Cattle experts and buyers insist Hereford price difference is simply a 'myth'

Some of Australia's top cattle market experts have quashed any claim that Hereford cattle are outperformed by other British breeds when it comes to saleyard prices.

They've insisted that the breed goes shoulder to shoulder with any others and is the best placed to deliver in grass-based and pasture-assured systems.

Cattle industry leaders and buyers have said major processors and feedlotters are continuously seeking Hereford cattle in both grass and grain markets for their proven performance.

Elders national livestock manager Peter Homann said there was no advantage of other British breed cattle over a Hereford in pasture-assured programs, with Herefords being excellent feed converters.

"If you are doing a pasture-assured or grass-fed program, I would prefer a Hereford or a Hereford-cross for weight gain," he said.

Mr Homann continues to be amongst the large number of buyers at annual southern weaner sales each year and he said there was a reason there were specific orders for Hereford feeder steers every time.

He encouraged Hereford producers to present calves that were well weaned with pasture-assured accreditation and pre-weaning vaccinations such as Bovilis MH + IBR or Rhinogard IBR 50.

He said this was the best way for vendors to secure a "premium" price on Hereford stock.

Mr Homann said Hereford cattle yet again stood out at this year's Mountain Calf Sales in the Victorian high country.

He said the sales enjoyed buyer confidence with "enough orders in the network to look after all those cattle".

"When you go to Omeo you see pens of Hereford cattle with 150 years of breeding with other breeds that have been bred for 30 or 40 years," he said.

"The best of the Hereford calves are absolutely fantastic."

The Elders Killara Feedlot, Quirindi, NSW, grass-certified program actively sources Herefords and black baldy cattle.

These cattle enter the feedlot at 400-500 kilograms and exit at 560-600kg liveweight for the supermarket trade.

Other industry experts and top cattle buyers felt this was exactly the type of job Hereford cattle shined in.

RMA Network chief executive Chris Howie bought around 1000 steers and heifers at the recent western district weaner sales at Hamilton, Casterton and Mortlake, as well as at Colac and Wodonga, for his northern clients.

Mr Howie said when he bought cattle on behalf of his clients, coat colour was not considered.

He said weaner price was instead determined by weight range and customer specifications.

"When you take weight for age into consideration, the separation of price [between Herefords and other British-bred calves] isn't anywhere near what some of the media reports are saying," he said.

"[With] weight for age, many were in advance of what the Angus were, and when you look at it, the different orders appearing, especially going north where colour doesn't mean as much, the Hereford and Hereford-cross breeders had a great day.

"As soon as agents put a Hereford run of steers together at Hamilton, Mortlake or Naracoorte, SA, they quickly came back into parity with what the Angus cattle were making."

Mr Howie said at the weaner sales, repeat buyers, backgrounders and a large Queensland order targeted the best-presented lines.

"The black baldies also performed well this year with more activity and orders into southern Queensland and northern NSW, paying the same rate as Angus," he said.

"The days of using black baldies to average the buy price back seem to be gone.

"For those buying on conformation and weight for age, the [Hereford] vendors were no worse off at all."

Mr Howie said European Union accreditation and yard weaning resulted in a 10 cents a kilogram price premium on calves this year and this did not exclude Herefords.

He said producers needed to be mindful of presenting docile, well-weaned cattle to achieve a premium price.

"Weight for age is now coming into play," he said.

"There are plenty of Angus cattle out there, and the original premium creating that marketing advantage to drag them into feedlots is starting to erode."

He insisted that a previous 30c/kg price premium for Angus feeder cattle simply didn't exist any more.

"That's not there now and we are creating activity around taking [Hereford] heifers," he said.

"Consistent orders promoted through the RMA Network are appealing for black baldy and Herefords heifers weighing 350-420kg liveweight for grain-fed programs."

Ray White Rural Albury, NSW, director James Brown was also a major buyer at the western district weaner sales in January, sourcing 2500 mixed-breed steers for his own clients and those of Ray White Richardson & Sinclair, Dubbo, NSW.

Mr Brown said he selected pens based on their weight, type, conformation and bone.

"There wasn't that much difference in terms of price on the lead of the calves between a different coloured steer and the Hereford," he said.

"They were all a similar price point.

"You get a bit more bone and weight in the Hereford, and they are wonderful performers as bullocks off grass.

"Good-quality, well-bred Hereford cattle certainly perform at the other end."

Herefords Australia chief executive Alastair James said the evidence was clear that the breed was no longer subject to what he described as outdated price myths.

"With strong demand from buyers, proven carcase performance, and competitive premiums in grass and grain markets, the breed stands shoulder to shoulder with any other British-bred cattle," he said.

"Weight for age, meat quality and market flexibility are driving Herefords' success, proving that performance, not perception, determines value in today's cattle industry."