IRONBARK Herefords celebrated their 84th year of breeding with a sale high of $24,000 at their annual bull sale near Barraba.
Strong competition from stud and commercial breeders helped clear 144 of the 188 bulls offered to average $7570.
The Spencer family welcomed over 60 registered bidders to their sale complex sending Ironbark blood to four states including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
The stud’s 44th annual bull sale averaged $11,762 after the first 20 bulls and continued a strong performance with a $8558 average after lot 60.
Noel and Liz Cook, Kindon Station, Goondiwindi, Queensland once again secured the top price paying $24,000 for Ironbark Victory Blend L031.
At 30-months of age, the Wallan Creek Victory Blend F099 son, from Ironbark D225 Miss Minnie F452, weighed 956 kilograms, scanned an eye muscle area (EMA) of 131 square centimeters, an intramuscular fat (IMF) of 5.8 per cent, a rib measure of 9 millimeters, 15mm on the P8 and a scrotal of 42cm.
The husband and wife duo made the trip south with Lot 9, Ironbark G364 Advance L298, as their pick of the draft.
“That was until Liz saw Lot 95 (INB L031) in the flesh – he was her pick” explained Mr Cook, who has been the top price buyer at Ironbark for 13 consecutive years.
“He is a big, soft, beautifully well put together bull with a great tail set and hindquarter” added Mrs Cook.
The pair where able to go home without argument after they also secured their initial pick, Ironbark G364 Advance L298. for $22,000.
A 24-month-old son of the Ironbark 5212R Advance G364 from Ironbark 124P Nurse C116 who weighed 828kg, scanned an EMA of 120cm2, an IMF of 7.1pc, a rib measure of 13mm, 21mm on the P8 and a scrotal of 43cm.
INB L298, described by Mr Cook as “a little mountain of meat” measured in the top 10 per cent of the breed for 200, 400 and 600-day growth EBVs, making him an ideal sire for their own feedlot program that supply’s Coles.
Another Ironbark 5212R Advance G364 son, Ironbark G364 Advance L246, will go into a stud operation after selling to the Larsen family, Hylands Herefords, Cootamundra for $18,000.
From a Rambo daughter, Ironbark 279 R Doris F518, the 25-month-old weighed 798 kg and scanned an EMA of 120cm2, an IMF of 6.4pc, 9mm on the rib, 17mm on the P8 and measured in the top 5pc of the breed for 200, 400 and 600 day growth EBV's.
Geoff and Richie Larsen, have been buying Ironbark bulls for over 10 years and attribute their sale success at Wodonga to the proven performance of Ironbark bloodlines.
“The carcase attributes of the Advance genetics have improved our herd” said Mr Larsen who has 400 stud breeders.
Hylands also purchased an Ironbark Stanmore D677 son for $12,000 to use as an out-cross.
A 29-month old Ironbark Twister G693 son, Ironbark G693 Twister L068, was purchased by Stuart Russ, Warren for $18,000.
Weighing 840kg with a 41cm scrotal, 19mm P8, 11mm rib, an EMA of 126cm2 and 6.7pc for IMF, INB LO68 measured in the top 5pc for milk, top 3pc for 400-day and top 1pc for 200 and 600-day growth.
Serena and Andrew Klippel, Sugarloaf Creek Herefords, Victoria returned and bought a Sugarloaf Haymaker H126 son and an Ironbark Twister G693 son for $14,000 each to breed females for their stud operation.
Tasmanian beef producers the Boland family, Nara Pastoral Holdings, Burnie were chasing Advance genetics putting together a draft of six bulls to average $9333.
Gavin Beard, Landmark Scone, selected seven bulls for Ellerston Proprietary Limited, Ellerston to top at $12,000 and average $9143.
Australian Food and Agriculture secured 15 bulls for “Wingadee” Coonamble to average $6400 and 16 bulls for “Boonoke” Deneliquin to average $6813.
Chris Clemson, Clemson, Hiscox and Co, Walgett accompanied Wayne Zell, Golden Ag Pty Ltd, "Taroo" Collarenebri, to their 24th Ironbark bull sale and put together a draft of eight bulls averaging $6750.
Coonong Pty Ltd, Urana secured five bulls to average $10,400; Piedmont Station, Barraba averaged $10,000 for four bulls; Jamie and Edwina Bishop, Bando Station, Mullaley, secured three bulls to average $11,333; return clients, Bill and Helen Cain, “Selkirk”, Strathdownie, Victoria, purchased a Domino 955W son for $10,000 and a WC Victory Blend F099 son for $11,000 and local commercial producers Campbell and Kerry- Anne Tonkin, CTK Cattle Company, Barraba, secured four bulls to average $7000.
Jack and Stuart Hicks, Hicks Herefords, Running Creek, Victoria have now purchased over 140 Ironbark bulls including a draft of 18 bulls from this year’s sale to average $5222.
Hugh Spencer was very impressed with the Advance G364 genetics.
“90pc of the G364 sons sold in the sale” said the young Mr Spencer.
The sale was conducted by Landmark, Elders, George and Fuhrmann, Hart Rural Agencies and Ray
White with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, and Andrew Wishart, Cootamundra sharing the rostrum.
