Strong cattle sales at Ag show

Warren Buckley and a portable steam engine at the Heritage Ag Show at the Toowoomba Showgrounds

DOUG PARRINGTON

AUCTIONEERS reported spirited bidding and strong prices at the Ag Show Bull Sale, rated as the state's “best value, multi-vendor, multi-breed sale”.

The top sale of yesterday's yarding of 285 bulls was $18,000 for Lot No.1, an angus bull bred by Rob and Pam Crosby of Kansas stud, Boggabri.

The stud bull sales comprised mostly angus, charolais, limousin, hereford and santa gertrudis.

Elders auctioneer Andrew Meara said the Ag Show drew buyers and breeders came from as far afield as Augathella, Bundaberg and northern NSW.

“The Ag Show is a good time for them all to come together and plan for the next season,” Mr Meara said.

“Herd numbers are down throughout Australia so the bidding is strong for cross breeders, but everyone's hoping for a few more years of good rain to help them recover from the drought.”

It also was a big day for Ag Show yesterday for fashion parades, cattle dog trials, cooking demonstrations, model railway displays and the judging of the Rural Weekly Led Steer Young Judges Competition and the Old Machinery Expo.

Heritage Ag Show CEO Peter Erwin described crowd numbers as “wonderful”.

“There's lots of interest in the machinery and I hear the motels in town are very busy.”

He said he was still fielding many calls from people wondering about the admission price.

“I'm happy to tell them it's only $8 and entry for children is free.”