Rob Pell thanks his herd sire Mystical Neville N31 with a bit more breakfast, for providing the six young bulls for show and sale during Beef Week
Robert, Marilyn and Mark Pell started their family-run Mystical Murray Greys stud in 2000.
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The stud boasts 100 per cent purebred bloodlines which breed true to form.
Robert has been working with cattle since the age of 17, beginning his career in Undera raising vealers for the commercial market and helping with 283 hectares of cropping each year.
The family purchased its first stud bull from Rockyleigh Murray Greys in Maiden Gully and Robert said the encouragement given by former stud breeders played a large role in their breed selection.
“It was through the knowledge of the late Joan Heard, who convinced us to breed purebred Murray Greys, that we got started,” Robert said.
“After joining the Victorian Midlands Murray Grey Breed Promotion Group, we met the late Allen Pate who owned the Mt View stud at Kilmore.
“Although these Murray Grey studs are retired, their genetics live on.”
Marilyn said all the sale bulls were guaranteed, semen tested and assessed for structural soundness.
“We will have about six to eight bulls on show and about half a dozen females too,” Marilyn said.
“People can come back on another day, of course, and have a more personal visit to look around the farm.”
At six months of age and weighing in at an enormous 320kg from pasture alone, this bull calf will first appear the Melbourne Steer Competition in September and then be donated to Salesian College in Sunbury to complement their ag' science curriculum.
The Pells are Murray Grey Australia Association members, appreciating the more reasonable cost and once-off animal registration fee.
Murray Grey was the feature breed at the Royal Melbourne Show in 2005 and the stud entered its first heifer who placed mid-field but went on to win the novice interbreed at the Bendigo Agricultural Show three weeks later.
“In 2013, a steer we bred won light export at the Bendigo National Beef on the hook,” Robert said.
“We competed with our cattle in the show ring for 10 years after the Royal with huge success.”
The stud’s bloodlines are based on the more well-known studs such as Mt View, Robern, Saber, Woodbourn and Monterey Murray Greys.
Artificial insemination is also used extensively to improve the herd, with semen sourced from Michaelong Trumpcard and Saber Zappa.
The stud will be open for Beef Week on Thursday, February 1 at 1345 Toolamba-Rushworth Rd, Tatura.
Mark, Rob and Marilyn Pell said they built their stud on good quality starting stock and the encouragement and mentorship of retired breeders.
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