Victorian Hereford herd to be dispersed after seven decades

70 years of whiteface cattle breeding will come to an end this week with the dispersal of a North East Victorian herd. See what’s on offer.

Barry and Joan Elliot (OK) from Talgarno Park at Talgarno will sell one of the oldest commercial Hereford herds in the nation as they look to move over to fattening cattle.

Seven decades of whiteface cattle breeding will come to an end this week with the dispersal of a North East Victorian herd.

First owned by the Drummond family and then taken over by the Elliots, the Talgarno Park herd at Talgarno has never strayed from breeding Herefords.

And Michael Elliot, whose parents Barry and Joan have run the herd since the late 1980s, said the commitment to quality was a hallmark of the operation.

“Dad (Barry) loves his cattle and worked for the Drummonds before taking on the herd himself,” Michael said.

Initially, the herd produced stud stock and sold about 25 bulls annually before becoming a commercial operation which most recently sold steers and heifers at the Wodonga weaner sales.

Talgarno Park Hereford herd will be dispersed.

“Dad is a true cattleman and would not have anything that was not right, in terms of productivity but also looks,” Michael said.

“There were repeat buyers of the Talgarno Park weaners year after year.”

The herd of 114 cows and heifers will be offered for sale on AuctionsPlus and assessor Zac Weidner from Peter Ruaro Livestock said not only was it a quality herd but a quiet herd of breeders.

“This is the first time that I have assessed a beef herd where the temperament has been 100 per cent quiet,” Mr Weidner said.

“I usually only reserve that kind of Judgement on temperament for bucket-reared cattle but these were just that quiet.

“It goes to show how Barry does everything right with the herd, not only in breeding but in handling.”

Mr Weidner said potential buyers had the chance to join quality cows to a whiteface or another breed.

“The quality of the herd is that high, and there is a fair bit of milk in the herd, that you would be able to join them to anything and get a bullock or a weaner or a vealer,” he said.

The herd will be dispersed as part of the Eastern States cattle sale on AuctionsPlus this Friday.