A YOUNG sire who impressed an international judge to win grand champion bull also captured the interest of buyers who bid to a top of $46,000 at the 2024 Herefords Australia National Sale.

Held at the Wodonga Exhibition Centre on May 16, the national sale drew 126 registered buyers from NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania competing on the junior, intermediate and senior horned and polled bulls from 45 vendors.

Mawarra Whiteout T290 (S) had been judged by American Hereford Association chief operating officer, Shane Bedwell, as the grand champion bull a day earlier at the Herefords Australia National Show, and was snapped up by Antony Baillieu, Yarram Park Herefords, Willaura, Vic, for $46,000.

A total of 91 bulls sold under the hammer from the 121 offered for a 75 per cent clearance, with an average of $11,406 and gross of $1,038,000.

In the sale break down, 62 junior bulls topped at $46,0000, averaged $12,193 and grossed $756,000 whilst 29 senior bulls topped at $26,000, averaged $9724 for a gross of $282,000.

Offered by Peter and Deanne Sykes, Mawarra Genetics, Longford, Vic, the 21-month-old Mawarra Whiteout T290 weighed 924 kilograms and scanned with an eye muscle area of 136 centimetres.

On BREEDPLAN, the bull ranked top nine per cent for carcase weight at +71kg, top two per cent for milk, and top 15 per cent for 400- and 600-day weight.

Yarram Park went on to invest in a bull battery, selecting the senior champion bull Mawarra Western Star T060 (AI) (PP), sired by Mawarra Star Attraction P033, for $26,000 from the Sykes family.

Yarram Park also outlaid $24,000 for Ardno Urban U223 (AI) (ET) (PP), a son of Herefords Australia Super Sire Injemira Robert Redford Q287, from first-time vendors Kent and Harry Comley, Ardno Herefords, Mount Gambier.

Mawarra Wild Bill T707 (AI) (ET) (PP), also from the Mawarra stable, sold to Yarram Park for $16,000.

Yarram Park Herefords manager, Craig Brewin said the new sires represented an injection of power into the stud cow herd.

“At the end of the day, we bought the best bulls here to show our commitment to the way forward,” he said.

“They were good value and we took the opportunity to buy a couple of extra bulls than what we wanted to, but we were happy with what we got.”

He said BREEDPLAN figures were considered for the end progeny’s programs of grass finishing and feedlot entry weights with large eye muscle areas and high MSA (Meat Standards Australia) grading.

“At Yarram Park we have lifted our numbers after buying Yarram Park blood heifers at the January weaner sales (for an August joining) and there is a focus to breed our own genetics commercially, joining 3000 cows in South East South Australia. At Yarram Park we have 800-900 commercial cows.”

Other locals active in the sale were David and Olwyn Lyons, Melville Park Herefords, Vasey, paying $24,000 for the intermediate reserve champion bull Granite Hill Toro T010 (ET) (PP), an 914kg son of Injemira Robert Redford Q287, from vendors Danny and Debbie Hill, Granite Hill Herefords, Bungendore, NSW.

Mr Lyons was impressed with Toro’s soft skin, muscle, thickness, and carcase data.

Nutrien South East Stud Stock manager, Peter Godbolt said the sale equated to value buying in the $6000-$8000 price range for commercial producers whilst seedstock operators were spending $15,000-$46,000.

“The commercial producers did pick up some very good bulls cheaply, but they were also willing to take on the studs and bid up to $22,000 in chasing quality,” he said.

“They were wanting bulls with good carcase data and moderate birth weight.”

Herefords Australia National Show and Sale Committee chairman, Alvio Trovatello said the sale result was a good outcome in light of the subdued cattle market and dry seasonal conditions in southern Australia.

“Buyers were chasing cattle with carcase and weight for age while maintaining carcase quality,” he said.

He said holding the Herefords Australia Breed Forum in conjunction with the National would be considered again to encourage more commercial producers to attend the event.

Mr Trovatello said the Wodonga National had long enjoyed a social and networking aspect for stud and commercial producers, and it was important for it to be maintained.

“Our new sale coordinator, Charlotte Nugent hit the ground running and it is great to see young people stepping up and taking things on,” he said.

“We had five new vendors this year and we want to see more of that whilst keeping the quality of the bulls in mind.”

THE $46,000 grand champion Mawarra Whiteout T290 (S), held by Logan Sykes, Mawarra Genetics, with vendor Peter Sykes, Longford, Vic, buyers, Craig Brewin, Mick Petersen, Yarram Park Herefords, Willaura, Ross Milne, Elders, Antony Baillieu, Yarram Park, and Paul Dooley, auctioneer. Photo: SUPPLIED.