A LARGE crowd gathered at the 13th annual Mount William Charolais production sale last Friday, where there was spirited bidding on the quality catalogue of bulls and pregnancy-tested in-calf (PTIC) heifers, due July-August.
David Bondfield, Palgrove Charolais, Queensland, opened the sale commending the line-up of animals on offer and highlighting the positive impact Charolais cattle were having on the greater Australian beef herd.
Of the 46 bulls offered, 44 sold to an average of $4820, while a 100 per cent clearance of the females saw 23 heifers av $2370.
The Whelan Family, Silverbrae Charolais, Korrumburra, helped set a new on-property price record for Mount William Charolais by bidding to $15,000 for bull Mount William Frosty.
The outstanding two-year-old weighed an impressive 924 kilograms and carried an eye muscle area of 122 square centimetres.
The Whelans have been buying bulls at Mount William for the past 10 years and described Frosty as a big, strong bull with plenty of power and muscle.
The pedigree going back to Fernvale Prime Mover on the maternal side will also introduce a new bloodline to the 200-head Silverbrae herd.
The losing bidder on the top-priced bull, Terry Dove, Charles Stewart Dove Colac, has been involved with Mount William for more than 30 years, buying and selling bulls.
The Doves run a commercial Charolais herd at Colac and bought three bulls to $8000 for a Pinay Son in Mount William Freeloader.
Narreena Station, Woodhouse, purchased three bulls to $5500, av $4333.
Mount William Filthy recorded the highest EMA in the draft at 129sqcm and was purchased at $7000 by Steven Smart, through Charles Stewart Colac.
Coragulac vealer producers I&E Kent bought two bulls at av $4625 to be used over F1 cows.
Three bulls went interstate with SA grazier LR Clifford, Furner, taking home Mount William Ferris at $7500, while Tasmanian buyers EJ Anthony & Son bought two bulls av $3750.
Two of the PTIC heifers also went interstate to Queensland to Palgrove Charolais, including the stylish Kadlunga Victor daughter in Mount William Freedom, for the female sale high price of $3000.
AC&C Nash, Camperdown, bought an ET Pinay son in Mount William Footloose at $6500 and three of the PTIC heifers for an average $2166.
Shelley Scott, Gerangamete, has been buying females from Mount William for the past four years, putting together the foundation of her Yaugher Charolais herd.
This year, three heifers were purchased at an av of $2333.
Stud co-principal Anne Abbott felt the catalogue of bulls was the best presented by Mount William and the result of the sale was solid.
With clients receiving excellent prices at the annual weaner sales, it proves Mount William continues to breed bulls that meet the industry's needs.
