COMMERCIAL and stud breeders seeking bulls genetically geared to produce more fat and bigger eye muscle areas (EMA) bought well at the 58th annual Herefords Australia Dubbo National show and sale last Tuesday.
Of the 56 offered 28 sold at auction to a top of $30,000 and averaged $8321 while another three were sold post-sale to take the fixture's average to $7903.
With a massive 140 square centimetre EMA and weight of 916 kilograms at just two days short of 22 months, the junior champion and reserve supermarket index champion, Grathlyn Holy Field, made top money for the Rayner family, Grathlyn stud, Hargraves.
Both the breeder, Andrew Rayner, and buyer, Ben Rumbel, Supple stud, Guyra, agreed they didn't believe there had been another Hereford bull with as much weight-to-muscle ratio for his age than Holy Field.
Mr Rumbel, a regular buyer at Dubbo, said the bull had a really good balance of EBVs which would "hopefully" make his calves more valuable.
"He's a really good phenotype animal with good skin and hair and huge weight for EMA ratio and will make a good outcross for the Supple herd," Mr Rumbel said.
The Rayner's Grathlyn and Armada studs sold five bulls to average $13,000 with Grathlyn Holy Field purchased in three shares by Andrew and Brooke Rayner, Armada stud, Hargraves, and Ben and Leanne Rumbel buying a share each with New Zealand semen rights bought by the Maungahina stud, Masterton, NZ.
Warrensville stud, Bordertown, South Australia, paid $12,000 for reserve junior champion Grathlyn Notorious (830kg) while James Croker, Evesham stud, Narrabri, paid $9000 for Grathlyn Nirvana (892kg), and Rod Davies and family, Wrattenbullie stud, Naracoorte, SA, paid $6000 for Grathlyn Nebraska (840kg).
Second top price at $20,000 was the EU Index champion weighing 888kg, Morganvale Naughton, shown by Allan Morgan and family, Keith, SA, and purchased for the Checkers Pastoral Company, Cargo, commercial herd.
Morganvale stud sold three bulls to average $10,000, two bought at $6000 and $4000 by the Wilkinson family, Yallowin, Humila.
The Holcombe family's Rayleigh stud trio sired by Bowen Calibre K207 from Burren Junction averaged $8333 and topped at $14,000 for their intermediate, supermarket and grand championship winner, Rayleigh Nullabor when bought by Tom Nixon, Devon Court stud, Drillham, Queensland.
Mr Nixon said he had purchased six bulls at Dubbo during past years and wanted to improve fat cover.
"We definitely want to add a bit of fat back onto our data while keeping doability in our females for them going back into calf ," he said.
"I think this bull will do a great job within our herd as he is packed full of muscle and he covers himself with fat and depth. He'll do well with those deep old cows that do well in drought."
Tom Lyons, Parmedman, Gulargambone, paid $7000 for Rayleigh Nostradamus, the reserve senior champion
Alistair Day and family, Allendale stud, Bordertown, SA, sold two bulls averaging $13,000. First at $14,000 was the reserve EU Index champion and senior champion Allendale Imperial, purchased by Andrew and Vanessa Schwarz, Oak Downs stud, Senior, SA.
At $12,000, the reserve intermediate champion Allendale Extrovert, sold at MacLachlan Proprietors, Mt Pleasant, SA.
Walcha district Hereford stud breeder, Chris Lile of Tummel stud returned to pay $14,000 for the winner of the oldest class, Minlacowie Warlord, by Waratah National, offered by Slingshot Park Poll Hereford stud, Clunes, Victoria.
Eathorpe stud of Karen Jeffery, Armidale, averaged $8500 for two bulls topping at $12,000 for an intermediate class winner Eathorpe Next Level, by Debarry Obi Wan, bought by Bruce Lack, Temora.
Ravensdale Poll Herefords, Holbrook, gained $10,000 for Ravensdale Warrior, by Injemira Anzac, bought by Mayfield and The Summit stud of Lindendale and Teven.
Yukon Park, Tarcutta, purchased two bulls, paying $8000 for the third placed Armada Newcastle, by Koanui Techno (imp NZ) offered by Andrew and Brooke Rayner, and $4000 for The Ranch Nadal, by Rilo Park Superstar, bred and offered by Greg and Del Rees, The Ranch stud, Tomingley.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Stud Stock and Elders Stud Stock, Dubbo, with Joel Fleming (Landmark) and Paul Dooley (Elders) as auctioneers.