Mawarra Ultra Star sells for record price at National Hereford Show and Sale
A Gippsland cattle stud has broken the sale record they set at last year’s National Hereford Show and Sale, with a six-figure price tag for their champion bull.
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A Hereford bull weighing just over a tonne has sold for a record price at the annual National Hereford Show and Sale at Wodonga.
Mawarra Ultra Star, from Victoria’s Mawarra Genetics cattle stud, sold for a whopping $130,000 last Thursday.
Stud principals Peter and Deanne Sykes broke the Hereford record sale they set in 2021 - when another of their champion bulls, Mawarra If Only, sold for $103,000.
Mawarra Ultra Star - a hefty 1004 kilograms - was also named grand champion bull at this year’s show by Judge Steve Reid.
The Sykes said Ultra Star was a “beautiful bull” with all the right characteristics.
“It had all the great characteristics of a top bull and presented quite well to the judges,” Mrs Sykes said.
“We never expected those prices for the bulls - it’s been a great result, a lifelong dream and to back up with another incredible sale this year is great.”
The Gippsland stud took a team of 10 bulls to the event, receiving an average price of $38,700 as well as the top price of $130,000 for Ultra Star.
Mrs Sykes said the stud put a lot of effort into breeding performance-driven, profitable cattle and enjoyed seeing the contribution they made to the herds they eventually joined.
“His traits are up there with the best in industry standard - they place him in the top one per cent of the Hereford breed,” she said.
Tom Nixon, of Devon Court Herefords in Drillham, Queensland is the new owner of Mawarra Ultra Star.
The Sykes said the sales success of the Hereford breed - and exposure at the annual show and sale - was terrific.
“The outlook for the breed is great with people willing to spend money on good genetics with the right traits,” Mr Sykes said.
Hereford cattle is now the second most bred cattle for beef consumption in southern Australia according to Hereford Prime, a beef producer.
“Hereford beef is proven to be among Australia’s best for tenderness, juiciness and flavour,” a Hereford Prime spokesman said.
Meantime ex chairman of national breeding association Herefords Australia - Riverina farmer Pat Pearce - said he was impressed by the quality of the Gippsland’s stud’s bull.
“The breed goes from strength to strength in terms of commercial value,” he said.
“A high performing stud just shows you how great it is for the industry and gives confidence to more cattle breeders.”
However Mr Pearce said with the increased price of cattle, and a national and global push to lower emissions, farmers would have to adapt to different conditions.
“As the price of cattle increases it is reflected by the relative cost of living and increased price of fuel and feed which will see prices like this in the future,” he said.
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Originally published as Mawarra Ultra Star sells for record price at National Hereford Show and Sale
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