Banquet Angus sale: New top and average price records after big day

A first-time northern NSW buyer paid a new record top price for Banquet Angus today. See all the results from the sale.

Banquet Angus has achieved both a new record top and average price at their annual Spring bull sale today.

A sunny day on property in Mortlake, surrounded by vibrant green paddocks, had bids flowing steadily for the Branson family.

Top buyer: Mountain Valley Pastoral stud principal Ian Durkin with top-priced bull Banquet Sensation behind him. Picture: Petra Oates

A total of 32 Angus bulls sold to full clearance for an impressive $20,750 average – up almost $3000 from their autumn sale average of $17,942 earlier this year.

A new stud topper of $65,000 was achieved by Banquet Sensation who was bought by northern NSW stud Mountain Valley Pastoral at Coolatai, NSW.

The 19-month-old knocked his brothers off the podium for top-priced bull by $3,000, achieved earlier this year.

The bulls’ sire Banquet Nuttella sired both the top-priced bulls at $62,000 and $60,000 in the Banquet autumn sale.

Buyer and stud principal Ian Durkin said the bull’s pedigree was a highlight for him, and of particular importance to their operation.

“We’ve only been Angus (breeding) for 8 or 10 years so we’re still building our cow herd and we want some predictability,” Mr Durkin said.

Longtime Banquet clients Bill and Sandra Livingstone (with Hamish Branson from Banquet Angus) from Buchan South, East Gippsland who purchased one bull for $17,000. The Livingstones have been buying Banquet for over 20 years. Picture: Petra Oates

“He’s got a very impressive sire and the cow line speaks for itself so there’s a real depth of pedigree that brings that predictability.”

Mr Durkin is a first-time buyer of Banquet and travelled down especially for the sale – and had his eye on the prize.

“I came for him; he ticked all the boxes in person and he’s incredibly attractive bull,” Mr Durkin said.

Across the catalogue, bulls sold far and wide into NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and all across Victoria.

The sale also saw strong competition online through AuctionsPlus with four bulls in total selling virtually.

“We’re really pleased and this spring sale just keeps growing and growing,” son of Banquet stud principals Hamish Branson said.

“It used to average $6,000 and now we’re doing $20,000 which is better than we thought we’d make,” Mr Branson said.

“I think we’re continuing on from a very strong autumn selling season,” Elders stud stock Ross Milne said.

“I don’t think there will be a lot of different between our autumn and spring sales,” Mr Milne said.