Dunoon Angus, Holbrook bull makes $90,000

A focus on growth drove commercial cattleman Frank Hill to spend the top price of $20,000 at the Kenmere Charolais sale near Holbrook.

A focus on growth drove commercial cattleman Frank Hill to spend the top price of $20,000 at the Kenmere Charolais sale near Holbrook, NSW, today.

A simple formula of dividing the bull’s weight by its age in days rated Kenmere Long Distance R178E the top of the catalogue by Mr Hill’s method, and he had to pay the sale’s highest price to secure the sire.

The sale saw 32 of the 39 bulls sold for an average of $7844, a result which was pleasing according to vendor Ann-Marie Collins.

“We felt we offered a really good, even line of bulls,” Ms Collins said.

“There is variety and colour differences and all the things that go to making a greats sale.

“Every year we look to get stronger and stronger and I think you will see this year that we have improved the eye muscle area in a lot of our bulls but still kept the softness and the IMF for the tenderness.

“It is not easily done, and I follow a very strong format that I do it on paper then we ideally try to match each bull with what we think is the right mix for genetics.”

Buyers from as far north as Walcha and Hay and throughout local areas competed for the Charolais bulls, which were also offered on Auctionsplus.

The top bull weighed 826 kilograms at 19 months, had a scanned eye muscle area of 121 square centimetres, 15 millimetres of fat on its rib and 10 millimetres on its rump, and had a scanned intramuscular fat level of 6.4 pe cent to be the highest in the catalogue.

The bull was sired by LT Long Distance 9001, was homozygous poll and was in the top 5 per cent of the breed for calving ease of daughters, gestation length, birth weight and IMF, and the top 1 per cent for rib and rump fat.

But it was its weight gain for age that attracted Mr Hill, who runs a commercial operation turning off store weaners.

Kenmere Charolais principal Ann-Marie Collins, Holbrook, NSW, and buyer Frank Hill from Derrinal who paid $20,000 for the top price bull.

“I will be putting this bull over Saler cows and we are trying to get as much weight for age as we can,” Mr Hill said.

“At 510 days and 826 kilograms, this bull has put on 1.61 kilograms a day and I always buy bulls that have put on at least 1.4-1.6 kilograms a day.”

The next best price was $16,000 paid by CM Pastoral from Moama, which bought 10 bulls from the catalogue.

Of the offering of 39 bulls, 10 made more than $10,000 but seven bulls were passed in at auct

RENNYLEA:

Bulls sold to a top of $45,000 at the Rennylea Angus autumn sale at Culcairn, NSW, today.

But it was the whopping average that set the sale apart as one of the strongest so far this season.

The 124 bulls sold for a total clearance for an average of $20,016 — an increase of $7479 on last year’s $12,537 average for 108 bulls.

The top bull, Rennylea R896, was 18-months-old, and had traits in the top 5 per cent for intrasmuscular fat and top 10 per cent for growth traits.

Sired by US sire, Sydgen Enhance, R896 weighed 800kg.

In total 63 of the bulls sold were knocked down for more than $20,000. This compares to last year’s sale when eight bulls made $20,000 or more.

Yearling bull, Rennylea S143, sold for the second top of $42,000. The bull was sired by Rennylea Q213, and was in the top 1 per cent of the breed for all indexes.

MARCH 2:

A $130,000 top and a $3 million gross put Te Mania Angus into the black after its huge bull sale this week.

Two sales of more than $100,000 – one at the start and one at the end of the 165-bull catalogue – pushed the Mortlake-based stud to its best ever result in a stellar day for the operation.

The sale’s top price of $130,000 was paid by fellow Angus breeders Boonaroo Angus Beef at Corndale for Te Mania Reaves R574 (AI), one of the final bulls in the catalogue.

Earlier, it was one of the first bulls to be offered that made $120,000 with Te Mania Rhynie R1211 (AI) setting the pace and selling to a syndicate.

Both bulls are grandsons of Te Mania Kirby and sons of Te Mania Peru. Kirby is the highest-ranking Angus marbling bull in Australia; and his son Peru had 10 bulls in the sale, grossing $418,000 and averaging $41,800.

The stud sold 165 bulls to gross of $3,042,000 and average of $18,437 – all records for the autumn sale and the first time Te Mania Angus had topped $3 million.

 Te Mania Angus director Tom Gubbins said his family was “stunned and humbled” by the buying support. 

Mr Gubbins said the buoyant market and strong opening sales for the 2022 bull season had given them confidence the Te Mania Angus sale would go well.

 “We never expected anything like this,” Mr Gubbins said.

“We were overwhelmed when the syndicate of Rennylea, Landfall, Kunuma, and a Queensland commercial producer delivered our first six-figure bull at a sale.

 “Things opened on a high, with lot one making $26,000 and before we could even absorb that, lot three simply set the crowd alight.

