Demand for Poll Hereford bulls by central Australian beef producers remains strong with whiteface lots topping at $8500 at the annual Alice Springs show bull sale.
Held on June 30-July 2, the show also featured an unveiling of two grandstands named in honour of three South Australian Poll Hereford breeders.
Herefords went on to dominate the led classes and commercial pens of steers at the event.
The multi-vendor, multi-breed sale held on July 2 resulted in 39 bulls selling from the 47 offered to a top of $9500 and average of $4788.
The Day family, Days Whiteface, Bordertown, SA, sold Days Flagship K174 to Undoolya Station, Alice Springs, for $8500. The stud sold all five bulls for an average of $6200.
Tom and Amy Honner, Minlacowie Poll Herefords, Brentwood, sold Minlacowie Knight K77 for $8500 to Orange Creek, Alice Springs. The stud also sold another three bulls to $7500.
Judge Shane Perry, from Queensland, selected a Days Robin Hood H38 sired bull, Days Flagship K174, as the champion all breeds bull of the show.
Ben and Nicole Hayes, Undoolya Station, won the Centenary Cup for the champion pen of two steers with two tooth Hereford steers estimated at 520kg liveweight.
They also won the champion Northern Territory bred cow and calf, the champion Northern Territory led steer, and champion Northern Territory pen of two bulls with Hereford cattle.
Nikita Hayes, Undoolya, exhibited the Best Interstate Female, the Hereford cow Seven-Bar-Dot Colleen, with a son of Colleen, Undoolya Keith, being sashed as the champion Northern Territory led bull.
Jamie Hayes, 12, of Undoolya, won the $1000 Rabobank encouragement award to attend an interstate heifer show.
Alison Haynes, of Katherine, won the week-long leadership course at Marcus Oldham College, Geelong.
Nicole Hayes, Centralian Beef Breeders Association president, said the committee wanted to show gratitude to the long serving supporters of the Alice Springs show by naming grandstands in their honour.
The Day and Bennett families have been making the 3000km plus round trip to the show for decades.
“They have always enjoyed coming to our show because of the friendly atmosphere and social interaction,’’ Mrs Hayes said.
Honoured in the presentation was Graham Day, Days Whiteface, Ross Bennett, Bendulla stud and David Bennett, Yambro stud.
Lachy Day, Days Whiteface, said the market had changed dramatically since he first began attending the show in 1989.
Mr Day said the live export trade, Meat Standards Australia and organic certification now dominated the markets for central Australian bred cattle.
He told ABC Rural the emphasis was now on BREEDPLAN and performance.
Ross Bennett, Bendulla Poll Herefords, SA, said the Hereford cattle suited to the centre were carcass focused and had the ability to thrive under harsh conditions.
“Other breeds have pushed into this area so it is up to us as breeders to keep up with the top end by concentrating on BREEDPLAN figures, structural soundness and doing ability,’’ he said.
Herefords Australia will sponsor a champion pen of whiteface steers at the Alice Springs Show steer sale on July 21 at the Bohning yards, Roe Creek.
Lachy Day, Days Whiteface, Bordertown, with the champion bull of the show. Image The Stock Journal
Three SA families had stands named after them, in honour of their long-time involvement in the Alice Springs Show. Pictured are Lachy Day, David Bennett, Andrew Bennett, Ross Bennett and Murray and Jenny Ferme. Image The Stock Journal
Joella Klein and Billy Nelson, Orange Creek, with a bull they bought from Minlacowie for $8500. Image The Stock Journal
The team from Undoolya Station dominated the led and prime cattle classes with their Herefords at the Alice Springs Show.
