Sophie Holt

Coonong Station, a large NSW Riverina sheep and beef farming operation of 27,000 hectares between Urana & Jerilderie, purchased their first Lowline bulls in 2007.

They had calving troubles with their Hereford heifers & had tried using bulls from other breeds over the years but were still pulling calves or losing heifers calving. It was suggested by another beef producer that they try using Lowline bulls so they purchased three 2 year old bulls from Elandra Park & Wanamara studs Since then they have purchased a few more Lowline bulls but the original bulls are still working in 2013 at 8 years old. Coonong Station is vast so the bulls work in large paddocks & sometimes harsh conditions. It goes to show that structurally good bulls will have a long working life & the Lowline bulls are proving their longevity.

Sophie Holt maintains the use of Lowline bulls for a heifer’s first calf is a sensible option. By getting 100 per cent of live calves & having 100 per cent to wean is the best outcome for any producer.

Sophie says she likes that all the calves are consistant of type no matter what bulls are used. They are quick growing, black baldy calves that are weaned at 6 months old, around 200kg, & sold as grass-finished yearlings, preferably over the hooks, fetching good prices.

Last season, Sophie said they had joined the Lowline bulls with some of their older Hereford cows & all the cows were in calf. She said she didn’t know how the bulls had reached as some cows were quite tall – “perhaps they used each other to stand on” – but the job was done.