Atriem Murray Greys’ emphasis on light-coloured coats is for heat tolerance and as a point of difference in the market, with a focus on docility, fertility and longevity for quality beef production.
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Atriem Murray Greys co-principal Stephen Koch operates a seed stock stud focused on commercial cattle production rather than show animals.
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The operation produces bulls and females for commercial herds, both purebred Murray Grey and crossbred cattle.
“We have a number of clients that crossbreed including Angus and Hereford, using our bulls,” Mr Koch said.
“We also sell genetics into Queensland, and they are crossed with Brahmans, which we tend to call it Grayman, a Murray Grey Brahman-cross; they do very well.”
The stud focuses on light-coloured coats for specific advantages.
“We focus on a light-coloured coat for two reasons: heat tolerance is the key one, but also it is a point of difference,” Mr Koch said.
“Our point of difference is coat colour and for us it is where docility, fertility, longevity equals beef.”
Atriem Murray Greys co-principal Stephen Koch focuses on producing bulls and females for commercial herds, including purebred Murray Grey and crossbred cattle.
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Natural docility forms the primary selection criteria for Mr Koch.
“Our very first criteria for any of our cattle is natural docility and we can assess that because we weigh every calf the day it is born in the paddock in front of its dam,” he said.
“And if that calf kicks and complains when it is picked up to be weighed and tagged, that will get it its first black mark on its name.”
Atriem Murray Greys has been exhibiting at the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo for many years.
But the operation faces scheduling challenges with the Seymour expo due to calving timing.
“At the Seymour expo we are a little bit unsure what stock we will be bringing as we calve in autumn,” Mr Koch said.
“So, moving the expo into April clashes with the calving of our cows.
“This means that whichever animals are available at the time come out of the paddock to the expo.”
Mr Koch can bring cattle straight from the paddock to the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo due to the natural docility they have been selected and bred for.
Mr Koch operates properties at Tallarook and around Seymour with about 75 breeders.
The operation emphasises structural soundness, particularly in bulls.
“Our bulls will be 1000 to 1100kg and they need to be structurally sound in the feet and legs and everything for them to go the distance,” he said.
“Too many bulls break down too early these days, and I think that’s a bit of a focus in the industry on numbers only, rather than physically what is in front of you on the hoof.
“We use EBVs Breedplan and genetic testing very extensively, but we start with docility, fertility, longevity equals beef and then to really improve that.
“For beef, we look at, in particular, marbling or intramuscular fat, looking at carcass quality.”
Natural docility is the primary selection criteria with calves being assessed for temperament from birth, with a focus on structural soundness in bulls to ensure longevity.
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The Queensland native chose Murray Greys after relocating to Victoria 14 years ago.
“We went for a bit of a drive around Victoria’s Beef Week, and we met a bloke who was running a Murray Grey stud near Shepparton,” Mr Koch said.
“We were very impressed with the cattle, very impressed with how they did it and what they did with their selection criteria.
“We liked the different colours and what they were doing, to be honest, we didn’t go out looking for Murray Greys.
“It was when we went there, it was like, this makes sense, and that is when we started.”
You can find Atriem Murray Greys on display at the livestock hub at the Seymour Alternative Farming Expo, April 17 to 19, 2026, Kings Park, Seymour.
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