Yarram Park's dispersal sale sees quality Hereford stock head to six states

Yarram Park Hereford dispersal sale

Pictures by Barry Murphy

Well-known Hereford stud Yarram Park's dispersal sale has seen some of the best white-faced cattle in the country find new homes in six states.

Across Thursday and Friday, the Willaura stud, running since 1948, saw 393 lots sold to established studs, new studs and commercial operations in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.

The dispersal sale saw a gross sale value of $1,566,500 with stud bulls, cows, heifers and calves going under the hammer.

On what was a poignant day, Yarram Park stud principal Anthony Baillieu said he and his wife Sybil were hugely grateful to all their clients.

Mr Baillieu announced that he would disperse the famous Hereford herd earlier this year.

"It's been a good journey," he said.

"We've had good support over the years and luckily, we've had good loyal supporters and they've stuck with us."

The sale saw 150 pregnancy tested in calf (PTIC) cows for an average of $4233 and top of $12,000.

Sixty seven PTIC heifers were sold for an average of $4164 and top of $11,000.

In a three part package, a further 52 PTIC or joined cows were sold with calves at foot for an average of $4144 and top of $16,000.

Seventy heifer calves were sold for an average of $2464 and top of $7000 and 44 bull calves were sold for an average of $2579 and top of $18,000.

Finally, eight stud bulls were sold for an average of $16,875 and top of $22,000.

Mr Baillieu said while the sale was "good buying for people", he was happy with the result.

"The season is a little bit in between at the moment and for people down this part of the world, it's pretty dry.

"To a large extent, we don't know what's in front of us.

"It hasn't quite happened yet but I'm very optimistic that the cattle market, certainly early next year, is going to become considerably stronger."

He felt the sale needed that wind behind it but said the cattle job was a little bit in "limbo" at present.

"We're very happy with the recognition, certainly what people have said about the cattle, it's a nice accolade to have."

Mr Baillieu was proud to see the stud's genetics go to all except one state, the Northern Territory, and that many of the cattle were joining new or growing studs.

"Let's hope they can all make something of the cattle," he said.

"It's the easiest way to get going, to buy some good cattle."

Phelan and Henderson co-director David Phelan was one of the most active buyers at the sale.

Buying on behalf of five clients and for himself, he secured a total of 52 lots and in doing so, helped to keep a floor under prices throughout both days.

Seventeen lots would be headed home to Mr Phelan's own Hereford herd.

Iron Bark Hereford stud principal Adrian Spencer, Barraba, NSW, took home the top-priced bull calf, for the $18,000, after competitive bidding early in the sale on Friday.

The bull, Lot 163 A, Yarram Emperor V075, was sired by Talbalba Emperor P043 and out of Yarram Marinda R043.

The March 2024-drop calf had Hereford Group Breedplan EBVs of +3.7 square centimetres eye muscle area, birth weight of +4kg, 200-day weight of +39kg, 400-day weight of +72kg and 600-day weight of +100kg.

The top priced joined cow and calf pair was bought by Callaway Poll Herefords, Irvingdale, Queensland, for the $16,000.

The duo, Lot 135, consisted of an April 2021-drop cow by Okawa Rommel 7003 and her February 2024 drop heifer calf, sired by Days Horizon M028.

The cow had been AI'd to Ardno Urban U223 in mid October.

Mr Baillieu said the stud's success down through the years came about through a focus on breeding cattle with "commercial aspects".

"We haven't got involved in fads of any sort, we've never been ones for showing cattle," he said.

"We've luckily had a commercial herd and good commercial support that's given us the indicators as to what cattle we breed."

Elders and its studstock auctioneer Ross Milne oversaw proceedings on both sale days.

Mr Milne said it was great to see the Yarram Park program supported as it was.

"Most states of Australia were represented, up to northern Queensland and over to Western Australia, Tasmania," he said.

"It was a good sale and the quality of the cattle was very, very good over the two days, the accumulation of 75 years of breeding.

"These cows have really performed and their bulls have really performed for a lot of programs, both commercially and stud, right across the country.

"It was a great endorsement for what they've been doing for a long time."

Mr Milne said the buyers at the sale were a mix of commercial producers, established studs and a "few studs that are looking to start up and get going in the industry".

"It was a pretty diverse group but mostly the backbone of the sale was strong commercial enquiry," he said.

One such pair of commercial buyers were Andy Sanders and his daughter Steph Sanders, Ballarat.

They took home eight PTIC Yarram Park cows and a bull calf which would be used as a future bull for their 40-cow commercial Hereford operation.

They bought the cattle to "help improve the quality" of their mob.

"Just to try get some better genetics in there, you don't get these opportunities too often with a complete dispersal," Mr Sanders said.

"You're getting the best of their cattle up for sale and if they're in your price bracket, you can come away with them."

Ms Sanders said the Yarram Park cattle had an "excellent reputation".

David and Michelle Elsom, McArthur, were at the sale buying stock for their daughters Emily and Grace who ran a new Hereford stud, Emigrace Poll Herefords.

The couple took home eight cows and heifers.

"We're only a small stud, it's the kids' stud, and we're just trying to get the stud bigger and better," Mr Elsom said.

"We're just trying to get the best genetics we can buy."

Ms Elsom said the different genetics, such as the New Zealand breeding in some of the Yarram cattle, would benefit.