Updated October 4 2022 – 5:48pm, first published September 30 2022 – 11:01am
Speckle Park, Melbourne Royal Show 2022
A Mornington Peninsula Speckle Park stud has seen its bull, described as having “sire appeal”, sashed supreme exhibit of the breed.
Merom Speckle Park, Tuerong, took out the rosette with Merom Maximum, a November 2020-drop bull, sired by SPKNZ Extreme E27, out of Six Star Pho-Finish G250.
Merom Park stud owner John Weekley said the family moved early on Speckle Parks, as they liked the look of the breed and their rear end muscle development.
“I thought we would introduce them for some hybrid diversity across our Angus herd,” Mr Weekley said.
“As we started to see the commercial calves coming off, we decided to start buying some females.”
He said the bull’s structural frame stood out to the judge, something evident since the bull was a young calf.
“What stood out was his fluidity and the way he moved around the ring – he is carrying nearly 900 kilograms and he still seems to be able to dance around the parade ground,” he said.
The 22-month-old bull had figures of a 123-square-centimetre eye muscle area, 12-millimetre rump and 10mm rib measurement.
He weighed 862kg.
The bull would be used in the Merom Park herd initially, but may also be set for a Speckle Park feature breed exhibition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show next year.
“We’ll keep him in show form until then, then bring him out to see if we can get the triple, because we won in Adelaide as well,” he said.
He said the bull would be used in the seedstock herd of 150 breeding females.
“I think those who are adopting the breed are loving the growth diversity they see and loving the fact these cattle seem to do very well in all conditions, in wet conditions where we are, and dry conditions,” he said.
Judge Donna Robson, Adelong, NSW, said the supreme exhibit had weight and thickness that he carried right down to his hindquarter.
“He has a very ‘sirey’ outlook, great testicles underneath and stands up on his legs and feet,” she said.
In choosing Merom Maximum as grand champion bull of the breed, Ms Robson told the gallery she could not fault him.
“He is put together so well, I can’t pick a hole in this bull,” she said.
“He is long in the frame.
“Length is weight and weight pays – so I love to see that extra length and stretch in cattle.”
Junior champion heifer and grand champion female was taken out by Jackungah Speckle Park, Pine Lodge, with Jackungah 01B Luo’s Secret S52.
Senior champion cow was won by Pemberton Speckle Park, Glenquarry, NSW, with Pemberton 444E Florence, Q63.
Andrew Miller
