Show success for local charolais stud owner
Charolais breeder cleans up classes in Brisbane
❝You’re putting your cattle up with the best in the country...
— Ivan Price
LOADING cattle up and heading to Ekka is second nature for Ivan Price, who hasn’t missed a show since 1991.
Mr Price took over Moongool Charolais from his grandfather in the late 80s at 18 years old.
“I think I showed my first charolais in 1993,” he said.
“That year that particular bull was a member of the interbreed pair.
“He was from our charolais stud, Moongool Kerwin.”
Moongool Charolais took out a number of prizes at the Ekka this year including Grand Champion Bull and the interbreed People’s Choice award.
“We’ve had 20 odd years that I’ve been going, this is probably the most successful one we’ve had,” Mr Price said.
He said he always enjoys going to the Ekka.
“My favourite part about Ekka would be the dagwood dogs,” Mr Price joked.
“The thing I love about it is the competition.
“You’re putting your cattle up with the best in the country, and it’s a good benchmark.
“Some years you have a good year and some years you don’t.
“This year we had a good year.”
Mr Price said they also had a good year at Beef.
“We won the Grand Champion bull and cow for the charolais,” he said
“And we won the interbreed female.”
Moongool Charolais also attended Sydney Royal Show this year.
“We went to Syndey this year and won the interbreed breeders group,” he said.
“We had the Grand Champion charolais cow and Reserve Champion cow and Reserve Champion Junior bull, and those were the three animals that made up the breeders group.”
Mr Price said the charolais stud started off as a hobby with 15 cows.
“Now there is 1300 cows,” he said.
“I’m based at Surat where most of the stud herd is based. But the main property is at Yuleba.
“We run a commercial operation as well. We were all herefords once upon a time but now we’re all charolais, brahmans and charbrays.”
Moongool Charolais will have an on-property bull sale on September 24, with 100 bulls on offer. Mr Price said he hopes it rains before then.
“It’s a harsh climate we live in, it will definitely rain again, but when is the question,” he said.
“We’re able to manage it at the minute, but there’s a lot of people worse off than us.”