3 Generations
The Manchee family has been breeding Yamburgan Shorthorns since 1947. John Manchee is the third generation to be at the helm of such a resilient stud.
The Manchee family has been involved in the Australian beef cattle industry for at least five generations on both sides of the family.
John and I are extremely lucky to have two young and enthusiastic children who love to get out on the property and work along side Dad and Mum.
History of Manchee Ag
Manchee Ag has been in the stud beef breeding business for over 60 years.
The Yamburgan stud was established in 1947 and the Wilgaroon stud was established in 1994. The production of beef is our business and has been for nearly a century, here on 'Wallah'.
Both John and Liz have had strong family ties to the beef industry with John's maternal grandfather being a prominent Angus breeder and the primary developer of the Red Angus breed. Liz's side of the family have had very strong ties with the Poll Hereford and Santa Gertrudis breeds. The Kirkby family was prominent with in these breeds with the Success Poll Hereford stud and the Shannon Vale Santa stud, the later being involved in the import of Santas to Australia.
Yamburgan Stud History
Yamburgan Poll Shorthorn Stud was founded in 1948 by JS Manchee on the grazing property of the same name north east of Dirranbandi in SE Queensland.
Foundation purchases were from Brunette Downs, NT (Cloudy family); Peel Stud, Goonoo Gonooo, Tamworth (Mimi family); Antrim and Armagh dispersal sale (Rosewood, Maid and Augusta family's); Gunnawarra (Mayflower family); Highland (Fidget family); Bogan (Rose family) and later Gundibri (Queen family) and Kaluga (Romantic family.
Our first top sire was Gundabri Champagne 128th by Gundabri Champagne 6th and out of Gundabri Queen 29th (dam of Gundabri Champagne 88th, twice champion of Sydney). He was purchased at the Brisbane Exhibition in 1959 for a record price of 2000gns.
In 1967, when the Special Foundation A Section (SFA) was reopened by the Society we had a group of cows inspected into the stud. These cows were bred at Yamburgan and originated from purchases from Roy Munro's dispersal of the 'Boombah' herd at St George, Qld in 1946. The cows were very big and long bodied, comprising of a lot of light roans (Munro Roans).
The stud was split three ways in 1969 when the family partnership was dissolved and the property 'Yamburgan' sold. The stud was then relocated to 'Wallah' where the Yamburgan Stud is still being run today.
One of the best bulls used at "Wallah' in the early years was Pioneer Corker. Corker was bred by Bill Feint of Claremont, NW Qld. It is interesting to note that he was a heifers first calf and was purchased for $7,000 as a 4 year old. Corker sons were sold to all states and territories in Australia and also to New Zealand.
Yamburgan Banner 2nd (grandson of Pioneer Corker) was Brisbane Champion in 1982 and then in 1983 was Sydney Champion. He was then sold in Sydney to Andy Withers, 'Belmore', and Trevor Richards 'Wyarama', SA.
Major Foxer was an outstanding sire, purchased privately in 1982 from David Perry at Warren, NSW, for $15,000. He gave our cattle a boost when mated to Pioneer Corker and Darweena Challenge 5th daughters. Sons of Major Foxer (Yamburgan Boxer 38th, 47th and 68th) were used in the stud and bred very well. Our top show cow Yamburgan Cloudy 259th, was by Yamburgan Boxer 38th, and was Champion Female at Sydney in 1990 and 1992. Major Foxer sons top price was $18,000 at the Dubbo National Sale.
Sprys Stars & Stripes 3rd was bought in 1987 for $18,000 and was the only son used by imported American bull DCC Prophet. He had tremendous growth and weight for age and was Grand Champion Bull in Brisbane show as a junior. He was then Grand Champion Bull at Sydney show the following year.
In 1990 we purchased CF Masterkey 014 (IMP) at the Cates Farms, USA, auction. CF Masterkey was bred away from show circle cattle, being by the great sire Sangammon Masterkey and out of HS Nobody's Fool. He did a top job, breeding very well muscled bulls and a great line of females. His daughters have a tremendous milking ability.
In 1992 we purchased Kelso Fergus, by HS Rolex (IMP) for $18,000. His influence was mainly in the increase of eye muscle area as his EMA at purchase was 136 sq/cm.
Wilgroon Stud History
The first Santa Gertrudis bull to be introduced to the property "Spring Vale" (Liz's family property) was in 1965. The bull was joined with Poll Hereford cows and it was soon evident the benefits of the extra weight gain and growth in the calves plus the easy management of the Santa Gertrudis breed. Over the years a number of good 'S' bulls were purchased for the commercial herd.
In 1994, Wilgaroon (stud no. 1793), was registered. We began the challenge of breeding top Santa Gertrudis cattle along side the Yamburgan Stud. At the Tamworth Female sale in 1995 Murrumbo 1310/1, a cow and calf unit, was purchased for the sum of $7,000. The calf was named Beaumon and went on to achieve an unbeaten show career as a yearling and 2 year old bull. He was used extensively in the Wilgaroon stud, and his calves are very consistent. Beaumon was used in stud until he died at the age of 9 years. His progeny has the highest classification rate of any bulls we have used. His daughters are very maternal and always structurally correct.
The Wilgaroon stud has made several select female purchases, a heifer from Hardigreen Park, and heifers from the Goonoo Goonoo and Normanby dispersal sales. Cows and heifers have also been introduced from the Warenda and Wave Hill studs. Wilgaroon has conducted both AI and ET programs using Waco Inventor (P), Waco Knight (P), Waco Landlord (P) and Kendara Future the 1991 Brisbane Royal Grand Champion bull.
Success has also been achieved in the show ring, having won Reserve Junior Champion Heifer with Wilgaroon Breeze at Sydney Royal in 1997, Wilgaroon Charlie was awarded Reserve Junior Champion Bull at Sydney in 1998, Wilgaroon Elle (P) was Reserve Senior Champion Female at Sydney in 2000. Most notably, Wilgaroon Jester was Grand Champion Santa Gertrudis Bull at the 2004 Brisbane Royal show.