The Talbalba Hereford Stud

“Delemere”
Millmerran QUEENSLAND

The Talbalba Hereford Stud

“Delemere”
Millmerran QUEENSLAND

2017 heralded a major change in our stud operation with our inaugural on property sale at “Delemere”, Millmerrran.

Selling on property allows us to present a larger offering of bulls in good working condition straight out of the paddock and into the sale ring in the comfort of our home environment. To compensate for the greater distance many of our western clients now have to travel we offer free delivery to the purchaser’s door. Delivering the bulls not only offers a better service to our clients but also assists us to better understand our clients breeding objectives and see firsthand how the bulls perform in their country.

Online selling has been a game changer in stud stock sales. With the added benefit of familiarity from commercial sales we use Auctions Plus as our selling platform. We encourage clients who can’t make the sale to drop in and make their selections before the sale if possible and then have the convenience of bidding online in real time.

Our job is to provide genetics that will help our clients achieve their goals and prepare for the future. Cattle breeding can not change direction quickly so we try to predict future trends in the cattle industry in the breeding decisions we make today. Genomics has taken Breedplan data to the next level with the incorporation of single step analysis. Breedplan is only as good as the integrity and accuracy of the data that is put into it, we strive to collect data on as many traits as possible including growth, carcase, fertility and birth weight. Sale bulls are both Semen and Morphology tested prior to sale.

We look forward to constantly improving our genetics and our operation and appreciate feedback from our clients to assist us to breed better bulls whilst building better relationships.

Our aim is to produce even lines of bulls for the commercial industry and to have long term clients with whom we have open and honest communication.

Our aim is to produce even lines of bulls for the commercial industry and to have long term clients with whom we have open and honest communication.

Clients are welcome to inspect our cattle at any time and will see the entire herd if they wish. It is in our best interest for clients to purchase the bulls which will push their herds forward and increase their profitability.

Our family do all the stock work so the temperament of our cattle is very important.

Temperament is also very important in our quest for superior carcase cattle. Research has shown that the best way of increasing meat quality is to select for temperament. We are proud of the fact that we have some of the best muscled Herefords in the country. We have been performance recording our herd since the mid 70’s and believe in the concept of Breedplan. We select from within our own herd on phenotype and history but do use Breedplan as an aid when selecting sires.

Talbalba Stud History

The Reid family has been breeding registered Hereford cattle since 1950

Talbalba Stud History

The Reid family has been breeding registered Hereford cattle since 1950

The Reid family has been breeding registered Hereford cattle since 1950 when J.R.Reid purchased cows from Ennisview, Karena, Fernhill, and Cressbrook studs. Jim (his son),and Rita took over running the Bundarra Stud independently in 1974 and by the mid 80’s had turned it into one of the most successful herds in the country.

Consecutive Champions and a record price in Wodonga, three consecutive Grand Champions at the Glen Innes Show and Sale, plus sales to $35,000 at Sydney Royal meant the Bundarra cattle were in the headlines including the front pages of The Land and The Stock and Land.

The Talbalba herd was founded by Steve Reid in 1984 with females from Bundarra. In 1991 Steve and Debbie achieved top price and top average at the annual Roma sponsored Show and Sale, and in 1993 sold Talbalba Horatio for $16,000 in Sydney to Ohio Hereford Stud.

1993 heralded the formation of the Southern Cross Sale, a co-operative venture between the Reid, Jones, and Thomas families. This venture gave the vendors more control over their sale and the chance to sell at Pinora, where they could better display their bulls.

2002 saw Steve and Debbie move their enterprise from Bell to “Delemere”, 30 kms south of Millmerran in search of softer soil and more rainfall.

2004 proved to be Talbalba’s most successful year with 14 bulls selling to $15,500 and averaging $7,200. This encouraging result prompted a decision early in 2005, to purchase the heart of the Bundarra herd which Jim parted with reluctantly due to health reasons.

This began an exciting new era for the Talbalba Stud which had now grown to 170 cows and was using sires of the calibre of Bundarra Wally and Moorlands Grand National V045. Also in 2005, Steve was elected to the board of the Australian Hereford Society.

