AN HISTORIC day for the Poll Hereford breed and Jim and Sue Gunn and family last Friday when they held their final bull sale of Sevenbardot stud at “Wigelmar”, Bylong.
Of 70 bulls offered 64 sold at auction topping at $16,000 twice and averaging $7078. The 46 two-year-olds averaged $7435 with both sale-toppers from within this section while eight yearling bulls averaged $6166.
First of the top sellers was Sevenbardot King Kong L142 by Wynella King Kong and from an Eleanor dam, the heaviest bull weighing 1049 kilograms with an eye muscle area (EMA) of 137 square centimetres, scrotal circumference of 46cm and intramuscular fat (IMF) of 6.4 per cent.
King Kong was purchased by Raddon, Dian and Bruce Reynolds, Fullerton stud, Crookwell, and believed to be the first Poll Hereford bull purchased for their stud.
Returning buyer of 10 years standing Bruce Staniforth, “Bogong”, Condobolin, paid the second top money when buying three bulls for an $8667 average. The $16,000 bull was Sevenbardot Ripstop L118 by Mawarra Little Rippa and from a Posy dam, the second heaviest bulll weighing 1013kg with an 132sqcm EMA and 6.3pc IMF.
Mr Staniforth’s other buys at $5000 were sired by Injemira Aberdeen and Sevenbardot Bentley. He joins 600 cows and produces steers for feedlotters at 14 to 16 months.
Pam Shelley, Kaludah stud, Cooma, paid second top money of $15,000 for Sevenbardot Option L4 by Sevenbardot Vision and from a Mable dam weighing 930kg with 131sqcm EMA and 5.3 IMF.
Mt Riddock Station, Alice Springs, returned and bought nine bulls for a $7333 average. Principal, Steve Cadzow, said his father, Dick, first bought bulls from the Gunn family in 1976 when Sevenbardot was at Goondiwindi, Queensland. He now runs a 4500 cow herd with 1500 being Poll Herefords and breeds cattle for the feedlot and European Union markets with a number at the Princess Royal feedlot in South Australia at present.
Among Mr Cadzow’s buys was the $14,000 Sevenbardot Windstorm L132 by Merawah Windstorm weighing 966kg with 128 EMA and 6.3pc IMF.
Phil Harding, “Brooklyn”, Condobolin, returned to purchase three bulls and paid an average $7333 and top at $11,000 for Sevenbardot Windstorm by Merawah Windstorm.
Moving herd Qld to King Island
John and Brenda Poulsen have been buying Sevenbardot bulls for 10 years for their “Wongalee” herd at Dirranbandi, Queensland, but have made a “big” sea change and bought eight bulls this year for their new venture at “Broadwoods”, King Island.
Their draft averaged $6625 topped at $11,000 for Sevenbardot Option L62 of 1004kg, 130sqcm EMA and 6.7pc IMF.
Mr Poulsen said the move would take up to12 months but they would enjoy a regular rainfall ensuring grass fattening, which he believed had a “huge” future for more naturally produced food.
“We have a son at “Wongalee” and another at “Broadwoods”, so our bases are in good care as we continue the transition,” he said.
Rotational grazing is on ryegrass and clover and Mr Poulsen said cattle don’t bloat on clover there.
The Cuan Pastoral Company, Scone, secured six bulls for a $9000 average with three at $10,000 each and another at $9000.
The Johnston family, “Nwobelong”, Bugaldie, also paid a $7333 average for three bulls topping at $9000 while the Hurley family, “Kalabra”, Condobolin, paid $7333 average for three bulls also topping at $9000.
The sale was conducted by Elders, Mudgee, and Landmark Townsend, Scone, and Paul Dooley, Tamworth and Brian Kennedy, Elders Tamworth, shared auctioneering.