Leading Shorthorn genetics on offer in national show and sale at Dubbo.

The breed's biggest event will take place on June 15 and 16 at Dubbo Showgrounds, with judging on the Tuesday, which includes led and unled bulls for the first time, followed by the bull and female sale on the Wednesday.

In the unled section the 18 entries will be judged as one class by Gloucester stud producer Ted Laurie, Knowla Livestock, with the champon unled to go up against the champon junior and senior led bulls for grand champion bull, which receives the Macquarie Williams memorial trophy.

There have also been changes to the sale this year, with females being sold following the bull sale in an open cry auction rather than the usual helmsman sale that was usually held following judging.

Catalogued for this year's national sale, which will be interfaced with Elite Livestock Auctions, are 83 bulls and 16 females, offered by 30 studs in four states - NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania.

The Shorthorn national is regarded as a one-stop shop for high quality Shorthorn genetics, and this year is no exception, according to committee president Ian Lambell.

Not only have the sale vendors had to focus on their best genetics as they destocked during drought, but the 2021 sale bulls have had the best start possible in many years.

"In talking to the vendors over the last couple of weeks, some are saying these are the best bulls they've ever had, because they only kept their best calves in the drought, and they've had the past 18 months on grass whereas in the last few years they've all been hand-fed," Mr Lambell said.

Mr Lambell said the national show and sale was an event that brought the Shorthorn family together each year. He expects the unled section of the show, which has been introduced this year, to grow.

"I think we'll always need a led section, but the unled section has given the vendors an opportuntiy to only break a few bulls in, and they can sell a few more unled."

Vendors and agents are hoping to repeat the success from last year, which had high averages and clearances, with 55 of 60 bulls selling for an average of $8236 and four of the five females selling, averaging $5125.

The bulls topped at $32,000 for Nagol Park YM Picasso P124 and heifers reached $8000 for Leeds Ingrid Wayward Q15.

While the judging gives potential purchasers the opportunity to view the bulls in action, some of the sale bulls may also be viewed prior to the event, through open days being held by individual studs.