BIDDING reached a top of $12,000 and averaged $6000 at the eight annual Truro Herefords sale at Bellata on Monday.
Bulls sold to stud and commercial clients in NSW and Queensland, with 23 of 41 bulls offered selling for a clearance of 56 per cent.
Repeat clients Tom and Margot Woolaston, “Stratharlie”, Somerton, purchased the top bull, Truro Kingston Town K013, a 24-month-old son of H Victor 0136 and Truro Daffodil F083.
He weighed 941 kilograms, had a scrotal circumference of 44 centimetres and growth estimated breeding values (EBVs) of +5.1 for eye muscle area (EMA) and +43, +80 and +109 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight.
Mr Woolaston said he liked Truro bulls for their value for money.
Kingston Town, the first of Victor 0136’s progeny to be sold in Australia, will be used in the commercial herd of Hereford-cross breeders.
“He had good figures and he’s a well-muscled bull,” Mr Woolaston said.
The second highest selling bull, Truro Klondike K057, sold for $11,000 to Ken and Sue Cudmore, “Eulabah”, Quirindi.
The 23-month-old bull, by Yarram Unique F181 from Truro Markette, weighed 922kg, measured 43cm in the scrotum and had EBVs of +5.7 for EMA and +35, +66 and +98 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight.
Truro King Brown K053, a 23-month-old son of HH Advance 7034T and Truro Daffodil D034, sold to stud client Grant Sargeant, Booyong Herefords, Inverell, for $10,000.
He was the heaviest bull in the catalogue, weighing 958kg, had a scrotal circumference of 43cm and EBVs of +40, 72 and +103 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight.
Ian Gardiner, “Kickerbell”, Quirindi, bought Truro Kokoda K015, a 24-month-old, 794kg bull by Yarram Unique F181 from Truro Fantasia G129, $10,000.
Kokoda had an EBV of +5.6 for EMA.
Truro Kittyhawk, by H Victor 0136 from Bowen Coral D73, sold to Tony Bennett, “Camphill”, Bellata, for $9000.
The 23-month-old bull weighed 900kg, measured 41cm in the scrotum and had EBVs of +5.2 for EMA and +35, +71 and +93 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight.
The sale’s volume buyer was Queensland producer Stewart Hay, “La Palma”, Taroom, who bought four bulls for $4000 each.
The Woolaston family purchased three bulls topping at $12,000 and averaging $7000.
Mr Gardiner, the Cudmores and the Gordon family “Carbuu”, Bourke, each bought two bulls, averaging $8000, $8500 and $4500 respectively.
The sale was conducted by Hamilton Mortimer Agency and Landmark Narrabri, with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, at the rostrum.