LONGHORN lovers made the trek to Gunnedah on the June long weekend to take part in the Texas Longhorns Australia (TLA) annual show and sale.
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TLA secretary and sale co-ordinator Geoff Dawson said show numbers were down slightly this year but judge Neville Barwick had commented that the quality had improved. Mr Barwick judged the inaugural show in 2014.
Mr Dawson said everything ran smoothly under the leadership of show co-ordinator Rodney Cooper from Kooroora Longhorns in Scone.
Grand champion female of the show was awarded to Kooroora Crystal, a 25-month-old heifer exhibited by Mr Cooper and his daughter Adelaide of Kooroora Longhorns from Scone.
Southern Cross Anzac, a 21-month-old bull exhibited by Don Constable of Southern Cross Longhorns from Galong NSW, was named grand champion male of the show.
Following the show, more than 50 TLA members and their families dined at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club before holding an AGM and general meeting. John Bastardi from Deepwater was elected the new TLA president, and Don Constable and Rodney Cooper were elected vice presidents.
Winter weather didn’t keep the buyers away from Sunday’s sale, with a roll-up of almost 50 longhorns going under the hammer.
Mr Dawson said prices at this year’s sale didn’t reach the heights of last year’s sale, however across the board it was a terrific sale from both the seller and buyers’ point of view.
Top price for the sale was $4,000 paid by Greg Culell from Halls Gap VIC for a rising four-year-old cow bred by John and Jan Bastardi of Coolamon Longhorns in Deepwater. Top price bull of the sale went to grand champion male Southern Cross Anzac, a Rodeo Max ST (USA) Bull.
“At the end of the sale there was a 100 per cent clearance, which was a terrific result for all sellers,” Mr Dawson said.
“Volume buyers for the breeding stock in the sale were John and Megan Hoare from Tasmania who made the long trip up from Tassie and purchased 12 head in total.
“And Wes & Hayley Offord from Queensland made the effort as new members to travel to Gunnedah and they returned home with a total of five head.”
Mr Dawson said he was thankful to the Blackjack Camera Club for taking official photographs and operating a barbecue on the day of the show. Funds from the TLA barbecue and morning tea were donated to the club.
Preparations for the 2017 sale will begin as early as September 2016, with plans to once again hold the show and sale in Gunnedah.