A lift in the average price by $3370 on the autumn bull sale and total clearance of 58 bulls was a feature today for Ian and Diana Locke, Wirruna Poll Hereford stud, Holbrook at their spring bull and female sale today.
A top price of $30,000 was achieved for Wirruna Quevedo Q397, when purchased by Eddy Sellars and his daughter Lucy, Bendoc Park Poll Herefords, Bendoc via Dalgety.
The two-year old son of Koanui Techno 3062 impressed the Sellar's for his superb muscle pattern with a bit of extra bone and carcass quality.
"They also liked the data profile of the bull which will give their genetic program a real lift," Tim Woodham said.
The Nutrien stud stock agent from Wagga Wagga was acting for the Sellar's due to the travel restrictions imposed for COVID-19.
"They still did the bidding via AuctionsPlus, but I was here to back them up," Mr Woodham said.
"A further point was that the attributes of the bulls maternal line are very attractive."
He was referring to the dam Wirruna Victoria J302 who is one of the top donor cows in the Wirruna herd with 19 recognised progeny.
Catalogued as a star lot Wirruna Quevedo Q397 was described in the catalogue as a deep bodied Techno son with exceptional fertility traits and scanned for the second highest marbling in the draft which put him in the top one pc for intramuscular fat (IMF) for the June 2021 Group Breedplan estimated breeding values (EBVs).
His figures included +4.7 calving ease, +69 400 day weight, +91 600 day weight and +23 genetic milk with +2.8 IMF.
The top priced female at $11,000 Wirruna Rose Q113 was bought by Luke Harris, Harbrae Herefords, Talgarno.
The two-year old PTIC daughter of Wirruna Matty M288 was carrying a heifer sired by Wirruna Qantas Q036 and has the highest recorded IMF in the Hereford breed.
"Her IMF is through the roof," Mr Harris explained when he noted his attraction for the lovely heifer.
"That she is pregnant with a heifer calf and is very attractive was a bonus and her length and depth of body are impressive yet she is still extremely feminine."
Mr Harris, who is building the genetic depth of his herd will flush his purchase, who was his pick of the draft on offer.
Speaking after the sale, stud principal Ian Locke said he was 'absolutely overwhelmed' by the consistent demand for both the bulls and females on offer.
"The evenness of the prices paid throughout the entire catalogue was incredible," he said.
"It was wonderful to see such support - there was a lot of depth in the bull prices and the females were even stronger.
"It really was a reflection on the state of the beef market where demand for quality stock seems to have to limit."
The Helmsman auction was led by Damo Halloway and facilitated through AuctionsPlus.
The sale was settled by Atkins Marketing Livestock, Wodonga.
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Stephen Burns
Jackaroo on Merino sheep studs in the Riverina, a lifetime working on the land with sheep, cropping and cattle. Graduate Charles Sturt Uni with degree in Business and a Dean's Certificate. Graduate C.B. Alexander Agricultural College
Jackaroo on Merino sheep studs in the Riverina, a lifetime working on the land with sheep, cropping and cattle. Graduate Charles Sturt Uni with degree in Business and a Dean's Certificate. Graduate C.B. Alexander Agricultural College
