The annual Herefords Australia National Sale hit a top price of $40,000 and averaged $7079 on Thursday.

Held at the Wodonga exhibition Centre on May 9, the sale drew 141 lots from 40 vendors with buyers coming from as far south as Tasmania and north into Queensland.

Of the 141 bulls offered, 114 sold under the hammer for a clearance rate of 81pc and a gross of $807,000.

A further eight bulls sold after the sale, lifting the final clearance to 122/141 or 87pc.

Elders stud stock agent Ross Milne described the clearance and the average as “very satisfying.”

“I think it was a pretty solid sale considering the conditions that a lot of Australia has been facing.” He  said.

All four Top of the Drop bulls sold, averaging $7625 with a top price of $11,000 which was paid by Karoonda Pastoral for the grand champion bull, Tarcombe Justin P016.

Junior bulls sold to a top price of $14,000 and averaged $6318 with an 82pc clearance rate.

In the senior division, 55 of 70 bulls sold for a 79pc clearance rate with a top price of $40,000 and an average of $7800.

The top price of $40,000 was paid by Yarram Park Herefords, Willaura, Victoria, for Mawarra Rhinestone N108.

Offered by the Sykes family of Mawarra Herefords, Longford, Victoria, 24-month-old Rhinestone weighed 1018kg, scanned with an eye muscle area of 133sq cm, rump fat of 26mm, rib fat of 14mm and a scrotal circumference of 38sq cm.

A son of the prominent Allendale Anzac E114 and out of Mawarra Miss Titania 054, Rhinestone boasted an impressive set of EBVs, with 200, 400, and 600-day growth figures in the top 5pc of the breed.

Rhinestone will be added to the Yarram Park AI program as well as being joined to cows this year.

The Sykes family wasy pleased with their sale results, having offered and sold 10 bulls for an average price of $15,500.

The second top price of $25,000 was paid for Glendan Park New Sensation N060 by Mark and Wendy Campion of Amos Vale Herefords, Pinkett, NSW.

Sold by the Trovatello family of Glendan Park Herefords, Kyneton, Victoria, New Sensation was the top priced horned bull of the sale and placed first in his class on show day.

At 24 months of age, New Sensation weighed 1072kg, scanned with an EMA of 136sq cm, rump fat of 24mm, rib fat of 15mm and had a scrotal circumference of 43cm.

Amos Vale was a repeat buyer at Wodonga this year, also purchasing Mawarra Glory N159 for $14,000.

Third top price of the sale of $24,000 was paid for another Mawarra bull; Mawarra Real Time N038.

Purchased by Kelly and Teeny Runzer of Tenaru Poll Herefords, Goondiwindi, Queensland, Real Time is a moderate birthweight bull by New Zealand sire Koanui Techno 3062.

Ravensdale Poll Herefords also had a successful sale day, selling all 16 of their bulls for a $6900 average, and a top price of $20,000. Purchased by Ken and Elizabeth Ikin of Cloverlee Poll Herefords, Bannister, NSW, Ravensdale Hotwire was sired by Injemira Anzac K220.

Brian Burgess of Ravensdale was very happy to have sold all 16 bulls.“Truthfully, I think the sale went very well considering the widespread tough conditions. We’re very happy not to be taking any (bulls) home,” he said.

Wodonga Show and Sale committee chairman, Alvio Trovatello agreed that the sale had a good result considering the season.

“It was a good outcome, with a good top, a good middle and overall good average.

“There were a lot of bulls that sold at $4000 but really at the end of the day in the current environment I think the clearance was a good outcome and when everyone goes home and analyses it and digests it they’ll be pretty happy with that.” Mr Trovatello said.

Source: Herefords Australia