Selling to $46,000 and averaging $15,775 for 40 bulls, the Tycolah Poll Hereford stud, Barraba, continued its trend of ongoing success as a supplier of seedstock and commercial whiteface cattle.
At last year's sale, the average for 31 bulls sold was $13,548, which was more than double the average of the 2020 sale, with a $6642 average for 28 of 31 bulls. The first 10 bulls offered in the sale averaged $23,200.
The top-selling bull was bought by well-known Droughtmaster breeders Mac and Gayle Shann, Cantaur Park, Clermont, Queensland.
The Shanns have been using Charolais bulls to breed first cross animals as terminal sires and for breeding bulls to sell to northern buyers.
However, it was the recent ACM Sire Shootout, an online beef cattle judging competition, where Mr Shann spotted the two bulls that Tycolah had entered and gave him the idea to consider a change.
ACM is the publisher of The Land, Queensland Country Life, North Queensland Register, Stock and Land, Stock Journal and Farm Weekly, online and weekly agricultural newspapers.
"After watching them on the Shootout, I went to the Tycolah Facebook page and was really impressed with what I saw," Mr Shann said.
The Shanns bought Tycolah Terry, R017, which was sired by Tycolah Queenscliffe N029 and the sire of Tycolah Taree R011, which finished in the top 10 bulls in the Shootout.
Terry weighed 938 kilograms and is 22 months old, with an eye muscle area (EMA) of 133 square centimetres. It possessed great estimated breeding values (EBVs) for carcase weight (CWT) of +70 and a +6.4 for its birthweight EBV.
"He's an incredibly well-built bull and had plenty of muscle. If the calves from this bull's cross are the same quality, I think we'll really have something," Mr Shann said.
"His strength of head is also something I really liked."
Cantaur Park also paid $14,000 for Tycolah Uralla, a 17-month-old son of Allendale Bingara K184. Mr Shann said while Uralla was "A bit of an insurance policy", he was confident both bulls would click well with his Droughtmaster breeders.
The second top price of $42,000 was paid by Elders Cooma on AuctionsPlus, for Tycolah Tully R073, another son of Allendale Bingara.
Tycolah stud co-principal Steve Crowley said Tully was one of his favourite bulls in the sale.
"He has great skin and hair, is a beautifully balanced bull out of a good breeding cow line."
Aged 20 months, Tully weighed 778kg and had an EMA of 115sq/cm and a +44 CWT EBV.
Okeview Pastoral, Rockview Scone has been busy at the Cascade and Bowen bulls sales earlier in the week and bought three bulls at Tycolah for $20,000, $10,000 and $10,000.
Ramsey and Bulmer, account Chris Whitney, Old Bonalbo bought Tycolah Trigger for $22,000 and Tycolah Tiktok for $10,000.
Crookwell-based Tarlee Herefords and Cloverlee Herefords paid $26,000 for a Koanui Techno 3062 son, Weetaliba Quarterback Q15. Tarlee principal Daniel Tarlington and his father Ken Ikin plan to use the bull for natural service and as a back sire for their artificial breeding program.
Mr Tarlington said his sons, Charlie and Hayden, were great Hereford enthusiasts and were part of the reason why the two studs had invested.
Louis Leake, Chocolate Park Herefords, Millicent South Australia and his sons Lachie and Duncan made the long trip worthwhile picking up Tycolah Tomahawk for $18,000. Mr Leake's grandfather Louis Leake, was the founding president of the Poll Hereford Society in Australia. His stud prefix was Cudgeona.
A return buyer from Queensland was Hornet Bank Pastoral Company with two bulls averaging $16,000 while the Brook family, Adria Downs, Birdsville bought two bulls averaging $6000.
The top-priced heifer was Tycolah Pacette S005, sired by Tycolah Queenscliffe, bought by Nutrien Wagga Wagga on AuctionsPlus for $12,000. Pacette was part of the trio of Tycolah entries that won the sire's progeny group at this year's Royal Easter Show.
McCulloch Agencies Wauchope, account C and J Latimore, Wauchope were a volume buyer with six heifers averaging $6800.
The selling agents were Nutrien Ag Solutions, the auctioneer was Paul Dooley, and AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
Read more in The Land and Queensland Country Life.
Simon Chamberlain
I have comprehensive experience in rural and regional journalism, as well as more than six years as a media officer for several politicians and worked in local government. I rejoined The Land in May 2022 and have loved being back in harness, reporting on a massive range of topics.
I have comprehensive experience in rural and regional journalism, as well as more than six years as a media officer for several politicians and worked in local government. I rejoined The Land in May 2022 and have loved being back in harness, reporting on a massive range of topics.
