Shorthorn Spring Fling sale attracts top studs to Tamworth

Given the tough ongoing seasonal conditions, buyers are likely to be able to pick up some value-for-money sires to boost the genetic quality of their herds.

Fourteen studs - Bungulla, Manilla; Kingsley Vale, Tamworth; Nagol Park, Tamworth; Moombi, Cumnock; Leeds Shorthorns, Jerilderie; Marrington, Narromine; Wynyard, Finley; Logan Farm, Condobolin; Nero, Condobolin; K.O., Condobolin; Eselar Park, Condobolin; Terra and Terralea, Dubbo; and Polldale, Dubbo - will offer 76 bulls at the 29th annual sale.

Last year’s sale topped at $18,000 for a 23-month-old bull, Nagol Park ELMT Lets-Go, offered by Roger and Niaomi Evans, Nagol Park stud, Tamworth.

The sale topper was picked up by repeat clients, Stuart and Angus Faulks, “Arranmore”, Manilla. 

Mr Evans said it would be nice to top this year’s sale with one of Nagol Park’s draft of six bulls, all sons of Yamburgan Zeus K25 bought for $20,000 as a yearling in 2015. 

He hoped the strong demand and keen interest evident at the recent Shorthorn National Sale in Dubbo would flow through to the Spring Fling sale.

More bulls had been sold at Dubbo compared with the previous year, he said.   

While Mr Evans said the ongoing tough seasonal conditions in many parts were a worry in terms of bull demand, it was not all gloom and doom on the weather front with areas to the north of Tamworth receiving recent useful rain.   

He said Shorthorn cattle offered good growth, fertility and carcase qualities.   

The premium for steers that JBS Australia was paying for its Thousand Guineas Shorthorn Beef brand had been a boon to breeders, he said. 

Since the first induction of Shorthorn cattle for the launch of  the Thousand Guineas program in 2015, the popularity of the brand had continued to grow.   

At last year’s Spring Fling sale, 15 studs offered 76 bulls for a 78 per cent clearance and a record sale average of $7144.

The sale will start at 1pm on Thursday, July 26, with selling agents, Elders, in charge of proceedings.