Macka’s Angus sets record price for bull
The buyer of an Angus bull for a record $225,000 says they were willing to go even higher to secure his genetics. This is why.
The new owners of one of the highest priced bulls in Australia hope there will be strong demand from beef producers for the semen of their value asset.
NSW Central Coast beef operation Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef set a new Australian record for an Angus bull when they paid $225,000 for Texas Iceman R725 at the Texas Angus sale at its Doongara property Warialda in northern NSW yesterday.
It surpassed the previous record of $160,000 for an Angus and was now the highest price paid for a British breed bull.
Macka’s managing director Rob Mackenzie described Iceman as a “cheap investment”, adding that he was willing to bid higher than $225,000 for the bull.
“There were multiple bidders, so there’s definitely going to be strong demand for this bull’s semen,” Mr Mackenzie said.
The bull’s semen will be marketed by Genetics Australia.
The company’s beef manager Nigel Semmens said Iceman was sired by US bull Poss Maverick, whose genetics were hard to source in Australia.
Mr Semmens said Iceman’s semen was expected to become available at the end of August.
“There’s already high demand for his semen and that will only increase after today’s sale,” he said.
The Texas Angus stud is run by Ben and Wendy Mayne, who won The Weekly Times/Coles Farmer of the Year for 2018.
Another Angus bull sold for more than $100,000 at last year’s sale.
Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef was a major buyer at the Irelands Angus disposal sale last year held by receivers acting for Westpac Bank.
Soon after the sale, Irelands Angus principal Corey Ireland went to work for Macka’s, which has properties at Gloucester and Salt Ash, north of Newcastle.
Mr Ireland is facing 13 fraud charges in relation to the running of the Ireland Angus stud he ran with wife Prue.
His case is next due to go before a magistrate at the Wagga Wagga Local Court on August 4.
The Weekly Times does not suggest Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef is involved in any fraud.
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