Sophronites Red Poll

Sophronites Red Poll Stud is situated in Pheasant Creek, Victoria, a small community near Whittlesea, about 50 kms north of Melbourne. The stud has been in operation since 1989, and has strong female lines derived from the former Penola Plains Stud from South Australia. It is now blended with the famous Red Cactus lines of Arthurs Creek, and with lines from Pentwyn Vale, Broomfield and Oakwood Studs of South Australia, and the Heathray Stud of New South Wales.  

The name Sophronites is derived from the name of a dark red tropical orchid, and this reflects Ian’s botanical interests. Having retired from Academic life at LaTrobe University in 1996, Ian, along with Nell, who retired from Teaching also in 1996, have dedicated their time in establishing a herd that is capable of producing what the Beef Industry requires and also, with the same animals, competing in Shows where there performance and structure are judged competitively against their peers.

Our showing campaign has been successful from the outset, as we won awards for Junior Champion Heifer and Reserve Champion Senior Cow at the Melbourne RAS of 1997 at our very first show, and have subsequently gained Championships at Sydney Royal Easter Show, Royal Canberra Show, and Royal Melbourne Show. The highlight for our Stud was the winning of Grand Champion Bull at the Adelaide Red Poll Feature Show in 2001 under American Judge Dr. Ted Turner. The winning bull, Sophronites Merlin, became the major sire in our herd. He has now sired both the Grand Champion Red Poll Bull – Zulu, and the Grand Champion and Supreme Champion Red Poll Female – Natalie, at Royal Canberra Show in 2006 also winning the Sires Progeny Group at Canberra 2006. (We have semen available for sale from our major bulls – Merlin, Zulu, Nimrod, and Anzac – each having individual excellent but slightly different features).

In the same year, we extended our holding with "Springfield" - 150 acres in Colbinabbin, in North Western Victoria (near Echuca) for cropping and overwintering purposes. Our breeding program now involves the use of artificial insemination and embryo transfer as well as conventional breeding methods. As well as selling our steers on the commercial market, our Bulls have been used commercially in Crossbreeding enterprises with Murray Greys, Herefords, Ayrshires, and Angus and are also being used in Stud and commercial Red Poll Herds in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. We have actively supported Red Poll Sales including Sales at Mernda, Victoria; at Lismore and Glen Innes, NSW and at Whittlesea, Victoria. At some of these sales, we have achieved the highest price for a Red Poll.

Nell and Ian have both supported the Red Poll Breed by holding offices in the Victorian Region such as Publicity Officer and Secretary, respectively, and Ian is currently (2007-2012) a member of the National Executive of the Australian Red Poll Cattle Breeders Incorporated. Our Stud currently has MN2 Status in the Johnes Monitored Accreditation Program and we have tested many of our stock using Genestar DNA technology to assist in our selection process.