A dream becomes reality
For Daniel and Anne Marie Barrow the reality of a successful stud sale started with an idea born two decades ago under shady oak trees in a Bavarian Beer Garden.
Then, almost a decade ago, they took a step closer towards their dream with the purchase of their first block of land in Mirboo North.
With 650 acres, Daniel and Anne Marie have been working towards bringing leading industry genetics to the Gippsland Breeding Bowl.
Both Daniel and Anne Marie believe that Gippsland is the ideal location for both breeding and finishing high quality, grass-fed Black Angus cattle, as the cattle thrive in this environment; like Anne Marie’s native homeland of Scotland where the Aberdeen Angus hail from.
Daniel and Anne Marie were blown away with the response and support from foundation clients, new clients, fellow industry seed stock producers, agricultural peers, and stock agents across all companies and throughout Victoria and NSW.
Many travelled long distances to attend their Inaugural Autumn Bull Sale which was held on property on Friday, 24 March, 2017.
Daniel’s opening speech was heartfelt as he spoke about taking “a dream and making it a reality”.
Always benchmarking and continuously improving their processes, Anne Marie and Daniel asked Live Bidding to stream and record their auction live, so afterwards they could reflect on the day’s events.
The day itself was a buzz of activity, the only laid-back participants being the Black Angus sale bulls who lazed around and contentedly chewed their cud as many new faces inspected them from all angles.
The top price bull, $9,500 LOT 3 Merlewood Mentor L51 (AI) sold to new client, DM & MF Chalmers of Leongatha South.
Robert visited MWA earlier in March to inspect their sale bulls and after a detailed viewing said “I will be back on sale day”.
Volume buyer and new clients, Dean and Kim Sederlen, who travelled down from Orbost wanted to take them all home as it was such an even line. Spoilt for choice, Dean and Kim decided to opt for LOT 7 ($5,000) and LOT 11 ($6,000) both Heirloom sons.
MWA foundation clients and repeat buyers bought well too. With Brendan O’Loughlin purchasing LOT 13 ($7,000) Merlewood Docklands L32 (AI). Brendan liked him when he saw him at the Beef Week Open Day.
With all 3 Merlewood Docklands bulls staying local in South Gippsland, MWA look forward to seeing their offspring come through the VLE and mountain calf saleyards in 2018 and 2019.
Daniels tip; watch out for these steers and heifers as they will be exceptional.
Inaugural bull sale results; 28/30 bulls sold, highest value of $9,500 (LOT 3 Merlewood Mentor L51 (AI)) and at an average value of $5,517.
MWA are so pleased to bring leading industry genetics from top sires to Gippsland’s commercial Black Angus breeders and be part of the Gippsland Breeding Bowl vision. Passionate about their cattle, the Merlewood Angus team look forward to continuing to support Gippsland’s commercial beef farmers as they grow.
Keep in touch with Merlewood Angus via social media, Chewing The Cud blog, Tuesday Chew Bytes (live video snippets on Facebook).
Full details can be found at their website www.merlewoodangus.com.au and you can always telephone Daniel and Anne Marie on 5668 2168 or 0425 862 941.
They look forward to seeing you at the next sale.