NIOA V.I.P. has lived up to his moniker claiming top honours in his class at the Royal Queensland Show.
Backing up after his Reserve Junior Champion sash at last year’s Ekka Beef Week, V70 caught the eye of judge Jason Wolff in the Santa Gertrudis Senior Bull (22 months and under 24 months) section.
“He’s got the length - that’s probably what got him into first place - he’s a big volume bull, good muscle, moves around well,” judge Wolff remarked as NIOA V.I.P. was led around the show ring by handler Sam Falls.
“V.I.P.” could well stand for “Very Impressive Pedigree” – the 22-month-old future sire is the first son of former Australian breed record-holder Riverina Roland Sanchez R88 (PP), who himself is the first Australian son of globally recognised Red Doc Never Better (USA).
A 2023-spring drop calf out of NIOA Jalara Q07, V.I.P weighed 934kg with an eye muscle area of 133 square centimetres and P8 and rib fat measurements of 10mm and 17mm respectively.
Back in the pens after the competition, Mr Wolff went further, describing V.I.P. as “the complete package”.
“I like his straight top line, the thickness in his top. He’s very tidy underneath, big boned. I thought he was the complete package,” the respected Canowindra Santa Gertrudis (Emerald) stud principal said.
NIOA V.I.P. headlines the NIOA bulls on offer at next month’s fourth annual NIOA RL Pastoral Sale at Talgai Homestead on Queensland’s Southern Downs.
The Ekka blue ribbon was a boost for NIOA stud manager Shannon Gardner who has high hopes for this year’s sale.
Of the 78 bulls catalogued, 32 are the first release progeny of current Australian record priced bull Yarrawonga Spartacus S316 (P), 12 by Roland Sanchez and 12 by proven homozygous sire Yulgilbar Queens Council Q100 (PP) while 10-straw semen packages from each will sell from lots 79-81.
“It’s always good to get a ribbon on a bull that’s at the front of your sale,” he said. “V70 was Reserve Junior Champion last year so it is good that he has gone on.
“It just confirms what we are doing with our breeding strategy, and he is a prime example of the cattle we strive to produce for our sale.”
NIOA brought seven head to this year’s Ekka and came away with five sashes including a clutch of third placings for NIOA Wendy W87 (PP) - Heifers 8 months and under 12 months; NIOA V.I.P and NIOA Victory V26 (IVF) (PP) - Pair of Bulls; NIOA V.I.P, NIOA Helena R03 and NIOA Willow (W15) - Breeder’s Group; NIOA Willow, NIOA Helena and NIOA Victory – Progeny Stakes Group.
Ekka Beef Week is the biggest stud cattle competition in the Southern Hemisphere – the Santa category alone featured 88 head representing 18 breeders from Queensland and New South Wales.
It was another memorable show for NIOA’s sale partner RL Pastoral whose Riverina brand has been a regular in the main arena for more than half a century.
Riverina Sparkle S9 (PP) took out Reserve Senior Champion cow in a tightly contested section won by Yarrawonga Marshmallow T671.
RL Pastoral also collected ribbons for Riverina U- Sparkle U117 (1st, Heifer, 14 months and under 16 months), Riverina U-Tube U96 (PP) (2nd, Senior Bull, 22 months and under 24 months), 3rd Pair of Bulls, 4th Breeder’s Group, 2nd Progeny Stakes Group and Highly Commended in the Herdsman Competition.
“It’s really nice to be recognised and to showcase our cattle at the show where many people come to look at the cattle and see what’s on offer for the upcoming sale,” Riverina stud principal Rob Sinnamon said.
“When you read our sale catalogue you will see outstanding cattle all the way through... the significant number of poll cattle, the option to purchase homozygous poll, the broad cross section of sire lines we have on offer.”
NIOA and RL will offer 91 lots at their annual sale on Thursday, September 4. Cattle will be on display on sale day at Talgai Homestead from 9am with bidding to start from noon.
Pre-sale inspections will be held at the Sinnamons’ property, “Mayfield”, Kyogle, on August 24 from 10am-3pm while NIOA welcomes inspections by appointment.
NIOA Santa Gertrudis owners Eliza and Rob Nioa, general manager Shannon Gardner and handler Sam Falls with class winning Ekka show bull NIOA V.I.P.
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