Handler Andrew Green, buyer Anthony Bailleau, Jeremy Upton and Nick Petersen, Western District Pastoral, and vendor David Russell, Wynyard, Tas, with $34,000 bull, EDR Mojo.
The whiteface breed flexed its muscles to post a solid average of $8183 and gross of $1.2 million at the 53rd Herefords Australia National Show and Sale.
Held on May 17 at Wodonga, the National sale drew 148 registered bidders and was interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
Billed as one of the largest multi-vendor sales in southern Australia, it catered for 55 vendors from five states, and featured yearling bulls for the first time.
Overall, 147 bulls sold from 183 offered for an 80 per cent clearance, gross of $1,203,000 and average of $8183.
In the breakdown, six Top of the Drop bulls sold to a top of $14,000, gross of $50,000 and average of $8333.
Of the junior bulls, 75 sold under the hammer to a top of $26,000, gross of $542,000 and average of $7226, while 66 senior bulls sold to $38,000, a gross of $611,000 and average of $9257.
National Sale committee chairman Alvio Trovatello said the inclusion of Top of the Drop, or yearling bulls, was well received by buyers.
Mr Trovatello was appreciative of the commercial underpinning from Gippsland and Victorian high country producers.
He said despite dry seasonal conditions in NSW, bulls had sold well into the New England and northern region.
“To sell 147 bulls in the current climate was pretty good,’’ he said.
Long time purchaser at the Wodonga National, Vern Robertson, McCooey Herefords, Goulburn, NSW, snapped up the top price bull and senior champion, Glendan Park Maddox M024, for $38,000 from Alvio Trovatello, Glendan Park Herefords, Kyneton, Vic.
A new client for Glendan Park, Mr Robertson was impressed with the bull’s carcase, length, soundness and overall sire appeal.
The 26-month-old bull was sired by Injemira Anzac AI J188 and out of Glendan Park Marinda J063.
Maddox weighed 1096kg and scanned with an eye muscle area of 144sqcm, rump fat of 25mm, rib fat of 15mm and a scrotal circumference of 43cm.
The bull had estimated breeding values of +115kg for 600 day weight, +6.3sqcm for eye muscle area and +1.1 per cent for intramuscular fat.
The second top price bull at $34,000 was the intermediate champion EDR Mojo, bought by Anthony Bailleau, Western District Pastoral, Willaura, Vic, and Graham Newham, Cara Park Herefords, Delungra, NSW, from David Russell, EDR Herefords, Wynyard, Tasmania.
The 24-month-old bull weighed 944kg, was sired by Yarram Unique F107 and had BREEDPLAN figures of +4.1kg for birthweight, +23kg for milk and +5.0sqcm for eye muscle area.
Western District Pastoral and Yarram Park Herefords manager Jeremy Upton said the bull’s balance, structural correctness, depth, thickness and good shoulder set appealed.
“This bull is a total outcross for us on the dam’s side so we can fit him into our breeding program very well,’’ Mr Upton said.
“It was a strong line-up of bulls today and one of the better top ends we have seen for a while, so we thought it was good value for money.’’
Vendor David Russell said widespread autumn rain had buoyed confidence among Tasmanian buyers.
He described the sale as tough in parts, reflecting seasonal conditions on the eastern seaboard.
“Overall, it was a good strong showing of cattle, unfortunately the prices just weren’t were everyone would’ve liked it, but we can’t help the conditions,’’ Mr Russell said.
Ross Smith, Glenellerslie Herefords, Adelong, outlaid $30,000 for WRL Makka, a 990kg son of Mawarra Black Heart, from WRL Herefords, Dalby, Qld.
Mr Smith also paid $16,000 for the Yarram Storm son, Kaludah Stormboy M579, from Pam Shelley, Kaludah Herefords, Cooma, NSW.
Ensay breeder, Barry Newcomen, Newcomen Herefords, couldn’t go past Mawarra Prime Time at $26,000 from Peter and Deanne Sykes, Mawarra Herefords, Longford, Vic.
Mr Newcomen said the homozygous polled bull appealed for balance, eye setting, depth and temperament.
He said the sale had yet again received strong support from Victorian high country producers.
“They pick a type – mostly horned bulls with frame, good skins and doing ability to suit the mountains,’’ Mr Newcomen said.
“We recently had (62mm) with the country just starting to turn green but there is a long feeding job ahead of us into the winter.
“There is a lot of hay and cubes coming into the area.’’
Mr Newcomen said senior bulls had sold well, raising the sale average.
“Considering the conditions everywhere, it turned out a reasonable sale,’’ he said.
Vendor Deanne Sykes was thrilled with the sale result, with the Mawarra team averaging $13,670 for nine bulls.
The $26,000 Glendan Park Megastar M026 is flanked by handler Andrew Green, buyers Anne and Fred Starr, Foxforth Herefords, Guyra, NSW, and vendor Alvio Trovatello, Glendan Park Herefords, Kyneton, Vic.
Fred Starr and daughter Anne Starr, Foxforth Herefords, Guyra, NSW, paid $26,000 for Glendan Park Megastar M026, a 1162kg son of Yarram Unique F107, from Glendan Park.
“The sale was good considering the seasonal conditions on the eastern side of the country – there was value buying today,’’ Ms Starr said.
Leeway Maximise M008, a 1040kg son of Glendan Park Empire E002, was sold by Leeway Herefords, Ootha, NSW, for $22,000 to Mark and Wendy Campion, Amos-Vale Herefords, Glen Innes.
Toby and Jane Nixon, Wallan Creek Herefords, Drillham, Qld, bought Kerlson Pines Major M013, a June 2016-drop son of Kerlson Pines Jumbuck J116, for $20,000, from Kerlson Pines Poll Herefords, Keith, SA.
The Pearce family’s Yavenvale stud, Adelong, outlaid $20,000 for Sugarloaf Maison M134 from Andrew and Serena Klippel, Sugarloaf Creek Herefords, Corryong.
Calf champion, Centennial Jetfire N002, sired by Dunoon Jet J172, was offered by Paul and Nola Rogers, Centennial Herefords, Holbrook, and sold via AuctionsPlus for $14,000.
Grand champion bull Kymarney Majestic was sold by Scott Lewington, Uranquinty, for $7000 to Bernard Hore, Rotherfield stud, Mullengandra, NSW.
Among the top end commercial buyers was Scott Reardon, Rockford Pty Ltd, Bothwell, Tasmania.
He picked up Hylands Constable M722 for $16,000 from Geoff and Margaret Larsen, Hylands Herefords, Cootamundra, and was the underbidder on the $22,000 Leeway Maximise.
Mr Reardon was fresh from selling Santa Gertrudis-Hereford cross steer weaners, 330kg, for 423c/kg or $1410 at Powranna. The heifer portion made $1200 or 400c/kg.
“I was looking for good growth for age – when you are getting good money for the calves, the bulls soon pay for themselves,’’ he said.
Among the volume buyers were Oakview Pastoral, Collector, NSW, with seven bulls to a top of $7000, Springfield Pastoral, Culcairn, NSW, four bulls to $11,000 and the Webb family, Adelong, NSW, four bulls to $5000.