Vendor Marc Greening, buyer Brian Burgess and auctioneer Paul Dooley with the $110,000 sire. Image courtesy The Land.
A polled sire has sold for $110,000 at one of Australia’s biggest whiteface sales, Injemira Beef Genetics, in southern NSW this week.
Injemira Anzac K220, an 18-month-old son of influential sire Allendale Anzac E114 (P), was secured in a bidding war with South Australia stud Minlacowie by Brian Burgess, Holbrook, for his Ravensdale Poll Hereford stud.
The bull, described by vendor Marc Greening as a “real curve bender’’, was offered as lot three and set the sale ring abuzz.
K220 ranks in the top one per cent on BREEDPLAN for eye muscle area, intramuscular fat, and all four selection indexes.
Mr Greening said the bull was arguably the best stud sire bred at Injemira.
“We are excited to show the Poll Hereford breed this potential industry changing sire,’’ he said.
The on-property sale, held at Book Book on February 23, resulted in a total clearance of 91 bulls for an average of $9632 – up from $8217 last year.
The average was just under the on-property breed record of $9681 set by Curracabark Herefords, Gloucester, on August 1.
The on-property breed top price record continues to be held by Inverary Dominator D56 sold for $120,000 at the Inverary Collection Sale in 1986.
Mr Burgess described the sale as strong with the quality of the cattle on offer as “fautless’’.
“This bull’s sire, Allendale Anzac, is breeding the house down and his progeny have gone from strength to strength,’’ he said.
“He is everything I ever wanted in a bull and he ticks all the boxes.’’
Mr Burgess made the decision the night before the sale to buy after viewing the bull and his dam at Injemira.
“I really respect the breeding program at Injemira and what Marc is doing,’’ he said.
“Cosmetically the bull was fautless, with perfect skin and hair – I was crystal clear about my decision to buy the bull.
“He is ranked in the top one per cent for all indexes, is below average for birthweight, and +81 for 600 day weight – we are over the moon.’’
Mr Burgess said the bull was the perfect genetic package going into a high performance herd with commercially important traits.
He said the bull had attracted New Zealand and other international semen interest but semen would not be marketed domestically.
“The bull is going into a closed herd and will be joined to 70-80 cows on May 1 using natural service,’’ Mr Burgess said.
“If I didn’t buy the bull, I would have to wait a long time for another bull of this calibre.’’
Ravensdale is based at Holbrook property Dalriada and comprises 250 stud females.
“In the long term, we are aiming to run 750 stud and commercial cows,’’ Mr Burgess said.
He said the outlook for the breed was positive on the back of a buoyant beef market.
The high price follows $90,000 set at the 2013 Dubbo National Show and Sale for Days Calibre G74.
Mr Greening said bulls sold to commercial clients from NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland, plus two bulls to an international order.
“Commercial strength was solid all the way through with only three bulls going to studs,’’ he said.
“Commercial producers were chasing carcase, moderate frame, growth, polled and softness.
“They are targeting the premium grassfed market and branded program, and getting the rewards out the other end.
“Producers are now wanting this style of Hereford with the commercial attributes and are receiving the rewards in markets where it doesn’t matter what colour they are.’’