 “None of us imagined anything going higher, everyone had congratulated the buyers, the rural media took photos and did interviews and all the while the sale was going on in the background.

 “Then the Foster family launched its last-minute blitz (for the $130,000 bull) after earlier paying $34,000 for Lot 20 (in partnership with New Zealand stud Seven Hills) and everyone’s jaws simply dropped.”

 Volume buyers also played a major role in the sale, with Gippsland’s MA and HJ Johns putting together a line of 13 bulls to a high of $22,000, gross of $220,000 and average of $16,925. Winton, Queensland, based Brodie Agencies took 15 bulls to a high of $14,000, gross of $170,000 and average of $11,333.

 Boonaroo’s Shane Foster said he could not fault his $130,000 purchase, the most he has paid for a sire. 

“This is a bull my wife Jodie and I really wanted; and we believe he will have some major impact on our genetics with his IMF and EMA in particular,” Mr Foster said.

 “He’s just for our use, and after buying the two bulls I am pretty confident we will make some major progress.”

FEBRUARY 28:

Two of the heavy hitting Victorian Angus studs have revelled in turbo-charged bull sales in the past week while NSW stud Dunoon Angus has hit the front on individual bull rates, selling a sire for $90,000.

Mortlake’s Banquet Angus stud marked its 30th year with a $62,000 sale topper at the Branson family’s on-property auction of 101 bulls.

But the offering of stud females also drew heated bids, with the average rates beating many other stud’s bull averages.

In the “big, bold” style the Branson family stud is known for, a bagpipes rendition of the National Anthem set the scene for the well-attended event at Banquet’s new selling facility at Mortlake.

Banquet 2022 Autumn Bull & Female Sale Autumn Bull & Female sale.

Leading the male portion, Banquet Radley R060 was knocked down at $62,000 to Tasmanian stud Quarterway Angus and Dennis Heywood.

This bull was noted for his length and strong maternal pedigree.

Banquet owners Stephen and Noeleen Branson.

Banquet Raving R067 also fetched $60,000, bought by Moorunga Angus, Dromana.

Last year Banquet led the Angus Autumn averages at $14,434 for 115, a high only eclipsed by Yarram Park’s $14,440 for 59 Herefords. And in spring 2021 Banquet sold bulls to a whopping $16,718 average price.

Today the 101 bulls averaged $17,940, the best-ever result for the stud.

The female selection, meanwhile, topped at $30,000 on cow-and-calf units averaging $15,111 each.

Seventeen heifers, meanwhile, returned a peak price of $28,000 and an average price tage of $10,235.

Founders Stephen and Noeleen Branson’s daughter Dianna Meulendyks told The Weekly Times the sale result was “thrilling” for the family.

At Dunoon at Holbrook on Monday, Dunoon R102 sold for $90,000 to Clunie Range Angus Stud, Nairn Park and Agri-Gene while Dunoon R274 sold for $85,000 to Weering Pastoral, Inverleigh.

Overall Dunoon sold 174 from 174 bulls to average $17,701.

Meanwhile, Pathfinder’s Victorian sale - which followed the success of the Moyle family’s South Australian equivalent last week - produced a total clearance of 117 bulls to $50,000 and $16,282 average.

Despite the strength of these black cattle results, Southern Australia’s dominate beef breed is have yet to beat the season leaders to date, all Herefords - Yavenvale’s pricey $120,000 sire and Injemira’s average of $20,565 on 92 Poll Herefords.

FEBRUARY 22

A record average of $20,565 has set a new benchmark for Hereford cattle today with Injemira

grossing $1.9 million at Book Book, NSW.

Marc Greening’s line-up of 92 bulls sold to a top of $70,000 but it was the consistency of bidding that stunned onlookers as more than half the catalogue made more than $20,000.

Commercial breeders opened their wallets, consistently paying $20,000-$30,000 for bulls to put with their females.

Tom, 11 and Jack,9, Stirling from Avenel were part of the big crowd at the Injemira bull sale at Book Book.

Mr Greening said the results were humbling, with the bull offering preceded by a line-up of 254 commercial heifers which averaged $3839, with an overall gross of $2.867 million.

Competition came from across the eastern states, with bulls sent as far north as Roma, Queensland, and as far south as King Island, Tasmania.

The sale’s top price of $70,000 was paid for Injemira Kickstart P093 R153 an August-2020 -drop bull which was in the top 1 per cent of the breed for calving ease, growth, muscle and the top 5 per cent of the breed for marbling.

Paul and Joe Maraca from Whorouly were keen to buy bulls at Injemira

It was one of two bulls bought by the Elsom family from Warrabkook, with their second purchase also at the top end paying $40,000 for Injemira Kickstart P093 R151, another August-2020 drop bull which had estimated breeding values at the top end of the breed for a number of traits.

