Pathfinder backs-up solid sale

The Moyle family's Penshurst sale backed-up their Naracoorte, South Australia's spectacular clearance which offered and sold 124 bulls to $16,000, av $6085 with an equally mighty 105 clearance that peaked at $12,000 twice and av $5900.

Landmark agent Robert Lovell hit the sale high first with a bid of $12,000 on Lot 25, Pathfinder Regent J270, on behalf of an anonymous client.

The two year-old bull was a Tuwharetoa Regent D145 son and out of Pathfinder Ada, and weighed 903kilograms.

Described as a "super power" by Landmark auctioneer Kevin Norris, J270 recorded estimated breeding values in the top 1per cent of the breed for +54 for 200-day growth, +137 for 600-day growth and +85 for carcase weight and top 5pc for +96 400-day growth.

He scored +4 eye muscle area (EMA), +2.5 for intramuscular fat (IMF) and Heavy Grain $Index of $128.

Mr Lovell said the bull was "difficult to fault".

"In light of the cattle market and price of trade in cows and bulls, these bulls are not expensive - there was good buying opportunity," he said.

The equal top price bull was Pathfinder Facilitator J326, son of Aberdeen Estate Facilitator F103 and out of Pathfinder Direction D359, and was knocked down to Pardoo Cattle Company, Barongarook West.

The two year-old bull was 872kg and recorded balanced performance EBVs of +4.6 for birth weight, +18 for Milk, +105 for 600-day growth, +63 for carcase weight, +8.8 for EMA and +1.2 for IMF.

*Full report in next week's Stock & Land.