THE Hereford breed stamped its dominance in the market posting a thumping top price of $130,000 and a new record average of $15,794 at the 57th Herefords Australia National Show and Sale.
Held on May 12 at Wodonga, the national sale drew buyers from NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland, and was interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
Billed as one of the largest multi–vendor sales in southern Australia, it catered for 34 vendors from four states.
Overall, 102 bulls sold from the 106 offered for a 96 per cent clearance, gross of $1,611,000 and average of $15,794.
In the sale breakdown, a total of 59 junior bulls sold to a top of $35,000 and average of $12,847 while 43 senior bulls sold to a top of $130,000 and average of $19,837.
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Creating plenty of excitement in the sale barn was Mawarra Ultra Star R182 selling for a new record top price of $130,000 to Tom Nixon, Devon Court Herefords, Drillham, Queensland.
The price eclipsed the previous top of $103,000 set in 2021 by Mawarra If Only Q264.
The 24–month–old Mawarra Ultra Star R182 by US sire Endure 173D was sold by Peter and Deanne Sykes, Mawarra Genetics, Longford, Victoria, and had been sashed as the intermediate and grand champion bull by judge Steve Reid the day before.
Weighing 1004kg, Ultra Star had BREEDPLAN figures of +123kg for 600–day weight, +27kg for milk, +82kg for carcase weight, and +8.6sqcm for eye muscle area.
Mr Nixon confirmed the New Zealand semen rights were sold to the Robbie family, Otapawa Herefords, NZ.
He had a strategic plan to buy two full brothers and had earlier paid $35,000 for the top price bull at Mawarra's on–property sale, Mawarra Ultimate R140, partnering with Cascade Poll Herefords, Currabubula, NSW.
Vendors Peter and Deanne Sykes were overwhelmed and humbled by the result.
"The outlook for the breed is great with people willing to spend money on good genetics with the right traits," Mr Sykes said.
"Our grass–fed markets are going well for Herefords and the cattle sold today certainly had those carcase traits and doing ability Herefords are known for."
It was a day full of emotion for vendor Andrew Green, Yarrandabbie Herefords, Barfold, Vic, when his bull Yarrandabbie Richard R004, named in honour of his late father, Dick Green, sold for the second top price of $70,000 to Marc Greening, Injemira Genetics, Book Book, NSW.
The 23–month–old bull had been sashed as reserve intermediate champion and was sired by Glendan Park Panama P004.
Herefords Australia National Show and Sale (Wodonga) committee chairman Alvio Trovatello described the event as a "great outcome and clearance".
"Elite stud sires were making record prices and very good top end commercial sires sold well," Mr Trovatello said.
"It was good to see the strong commercial support with repeat buyers and quite a few people bidding online.
"The social aspect is a big part of it – it's a big few days on the Hereford calendar.
"Since COVID has come and gone people have really been looking forward to the event this year with a different level of optimism off the back of cattle prices and the season."
