Tarwin Poll Herefords
Tarwin Poll Herefords have been based at the Meeniyan property for over 70 years, taking its name from the Tarwin river that fronts the property.
Commenced in 1950, at the request of local agents for sons of Studlea Playmate, purchased at the 1950 Melbourne Royal Show.
The stud has maintained its objective of producing sound commercial cattle for Gippsland producers ever since.
Current owner David Meikle comments “In those early days a lot of emphasis was placed on pedigrees and showing.
Now we have tools such as performance recording and DNA testing to predict how our animals should perform.”
This is a performance recorded herd with the calves being regularly weighed upto 600 days and the weights submitted to the Breedplan program.
Sale bulls are scanned for eye muscle area and fat cover.
These results will be available on the Beef Week open day.
Replacement heifers and sale bulls are DNA tested to confirm parentage and polledness.
2021 was also Tarwins first effort at online selling, with 5 young bulls offered on Auctions Plus as members of the Gippsland Performance Herefords group in September.
The studs objective is to produce attractive, sound, commercial poll Hereford cattle, able to perform of grass.
To achieve this they use a mix of AI breeding and judicious selection of sires for natural mating.
Sires chosen will generally have a modest birth weight coupled with above average growth weights and carcass traits, traits such as eye pigmentation and hooding are also considered in their sire selection.
To further test the performance of their genetics, the Meikles regularly compete in the Lardner Park Grass Finished Steer trials.
Currently they have one team sitting equal third at 1.38 kg/day, within 0.02kg/day of the leader.
Their other team performed at a creditable 1.29 kg/day . Typically their steers finish within the top third for weight gain and routinely meet specifications.
At this years Beef Week open day, Tarwin Poll Herefords will have on display.
The first calves of Tarcombe Homeland as well as sale bulls sired by Wirruna Nolan, Wirruna Lamond, Koanui Techno, Ravensdale King Pin and Days Brigadier.
Next years crop of bull calves will also be on display with their mothers.
It is planned to also have unjoined weaned heifers on display as well. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the hospitality of a cup tea and a light lunch as well as to discuss he studs breeding program with the Meikle family.