The missing bull is branded on his left rump with TEX, P, 613. He also has a noticeable ear tag tear on his right ear.
Photo by
Kelly Angus
One of the best Angus bulls in Australia has gone missing.
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Texas Powerplay DXTP613 disappeared from his Murrindindi paddock, outside Yea, sometime between December 27 and 29.
According to the Weekly Times he was with several other bulls and cows at the time, but he’s the only one unaccounted for.
Texas Powerplay’s owner — beef stud Kelly Angus — notified the police two days later on December 31.
Victoria Police said investigators were yet to establish the circumstances surrounding the bull’s disappearance.
The missing bull is branded on his left rump with TEX, P, 613. He also has a noticeable ear tag tear on his right ear.
An anonymous local said police were interviewing everyone in the area and said Kelly Angus cattle were often out on the road.
“The fencing is not up to scratch at all,” the local said.
Kelly Angus livestock manager Patrick Joyce said the situation was now in the police’s control.
“We’ve brought this under investigation because we are at a complete loss,” Mr Joyce said.
“We can only hope someone comes forward with information now or he’s brought home.”
Texas Powerplay in November 2021 turned out with the girls. His first lot of calves arrived in August 2021.
Photo by
Kelly Angus
A different local theorised Texas Powerplay had already “disappeared into Queensland” after someone who knew about the bull nicked him.
“That’s where a lot of livestock stolen from Victoria go,” the different local said.
“Without its tags and pedigree it’s now a $5000 bull, but if a black market buyer knows what it is, they’ll get their money back in the quality of meat from the offspring.
“What gets me is you don’t just take one bull. You pull up in a truck and take the lot. To separate one bull is a big thing and I don’t understand it.”
An example of the landscape on the Kelly Angus farm, with the eucalyptus forests on the Black Ranges behind. Pictured is livestock manager Patrick Joyce and owner Vicki Standish.
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Contributed
Texas Powerplay was bought in 2020 for $108,000 — a record amount at the time.
It was a syndicated purchase between Kelly Angus, Select Sires Worldwide and Worldwide Sires Australia with Kelly Angus getting full possession of the bull and half ownership of semen and marketing.
The two-year-old instantly became Kelly Angus’ showstopper and leading semen sire with his name appearing front and centre on the stud’s recent Beef Week 2022 advertisements.
Now pushing four years of age, Texas Powerplay is known to have a magnificent temperament, an impeccable structure and stellar maternal line.
The Kelly Angus property is on Nash Rd, sandwiched between the Melba Hwy and Murrindindi Rd.
The property is located along the Yea River and is only 5km from the dense and steep eucalyptus forests along the Black Range.
Texas Powerplay was paddocked near the Murrindindi Rd side of the property.
“He wasn’t visible from the road, but there are enough people who know the property,” Mr Joyce said.
“It’s an agricultural area. Everyone knows everyone and sees what you’re doing all the time.”
The stud is currently part of a Meat and Livestock Australia case study where certain herds were being GPS tracked to monitor grazing pressure.
Kelly Angus confirmed it was signed on to the GPS tracking trial as part of its efforts to go carbon neutral, but because of COVID-19 delays the tags were yet to be fixed on any livestock.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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