STRONG bidding set a new stud record for Adelaide Hills-based stud Seymour Vale during the Walmona Santa Gertrudis Invitational Sale at Truro on Saturday.
The sale featured 32 bulls and 24 pure-bred Santa Gertrudis females from studs Walmona, Truro, Seymour Vale, Tungkillo, Glen Rufus Park, Eden Valley, Nangaringa, Loxton, and Rockingham, Lake Cargelligo, NSW.
The top price bull – two-year-old Seymour Vale Nate (P) Seym656 – sold at $10,500 to Lance Cramer, Temple Bar, via Alice Springs, NT.
The 726-kilogram bull, sired by Yarrawonga Coach H804, had an eye muscle area of 121 square centimetres and 9-millimetre rib and rump fat.
Seymour Vale studmaster Kevin Lintern said the price was a record for the stud and they also had full clearance of the seven bulls they offered.
“It’s the best sale we’ve ever had,” he said.
“It’s all pretty overwhelming but it will sink in eventually.
“The bull has been my pick pretty much all the way along. It’s the complete package.”
The stud sold another bull at $9000 to Yarrawonga Cattle Co, Wallumbilla, via Roma, Qld.
Seymour Vale Noel (P) Seym658 – a half-brother to the top price bull – weighed 724kg, with a 10mm rump fat, 8mm rib fat and 118sqcm EMA.
During the auction, 25 bulls of the 32 on offer sold, while the remainder were sold shortly afterwards.
An 18-month-old bull from Nangaringa, which did not reach its reserve in the ring, sold shortly after the sale for $10,000 to Yarrawonga Cattle Co.
Nangaringa Len Nan15ML457, sired by Macaire Shannon 909, weighed 764kg, with an average daily weight gain of 1.3kg, 126sqcm EMA, 16mm rump and 11mm rib fat.
Nangaringa sold six bulls overall.
Walmona sold 17 bulls to $5000, while Rockingham sold two bulls to $6000.
Walmona also sold a 2014-drop cow with three-month-old calf at-foot for $2200 to Driver Enterprises, while its 12, 2015-drop heifers, sold to $1700, all bought by RM&DV Fogden, Loxton.
Glen Rufus sold five 2016-drop heifers, averaging 327kg, at $1340, to DD Smith, and a further six at $1200 to Terlinga Farms.
Volume buyers were McDouall Peak Station, via Coober Pedy, with nine bulls to $6000, while Cowarie Station, on the Birdsville Track, bought five bulls to $5000.
Elders Kapunda agent Paul Kilby said the sale had gone well.
“The bulls looked exceptional, and all buyers bought in confidence knowing the cattle will perform,” he said.
Landmark stud stock manager Gordon Wood said the sale had reached “some good highs”.
“The cattle were in ideal condition to head into the pastoral zones, where most of the cattle sold to,” he said.
“The young heifers sold particularly well, with strong competition for the younger females.”
The sale was conducted by Landmark and Elders, with Gordon Wood and Tom Penna sharing the auctioneer duties.