SOPHRONITES RED POLL
STUD
Sophronites Red Poll Stud is
situated in Pheasant Creek, Victoria, a small community near Whittlesea, about
50 kms north of Melbourne. The stud has been in operation since 1989, and has
strong female lines derived from the former Penola Plains Stud from South
Australia. It is now blended with the famous Red Cactus lines of Arthurs Creek,
and with lines from Pentwyn Vale, Broomfield and Oakwood Studs of South
Australia, and the Heathray Stud of New South Wales.
The name Sophronites is derived
from the name of a dark red tropical orchid, and this reflects Ian’s botanical
interests. Having retired from Academic life at LaTrobe University in 1996, Ian,
along with Nell, who retired from Teaching also in 1996, have dedicated their
time in establishing a herd that is capable of producing what the Beef Industry
requires and also, with the same animals, competing in Shows where there
performance and structure are judged competitively against their peers.
Our showing campaign has been
successful from the outset, as we won awards for Junior Champion Heifer and
Reserve Champion Senior Cow at the Melbourne RAS of 1997 at our very first show,
and have subsequently gained Championships at Sydney Royal Easter Show, Royal
Canberra Show, and Royal Melbourne Show. The highlight for our Stud was the
winning of Grand Champion Bull at the Adelaide Red Poll Feature Show in 2001
under American Judge Dr. Ted Turner. The winning bull, Sophronites Merlin,
became the major sire in our herd. He has now sired both the Grand Champion Red
Poll Bull – Zulu, and the Grand Champion and Supreme Champion Red Poll Female –
Natalie, at Royal Canberra Show in 2006 also winning the Sires Progeny Group at
Canberra 2006. (We have semen available for sale from our major bulls – Merlin,
Zulu, Nimrod, and Anzac – each having individual excellent but slightly
different features).
In the same year, we extended
our holding with "Springfield" - 150 acres in Colbinabbin, in North Western
Victoria (near Echuca) for cropping and overwintering purposes. Our breeding
program now involves the use of artificial insemination and embryo transfer as
well as conventional breeding methods. As well as selling our steers on the
commercial market, our Bulls have been used commercially in Crossbreeding
enterprises with Murray Greys, Herefords, Ayrshires, and Angus and are also
being used in Stud and commercial Red Poll Herds in Victoria, NSW and
Queensland. We have actively supported Red Poll Sales including Sales at Mernda,
Victoria; at Lismore and Glen Innes, NSW and at Whittlesea, Victoria. At some of
these sales, we have achieved the highest price for a Red Poll.
Nell and Ian have both supported
the Red Poll Breed by holding offices in the Victorian Region such as Publicity
Officer and Secretary, respectively, and Ian is currently (2007-2010) a member
of the National Executive of the Australian Red Poll Cattle Breeders
Incorporated. Our Stud currently has MN2 Status in the Johnes Monitored
Accreditation Program and we have tested many of our stock using Genestar DNA
technology to assist in our selection process.
