Karoonda Herefords
46 of 50 bulls sold to $25,000, av $6696
Valley Vista Herefords
Total clearance of seven bulls sold to $6000, av $4714
TRADITIONAL Hereford markings attracted bidders to a bull with a legendary name, enough to pay a record-breaking $25,000 for Lot 9, Karoonda RM Williams, on Tuesday.
The late February 2014-drop bull, with a birthweight (BW) +7.3, was an impressive dark chocolate with white face, chest and legs. He was used to join heifers and cows last year.
The bull’s genetics include Karoonda, Cootharaba and Glenwarrah Men At Work and he boasts an eye muscle area (EMA) +3.2, pigmentation 100/100 and scrotal circumference (SC) 40cm. Purchaser Russell Foster, Omeo, was a first-time buyer of Karoonda Hereford bulls.
“I like his lengthy softness and he looked like a very easy doing bull, with good EBVs,” Mr Foster said.
“I look at the bull first, then look at the EBVs. I was particularly attracted to his traditional Hereford markings, I want a bit more white on the cows’ legs. He should produce good calves and cows.
“I’m breeding cows up to a tonne in weight and I think he can help me produce more big cows. He’s bringing new genetics into the herd and I’ll join him to second-calving cows.”
For Karoonda Hereford Stud’s principal, the sale results – with 75 bidders, 20 more than usual – were humbling. “I’m very heartened by the support today from everybody,” he said.
The largest crowd ever seen at a Karoonda bull sale was keen to buy many of the bulls on offer.
Among the volume buyers were Benambra’s Lou and Sharon Pendergast, who bought six bulls to $9000. Ms Pendergast said they were investing in growing their Hereford breeding herd following the recent strong mountain calf sales.
Among attending studs looking for new bulls was Andrew Klippel, Sugarloaf Creek Herefords, Towong, who bought Karoonda Reggie for $12,000. This July 2014-drop bull had pigment 100/100, BW 38kg, SC 38cm, EMA 106 also boasted sire genetics of Glenwarrah Men At Work. Mr Klippel, a first-time buyer at Karoonda, said he was looking for a new bull to join to heifers and was attracted by the bull’s photograph in the catalogue.
“So I had to go and see him and then I had to buy him. We were looking for soft cosmetics and he’s got them. We’d also bought a Glenwarrah bull out of a Karoonda sire previously and liked his results,” he said.
A repeat buyer paid top bid of $6000 for Valley Vista Hereford Stud’s Lot 30, Joffrey, born August 2013, out of Glenwarrah Men At Work, Valley Vista and Red Hill genetics. With a BW 37kg, EMA 121 and SC 41cm, the bull weighed 852kg.
John and Nola Ross, trading as CJ Pendergast & Co, Omeo Station, Benambra, were attracted to how the stud’s bulls already performed in their 700-cow breeding herd.
“I like their temperament, coats and calves. I thought this bull had similar figures to a previous bull we’ve bought from Rick and his progeny made $1090 at the recent calf sale,” Mr Ross said.
Auctioneers were Kevin Norris and Peter Godbolt, Landmark Albury, and agents in conjunction were Wyndham Livestock and Landmark/East Gippsland Livestock.