About us
Stud history
Bongongo is one of the oldest registered herds in Australia. The stud was established in 1926 by Fred Graham with the purchase of pure bred females from "Bald Blair", Guyra. The stud was run by the Graham brothers, under the stewardship of Fred, until his untimely death in 1950. Early sire introductions came from Abington, Kahlua, Wallah, Trangie, Wambanumba and Booroomooka studs.
Nephews H.L (Bill) Graham (pictured below) and Bruce Graham developed the herd over the next forty years, overseeing a large increase in its commercial base. The herd developed to suit its environment in the colder temperate climate at Adjungbilly, near Gundagai and Tumut, in Southern NSW. From 1961, they ran very successful female on-property sales, a concept that became popular as Angus developed into the dominant breed over the last 25 years.
Bill and Margaret Graham at "Bongongo"
The stud today
Since 1999, generational change has seen the running of the Bongongo stud handed over to Bill (jnr), his wife Shauna and their four children Lauren, Tom, Jessica and Georgia. The stud runs over 400 registered breeders and is backed up by a commercial herd of 500 females. It is now based at “Riverview” on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River at Gobarralong (between Jugiong and Coolac). Another property in the higher, cold country at Adjungbilly as well as some lease country near Gundagai is also used for the herd.
Bill, a large animal veterinarian specialising in cattle reproduction, has extensive knowledge of all levels of the breeding industry. He applies his skills to the Bongongo herd with the same disciplines as his vet business. Extensive AI & ET work continues on an annual basis with the first use of AI on his cattle back in 1974. In recent years, Tom commenced Veterinary Science at Sydney University, and hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps. Lauren is currently studying journalism, Jessica is undertaking a GAP year in the UK, and Georgia is in Year 9 at school.
Georgia, Tom, Shauna and Bill Graham (Lauren and Jessica absent)
Particularly over the last 20 years, extensive AI has allowed the stud to utilise genetics from New Zealand, Australia and the USA. This has been combined with performance recording and rigid structural assessment. This dynamic process also has to fit the basics of breeding functional cattle. A key objective is to ensure that Bongongo continues to breed high performance cattle suited to the Australian commercial breeder.
Each year in early October the annual Bongongo Bull Sale and Commercial Female sale is held at Adjungbilly. Despite Bill’s brothers David, John and Paul all running their separate farm businesses with their own large commercial herds, all the brothers combine to run this successful sale. The year 2007 represents the 13th on-property sale since its inception in 1995.
Our breeding philosophy
At Bongongo we are focused at breeding and supplying Angus cattle with a balance of key traits important for commercial beef production. Our pasture production system makes this possible and is stocked at a level well above district stocking rates.
The emphasis at Bongongo has always been in strength of female herd. Bongongo females have been carefully selected for fertility, milking ability, structural soundness and length. The progeny of these cows are today in high demand by feedlots for steer calves plus commanding premium for surplus female lines.
Cattle at "Riverview"