MORE than 150 bulls will step into the showring and then go under the hammer as part of the 54th Herefords Australia National Show and Sale at Wodonga in May.
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Held at the Wodonga Exhibition Centre on May 8 and 9, the event will see 68 horned and 86 polled bulls assessed and sold.
Wodonga National committee chairman Alvio Trovatello, Kyneton, Victoria, said while numbers were back a bit on last year because of the drought, the quality was high.
"Numbers are back a little bit but I think that will turn out to be a good thing, as there also won't be the requirement (for as many bulls) as in the past given the drought," Mr Trovatello said.
"But in saying that the quality is always good, people keep their best bulls for Wodonga.
"It always draws a good crowd, people like the idea of being able to see the bulls out there in the ring with similar bulls in their class and get a good comparison ... and make their decisions for the following morning."
The show will kick the event off on May 8 with judging starting at 10am.
Lachlan Day, Days Whiteface, Bordertown, South Australia, will judge the 154 bulls assisted by Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs).
Herefords Australia events and youth co-ordinator, Katelin Davies, Meadows, SA, said the judge would use EBVs to narrow down and select his winner.
Mr Day will use traditional judging methods such as structure and phenotype to pull a few bulls forward and will then use EBVs to assist him in placing them.
The sale will take place from 9am on Thursday May 9 and will be conducted by Elders, Landmark and Ruralco.
It will be interfaced with AuctionsPlus, so those that can't be on the ground on the day will still be able to see all the action online as well as bid.
The Top of the Drop yearling bulls section is back again this year after proving successful last year.
Ms Davies said bulls were coming from South Australia, Queensland, NSW, and Victoria to participate this year. With some of the bigger lines coming from Kaludah Herefords, Rock Flat; Ravensdale Poll Herefords, Holbrook, and Tarcombe Herefords, Ruffy, Victoria.
A dinner with an auction for Herefords Australia Youth will take place on May 8.
