An “outstanding” line-up was offered at Mortlake Saleyards for the Banquet Angus Spring Bull Sale.
More than 40 bullocks were presented to a gallery of 36 registered buyers at the Branson family hosted sale on September 30.
The 41-head offering achieved a near-total clearance, with 40 bullocks sold and a top price of $15,000 – a $2000 increase on 2015 – and an average $7075 – up from last year’s $6500.
Banquet’s Stephen Branson said he had not experienced as great a result for prices, line-up and buyers in more than 40 years.
“The terms of trade are very good,” he said. “There are low-interest rates, fuel and fertilizer prices and feed grain prices, plus a (good) supply of feed and water.”
Most buyers in attendance were from the Western District and Gippsland areas with some extending to NSW. Online buyers were also able to conduct operations through Auctions Plus.
Kicking off the sale was FG & PG Van Bergen, Framlingham, winning the bid at $10,000 on the first bull in the sale ring after an “animated competition” while Gary Trinton, Tauroma Farming, of Moree, NSW, had the fall of the hammer on Lot 4, Banquet Kelso at $12,000.
Alistair and Ian James, of A7 Farms, Casterton, long term repeat clients, bought three bulls for an average of $9333 and a top price of $15,000 for Lot 5, Banquet Khancoban K351.
The brothers said they were impressed with Banquet Khancoban’s good spread of figures and selected him as the stand out bull of the sale. The AI/ET son of the elite Banquet cow C226 – and daughter of the legendary Kiwi Dream – showed impressive EBVs, with an EMA of +0.7, a +19 for milk and a 600 day weight of +137.
It was described in the catalogue as ‘an outstanding potential sire’ and ‘long, smooth shouldered bull, clean skinned and athletic in his movement’.
Six younger bulls aged 15-18 months were offered, with an outstanding yearling bull at Lot 17 – Banquet Lancelot – reflecting his exceptional pedigree and selling for the second-top price of $14,000 to SP & NJ McLeod, of Macarthur.
Other prominent buyers included KA & DJ Harper, Timboon, purchasing four sires averaging $4625 and AM Dwyer, Glenwood Pastoral, Penshurst who bought three bulls averaging $8333.