The beef cattle stud, which was established by John and Sue Matthies on the Mornington Peninsula in 2018, took over the historic, 3300-acre Lima Park property, located a 14-minute drive from Benalla’s town centre, in August last year.
In the interbreed stud competition at the Melbourne Royal Show, where top animals and stud breeders from individual breed classes compete across different breed classes to find an overall champion, Moorunga Angus took home the title of Champion Interbreed Bull.
The stud farm also achieved Grand Champion Angus Bull at the prestigious show.
Mr Matthies said it was great to achieve such success on a statewide stage.
“It’s very pleasing. It’s some recognition that you’re heading in the right direction,” he said.
He said the wins came after the farm’s glory in 2023, when it achieved Grand Champion Angus Bull and Junior Champion Interbreed Bull at its inaugural Melbourne Royal Show.
For Mr Matthies, competing in an event such as this one is all about spotlighting the work that goes into his cattle.
“It showcases your cattle. It shows people what you’re doing, including other breeders who exhibit,” he said.
“It showcases beef cattle, and indeed dairy cattle, to the population, and to a lot of kids and people who wouldn’t normally have seen beef or dairy cattle.
“The cattle are housed for a week prior to judging, so people come through, walk along the aisles, look at your cattle and ask questions. It’s a promotion of the rural industry and farming.”
This statewide showcase of Moorunga Angus came after the stud farm featured on ABC’s Country Hour, hosted by Warwick Long.
The program was broadcast out of Lima Park on Thursday, August 27 during the Moorunga Angus bull open viewing day.
“(Mr Long) came because we had just built a new bull selling complex, so he did his show from there,” Mr Matthies said.
“We had quite a number of spectators come to that, there were probably 200 or 300 people.”
Mr Matthies said featuring on the program offered good publicity for the local Lima Park facility, and Moorunga Angus as a whole.
“I think quite a number of people who heard it ended up coming later that day to have a look at our new facility, and also, as a result of that, to the sale the week later,” he said.
While Moorunga Angus’ Dromana facility is its main base, a major breeding program is operated out of the Lima Park site, run by manager Andrew Maffescioni.
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