One of SA's influential Poll Hereford studs, Oak Downs is being dispersed giving buyers a tremendous opportunity to purchase some top quality whiteface genetics.
Andrew and Vanessa Schwarz - who have sold their property at Senior, north of Bordertown - say it would be fantastic to see the 44-year-old stud sold as a whole but are also considering offers for specific age groups of females.
Nutrien Ag Solutions is handling the expressions of interest process with about 175 registered cows with calves on offer - none of the females are older than seven years of age- along with 100 T-drop heifers and 60 yearling bulls.
The cows, which are still calving for another few weeks, will be rejoined for at least six weeks prior to delivery.
Next month the heifers will be AI'ed to Injemira Robert Redford Q287 - the $160,000 Australian record price Poll Hereford bull.
Mr Schwarz says they are conscious the cattle market has been in a "bit of downturn" in recent months and have priced the cattle "very realistically".
"If someone wants to buy it as a going concern it is an income making opportunity straight away with the young bulls and we are offering really good (deferred payment of five years) terms," he said.
"At the same time we encourage anyone interested in a particular age group to put in an offer."
At the Wodonga National Show & Sale earlier this month the Schwarzes bought a new sire, Mawarra Vodka S036 for $26,000, which will be used over some of the cows.
Other sires for the final mating will include Mawarra Terminator - which Oak Downs bought in partnership with Morganvale stud at Wodonga in 2021 for $53,000 - and Kidman Genius, which sired Oak Downs' two highest priced bulls in their 2022 sale.
Oak Downs has enjoyed significant success since Andrew's parents Trevor and Kathy founded the stud in 1979 with the purchase of three mated heifers from their neighbour Brian Richardson's Majestic stud.
The stud quickly rose to prominence, winning all the major broad ribbons in the Poll Hereford judging at the 1983 Royal Adelaide Show.
The following year they took five head to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, progeny of Oak Downs Arnold, and were the most successful exhibitor, competing among 300 head.
Through the years Oak Downs has added elite females from the combined Allendale-Heatherdale sale and several dispersals.
As past vendors at the Dubbo, Wodonga, Broken Hill and Naracoorte multi-vendor sales, Oak Downs has sold bulls across the country, including Oak Downs Obedient, which made $30,000 in 2004 at Dubbo.
After the Naracoorte led sale folded, they joined forces with Keith-based stud Kerlson Pines to hold a joint unled sale for more than a decade, including the state's first video auction.
In the past two years, Oak Downs has held an on-property helmsman sale.
"We have never really chased fads - we are aiming to breed well muscled cattle with plenty of length and thickness," Mr Schwarz said.
"Good temperament is a big thing too," Mrs Schwarz added.
Mr Schwarz says they are ready to start a new chapter of their lives but there is a tinge of sadness having formed great relationships with clients and fellow breeders.
"I will miss it, especially checking the next crop of calves and seeing the progress with every generation hopefully better than the one before," he said.
"It has been great to have people come back to us and hear that the bulls we have sold them have done well for them."
Nutrien SA stud stock manager Gordon Wood says the dispersal is a great opportunity for anyone looking to "start from scratch" or for existing Poll Hereford stud and commercial breeders to expand their numbers.
"The Oak Downs cattle have always been known for being big volume cattle and rich red Poll Herefords but Andrew and Vanessa have in recent years done a considerable amount of work moderating the cattle for the modern industry," he said.
"They have also made a large investment in getting the data set right, improving both the accuracy and numbers through the use of AI sires and the purchase of walking sires."
Expressions of interest in the Oak Downs herd close on June 26.