There were just two bulls in the entire catalogue that made less than $10,000 and no bulls were passed in.

“It is really humbling that these bulls are fitting into clients’ programs all over Australia,” Mr Greening said.

A bull on display at Injemira.

“I really honestly believe the Hereford breed is on the way back.

“I just notice when I am travelling around at saleyards various agents and people say to me that the Herefords are having a turnaround and it is really kicked by the grass-fed market.

“The grass-fed markets are our premium markets in this country – that is where we as an industry can set ourselves apart from the rest of the world and that’s where Herefords fit just right into it.”

FEBRUARY 21

There’s no doubt about it, Hereford bulls are in red hot demand like never before.

Lachy and Lou Day from Days Whiteface had the record books reeling today with a new industry record average bull sale price.

The Bordertown, South Australia based Poll Hereford stud cleared all 45 bulls offered for an average of $19,933.

This beats the next-best for the season, so far, of $19,689 recorded by Sterita Park Angus for 106 bulls, and the now second-running for the breed, Yarram Park Performance Genetics (Herefords) at $18,788 for 64 bulls.

Mr Day’s sale topper was Days Godfather R092 which was purchased by the Willaura-based Yarram Park. The bull was one of eight new standout Hereford sires added to Herefords Australia’s Super Sire program.

Days Whiteface stud bull Days Godfather who has joined the Herefords Australia’s Super Sire program.

The Day family also draw much of their clientele from pastoral country — much of which has benefited from recent downpours.

Mr Day’s sale is run in conjunction with his brother Alastair and wife Jayne’s stud Allendale, which also recorded a strong result with all 40 bulls selling to average $14,452 and a top of $30,000.

Together, the brother’s studs averaged $17,353 for all 85 bulls.

Last year Days Whiteface averaged $10,978 and $8448 the year before, while Allendale averaged $10,189 and $6692.

Days Whiteface stud principal Lachy Day.

Also today, the Sugarloaf Creek Herefords sale in NSW sold all 30 bulls offered to a top of $30,000 twice and an average of $15,656.

Meanwhile, big Angus studs have witnessed a doubling in their average price in the past two years.

On Friday, Casterton’s Jodie and Shane Foster at Boonaroo Angus sold 124 from 125 bulls to $34,000 twice — Boonaroo Katapault R14 and Boonaroo Nebraska R347 — for a staggering average price of $17,161. Last year Boonaroo sold 111 for an average price of $11,112 and in autumn 2020, the average Boonaroo bull cost $9000

FEBRUARY 17

One of Australia’s largest bull sellers, Pathfinder Angus, recorded a complete clearance of 132 bulls at its South Australian sale today.

With prices reaching $34,000, a new high was achieved for Pathfinder, with an average bull price of $16,220.

This average is about $5000 higher than last year’s auction of the same number of bulls.

Nick and Sara Moyle and family have another huge sale coming up at Gazette on February 23 where 125 bulls will go under the hammer. And later in the year 100 Pathfinder sires will be offered for sale in Queensland.

Other huge averages achieved in the past few days include Glatz Black Angus, Avenue Range, SA, where 74 bulls reached a top of $38,000 and $16,918.

This was more than $3000/head higher on last year’s 59 bulls cleared.

And, earlier in the week, another black cattle South Aussie powerhouse, Nampara Pastoral Company, that saw their average return on bulls go from $12,817 for 74 sold last autumn to a whopping $16,193 on 95 with a top bid of $32,000.

FEBRUARY 16

A bull has sold this week for the season high, so far, of $120,000 at Yavenvale at Yaven Creek, south of Adelong, NSW.

The Poll Hereford was sold on-property by the Pearce family and bought by well-known Gippslander, Newcomen Herefords at Ensay.

Just a few days ago Newcomens forked out big money for a half share in a $50,000 Yarram Park bull.

The polled Yavenvale spring-drop bull Yavenvale Ripper R150 was sired by Wirruna Nixon N 168 and measured in the top 1 per cent on scrotal size, and in the top 5 per cent for the breed on 400-day growth, eye muscle area, as well as ranking in the top 10 per cent on rump and intramuscular fat.

Yavenvale’s average this year was $11,764 for 127 Poll Hereford bulls sold from 133 offered.

This compares to last year’s result where $9158 was the average for 111 bulls sold from 113.

Stud co-principal James Pearce told The Weekly Times ahead of the sale he was “hopeful” that lot 36, Yavenvale Ripper, would make good money “but you are never sure”. 

“There was certainly a high level of interest in that bull; he is pretty special, I’d say a complete package, with the Estimated Breeding Values he has across the board, and the outcross genetics in his pedigree,” he said. 

“On top of that he is very sound and attractive in how he presents.”

