Diamond anniversary ahead for Herefords Austrlia National Show and Sale
For commercial producers seeking leading Hereford genetics backed by performance data and proven market demand, the StockCo by Heartland Bank 60th Herefords Australia National Show and Sale is a must-attend event.
The diamond anniversary show and sale to be held at the Wodonga Exhibition Centre on May 14-15, is one of the biggest multi-vendor sales in the nation. The sale draws registered buyers from almost every state and territory and will be interfaced again with AuctionsPlus.
All bulls offered will have been independently assessed for structural and reproductive soundness, semen tested, sire verified, tested free of genetic conditions, genomic profiled, and carry Breedplan EBVs.
At the 2024 show and sale, commercial Hereford producers Bernard and Brenda Flannagan from Omeo outlaid $20,000 for a bull for their autumn calving herd after being impressed with the bull's breed-leading Breedplan EBVs and phenotype.
"We have a type we prefer with length and being homozygous polled. The bulls at the Wodonga are quiet, and it is nice to go there to see the new genetics coming through," Mrs Flannagan said.
Bernard's father, the late Jim Flannagan, had attended and bought bulls at Wodonga since its inception in 1966, creating a family tradition of buying and meeting up with friends at the National.
The couple ran 313 autumn calving cows and joined heifers last year for a spring calving to spread the cash flow and maximise the use of the bulls. They target the Omeo leg of the Mountain Calf Sales with mixed sex weaners.
"I like Herefords as they have a fantastic temperament, their doing ability in this country is second to none, and our calves can average around 400kg at 11 months old," Mr Flannagan said.
With the Hereford complementing almost every other breed in crossbreeding programs, commercial producers have targeted the National for bulls to use in two-way and composite programs, particularly black baldies, to take advantage of hybrid vigour or heterosis.
Commercial Hereford producers Ged and Shelly Comerford, Mansfield, take advantage of the heterosis in their beef production system with black baldy calves from their first calving heifers. The black baldy calves are sold each year at the Wangaratta feature weaner sale.
The couple paid $8000 for a bull at the 2024 National, for use in their herd of 200 autumn calving breeders.
"He was well put together and with a good, moderate frame. When buying bulls, I do look at birthweight, gestation length, growth, and homozygous polled," Mr Comerford said.
He said Wodonga gave commercial producers the ability to inspect many types of bulls at the one venue.
"I like the Hereford temperament and doing ability - it's amazing how tough they are through droughts."
The 60th anniversary celebrations will start with the Herefords Australia Breed Forum, from 9.30am on Tuesday, May 13. The annual general meeting will follow at 4.30pm, after which Herefords Australia will host a happy hour and social function in the members lounge at Racing Wodonga.
Judging of this year's show classes will be conducted by PJ Budler of Global Livestock Solutions, Texas, USA, from 9am on Wednesday, May 14. The open cry and interfaced sale will follow on Thursday, 15 May from 9am. The National Show and Sale is proudly sponsored by 2025 naming rights partner, StockCo by Heartland Bank.
A 60th Anniversary Cocktail Dinner will be held at 6.30pm on Wednesday at The Goods Shed in Wodonga, to celebrate the breed's rich history and achievements.
Tickets for the forum, social function, and 60th Anniversary Cocktail Dinner are available on the Herefords Australia website. All are welcome to attend.
