Ironbark Herefords 2026 bull sale tops $40,000 as carcase traits draw four-state buyers to Barraba
Summary
The 53rd annual Ironbark Herefords bull sale at Barraba delivered a standout result on Friday, August 28, with 50 millimetres of welcome rain settling the dust ahead of strong demand for carcase traits. Celebrating 93 years, the stud cleared 94 of 118 bulls to a top of $40,000 and an average of $10,952, with four more bulls sold afterward. Both figures improved on the previous year, when 98 of 110 bulls sold to a $20,000 top and a $9346 average. Across the offering, bulls averaged 818 kilograms with a 43-centimetre scrotal circumference. The sale topper, a 20-month-old weighing 830kg with a 44cm scrotal circumference, sold to a Victorian Hereford stud through AuctionsPlus, carrying a rib fat estimated breeding value of +1.4, an eye muscle area of +7.1 and a 600-day weight of +91. The second-top bull made $25,000 to another Victorian buyer, recording a rib fat of +0.7, EMA of +5.8 and 600-day weight of +90. Volume buyers from Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania competed strongly. A Queensland operation took six bulls to a $11,000 top and $9500 average, while a Collarenebri feeder-steer enterprise secured 12 bulls averaging $9333. Other multiple-bull buyers came from Broken Hill, Victoria, Tasmania, and across NSW and Queensland, with a Tasmanian holding taking 10 head at a $12,500 average. Bulls travelled from Tasmania to Longreach, underscoring the breed's wide commercial appeal and the stud's focus on carcase-driven, data-backed genetics that keep repeat buyers returning year after year for structurally sound, quiet-tempered Hereford sires.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Bulls sold | 94 of 118 |
| Top price | $40,000 |
| Average price | $10,952 |
| Average bull weight | 818 kg |
| Average scrotal circumference | 43 cm |
| Previous year average | $9,346 |
| Rain before sale | 50 mm |
| Sale-topper 600-day weight EBV | +91 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many bulls sold at the 2026 Ironbark Herefords sale and at what average?
A total of 94 of the 118 bulls offered sold, with four more selling after the auction. They averaged $10,952 and topped at $40,000, both up on the previous year's $9,346 average and $20,000 top.
What were the sale-topper's key figures?
The sale-topping bull was a 20-month-old weighing 830kg with a 44cm scrotal circumference. It carried estimated breeding values of +1.4 for rib fat, +7.1 for eye muscle area and +91 for 600-day weight, and sold through AuctionsPlus to a Victorian stud.
How did the 2026 result compare with the previous year?
The stud lifted both its top price and average, moving from a $20,000 top and $9,346 average on 98 of 110 bulls sold to a $40,000 top and $10,952 average on 94 of 118. Demand for carcase traits helped drive the stronger result.
What was the second-top bull and its price?
The second-highest-priced bull made $25,000 to a Victorian buyer. It recorded a rib fat estimated breeding value of +0.7, an eye muscle area of +5.8 and a 600-day weight of +90.
Which states did buyers come from?
A5: Volume buyers came from Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Bulls ultimately travelled as far as Tasmania in the south to Longreach in Queensland.
What was the average weight and scrotal circumference of the bulls?
Across the offering, the bulls averaged 818 kilograms with an average scrotal circumference of 43 centimetres. Individual sale leaders weighed around 830kg.
How much did the largest volume buyers pay?
A Collarenebri feeder-steer enterprise secured 12 bulls at a $9,333 average to a $12,000 top. A Queensland operation took six bulls averaging $9,500, and a Tasmanian holding took 10 head averaging $12,500.
