*Total clearance of 54 bulls sold to $82,000, av $10,925
BUYERS continue to be competitive with their bidding at stud stock sales, with Hereford bulls seeing excellent prices at the Quamby Plains annual bull sale in Hagley, Tas, last Thursday.
The top-priced bull of the sale - Lot 3, Quamby Plains Reagent R611, was sold to Alvio Trovatello, Glendan Park Herefords, Kyneton, for $82,000, which is a record Tasmanian sale price for any bull.
The bull was one of a total clearance of 54 bulls offered to average $10,925.
Quamby Plains stud principal Victoria Archer said there was a good even line up of bulls offered.
"A really nice calibre of the bulls was being offered on estimated breeding values (EBVs), as well as structure, colour and phenotype," Ms Archer said.
"The combination of the both of those things was attractive to buyers across the board."
She said she was "blown away" by the extraordinary price and amazing sale which had many local Tasmanian buyers and a few from the mainland.
Mr Trovatello said the bull he bought had been a complete package with top stylish qualities.
"There was overall structural correctness and soundness with plenty of growth and plenty of weight for age," he said.
Lot 3's EBVs included +4.5 birth weight, +38 200-day weight, +72 400-day weight, +100 600-day weight, and an intramuscular fat of +1.2.
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He said the fact that Lot 3's performance is in the top one per cent of the breed for IMF will give his operation just what he is looking for.
"We're always on the lookout for quality sires, and the IMF performance is a trait that we are trying to improve with our operation," he said.
"His calving ease and birth weights are really good as well and that set of performance data as well is just very good for us."
Mr Trovatello had also bought a second stud at the sale - Lot 9, Quamby Plains Royalty R802 for $21,000 - and said he liked how the Quamby Plains stud was aiming to get great performance in their herd.
Lot 9's estimated breeding values included +3.9 birth weight, +45 200-day weight, +70 400-day weight, +86 600-day weight, and an intramuscular fat of +1.7.
"We had kept an eye on their program and were impressed with the cattle when we saw them that they were a good weight for age, with all the traits we look for as well," he said.
"We like their program and while the group of sales that they had were really good in general, our top priced bull was a standout.
"Lot 9 is also a well muscled bull that is strong in the carcase areas and we plan to use over first calf heifers too."
