'Presence and style' attracts surprise top bid at Kidman Poll Hereford auction

A bull with "presence" captured the attention of buyers, and is destined for stud duties, following the Kidman Poll Hereford on-property bull sale on Monday, July 13 at the Dulcidene sale complex, Dubbo.

The sale offered 30 bulls with 23 sold during the auction, to a top price of $26,000 and an average $11,478.

The top price bull, Kidman Conclude V014, a May 2024-drop, 936-kilogram son of Limehills Starter 160062, was the first calf of heifer Kidman Vanity S164, which goes back to Wirruna Lego L395.

His estimated breeding value (EBV) figures include a 200-day weight of +42 - in the top 15 per cent on Breedplan - as well as 400-day and 600-day weights of +75 and +109, both in the top 10pc.

Also in the top 10pc was carcase weight at +76, while the gestation length of +5.6 and maternal cow weight of +114 were in the top 5pc.

The successful bidder was Jonathan Hore, who operates Rotherfield Poll Hereford stud at Holbrook with brother Andrew.

Mr Hore had been traveling north and stopped in to view the offering at Kidman, saying they had bought and liked Kidman cattle before, but with no plans to buy anything.

"I wasn't planning to buy a bull this morning," he said.

But after seeing the bull, he was impressed by the "whole package" and decided to stay for the sale.

"It's the bone, length, the way he held his head," he said.

"He's the best foundation stud sire here.

"The bull that catches your eye first, it's hard to say what it is, but you'll walk back into the pen a dozen times he'll keep catching your eye."

Mr Hore also bought 20 straws of semen for Kidman Head Master, the $50,000 top price bull from the 2025 sale, at $50 a straw.

Kidman principal Nelson Carlow said Conclude had "presence, style and phenotype" as well as a good range of EBV figures.

"He has stud sire appeal," he said.

Also attracting strong bidding interest was Kidman Pay Day V003, a March 2024-drop, 914kg bull, which sold for $20,000.

The son of LH Wagerer T023 and heifer Kidman Vanity S013, had a 200-day weight of +47 (top 5pc), 400-day weight of +76 (top 10pc) and 600-day weight of +103 (top 15pc) as well as scrotal size of +3.6, eye muscle area of +7.2 and intramuscular fat percentage of +1.7, while the days to calving of -10.0, carcase weight of +82, rib fat of +2.7 and rump fat of +4.9 were all in the top 5pc.

Kidman has retained the right to collect 50 straws of semen for within its herd.

Pay Day was bought by Wooling Pastoral Co, Landillo, via phone bidding.

Another standout was Kidman Williams V019, knocked down at $18,000 to BA and MF Robins, Arkell.

Williams was the sold son of Injemira Robert Redford Q287 offered in the sale, by heifer Kidman Miss Gun S043.

He had a 200-day weight of +47 (top 5pc), 400-day of +74 (top 10pc) and 600-day of +100 (top 15pc), as well as mature cow weight of +95, carcase weight of +77, eye muscle area of +7.0 and daughter calving ease of +13.7.

The Robins family bought two bulls in the auction and a third bull shortly after for an average $11,333.

The sale's volume buyer was Escon Services, Tooraweenah, which picked up four bulls to $16,000, averaging $10,000.

Mr Carlow said he was pleased with the presentation of the bulls, following a tough start to the season, and the sale outcome, with a mix of returning and new clients.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien with Paul Dooley the auctioneer, while StockLive provided the online interface.