IRONBARK Herefords celebrated 83 years of breeding with a sale high of $32,000 at their annual bull sale near Barraba last Friday.
Strong competition from commercial and stud breeders pushed 24 bulls to double figures, with 137 of the 187 bulls offered sold at auction to average $6935, and several bulls selling after the final fall of the hammer.
The Spencer family welcomed near 100 registered bidders sending Ironbark blood to four states including Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.
The studs 43rd annual bull sale averaged $12,100 after the first 20 bulls and continued a strong performance with a $9115 average after lot 60.
For the fifth consecutive year, Noel and Liz Cook, Kindon Station, Goondiwindi, QLD, secured the top price paying $32,000 for Ironbark 1098Y Advance K375.
The sale top was a 23 month-old HH Advance 1098Y son weighing 742 kilograms and scanning an eye muscle area (EMA) of 109cm2 , an intramuscular fat (IMF) of 5.5 per cent, a rib measure of 7 millimetres, 13mm on the P8 and a scrotal of 40 centimetres.
From Ironbark D225 Miss Minnie G088, INB K375 measured in the top three per cent of the breed for 600-day weight, top 7pc for 200 and 400-day, and top 15pc for milk.
“We liked the thickness and temperament of the bull and thought he was really well put together but we were also chasing the powerhouse genetics,” Mr Cook said. “The Holden genetics crossed with a strong Ironbark female line is what produces our type of cattle - soft with good weight at a young age, early development and ability to meet the trade market.”
2016 marks their 12th year on the 48562 hectare property, and it’s the predictability and proven performance of the Ironbark breeding program that draws the Cook family from Kindon Station each year.
The Cooks secured three bulls including the second top price, paying $20,000 for Ironbark 2037Z Advance K486. At 23 months of age, the HH Advance 2037Z son from Ironbark C225 VIC LASS G029 weighed 730kg, scanned an EMA of 110cm2 , an IMF of 5pc, a rib measure of 8mm, 15mm on the P8 and a scrotal of 38cm. They also took home Ironbark 0132X Advance K085 for $16,000.
“Ironbark cattle have great weight for age, they fit into our lot and bull breeding programs perfectly and handle the dry conditions very well,” Mr Cook said.
Tasmanian beef producers the Boland family, Nara Pastoral Holdings, Burnie, secured four bulls to average $11,500 and topped their draft with Ironbark 1098Y Advance K399 for $18,000.
The HH Advance 1098Y son from Ironbark 416T Minnie R G141 weighed 754kg at 23 months and measured a scrotal of 40cm, 11mm on the P8, 8mm for rib, 114cm2 for EMA and 5.1pc for IMF.
The Boland family, who have supported the Ironbark sale for 14 years, were chasing the Holden bloodlines, complementing the carcase quality, muscle and softness of Advance K399.
Ironbark 2037Z Advance K426 sold to Emu Park Pastoral, Deniliquin, QLD, through Elite Livestock Auctions for $18,000. Sired by the US $80,000 HH Advance 2037Z, INB K426 weighed 720kg at 23 months and scanned 111cm2 for EMA, 5.3pc for IMF, 9mm on the rib, 10mm for P8 and a scrotal of 39cm.
The online bidding platform also secured four lots for long time Ironbark supporters, Rob Teague, Consolidated Pastoral, Ellerston, Scone, to average $12,500.
The first sons of CL1 Domino 955 W hit the mark with Lot 40, Ironbark 955W Domino K229 selling to the Larsen family, Cootamundra for $14,000. The 21 month-old weighed 672kg with a scrotal size of 37cm, a rib measure of 7mm, 10mm on the P8, an EMA of 103cm2 and an IMF of 5pc.
Matt Jackson, Rowena Station, Broken Hill, secured 12 bulls to top at $11,000 and average $6917.
Chris Clemson, Clemson, Hiscox and Co, Walgett, accompanied the Zell family of Golden Ag Pty Ltd, "Taroo" Collarenebri, to their 23rd Ironbark sale where they put together a draft of 10 bulls averaging $6500.
Australian Food and Agriculture, Vic, put together and impressive draft of 10 bulls for their “Boonoke”, Conargo, operation to average $6500 and 19 bulls for their “Wingadee”, Coonamble, production to average $5947.
Jack and Stuart Hicks, Hicks Herefords, Running Creek, Vic, have now purchased over 120 Ironbark bulls including a draft of 13 bulls from this year’s sale to average $4769.
Jamie and Edwina Bishop, Bando Station, Mullaley, secured four bulls to top at $14,000 and average $8500; Piedmont Station, Barraba secured a Twister 416T and Twister G693 sons for $12,000 and $14,000 respectively; Rockwell Partnership Croppa Creek bought a Hamilton E434 son for $10,000; a Home Builder A481 son sold to the Wilson family and Garrah for $12,000; return clients Bill and Helen Cain, “Selkirk”, Strathdownie, Vic, purchased three bulls to average $833; Nahweenah Pastoral Co., Nevertire, averaged $5800 for five bulls and local commercial producers Campbell and Kerry- Anne Tonkin, CTK Cattle Company, Barraba, secured four bulls to average $5500.
Stud principal, Arian Spencer, was truly pleased with an overall strong sale that showed commercial producers looking at Hereford cattle for the economics and not just for looks.
“The Holden bloodlines are proving extremely popular especially for their calving ease and uniformity - the future's looking bright,” Mr Spencer said. “A feature of the sale was the return clientele which is a great testimonial to the Ironbark program.
“Our bulls are raised under realistic feeding programs and in normal paddock conditions to ensure they are fit, fertile and ready to work when they leave - our program doesn’t just stop at the fall of the hammer.”
The sale was conducted by Landmark, Elders, George and Fuhrmann, Hart Rural Agencies and Ray White with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, and Joe Wilks, Elders Stud Stock, sharing the rostrum.
