Colraine Herefords at Ohaupo, near Hamilton, has set a yearling bull price record for the breed of $37,000 in what is only the second on-farm auction for the stud.
Colraine Washington 23 421 was bought by Mahuta Herefords and sold with a guaranteed one-year dairy semen contract from LIC for 10,000 straws.
He was independently identified by LIC beef genetics team as the very top Hereford yearling bull, suited to what the dairy beef semen market is demanding.
John and Mary Allen, Mahuta Herefords at Tuakau, will still hold all semen rights for the beef cattle market in NZ and overseas.
Colraine principal Colin Corney said the sale vindicates a 10-year dedicated breeding programme focusing on calving ease, growth and a drive to improve eye muscle area along with intramuscular fat.
“The improvements are due to us working along with our good friend Dave Warburton, a production veterinarian who set up a group of breeders to join him importing genetics from the United States, Canada and Australia to help lift key traits within the NZ Hereford population.
“On top of this we have invested heavily in recording as much as we can on all our animals to provide a genetic package that is as reliable as possible.”
Colraine sold all 10 of its bulls and averaged $6100, compared with last year’s $3480.
The sale was in conjunction with Kanuka Polled Herefords, which sold eight out of eight and averaged $3112 with a top of $4200 for Kanuka Seismic 2302.
The third vendor was Arabica Herefords with a complete clearance of nine bulls, averaging $2733 and a top of $3200 paid by Tawanui Herefords.
Waimaire and Otengi Herefords at Kaeo in the Far North kicked off the spring bull sale season with a top price of $9500 for a yearling paid by Bluff Herefords.
The average price paid for two-year-olds was $3960, with a top of $5000, and the averages for 18-month and two-year bulls were $2943 and $3851 respectively.
Bluff Herefords at Glenbrook, South Auckland, had a full clearance of 48 bulls, averaged $3389, nearly $1000 up on last year, and had a top price of $7700 paid by Streamlands Herefords.
Staying in Northland, Te Atarangi Angus at Te Kopuru had a complete clearance of 120 bulls and averaged $3856 compared with last year’s $3457.
Top price was $8500 paid by J Marchant.
Maranui Herefords and Angus at Waihi cleared the offering of 25 Herefords and 14 Angus, averaging $3000 and $3614 respectively.
Top price was $11,500 paid by Matapara Angus at Te Puke.
Totaranui Angus, Pahiatua, sold 76 of 79 bulls offered, averaged $4453 and had a top of $9000 paid by Ross Bolt of Horoeka.
Craigmore Herefords at Ohaupo sold 97 bulls with an average of $3037 and top prices of $6000 paid by Riverton Herefords and $5000 paid by Colraine Herefords.
Hoobees Herefords, Coroglen at Coromandel, sold 10 of 10 offered and averaged $4570 with a top of $8000 paid by Te Puna Herefords.
