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2008 WORLD DEVON CONFERENCE VISITS BONGALABI Bongalabi will host the final event for the World Devon Conference. Our cattle will be on display on-farm on Tuesday 23 September 2008 be between 2pm and 5pm. There is an open invitation to join this gathering by contacting us by phone on 02 48494446.

 

Bongalabi Devon Stud is owned by Margie and Peter Mullins and was established in 1985. It is located at Lake Bathurst in NSW. The Stud currently has about 250 breeders on 1100 ha of land.

No matter what market you seek to exploit - our Devons can deliver. From heavy-weight bullocks: to steers that match other breeds in feed-lot performance; to cows and calves that will join you for a picnic in your paddock. We don't believe that any other breed offers the flexibility or the satisfaction of having these cattle in your business - and in your life.

The Stud continues a very long family association with the Devon breed both in the UK and Australia. Margie's father, Sidney Fry, came from a farming family in Devon UK and settled in WA in the late 1920s. In 1951 Sidney and wife Ruby imported the first Devon cattle into WA and established the Coogely Hills Devon Stud. At it's height, the Stud contained about 100 breeders and had a consistent record of ribbon wins at the Royal Perth Show.

In the early 1990's, the direction of the Bongalabi Stud changed with two key developments:

1. We decided to develop a poll Devon herd. This anticipated growing commercial discounts for horned cattle in the beef market.
2. The outbreak of Bovine Johnes Disease and our decision to protect our breeding herd by effectively closing it.

The result was a very intense focus on our Devon genetics and constant herd improvement. This focus is now the driving philosophy of the Stud.

We now retain all animals based on performance. We select for conformation, colour and temperament. The frame size of our cattle reflect our success. Our young cows weigh 600 to 650 kilos, stand long and straight and are consistently deep ruby red. We apply an intense filter around temperament - and any animal showing poor temperament in the paddock or the yards is removed. We believe that the natural quiet temperament of the Devon is a very valuable trait.

With our cattle you get a number of benefits:

• Fine breeding true to the Devon type - exceptional animals with more than 20 years of genetic selection.
• Animals you will love to experience in the paddock. They make farming the experience it should be.
• Animals with proven traits - mothering, milking, adaptability and persistence.
• Animals that give more than they get.

Our bulls contain the best of the Devon breed:

Genetics have been carefully selected and blended.

• Performance traits have governed selection.
• Colour and temperament are exceptional.
• Fertility is outstanding and consistent.

These are not show animals on artificial feed regimes. Rather they reflect the tough times we are experiencing in the on-going drought conditions. Most importantly however, these are grass fed animals that will be our herd sires in 2008 and beyond.

Owning Devon Cattle is simple - just contact us and we will introduce you to our herd.