Mr Pearce said the inquiry ahead and at the Yavenvale sale — the largest single vendor whitefaced autumn sale — was “over and beyond” anything he had experienced. 

He said the whole agricultural sector was buoyed by positivity, particularly the beef industry. 

While the Yavenvale average was a significant jump on last year, Mr Pearce said he still had 70 bulls to sell privately, and some bulls in the auction made $5000 to $6000; allowing for all budgets. 

He said the beauty of Herefords was they could suit any system — from turning off weaners, to two-year-old grown steers; onto grass or grain. 

“In our case we have focused on IMF and getting a balance there to improve eating quality, so our cattle are meeting the market demands and we can be paid accordingly.

“As an industry we have to listen to what the feedlots and the processors require because ultimately they are setting the direction.

“It is exciting times in cattle breeding and we are just so thankful for the support we received.” 

Yavenvale Poll Herefords Lot 36, Yavenvale Ripper, sold for $120,000.

FEBRUARY 15

Autumn bull sales have smashed records again, this year with a leading Hereford stud breaking average price record and an Angus genetics supplier selling more than 100 bulls for an average of almost $20,000.

And all this has happened just a week into the bull selling season.

Yesterday the DiGiorgio family’s Sterita Park Angus stud at Lucindale in South Australia put 106 bulls under the hammer to see them all sell for an average price of $19,689.

This is about $7000 above last year’s result on 87 bulls.

Sterita Park topped at $38,000, with that bull purchased by JE & LR Gosse, Penola. A big driver of the result was Benara Pastoral, Mt Gambier – a pastoral giant in southern Australia with family links to the Scott’s Transport group – buying 50 bulls at an average of $21,100 a pop.

Back over the border, Willaura’s Baillieu family-owned Yarram Park Performance Genetics averaged a new Australia on-property Hereford and Poll Hereford record yesterday, with a huge $18,788 achieved for their full clearance of 64 bulls.

The stud, has also topped the eastern states bull sales so far on the best price, with their Hereford bull Yarram Lottery R162, selling to the McClure family’s Mooree Partnership at Harrow and a semen share to Glendan Park Herefords, Barfold, for an impressive $58,000.

The top bull boasted Estimated Breed Value figures of +65 for carcass weight, +5.7 eye muscle area and a 600-day weight of +92.

Coming in a close second top price at Yarram Park was the $50,000 paid for Yarram Lottery R143, which sold to Amos Vale Herefords and Newcomen Herefords.

The high whitefaced bull average comes off a strong weaner selling season and intense restocker appetite due to rebuilding after drought.

Last year 59 Yarram Park sires sold for an average of $14,440.

Herefords Australia chief executive Lisa Sharp said the result was “an exciting outcome”.

“This highlights increasing interest and demand for high quality Hereford genetics,” she said.

Yarram Park's bull that made the second-top price of $50,000. Photo credit: Studstocksales.com

Meanwhile, last week, the autumn selling calendar kicked off with a hefty sale result at Furner in the lower South East of SA.

There, a leap of $3000 on the average price for bulls and $4500 on females was recorded at Woonallee Simmentals, an auspicious result as the Baker family — early founders of the breed in Australia — celebrated 50 years of Australian Simmentals.

The auction was the 15th on-property at Furner for principals Tom and Lizzy Baker.

All 112 bulls offered sold for an average of $14,312 — a lift of $3165 on last year’s sale which cleared 103 bulls.

Mr Baker said local interest was intense, but heightened demand was also witnessed from Queensland and NSW buyers.

Also drawing huge interest were the 27 unjoined females offered, all of which sold for $10,056 on average.

The bulls topped at $55,000, paid for a 21-month old homozygous polled bull, a son of New Zealand sire Kerrah E307.

This was paid by Paul and Natalie Tuckey, Mubarn Simmental stud, Blythewood, Western Australia.

Mr Baker said he had hoped the bull could make $40,000 to $50,000, and was thrilled by the outcome.

Another highlight was a bull that sold for $42,000 to Victorians, John and Andrea Leek, Mt Ararat Simmentals, Nar Nar Goon, with proceeds going to the Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital gastroenterology unit.

“We put up a bull that we thought might make $15,000, but it went all the way to $42,000, which is a wonderful result,” Mr Baker said.

The reason for the charitable offering was the experience the Bakers have had with childhood illness.

Their son, Harry, now aged 12, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2020 and spent more than 20 days in care after being airlifted to hospital.

Mr Baker said he hoped the money could be used to update medical equipment at the unit, and provide other families with support for their loved ones.

Other key results from the past week include Keringa Angus, Culburra, South Australia averaged $18,458 for 48 bulls and Granite Ridge Angus, Kingston, South Australia, averaged $13,226 for 93

Other early Victorian sales include Mount William Charolais, Willaura and they sold 39 for an average of $8256.