Due to Jims’ poor health and the dispersal of the Eurangatuck and Glen Wilga herds, a decision was made to take on a new partner in the Southern Cross sale and when an approach was made by the Nixon family in 2007, the timing was perfect. So began an expansion phase for the sale with the Talbalba and Devon Court Studs combining to present the best line of Hereford bulls in Northern Australia which in 2008 sold to $22000 and averaged $5830.

The Reid family has been breeding registered Hereford cattle since 1950 when J.R.Reid purchased cows from Ennisview, Karena, Fernhill, and Cressbrook studs. Jim (his son),and Rita took over running the Bundarra Stud independently in 1974 and by the mid 80’s had turned it into one of the most successful herds in the country.

Consecutive Champions and a record price in Wodonga, three consecutive Grand Champions at the Glen Innes Show and Sale, plus sales to $35,000 at Sydney Royal meant the Bundarra cattle were in the headlines including the front pages of The Land and The Stock and Land.

The Talbalba herd was founded by Steve Reid in 1984 with females from Bundarra. In 1991 Steve and Debbie achieved top price and top average at the annual Roma sponsored Show and Sale, and in 1993 sold Talbalba Horatio for $16,000 in Sydney to Ohio Hereford Stud.

1993 heralded the formation of the Southern Cross Sale, a co-operative venture between the Reid, Jones, and Thomas families. This venture gave the vendors more control over their sale and the chance to sell at Pinora, where they could better display their bulls.

Bundarra Idealist: Grand Champion Wodonga  National Show & Sale 1988, by Bundarra Caliph

Bundarra Caliph : A lasting influence on our herd, a muscle bull before his time, 2nd in his class RNA,1982.

Champion Pen of 3 Roma Show and Sale 1977 by Devoncourt Orlando 131

2002 saw Steve and Debbie move their enterprise from Bell to “Delemere”, 30 kms south of Millmerran in search of softer soil and more rainfall.

2004 proved to be Talbalba’s most successful year with 14 bulls selling to $15,500 and averaging $7,200. This encouraging result prompted a decision early in 2005, to purchase the heart of the Bundarra herd which Jim parted with reluctantly due to health reasons.

This began an exciting new era for the Talbalba Stud which had now grown to 170 cows and was using sires of the calibre of Bundarra Wally and Moorlands Grand National V045. Also in 2005, Steve was elected to the board of the Australian Hereford Society.

Due to Jims’ poor health and the dispersal of the Eurangatuck and Glen Wilga herds, a decision was made to take on a new partner in the Southern Cross sale and when an approach was made by the Nixon family in 2007, the timing was perfect. So began an expansion phase for the sale with the Talbalba and Devon Court Studs combining to present the best line of Hereford bulls in Northern Australia which in 2008 sold to $22000 and averaged $5830.

Champion Pen of 3 Roma Show and Sale 1977 by Devoncourt Orlando 131

Bundarra Caliph : A lasting influence on our herd, a muscle bull before his time, 2nd in his class RNA,1982.

Bundarra Idealist: Grand Champion Wodonga  National Show & Sale 1988, by Bundarra Caliph

Bundarra Meteor: Top price Sydney Show 1993, sold $20,000.

Bundarra Gymnast: Grand Champion Wodonga National Show & Sale 1987, and record price $30,000.

Talbalba Horatio : Sold Sydney Royal Show 1993, for $16,000.

Steve continued on the Hereford board for 11 years including 3 years as Chairman.

With the support of the board he drove projects forward including the establishment of a Hereford branded product through Atron Enterprises. Under Steve’s leadership the Black Baldy trial, a large research project jointly funded by MLA, analysed thousands of Hereford and Hereford/Angus calves from birth through to slaughter generating valuable data. This leadership role on the Hereford board raised the profile of the Talbalba herd Australia wide as Steve strove to drive the breed forward in increasingly challenging times.

Steve Reid, Chairman Australian Hereford Society 2012-2015
Steve Reid and Bundarra Idealist, Grand Champion Wodonga 1988