AFTER 40 years of Poll Hereford breeding (36 of those recording through the National Beef Recording Scheme - now Breedplan), John and Mary Birdsey dispersed their River Perry Poll Hereford herd at Perry Bridge last week.
The sale included cows with calves at foot, joined heifers, unjoined heifers, stud sires and working-age bulls.
A large crowd of cattle producers and stud breeders turned out to the sale, many of whom picked up some new genetics to add to their herds or to strengthen the poll breeding within their herds.
Barry and Topsy Newcomen, Newcomen Herefords, Ensay, selected two cows with heifer calves at foot, topping the sale at $5800 for a four-year-old daughter of Markowen Broker with a stylish River Perry Fergus heifer calf.
The Newcomens also paid $4000 for another cow also accompanied by an RP Fergus calf.
Buchan-based Valley Vista Herefords selected a six-year-old cow with Heatherdale bloodlines on both sides for $5200, with a striking RP Fergus bull calf.
Volume female buyers included Whispering Valley Poll Herefords, Strath Creek, taking 12 females (mainly joined and unjoined stud heifers) and a bull at $4200; Vening Pastoral Co, Hedley, with 10 cows; SL&DM Walker, Sale, with 10 females; and Glenellerslie Herefords, Adelong, NSW, averaging more than $2000 for its pick of one cow and three heifers.
Paul Sykes, Karoonda Herefords, Gelantipy, added to his poll genetics, taking eight females to $4200 for a cow with a Valma Napoleon11-sired bull calf at foot.
Red Hill Herefords, Euroa, took home the top-priced bull at $5250, with Valley Vista taking another sire for $5200.
Semen sold to $110 as straws and grossed $7500, with cattle and stud equipment along with the sale seating going under the hammer to conclude the sale.
The few passed-in lots will go through the store sale at Sale, with John and Mary Birdsey retiring from livestock breeding.
Bidding was from all areas of Victoria, with buyers also attending from NSW, South Australia and Tasmania.
