Vic stud Mawarra Genetics continued its successful run at the Hereford National Show and Sale in Wodonga on Thursday, by selling the $46,000 top price bull to a fellow well-known Vic stud.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
Yarram Park Herefords, Willaura, secured the sale-topper, Mawarra Whiteout T290, after a burst of competitive bidding.
Bred and exhibited by Mawarra Genetics, Longford, the bull had received the grand champion ribbon the day prior.
The August 2022-drop bull was sired by Mawarra Showtime P277 and out of Mawarra Miss Titania 127.
The grand champion had estimated figures of +7.0 eye muscle area, birth weight value of +6.1, 200-day weight figure of +38, 400-day weight value of +72 and 600-day weight figure of +100.
Yarram Park Herefords stud principal Anthony Baillieu said the stud was ready to identify a bull with good genetics.
"If we could identify one today at a reasonable price, we thought the grand champion was our number one choice," he said.
"The senior bull was also a very good bull and we didn't think that he was particularly dear today.
"There's nothing enormously large about them, apart from they've all got good milk, they've got good eye muscle area, they're positive for intramuscular fats, while they're phenotypically good doing bulls.
"Because the bulls we rare are on grass so we must have bulls that have natural doing ability and the cow lines on both bulls were very strong in Mawarra.
"We regard the cow line very highly, I think if you want some predictability.
"It's important that the bulls are good and the cows particularly good."
Mawarra Genetics stud co-principal Peter Sykes was "really pleased" with the sale result.
"The top-price bull has gone to a good home, Yarram Park, the well-known cattle stud," he said.
"We're really thrilled that he's gone to there.
"We think a lot of the bull and we think he'll do a great job for them."
Mr Sykes said Yarram Park had used Mawarra's genetics for a while and that they've worked "really well" for them.
"We're breeding the type of cattle very similar to their type of cattle and we fit into their program very well."
Yarram Park Herefords took home a total of three top bulls from Mawarra Genetics' lineup.
Mr Baillieu also bought Mawarra Wild Bill T707, for $16,000, and Mawarra Western Star T060 Lot 114 for $26,000, who also the senior champion bull for the show.
The second highest priced bull at the sale was Mawarra Lamborghini T329.
The July 2022-drop bull went for $34,000 and was bought by Amos-Vale Herefords, Pinkett, NSW.
The bull was sired by Mawarra If Only Q264 and was out of Mawarra Minerva 1021.
The Mawarra Genetics breed sire had estimated breeding values of +3.4 EMA, a birthweight value of +3.3, a 200-day weight figure of +23, a 400-day weight figure of +43 and 600-day weight figure of +69.
Amos-Vale Hereford stud principal Mark Campion said he liked his new bull's overall "sire appeal".
"I think he gets up and moves about very, very well," he said.
"He's got tremendous length and depth and he's a beautiful soft calf."
Mr Campion runs a Hereford stud, selling 35 bulls every year, alongside a commercial beef operation.
He said it was mainly the bull's phenotype, rather than its figures, which encouraged him to make the purchase.
"His phenotype is exceptional and I think we still need need to breed good bulls with good phenotype," he said.
Thursday's sale saw varied results with demand affected by a mixed season.
A total of 86 bulls were sold from the 121 offered at the sale, to the top of $46,000 and an average of $11,721.
This was back on the 2023 sale where 118 bulls were sold from 160 offered, to a top of $75,000 and an average of $12,067.
Elders auctioneer Paul Dooley said there had been some really good sales in Wodonga the last couple of years, but today it was the buyers turn.
"Registrations were down with 110 registrations," he said.
"Normally we have 170 or 180.
"It's very dry down this way and I think a lot of the vendors that had realistic expectations would be happy."
Two SA studs sold bulls in the top end of the catalogue, with Ardno Performance Livestock, OB Flat, selling their lot 3 bull, Ardno Urban U223, at $24,000 also to Yarram Park, with their three bulls averaging $14,000, while Wild Bear Herefords, Paris Creek, also sold their lot 67 bull Wild Bear Trademark T019 at $24,000 to RE&CL Foster, Omeo, Vic.
Morganvale Beef, Willalooka, offered five bulls and sold four to $14,000, averaging $8500.
Elsewhere, Melville Park Poll Herefords, Vasey, took home, Granite Hill Toro T010, for $24,000.
The bull was sired by Injemira Robert Redford Q287 and out of Kerlson Pines Annie L1.
The July 2022-drop bull had estimated breeding values of +7.5 EMA, birthweight of +1, 200-day weight of +39, 400-day weight of +70 and 600-day weight of +94.
Melville Park stud principal David Lyons said the bull had "good soft skin" and "good muscle".
"He had good thickness and great EMA, really good carcase data," he said.
Mr Lyons said the bull will be joined naturally to his top cows.
"I'm really happy with the purchase because it was going to be a tough market but the better bulls made money," he said.
Five bulls sold immediately after the auction.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien, interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
Barry Murphy
