Yallaroo Herefords set a new Australian breed record at auction of $11,500.
Western Australian Hereford stud Yallaroo has smashed the national breed sale average record by almost $2000 this week.
Rob and Heather Francis cleared their six bulls to a top of $17,500 and a thumping average of $11,500 at the Farm Weekly WA Supreme Bull Sale at Brunswick on February 18.
The previous breed record of $9681 was set by Curracabark Herefords, Gloucester, at an on-property sale on August 1, 2015.
The new average was almost double the Yallaroo stud’s 2015 sale average.
Herefords recorded the top three prices at the multi-vendor Supreme Bull Sale, which featured 80 bulls from eight breeds and 15 studs.
Mr Francis said the sale result had put whiteface cattle back on the radar in WA.
“It was fantastic – it has made a lot of people sit up and take notice of the breed,’’ he said.
“When the first bull sold for $11,500, the next for $15,000 and the third at $17,500, I looked across at my wife as I thought she’s going to faint shortly.
“There was a round of applause twice from the crowd during the sale.’’
The top price bull at $17,500, Yallaroo Kilkenny K8, was sired by Yallaroo Ultra U20 and was bought by repeat commercial clients, the Della Gola family, of Tonebridge, WA.
Mr Francis said the bull weighed 1014kg at 22 months, and had scanned in October at 114scqm eye muscle area, 5mm on the rib and 7mm on the rump.
“The bull appealed for his overall growth, volume, flat bone, mobility, soft skin and hair,’’ he said.
“People are starting to value the benefits of the breed including the doing ability and temperament.
“Now the meat trade is keen to get their hands on Hereford carcases.
“Clients are averaging over $1100/head for their lines of 100-200 steers, aged seven to nine months.’’
Mr Francis said cull cow prices of $1500-$1900 and cull bull prices of $2000-$2500 had enabled commercial producers to reinvest in new genetics.
He said there was strong demand from commercial producers for replacement Hereford heifers.
The second top price of the sale was $15,000, Yallaroo King K5, a Yallaroo Aquarius A46 son, bought by the Hollis family, Lotus Herefords, Glen Innes, NSW.
Vendor John House, House Herefords, College Grove, sold four bulls to a top of $6000 and average of $4625.
Poll Herefords will lead the 23rd annual Countryman Invitation Bull Sale at Narrogin on Tuesday, February 23, with 33 catalogued.
It will mark the largest single offering of Poll Herefords at one sale in WA for many years.
Participating studs will be Terraneil, Quaindering and Greenland.