2012 Ironbark Herefords Bull Sale

 The 2012 Bull Sale will be held on Friday the 31st of August, more details will be provided closer to the day.

2011 Bull Sale Report

Ironbark hits top of $16,000, twice !  [ Click Here For 'THE LAND' Article ]

STRONG competition from new and repeat buyers from five States pushed the prices for 12 bulls into double figures and to a top of $16,000 twice at the Spencer family’s 2011 38th annual Ironbark Hereford bull sale at Barraba last week.A total of 194 bulls sold for a 95 per cent clearance – up from 83pc last year – to average $5681.

Ironbark principal, Adrian Spencer, said he was pleased with the depth of the commercial buying, proving how popular the bloodline is in the commercial industry.

The first of the $16,000 top-priced bulls went to G.S. and R. Larson through Elders Cootamundra.

The bull, Ironbark Rambo E009, originally catalogued at lot 118, was moved forward to lot two due to the amount of interest received.

By the legendary sire GH Rambo 279R, the 30-month-old bull’s estimated breeding values (EBVs) included a +4.0 for eye muscle area (EMA), + 60 for carcase weight, and +40, +64 and +92 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight respectively.

The next $16,000 top-priced bull was purchased by Bill and Helen Cain, “Selkirk”, Strathdownie, Victoria, who also bought a second bull for $6000.

PHOTO: Auctioneer, Paul Dooley, Elders Tamworth, with Ironbark principal, Adrian Spencer, Barraba, stud groom, Steve Spooner, and buyers of the stud’s equal top-priced bull, Helen and Bill Cain, “Selkirk”, Strathdownie, Victoria.

The Cains snapped up 22-monthold Ironbark Rambo E426 – another son of GH Rambo 279R – whose figures included +4.1 for EMA, +57 for carcase weight, +41 for 200-day, +65 for 400-day and +86 for 600- day weight.
Another GH Rambo 279R son, Ironbark Rambo E478, also pushed the market near its peak with the second – top priced bull bought for $14,000 by long time Ironbark supporters, Noel and Liz Cook, Kindon Station, Goondiwindi, Queensland.

Rambo E478 was from former Brisbane Royal grand champion cow, Ironbark T300 Miss Minnie A025, and had EBVs of +4.4 for EMA, +70 for carcase weight, +18 for milk, +53 for 200-day, +74 for 400-day and +113 for 600-day weight.

The Cooks, who bought five bulls in all to average $9200, run 3000 breeding cows and operate their own feedlot to supply meat to Coles supermarkets.

Tasmanian beef producers, the Boland family, Nara Pastoral Holdings, Burnie, returned to purchase 14 bulls to a top of $11,000 and an average of $5679.

The $11,000 bull, Ironbark Neon E132, was sired by Canadian bull, GH Neon 17N, and from high performing dam, Ironbark T414 Vic Lass V331.

The 21 month old bull measured +4.6 EMA, +68 carcase weight, + 44 for 200-day, +70 for 400-day and +100 for 600-day weight.

The Bolands have been buying at Ironbark for the past 11 years and will be joining 880 Hereford cows this year using both natural joining as well as Ironbark semen.

Mr Spencer said he believed the Neon and Rambo bloodlines were leaders in the Hereford breed worldwide.

Volume buyer, Burrabogie Pastoral Company, “Wingadee”, Coonamble, bought 24 bulls to join some of the 1500 Hereford cows currently running on the property, for a top of $7000 for an average of $4604.

General manager of Burrabogie Pastoral Company, Bill Newton, said while “Wingadee” used to be a crossbreeding operation, since buying Hereford cows from Clyde Agriculture, the plan was for F.S. Falkiner to run 3500 good Ironbark- blood cows.

F.S. Falkiner,“Boonoke”,Deniliquin, bought 20 bulls to a top of $8000 for an average of $6018 for their 2000 pure Ironbark Hereford cows.
Ellerston Pty Ltd, Scone, put together a draft of nine bulls to average $7222 to a top of $10,000.

The $10,000 bull, Ironbark B458 Pepper E464, was by Ironbark Pepper B458.

Other volume buyers included Robert and Scott Reid, Howlong, who bought nine bulls for an average of $6333 to top at $8000 three times; J.S. and F.J. Clifton, “Hillgrove”, Coonabarabran, who bought four bulls to $5000 to average $4250; and Old Bundilla Pastoral Company, “Old Bundilla”, Warren, which bought three bulls to a top of $6000 to average $5333.

N.A. and G.M. Croker, “The Knoll”, Taralga, bought two bulls for $7000 each.

Buyers travelled from as far north as Queensland, as far south as Tasmania, Victoria, and South Australia, as well as from across NSW.

The sale was conducted by Elders, Landmark and Bob Jamieson Agencies with Paul Dooley, Elders Tamworth, and Mark Barton, Landmark Wagga Wagga, as auctioneers.