PAUL Sykes of Karoonda Park Hereford stud is a gentle, softly spoken man, and that is how he likes his cattle.
Paul and his wife Judi own the well-known Gelantipy stud and believe good temperament is one of the most important traits in selecting cattle.
They also place an emphasis on good bone structure, eye muscle area and good fertility.
The Sykes have operated their high country stud for 30 years and currently run 250 breeding cows and six sires.
They are having an exceptional season on their 546ha farm in East Gippsland, after years of drought that at its height saw them spend $100,000 a year buying hay.
"It cost us a fair bit, but that's what you have to do," Paul said.
But this year the creeks are flowing and the farm is lush and green. The only reminder of the drought are the cape weeds, brought in on a bad batch of hay.
Daughter Lauren Sykes and her partner, Lynton Hill, also work on the farm.
Paul said Lauren, an animal-science graduate from La Trobe University, is a good judge of cattle and helps select their good-tempered cattle.
"We think it's worthwhile to spend a bit of time to ensure they are good to handle," Paul said.
The Sykes believe temperament is genetic so they cull heavily if calves don't meet their standard.
"Not so long ago we got rid of a lot of heifers from artificial insemination because their temperament wasn't right," Lauren said.
"We have a couple of (clients) who come over to buy purely because they know they will get a quiet bull," she said.
"I wouldn't sell them commercially if they didn't have a good temperament," Paul said.
The Sykes bulls are so quiet they lend them to local show societies for cattle-handling competitions.
"Our bulls are not the best show bulls, but they can be around kids," Lauren said.
In traditional high country style, Paul said he also likes to make sure his cattle get used to being mustered by horse.
"We find our clients prefer cattle that have been used to horses and dogs, especially those from Benambra and Omeo," he said.
Another important trait the Sykes look for when selecting bulls is a large eye-muscle area and a good hide.
"If they are below three (3 sq cm) for eye-muscle area (in the estimated breeding values) we don't take them," Paul said.
"We look for cattle with good bone structure and hide, sound feet and good fertility."
Paul said they don't only rely on EBVs when selecting cattle.
"Figures don't tell you everything. We use them, but only as a guide," he said.
The Sykes have six sires, which includes a Poll Hereford from Marriwa stud, which is run by Paul's nephew Peter Sykes and wife Leanne, two bulls from Tummel Hereford, another two from Glenwarrah and one from Queenland's Wallan Creek stud.
Their most recent addition to the herd is a 31-month-old bull they bought in May, in partnership with Rick and Leanne Hodge of Buchan, for $14,500 from the Glen Innes Smithson stud.
They also share bulls with other local producers and use artificial insemination to add genetic diversity to their herd.
"We spread out our genetics a fair bit and at the moment have 14 difference sires in our cattle."
The Sykes have a split-calving regime, which gives them the flexibility to offer bulls at two different ages at their annual March sale.
"It splits the load on the bull and gives us some two-year-old bulls for the sale as well as 18-month-old bulls," Paul said.
"You can spread sires out and if you are sharing a bull you can join in autumn and spring."
The Sykes sell most of their bulls at their annual autumn sale, which they share with Rick and Leanne Hodges' Valley Vista Hereford stud.
This year's annual sale is at Karoonda Park, Gelantipy Rd, Gelantipy on March 27.
