Five summer storms boost Bluey Commins’ mountain calf preparation

Ensay grazier Bluey Commins counted his lucky stars with about five inches of rain, in time for the 85th Mountain Calf Sales.

Five summer thunderstorms have helped prepare Bluey Commins’ mountain calves for the pinnacle two-day event.

The Ensay farmer has about 200 Hereford stud steer and heifer calves, August-September drop, ready for the Ensay Hereford auction on Wednesday for the 85th Mountain Calf Sales.

NEWS: Bluey Commins Nunniong Herefords Ensay Bluey Commins on his farm getting his Hereford cattle in for the sales at Ensay

He said the five thunderstorms in summer could mean the autumn break had arrived for his region.

“At Christmas time we were starting to look pretty desperate, then we had an inch or so in a thunderstorm and it freshened things up a little,” Bluey said.

“We had another five thunderstorms all up … A lot ran away but a fair bit went in.”

The fifth-generation farmer has sold at the mountain calf sales for all his life, following in his father and grandfather’s steps.

NEWS: Bluey Commins Nunniong Herefords Ensay Bluey Commins on his farm getting his Hereford cattle in for the sales at Ensay

He typically managed about 200 stud cows and 450 commercial breeders, alongside a 2000-head, mostly-wool sheep flock.

Bluey said this year’s calves were better-prepared due to the rain and greener pastures.

“Hopefully they’ll do a hell of a lot better than last year. They’re better calves this year, a bit sappier and a bit bigger,” he said.

“As far as the places go in Australia, you can come get clean Hereford and Angus cattle here. It’s been a clean area here for a long time, and hopefully we can keep it clean disease-wise.”

NEWS: Bluey Commins Nunniong Herefords Ensay Bluey Commins on his farm getting his Hereford cattle in for the sales at Ensay. Kelpie collie cross Ted and Bear and Border Collie named Boof.

Meanwhile, Bluey is also gearing up for his stud bull sale next week with the “best Polls (he’s) ever had”. He started the Nunniong stud 40 years ago, and will have 35 bulls to auction this year.

“They were big, long, muscly bulls, easy doing. There was a handful of horny ones up there too that are just as good,” he said.

“They’re as good as ever, if not better. They’ve got to have length, width and depth, and be easy doing. They need to be free moving, structurally sound. If they’re not structurally sound, they don’t move free.”

Originally published as Five summer storms boost Bluey Commins’ mountain calf preparation