22/02/2026
Industry heavyweights chasing dual purpose bulls with superior carcase traits and cutting-edge genetics paid to a top of $56,000 for bulls at the Yavenvale Poll Herefords autumn sale on Wednesday.
Hosted on property at Adelong, NSW, by the Pearce family, the 27th annual sale on February 18 drew existing and new buyers in the sale barn and online from NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.
From the 120 bulls offered, 95 were sold for a 79 per cent clearance, a top price of $56,000 and average of $9516. The result included five bulls sold after the sale.
Billed as the single biggest vendor offering of Hereford bulls across the nation this autumn sales season, the sale featured the first sons to sell in Australia of Koanui Milton S420 (NZ), with Ross Triffett, Ouse, Tasmania, securing the highest priced Milton son, Yavenvale Visa V639 (AI) (PP) for $15,000.
The sale’s top price bull came early in Lot 3 Yavenvale VIP V365 (AI) (ET) (PP), sold for $56,000 to repeat clients Andrew and Annie Bell, Red Gum Herefords, Millicent, South Australia.
By the New Zealand sire Matariki Nautical, the July 2024 drop bull was homozygous polled and considered by Yavenvale to have the best overall EBV (estimated breeding value) profile offered.
The young sire ranked on BREEDPLAN top 1 per cent for eye muscle area (EMA), top 2 per cent for milk, top 3 per cent for scrotal size and rump fat, top 4 per cent for intramuscular fat (IMF) and 600-day weight, top 5 per cent for 400-day weight, and top 7 per cent for calving ease. The bull also has a Sustainability Index of +$277 and MSA Production Index of +$276.
Yavenvale retained semen for within herd use and Red Gum Herefords plan to have semen for sale.
Taking home a total of 12 bulls, Mr Bell was looking for low birthweight, high growth bulls with strong carcase data and indexes over +$200
He was impressed with VIP’s balanced figures.
Red Gum Herefords supply around 1000 steers and surplus heifers a year to Princess Royal Feedlot, Burra, SA, for 120-day grain fed programs at an entry liveweight of 480kg plus. Grass fed steers are also sold over the hooks to Coles GRAZE.
“Commercial producers can benefit from Hereford’s low bull cost per calf which we aim to keep under $30,” Mr Bell said.
The second top price of $24,000 was paid by repeat clients and commercial producers Will and Sandra Weston, Tewallewah Pastoral, Harden, NSW, for Yavenvale Variable V500 (AI) (PP).
The homozygous polled son of Matariki Nautical ranked top 1 per cent for EMA, 200, 400 and 600-day weights, top 3 per cent for milk and IMF, and top 6 per cent for scrotal size. The young sire also had a Sustainability Index of +$217 and MSA Production Index of +$200.
The Westons also paid $12,000 for Yavenvale Velocity V906 (PP).
Mr Weston said the young sire would inject growth and marbling in the couple’s 500 head autumn and spring calving herd.
He said the Yavenvale genetics performed well on both grass and grain, with the family supplying both Teys grass fed brands and feeder steer markets.
Ben and Luci Kentish, Wepar, South Australia, outlaid $18,000 for another Nautical son, Yavenvale Valuable V367 (AI) (ET) (PP), and took home four quality bulls for a $12,000 average.
Long time clients Alex and Neryl Ramsay, Ramsay Ag, Warren, NSW, run about 700 Hereford cows on their beef, sheep and cropping aggregation. They supply grass fed steers and surplus heifers over 500kg liveweight to Cootamundra processor AMG.
The couple purchased Yavenvale Verdict V054 (AI) (PP) for $15,000 and four further bulls, selecting on temperament, eye pigment and conformation.
The Rodham family, Uranquinty, run 350 autumn calving cows and a cropping operation, and were after all round bulls with growth and milk. They selected two bulls to a top of $15,000 for Yavenvale Virtuoso V670 (AI) (PP).
“We target the prime market in Wagga with steers and surplus heifers, finishing the steers on lucerne and the heifers on stubble paddocks. We like the ability of the Yavenvale cattle to finish to 800kg liveweight within 12 months of weaning. We generally sell the steers as 600-750kg milk teeth or just two tooth bullocks,” Tristrum Rodham said.
Wagga Wagga producer Jim Simpson was selecting bulls with EBVs around +3.6kg for birthweight, above average calving ease, a 600-day weight of +83kg or above, milk of +19kg or above, and a scrotal size of around +2.4cm.
“We target the 400kg European Union steer market with all our cattle going to the Princess Royal Feedlot at Burra, South Australia,” Mr Simpson said.
He paid $10,000 for Yavenvale Vista V669 (AI) (PP) and $6000 for Yavenvale Vanish V549 (AI) (PP).
Other repeat clients included Barry, Fay and Sean Hicks, Gundowring, Vic, taking home five bulls to a top of $12,000 for Yavenvale Versace V650 (AI) (PP). The family had sold Yavenvale blood steers, 12-13 months, 407kg and EU and Greenham Never Ever accredited for 534c/kg or $2175 last spring.
Also among the volume buyers was Sharon Nankervis and her daughter Mal Nankervis, Corryong, Vic. The family runs up to 330 cows, selling the weaner progeny through Wodonga or online.
They selected six bulls on phenotype and temperament to a top of $10,000 for Yavenvale Vibration V647 (AI) (S).
Other notable purchases included Ivan and Amanda Burcher, Binara Poll Herefords, Goondiwindi, Queensland, paying $14,000 for Yavenvale Vision V231 (AI) (PP), Josh Eats, Coleraine, Vic, paying $13,000 for Yavenvale Venom V074 (PP), Tom Honner, Minlacowie Poll Herefords, Brentwood, SA, outlaid $13,000 for Yavenvale Voltage V954 (PP), Brayrook Pastoral, Butchers Ridge, Vic, bought Yavenvale Vermont V156 (AI) (PP) for $13,000, Scott Lewington, Kymarney Herefords, Uranquinty, paying $12,000 for Yavenvale Victor V474 (AI) (PP), Bev Reece, Whanregarwen, Vic, paid $12,000 for Yavenvale Vantage V732 (AI) (PP), Simon and Sonya Lawlor, Omeo, paid to $11,000 for three bulls, Tom Lewis, Cooma, took home Yavenvale Verification V259 (PP) for $11,000, Craig Lloyd, Omeo, paid $10,000 for Yavenvale Vaboom V363 (AI) (ET) (PP), and Peter Smith, Omeo, bought Yavenvale Viking V374 (AI) (ET) (PP) for $10,000.
Yavenvale co-principal James Pearce welcomed the fact commercial producers were prepared to pay up to $24,000 for bulls despite seasonal challenges.
Mr Pearce said there was a clear demand for dual purpose bulls with high EMA and IMF.
“We are continuing to try new genetics from all over the world and the favourable reception of those genetics gives me confidence we are on the right track,” he said.
“Our aim is to keep presenting big, even drafts of bulls that are structurally sound and with those commercial attributes we strive for.”
Auctioneer Brian Leslie was pleased with a higher clearance and average than the 2024 autumn sale, underpinned by strong commercial demand.
“The commercial producers want real herd improvers, and the data on these bulls was quite incredible with 81 bulls ranking in the top 1-2 per cent of the breed for fertility and carcase traits,” Mr Leslie said.
“The feet and temperament of the bulls were exceptional, and no wonder there was a spread of buyers from every state in Australia except Western Australia. That is testament to the program at Yavenvale.”
Duty agents were Ray White Rural Albury and the sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
