Scott Thompson, NIOA Group, Allora Advertiser
The first bull calf by record sale-topping sire Yarrawonga Spartacus S316 (P) has arrived, heralding a new generation of champions for NIOA Santa Gertrudis.
The calf, out of Riverslea Holly (P), was born (Eds: Wednesday, August 30) at NIOA’s Talgai Homestead-based stud at Allora.
Holly, purchased by NIOA from Riverslea Santa Gertrudis in 2014, is also the mother of NIOA Marksman, the 2018 Sydney Royal Easter Show Grand Champion.
Spartacus was introduced to the NIOA bull battery last November after NIOA paid a then Australian record breed price of $250,000 at the Bassingthwaighte family’s Yarrawonga Santa Gertrudis annual sale.
He is the grandson of 2014 Brisbane Ekka Grand Champion Yarrawonga Corvette H730 (P), described by the Wallumbilla stud as “without doubt, the best bull that Yarrawonga has produced”.
NIOA Santa Gertrudis general manager Shannon Gardner said the son of Spartacus had all the credentials of his champion bloodlines.
“He’s got quality written all over him,” he said. “We have been focussed on developing genetic depth in our herd and have been very excited about what the Yarrawonga bloodlines would add to our breeding program.
“We put Spartacus with Holly for natural joining as she is an elite cow being the daughter of the legendary sire Riverslea Digger.
“We are thrilled with the result. This little fella has all the traits you want – softness, structure, skin type and temperament – and we look forward to witnessing his growth.”
The Allora-Warwick area has deep historical links with the Santa Gertrudis breed in Australia.
It was where world-renowned King Ranch, Texas, USA set up its Australian headquarters at “Risdon” Warwick in 1952. The first sale of imported American bulls was held on November 14 that year.
Related stories: First major show win for NIOA Texas, Supreme Stud Beef at Show
This article appeared in the Allora Advertiser, 13 September 2023.
