Studs active, new and return clients at Yalgoo Poll Herefords' 64th sale
Four Hereford studs vied for the right to take home a top-selling Yalgoo Poll Hereford sire during Monday's on-property sale at Walcha.
The 64th annual event sold 36 bulls from 40 offered to average $10,833 and top at $38,000 for Yalgoo Union U198, by Churchill Red Thunder 133J.
Stud principal Jock Nivison's preferred Thunder son, with growth and length and a balanced data set, the bull presented at 836 kilograms at 22 months with a 44 centimetre scrotal circumference and an overall average weight gain of 1.15kg per day.
The bidding played out like a Wimbledon final between two groups of buyers - one in the selling shed and the other online - one comprising Victorian and Tasmanian studs, with the eventual winner going to a partnership between Bolong Herefords at Taralga and Talumbi Herefords at Yarra.
Online buying agent Sam Croker, Nutrien Goulburn, whose brother Daniel and nephew Caleb own Talumbi, said the sire ticked the right boxes for the family.
"I liked his outlook, scope and scale," he said. "He is full of muscle with plenty of softness. He presented as the complete package.
"Jock has honed in on carcase traits and phenotype. When you see the paperwork, that data goes hand in hand. It's a real credit to him as a breeder."
The bull will have semen collected for insurance and Mr Croker said there was interest in those bottled genetics "straight away".
First-time buyer James Grazing, Silverleigh, at Wandoan, Qld, paid $16,000, twice, and came away with three sires in total to average $13,333 to go into a purebred Hereford herd with progeny destined for the feedlot.
One of their top bulls, Yalgoo Scout U169, by SHF Houston D287 H086, from a "deep and gutsy" cow in Yalgoo Blush Q018, the 796kg sire came with top one per cent of the breed's index values, including a sustainability production index of +$244 and an MSA production index of +238.
His estimated breeding values included top 10pc for 200-, 400- and 600-day growth, carcase, eye muscle area and intramuscular fat.
Repeat Yalgoo client, Mayfield Poll Hereford stud at Lindendale via Lismore, paid $14,000 for Yalgoo Upstart U020 by KE Warra Maxwell R156 with top 3pc sustainability production and top 2pc MSA production index values with top 10pc for calving ease daughters and gestation length. His EMA and IMF are in a similar band.
Mayfield stud principals Dave and Kaye Martin said the bull would fit well into their program because of his pedigree.
"We like Yalgoo bulls because when we take them down to the coast, they don't miss a beat. We keep them in a paddock for a week and introduce them to our cows."
Swanbrook Hereford stud at Tamworth paid the same money for Yalgoo Undertaker U059 by KE Warra Maxwell R156.
Organic pure-bred Hereford producers Scott Proud and Jennifer Schweanesen, Surat, Qld, bought three bulls to average $12,666 and top at $16,000 for Yalgoo Underpin U081, by SHF Top Horizon D287 H022, with top 1pc growth and calving ease along with top 5pc fertility and top 3pc profit.
Mr Proud said fertility was the main profit driver for their enterprise and that was why they had gone back to purebred Hereford and away from cross breeding, with their bulls working a 45-day joining period for the past decade.
"Jock does an excellent job and we like the fact that he carries out a service capacity test as we run 1.5-2pc bull cover on our herd of 550-600 breeders," he said.
"We match our stocking rate to carrying capacity and we find the lighter rate moire profitable."
The sale was hosted by Elders Studstock with guest auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth, and AuctionsPlus tackling the online action.
