Long, hard road to success fails to deter family

David Corker, centre, of Wundam stud, with George Marshall and Alan Marshall, of Karakara Murray Grey stud, with semen sire Karakara Burleigh. Photo: Bob Garnant

Ask any cattle stud breeder, the road to success is long, paved with the ambition of breeding excellent stock and building up a loyal client base.

Alan Marshall, stud principal of Karakara Murray Grey stud, and his son, George, found out the hard way last week how difficult it is to develop their own brand.

The Marshalls hosted their inaugural on-property bull and female sale last week in Donnybrook, only to find out that all their efforts fell short of the mark.

With limited bidders on-hand to make things happen, the entire sale team bar one bull was passed in, leaving the Marshalls with more than a job to do.

There was a good amount of effort put into the first Karakara sale, because the new on-property yards showed the determination of the family to push on with their drive no matter the consequences.

Mr Marshall put an emphasis on his senior champion bull from the 2009 Perth Royal Show as to where the stud was heading.

At the sale, this bull, Karakara Balfour B202 ET, was sale team leader, lot 1 and was sired by the supreme Murray Grey exhibit and grand champion bull at the 2004 Sydney Royal.

Without a bid, the sale moved on until neighbour Greg Jackson found the gentle nature of Karakara Benedict B218 to his liking. "I will use the friendly bull as a replacement in my commercial herd," Mr Jackson said.

Mr Jackson recently sold the block of land that hosted the sale to Mr Marshall, and so the purchase of his first Karakara bull showed his belief in his neighbour as a breeder.

The only other sales to take place were from the semen catalogue.

David Corker, of Wundam Murray Grey stud, bought straws of Karakara Burleigh and Newfields Masterpiece.

Don Morgan, of Elders, secured four lots of semen from Hollywood Esperance, a sire that Mr Marshall sold a 75 per cent share in 2008 for $16,500.

Mr Morgan was bidding on behalf of W.M. Walker, of Tasmania.

Landmark conducted the sale.

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