End of an era as Rayleigh Poll Herefords prepare for dispersal

After almost 70 years of breeding Poll Hereford seedstock cattle, the Holcombe family will disperse their entire Rayleigh Poll Hereford female herd at Narrabri on Tuesday, September 24.

The Rayleigh prefix was established in 1957 and has since been carried through three generations of the Holcombe family.

Today, the stud is operated by Jeff and Robyn Holcombe, alongside their daughter Anna.

“Our aim has always been to breed functional and efficient cattle that stay productive through any season – particularly the tough ones,” Mr Holcombe said.

“They’re the kind of cattle our clients keep coming back for, year after year. We are really proud of how far the herd has come since the stud was established.”

The Holcombes credit the herd’s reputation to the fertility and efficiency of the Hereford breed.

“For over 60 years our operation was based at Walgett, and anyone who knows the district understands the challenges of the 2010s,” said Anna Holcombe.

“We went through six years of drought – the worst on record – yet our cows still got back in calf every year.”

Ms Holcombe said efficiency was another defining strength.

“We like to say Herefords are the "king on grass." They’re efficient converters of pasture to beef, which is more relevant now than ever as consumers demand healthier and more environmentally friendly beef.

"When you combine fertility, efficiency, and their suitability for crossbreeding, it’s easy to see why we love the breed," she added.

The family believe dispersing now will allow buyers to secure the stud at its strongest point.

“We’ve continued to invest in leading bloodlines from Australia, New Zealand, America and Canada,” said Mr Holcombe.

“While we’ve sold females before, this time the entire herd is on offer - three-in-one packages of cows with calves at foot, rejoined to leading sires, as well as PTIC heifers to low birthweight bulls. It’s a rare opportunity to secure females of this quality and quantity.”

The Rayleigh Poll Herefords Complete Female Dispersal Sale will be held at 'Kombali,' Narrabri, NSW, on September 24, and will be interfaced with AuctionsPlus.

The female dispersal will be followed by one final bull sale in 2026, closing a chapter for the stud and the Holcombe family.