Major Aussie Poll Hereford dispersal -RESULTS

For all you Poll Hereford fans out there, later this month will be the dispersal of one of the great Australian Poll Hereford herds will disperse.

The Merawah herd has consistently averaged over $7000 at their on property sales. In the past four years, they've averaged $7150.

This sale is going to be THE sale of the year, and the end of an era

http://www.merawah.com.au/2010-sale-catalogue-33.html

One of the very few posts that I can reply to and say looks like I might go (lol)

This IMO is something that is truly amazing, and deserves utmost respect.  I have never heard of these people, and I respect them to the highest degree..  It is a shame that nothing of the caliber exists in the US.  It truly is amazing at the generations and generations of selective and propagitive breeding on this large of a scale has produced.  The consistancy of the cattle in the catalog, and the general quality of prepotent breeding value is imense.  Another thing I respect them a great deal for is the lack of ET.  If it was in there, I missed it.. but I think that is something on itself... 

I have always been intrigued by those "breeders" who can do something such as this.. I know its not cattle related, but i had the opportunity to purchase a flock of sheep from one of those "breeders", been around since before 1929- never created a national champion, but his bloodlines did many times..

My respect for these stockman will never cease-- ever..  Sorry part is that many of the "greats" of today will never get any respect from  me as they are just one generation breeders.. buy a great one, flush her to get great ones.. sell them for less than you  invested in the donor... and bam everyone thinks you are the greatest cattleman in the world..

perhaps they should read this catalog???

Thanks for sharing!!  Wish them best of luck in the sale, and down the road.. I imagine it was a hard thing to do...  Best of luck to those buyers...  if they know what is best, they won't buy just 1. 

Trust me, been there done that. 

When I have more time I will study the catalogue as it looks like these people had a really good program going. Notice they used a little Remitall and Harvie breeding. There are some good looking females and some of them have perfect type udders.

I've been lucky to attend some of their bull sales, and the standard of bulls has been outstanding. The influence that they're had on other herds too is evident.

Such a quality, consistent line... if I was a Poll Hereford breeder, I would most certainly be trying to pick up a few lots there. Even the cheaper ones are bound to be herd improvers. There are several that are going to make a LOT of money, the only question is, how much?

It truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and a sad end to an era.

So the sale was today, and what an outstanding result. I will post more details later and am happy to answer any questions but for now, the basics....

Top price cow/calf $34,000
Top bred heifer $24,000
Top unjoined heifer $12,000
2 sires topped at $10,000

138 cows and calves averaged $6978
15 dry cows (PTIC) averaged $4933
48 bred heifers averaged $4333
70 unjoined heifers averaged $4085

In total, 272 females averaged $5628


ETA: Meant to ask... the second top price - $28,000 - went to two BC Poll Hereford operations... I am just wondering if either of them are on here? If so, congrats!

We got some semen and embryos for a good price. Have sold 30 straws of the 100 all ready. TDU I heard that the cows looked magnificent but the calves looked very woody is that right?

Here's a link to the sale video: http://theland.farmonline.com.au/multimedia/17459/merawah-poll-herefords-to-34000.aspx?page=1

Aussie said:

We got some semen and embryos for a good price. Have sold 30 straws of the 100 all ready. TDU I heard that the cows looked magnificent but the calves looked very woody is that right?

Click to expand...

Which semen did you get? There were a couple of Tassie bidders.

The cows did look great but not all the calves were that bad. There were a few woody looking calves, but there were also a lot of very young calves that were only ever going to look like little fluff balls! I did hear that a number of cows had not long been back from agistment and so this may have contributed to the calves presentation.

Whatever the case, every buyer would have to be happy with their purchase, no matter what it was. An outstanding set of proven females and young heifers with their whole production life ahead of them.

There was one absolute cracker of a bull calf - lot 68 - by last year's bull sale topper, Expo C39. Sevenbardot and Tycolah paid $20,000 for the unit.

A few pics... the cow at the bottom was bought by Canadians