Why the beef industry is seeing such high prices for top bulls

Six-figure bull prices are no longer a rarity and two studs have already achieved that this week.

The chase to secure top beef genetics has produced six-figure price tags for bulls across eastern Australia.

Leading the southern bull charge was Alpine Angus at Rosewhite, which yesterday sold a bull for $120,000.

Further north, that figure was beaten by more than double when a Santa Gertrudis set a breed record of $250,000.

For southern beef genetics supplier Alpine Angus, the top price of $120,000 was a highlight of the sale which saw a total clearance of 60 bulls for a $15,517 average.

The top price bull, at 19 months, was one of four sired by Baldridge 38 Special and had figures of plus-7 for eye muscle area (breed average 6.1) and plus-3.1 for intramuscular fat (breed average of 2.1); a birthweight of 3.4 and a 600-day growth of 137 (breed average 116).

It sold to Arkle Angus from Munglinup, Western Australia.

The top price bull at Alpine Angus which made $120,000 at the stud's sale near Rosewhite.

Alpine Angus principal Jim Delany said the top price bull had a unique mix of excellent structure and good numbers.

“We have a breeding goal for good birthweight, growth and IMF, always underpinned by excellent structure,” Mr Delany said.

“It was a good sale result, which reflected the market and was similar to what we have achieved in our past few sales.

“And while it is nice to sell a bull to a stud, our core business is selling to commercial producers and we had plenty of existing clients as well as new buyers at the sale.”

Meanwhile Yarrawonga Cattle Co sold all 190 bulls it offered to an Australian record of $250,000 and averaged $20,663.