the RASV Heifer Challenge, which is run in conjunction with Beef Week, has attracted 45 entries. Studs will be displaying 10 heifers from the 2016 drop, destined to be replacements in their registered breeding herds. Former Galloway, Angus and Buchan Black breeder Malcolm Cock will be the judge.