Uproar storms to the top of national Hereford sale thanks to Queensland buyer

The top three bulls are headed to greener pastures as northern studs dominated the competition at the Herefords Australia National Show and Sale at Wodonga, Vic.

The top-priced bull offered by Glendan Park Hereford stud, Kyneton, Vic, Glendan Park Uproar U212, was purchased by Steve and Kate Reid, Talbalba Herefords, Millmerran, Qld, for $44,000.

The 22-month-old Quamby Plains Reagant R611 son weighed 916 kilograms, measured 126 square centimetres eye muscle area (EMA), with a P8 fat scan of 22 millimetres and a rib fat scan of 12mm.

He also recorded a scrotal measurement of 37cm.

His fat scans followed through into his estimated breeding values with a rib fat value of +2.1, placing him in the top 7 per cent of the breed, as well as being in the top 5pc for his rump fat figure of +3.4.

He also ranked in the top 15pc for his 600-day weight value of +102 kilograms, while being in the top 10pc for his carcase weight value of +72kg, and placing in the top 20pc for 400-day weights and mature cow weight, with figures of +70kg and +85kg, respectively.

Mr Reid said the price was the most he had ever paid for a bull at the event.

"We were the losing bidder on the record top price a couple of years ago that sold for $130,000 in 2022," he said.

Mr Reid said while he had seen the bull earlier in the year, he "wasn't sold on him" until he saw him in the showring the day before.

"Seeing him - the softness, the depth and the roundness in him - I haven't seen any other bull like that this year," he said.

"I didn't know if I'd find another bull like him.

"That's when we decided we wanted him."

Mr Reid said you needed to expect to pay at least $40,000 for a stud sire.

"If you haven't got $40,000, the commercial guys will knock you off," he said.

"But it was a tough day today because the season is tough.

"It is a good year to go shopping for stud sires because the prices aren't as strong as they would be in other years."

The Reid family has been attending the event since 1985.

Overall, 80 of 108 bulls at the sale sold to average $9500.

The second top-priced bull of the sale and the top-priced junior bull was Kymarney Quambone U120, exhibited by Scott Lewington, Uranquinty, who sold for $36,000 and was purchased by Guy and Suzanne Lord, Branga Plains Pastoral, Walcha.

Sired by Wirruna Quambone Q135, the bull tipped the scales at 702kg, with fat scans of 17mm for his P8 and 12mm on his rib.

He recorded an EMA of 115sqcm, with a testicular circumference of 37cm.

The 19-month-old bull displayed an intramuscular fat EBV in the top 4pc with a figure of +2.2, as well as ranking in the top 8pc for his carcase weight and milk figures with values of +74kg and +25, respectively.

Kymarney stud principal Scotty Lewington said the sale result was "a real surprise".

"I was talking to Guy yesterday and he said he liked him," he said.

"I wasn't expecting him to stand up and buy him though, that was really nice."

Kymarney offered three bulls in total which were all sold for $6000, $7000 and $36,000.

Talumbi Undisputed, exhibited by Caleb Croker, Yarra, was the third top-priced bull for the sale, being purchased by Merawah Poll Herefords, Boggabilla, for $26,000.

The young bull was sashed senior champion bull the day before under the eyes of international judge PJ Budler, Texas, US.

Ranking in the top 10pc for eight breeding values, the Injemira Robert Redford Q287 son weighed 1115kg, with an EMA of 145sqcm.

Out of Kymarney Regal Q002, the bull placed in the top 1pc for carcase weight with a value of +89kg, in the top 2pc for calving ease daughters, EMA and retail beef yield per cent with values of +15.7, +89 and +2.5, respectively.

He also placed in the top 6pc for his milk figure of +26, as well as his gestation length figure of -4.4 and in the top 8pc for his 600 day weight value of +105kg.

Talumbi stud co-principal Caleb Croker said he was very happy to clear both bulls he offered in the sale.

"Overall, sales-wise today it has been tough, but we were really happy with what we sold," Mr Croker said.

The other Talumbi bull in the sale, Lot 9, Talumbi Unhinged, sold for $8000.

He was the reserve junior champion and a full brother to the senior champion bull.

This year marks Talumbi's fourth year as the event, but Mr Croker said his family's stud Bolong Herefords, Goulburn, had been coming for close to 60 years.

The show's grand champion bull was knocked down for $20,000 to Jindalee Herefords stud principals Angus and Eunice Vivers, Kings Plains.

After claiming his first supreme sash with their junior bull, Oak Hill stud principal Paul Manwaring said he was extremely happy with the stud's success at the 60th anniversary of the show and sale this year.

"It's definitely a tough season to sell in, but I'm really happy he is going to a good stud and a good home," Mr Manwaring said.

"We're just grateful for the opportunity to be where we are as a small stud."

Another notable sale throughout the draft was Doodle Cooma Usher U011, exhibited by Doodle Cooma Poll Herefords, Wagga Wagga, and purchased by Glenellerslie Hereford, Adelong, for $22,000.

Nutrien south-east stud stock manager Peter Godbolt said under the influence of extremely dry seasonal conditions, the sale performed well.

"For the seasonal conditions, I thought the sale was very good," he said.

"We had a lot of stud support and top-end commercial buyers operating.

"There were a lot of returning clients and a few new ones as well."

Bulls sold to five states, including Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, NSW and Queensland.

"A lot more went north than normal with the [good] season they're having this year," he said.

Mr Godbolt said buyers were taking the opportunity to secure top-end sires at cheaper prices compared to previous years.

The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien, with AuctionsPlus providing the online interface.