About Stanford Poll Herefords

The Rutherford and previously Gardiner families have bred registered Poll Hereford cattle since1957. The Stanford prefix was established in 1974 with a base of Hopetoun and Sandalwood females. The Stanford and Hopetoun Studs were merged in the mid 1980’s.Genetics to have a significant influence since then have come from Wyregal, South Bukalong and Boonah.

The herd has been performance recorded with breedplan since 1986 with the early adoption of ultra sound scanning. Our herd was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in the NSW Seedstock Producer of the Year competition both times that we participated.

Today we run over 400 breeders, half Stud / half commercial. We breed cattle entirely for their commercial attributes. We do not show them as we prefer to focus on the productive traits. We have been calving our heifers at 2 years of age for many years and any female not joining in 9 weeks or requiring assistance is culled. Our cattle are selected for fertility , calving ease, structural soundness, performance and market suitability and have generations of inbuilt productivity. Most of our fat cattle are sold over the hook or direct to feedlots. All calves are weighed at birth, weaning, yearling and again at 18 months when they are also scanned for fat depth, eye muscle area, and intramuscular fat percentage. All bulls are measured for scrotal size as yearlings and again before sale.

Although most calves are sired naturally, we have a well established annual A.I. program to trial new bloodlines. In recent years bulls or semen have been introduced from South Bukalong, Rotherfield, Beau River, Croft Ambrey, Llandillo, Debarry, Elite, Coota Park, Billillingra, Guilford and Quamby Plains studs.