As the circling continued, so too did the bidding, until it reached $24,000 – top of the Poll Hereford section.

To be returned to her family’s stud, located on the north-west coast of Tasmania, the bull was picked out by Mrs Fry’s husband Laurie, who took a backseat during the bidding duel.

“He looks at estimated breeding values first and then the visual,” said Mrs Fry, explaining her husband’s bull selection technique.

And it was its scrotal size and growth weight figures that really wowed the Frys, with Chieftain, bred by Steve, Gillian and Emily Madge of Braybook Whiteface, Forbes, NSW, scoring in the top five per cent for scrotal size and in the top one per cent for the breed in 200-, 400- and 600-day weight.

By Debarry Schooner and out of Elfdale Rollina Y103, the bull was picked as an outcross sire to be joined on arrival home.

Mr Fry’s choice was backed up by the bull’s impressive efforts in the show, held the day previous, where the bull was the successful winner in his junior class.

“He was the stand-out bull in the shed,” Mr Fry said.

Only attending “for a look”, the Frys had previously sourced genetics for their stud at the Poll Hereford National at Dubbo, NSW, paying $19,000 last year for a Kidman Poll Hereford bull.

His calves are now on the ground, Mr Fry said, and they were “more than pleased” with his progeny.

This year they will keep all heifers to gradually increase numbers in their 120-head breeding herd.