Stellar spring demand continues for Hereford bulls to a top of $91,000  

Queensland stud Talbalba Herefords kicked sale-ring goals on 25 August with a top of $91,000 achieved at their on-property sale, to put in place strong momentum for the coming spring sale season. 

In total, stud principals, Steve and Debbie Reid, Millmerran, sold 63 of 67 bulls under the hammer for a stellar $19,119 average and 94 per cent clearance, with 25 bulls making $20,000 or more. 

Sale topper, Talbalba Hoffman R131, was knocked down to Barry and Topsy Newcomen, Newcomen Herefords, Ensay, Victoria. The 22-month-old homozygous polled son of the home bred sire Talbalba The Hoff M035 weighed 912kg, had a scrotal circumference of 48cm and was ranked in the top 10 per cent of the breed for eye muscle area, gestation length and scrotal size. He also boasted strong calving ease, low birth weight with above average growth, positive fats and intramuscular fat.  

“He is a unique individual with outstanding data. Phenotypically he has a lot of carcase shape, moderate bone, is structurally correct and mobile,” said Mr Reid, who retained semen rights and part ownership of the bull. 

The second top price was $34,000 for Talbalba Genesis R027 sold to the Anderson family, Narrien Station, Clermont. 

Mr Reid said there was strong demand for bulls from Central Queensland buyers, with the stud aiming to breed cattle with muscle and adequate fat for either straightbred or crossbred herds. 

“This allows them to increase carcase quality over Bos indicus cattle and yield over Hereford cattle,” he said.  

In other August on-property sales, one of the biggest offerings of Hereford bulls in the country was at Ironbark Herefords, Barraba, NSW, on 26 August, where 116 lots sold from the 149 offered to average $12,009 and a top of $42,000.  

The 13-month-old Lot 42 Ironbark 7131E Domino S659, was one of the first sons to be offered by US sire CL 1 Domino 7131E, and was snapped up by Peter and Deanne Sykes, Mawarra Genetics, Longford, Victoria. 

The bull ranked top 10 per cent for milk, 200-day growth, top 26 per cent for 400-day growth, and top 21 per cent for 600-day growth. He weighed 672kg, had a scrotal circumference of 40cm and a raw eye muscle scan of 103sqcm. 

The second top price bull was Ironbark L065 Advance S009 at $35,000, selling to repeat buyer Kindon Station, Goondiwindi, Queensland.  

At Te-Angie Poll Herefords Annual Sale at Wongwibinda, NSW, principal, Richard Olgivy, sold 11 bulls from 38 offered to a top of $7000 and average of $5273. Te-Angie also sold a draft of commercial heifers averaging 403kg for $2000.  

Ian and Diana Locke, Wirruna Poll Herefords, Holbrook, NSW, cleared 62 bulls from 64 offered at their on-property sale on 24 August, to a top of $34,000 and average $10,874.  

Lot 6, Wirruna Roberto R485 sold for the top price to Bendoc Park Poll Herefords, Bendoc, Vic. Sired by Wirruna Platnimum P072, the bull had been used over heifers at Wirruna to capture his carcase traits of eye muscle area and intramuscular fat. He ranked in the top five per cent of the breed for EMA and top one per cent for IMF. 

Registered females sold to a top of $10,000 for Lot 76, Wirruna Madam R189, and averaged $6846. The top price heifer was a daughter of US sire Validated B413, ranked top five per cent for 400-day weight and carcase weight, and was foetal sexed to be carrying a bull calf.  

PTIC heifers, weighing 513kg and aged 23 to 24 months, sold from $3000 to $3400.  

Kidman stud, Dubbo, NSW, celebrated its 30th annual on-property sale with cattle selling to every state and territory except Western Australia and broke its on-farm top price record. 

Under the hammer, 44 of the 48 bulls sold to a top of $36,000 and average of $10,772. 

Kidman Chester R140 was the top price bull selling to Wallan Creek Herefords, Drillham, Queensland. Chester was a Kidman Package J305 son and weighed 890kg. 

Warragundi Herefords, Currabubula, NSW, topped at $32,000 at their on-property sale on 18 August for a homozygous poll son of Injemira Anzac. The sale averaged $9692 for the 13 bulls sold at auction from the 31 offered.  

Oxford Grazing Company, Guyra, NSW, outlaid the top price for Warragundi Rancher, a 27-month-old bull weighing 1015kg and scanning with a raw eye muscle area of 138sqcm, a 43cm scrotal circumference, rump fat depth of 22mm and 14mm on the rib plus 7.2 per cent intramuscular fat.  

Scott and Pip Hann, Truro Hereford and Poll Hereford Stud, Bellata, NSW, held their on-property sale on 29 August with 30 bulls sold from 34 offered to a high of $18,000 and average of $9043. 

Sale topper was Lot 39, Truro Struan S122, a son of Truro Prankster P011, and was described by Mr Hann as having real scale and performance combined with a balanced data set. The bull was purchased by Ben and Leanne Rumbel, Supple Whiteface, Guyra, NSW.  

Steve and Therese Crowley, Tycolah Poll Herefords, Cobbadah, NSW, bought Truro Shotgun S008 for $14,000 while Chris Lisle, Tummel Herefords, Walcha, NSW, bought two bulls to a top of $8000.  

Four females were offered and sold for an average of $6250 and top of $9000 for Truro Marianne M183 joined to Warwick Court Roma R111. David Armour, Warragul, Victoria, bought the top price female.  

Sam Broinowski, Vielun Pastoral Co, Mudgee, NSW, sold 14 from 24 bulls to a top of $20,000 and average of $9643 on August 19. 

The top price bull, Lot 4 VP Resilient R058, was a son of Endure 173D (IMP USA) and used as a backup to the stud’s AI program in November. He was bought by Allan Morgan, Morganvale Poll Herefords, Keith, SA. 

Mr Broinowski said the bull was the heaviest as a weaner and a standout from the start.  

In the female lots, 20 commercial heifers, 22 to 24 months, weighing 353-371kg and Yavenvale and Cascade blood, on their first calf by the $160,000 sire Injemira Robert Redford sold for $3750-$4000. 

Hereford bulls reached a high of $28,000 and an average of $13,860 at the Yalgoo Genetics Sale at Walcha, NSW, on 8 August.  

The stud sold 43 of the 46 bulls offered while the top price bull Yalgoo Render R118 sold to Wes Lowien, WRL Herefords, Dalby. The bull was a 22-month-old son of NZ sire Koanui Techno 3062, weighed 861kg and ranked in the top 10 per cent on BREEDPLAN for 200, 400 and 600-day weights, milk, scrotal, rib, rump and IMF.  

Lucy and Eddie Sellers, Bendoc Park Poll Herefords, Bendoc, Vic, sold 13 bulls of the 14 offered to a top of $9000 and average of $5846 at their on-property sale.  

The top price bull, Lot 1 Bendoc Park Reload, was sired by Yavenvale Lute L332, weighed 880kg and ranked in the top 10 per cent of the breed for all growth traits and IMF.