Talbalba Herefords' 2025 top price paid twice; buyers chase carcase, growth

Two herds - one stud, one commercial - that were both founded in 1952 paid the equal top price of $30,000 for what they described as balanced bulls with 'heaps of carcase' at Talbalba Hereford's 2025 bull sale.

The 9^th on-property sale at Bringalily, near Millmerran, on Thursday, August 28, saw 57 of 70 bulls sell to a $13,544 average. Two more were sold afterwards for $6000 each to bring the total clearance to 84 per cent.

The sale kicked off with a bang when Melinda and James Higgins, Currackabark Angus and Herefords at Gloucester in NSW, secured Talbalba Kenroy U130, a 24-month-old 1012 kilogram homozygous poll bull for $30,000.

It hit another high not long after when St George feeder steer specialists Daryl and Antoinette Bjorksten, Beralga Herefords, also paid $30,000 for Talbalba Southern Cross UO53.

Bidding was furious for the first part of the sale, with several bulls selling for $20,000 and $22000 - some online via AuctionsPlus - a $24,000 purchase and the second top-price hitting $26,000. That was for Talbalba Southern Cross U110, who will go to Wandong Herefords at Yeoval in NSW.

Both the Higgins and Beralga are repeat Talbalba customers.

Beralga runs 700 Hereford breeders primarily for feeder steer production, this year turning stock off at an average 450 kilograms by 20 months.

"We do, when seasons allow for oats, take some through to slaughter weights so while growth-for-age is key we are also looking for carcase traits and this is a very good carcase bull," Mr Bjorksten said.

The bull was by Tobruk Southern Cross S15, a Herefords Australia Super Sire used over heifers, and Mr Bjorksten said he had found all the Southern Cross bulls to be extremely consistent with carcase traits.

Meanwhile, the Higgins chose lot one, a son of Talbalba Techno S101, which has been sold to Buckinbah, for his length, skin type, body shape, foot profile and temperament - Mr Higgins described him as "unflappable".

"He will go to more moderate, lighter cows. His data is balanced, which we really like," Mr Higgins said.

The Higgins plan on travelling to four states this bull buying season.

"If you insist on being fussy you have to do the miles yourself and we are fussy - we're not keen on giving away much at all," Mr Higgins said.

The 2025 results compare to 63 bulls averaging $14,666 and a top at $34,000 with a 95 per cent clearance last year, with a number of big crossbreeding regular buyers out of the mix, having made big purchases last year.

Talbalba bulls have made six-figure sums in recent years.

Buyers came from a wide area, including Injune, Wandoan, Meandarra, Dalby and down to Dubbo and Inverell in NSW.

Volume buyers included the Bowhay's Buckinbah Stud at St George, which took six bulls to an average $19,000; the Haig family at Cunnamulla who took six to an average $10,000 and McKenchnie Earthmoving at St George that took five bulls to an average $10,400.

• Agents: GDL Dalby and Nutrien Livestock, Toowoomba.