Merawah Poll Herefords celebrates a century with strong support at annual sale
Marking 100 years in Hereford breeding, there was strong support from Queensland and Northern Territory buyers at the Merawah Poll Herefords annual sale, Boggabilla, on Tuesday, July 14.
The top-priced lot was Merawah Rex V066 at $32,000, while all up, 46 sold at auction out of the 51 offered, averaging $13,695.
The top price matches the 2025 sale, with averages up on last year.
In pre-sale remarks, Merawah co-principal Andrew Mackay reflected on his family's achievements across a century of breeding Herefords.
"Hereford cattle have been good to us all that time, they're the best base breed in the business," he said.
The sale topper, a July 2024-drop, 918-kilogram son of Mountain Valley Rex R113, out of Merawah Shamrock NO18, was snapped up by the Lethbridge family of Warren Point Poll Herefords, Mitchell, Queensland.
Charles Weyman-Jones represented Chris Lethbridge at the sale, and said Mr Lethbridge had inspected the bulls two weeks ago.
He said V066 had the structural traits Mr Lethbridge looked for.
"The bull had a lot of frame and a great spine," Mr Weyman-Jones said.
"Mr Lethbridge does a lot with Merawah sires, and has one of the oldest annual bull sales, supplying mainly western Queensland."
The bull had a low birthweight estimated breeding value (EBV) of +6.9 and gestational length of -1.3.
It had an eye muscle area EBV of +6.2, a 200-day growth EBV of +40, 400-day of +76 and 600-day of +116, while its milk EBV was +24. The intramuscular fat figure was +0.4 with rump of -0.8.
Repeat volume buyers were also in strong attendance, with Central Australia's Mt Riddock Station buying eight bulls to a top of $24,000 and an average $15,250.
Mt Riddock Station covers an area of about 2635 square kilometres and is managed by Steve Cadzow, who said his family had been buying at Merawah since 1976.
He said the high growth rates of the bulls he bought suited his operation.
"They have good figures, they're a good class of bull and their temperaments are great," Mr Cadzow said.
"Merawah bulls are consistent and they suit our climate and what we do with feeder steers."
The Staniforth family from Bogong bought four bulls to a top of $24,000 for Merawah Realtor VO35 and an average of $19,500.
Volume buyers from Central West NSW bid strongly with the Doyle family of Warrowie, Condobolin, securing four bulls to a top of $8000 and an average of $7000.
Queensland interest was also strong, with the Henning family of Glenmorgan securing three bulls to a top of $16,000, averaging $12,666.
Included in the sale was an offering by co-vendor Kelly Runzer, Tenaru, who offered and sold eight bulls to a top of $24,000 and an average of $11,500.
Toowoomba, Qld-based Elders stud stock agent Andrew Meara said the market was strong, especially given recent dry conditions.
"It was a very strong market with a lot of repeat buyers and a few new ones too," he said.
"The Northern Rivers was very strong as well as the Territory, western Queensland and Central West NSW."
Mr Mackay said he was pleased with the overall result, particularly given it coincided with the stud's 100th year.
"It was a good day. Conditions along the border kept a few of our regulars away that would normally be buying in volume but the cow herd around here has halved or more," he said.
"Given that, we were really happy with the result."
This year's sale also included the first sons of the $130,000 Truro Sherlock, which Mr Mackay said added the carcase shape and power he expected.
The selling agents were Elders stud stock and Wilks and McKean Livestock. The auctioneer was Paul Dooley and AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
