Some of the country’s best whiteface genetics will be on offer in the 57th annual Herefords Australia National Show and Sale at Dubbo.
Thirty three studs from four states – NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland – will sell 112 Poll Hereford bulls.
This year’s sale features four new studs – Lochdale, Beau River, Swan Vale, and Lilydale – as well as five studs – Tahlan, Lindendale, Llandillo, Minlacowie and Morganvale – that are returning to the event.
In previous years, there has been interest from the same four states, with bulls going to stud and commercial producers.
Bull sale chairman Andrew Rayner, Grathlyn stud, Mudgee, said the best Poll Hereford bulls available this year would be sold at Dubbo.
“Everybody holds their best bulls to come to Dubbo, and we have genuine stud sire prospects, with about 25 bulls sold to studs each year, as well as good quality commercial bulls,” Mr Rayner said.
“This year, for the first time, we’ve included the DNA tests so all bulls will be sire verified and free of any known genetic conditions.”
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Agent John Settree, Landmark, said the calibre of bulls was improving each year.
“I’ve been based at Dubbo for 10 years and in that 10 years I’ve seen the quality of cattle improve consistently each year – it’s well known that Dubbo is the premier Poll Hereford event,” he said.
“We get a lot of interest from northern NSW, the western country and central Australia, and as we’ve seen Queensland get more rain over the past three or four months, we’re hopeful there will be competition from those areas this year.”
Last year’s sale had a 90 per cent auction clearance, with the 78 bulls averaging $9423. Forty junior bulls topped at $20,000 to average $8025 while 40 senior bulls averaged $10,550. The sale reached $65,000 for Hunter Lakes Lion Heart L110, offered by the Wile family, Richmond Vale. The 26-month-old son of Days Robin Hood H38 and a South Bukalong Wallace sired Hunter Lakes dam sold to Glenn Bowman, Ridgeview, Rosedale, Vic.
This year’s performance class and bull judging will be held on Monday, June 4, with the sale to be held on Tuesday, June 5.