Genesis son makes $32,000 for Moyles

Stud principals Nick and Sara Moyle enjoyed a $1.37 million pay day at their 20th ​annual SA bull sale, plus 100 pregnancy-tested females, which topped at $3040 and averaged $2280.

More than one third of the bulls made $10,000 or more in the 2.5-hour selling marathon, ensuring the average lifted $1052 on 2016.

Buyers bid with confidence on the proven genetics in the state’s largest offering.

They were spoilt for choice with pen after pen of bulls with growth and carcase backed with multiple traits in the top 1-5 per cent of the breed.

The 13 sons of Pathfinder Genesis G357 – the number one bull in the Angus breed on three breed indexes – provided many of the highlights, including the $32,000 top price, and averaged $14,500.

Two spring 2015-drop Genesis sons catalogued late in the sale were elevated to lot 1 and 2 after strong interest.

It kicked the sale off in spectacular style with lot 123 – Pathfinder Genesis L1119 – selling for $24,000 to long-time buyer David Harvey, King Island, Tas.

Lot 129, Pathfinder Genesis L152 – a late September-drop – rose even higher, selling for $32,000 to Doug and Barbara Tozer, Onslow stud, Wallendbeen, NSW.

The Tozers, who have bought several high price bulls from SA, were phone bidding through Elders Strathalbyn’s Danny Reynolds.

Mr Tozer said Genesis G357 was a “proven practical sire” and L1152 was a “good package of commercial and genetic traits”.

“It was selected for its structure, length, quality and balance and the figures were acceptable with five traits in the top 1pc and three in the top 5pc,” he said.

The 748-kilogram sale-topper was among the breed’s elite, in the top 1pc for 200-, 400- and 600-day growth, scrotal and carcase weight.

The highest price autumn-drop bull at lot 35 was another Genesis son which ticked plenty of boxes. It sold for $18,000 to Gary and Sally Bowyer, Robe.

Two more Genesis sons made $17,000, with lot 12 knocked down to Patrick Ross, Lucindale, and ID&B Cobiac, Kingston SE, buying lot 35 – a good heifer bull – for the same money.

St Vincents, Sellicks Hill, also bid in the top end securing a TeMania Emperor E343 son for $16,000 and a Sitz Upward son for $13,000.

Broad Cattle Company, based at Jamestown, were the sale’s volume buyer, with 13 bulls between $5000 and $7000. These bulls are destined for their Jervois Station via Alice Springs, NT.

Long-time supporters Todd and Anne Woodard, Peel Pastoral, Wrattonbully, won many of the bidding wars, securing six bulls averaging $10,167.

Their buying card included a Te Mania Emperor E343 son at lot 23, Pathfinder Emperor L82 for $15,000.

RJ&CM Savage, Lucindale, bought four bulls averaging $8750, while Yellowie Props, Burra, took home four bulls averaging $8000.

Those with three bulls each included Andrew Widdison, Kumara Park, Kalangadoo, averaging $11,000, Karowara, Naracoorte, averaging $10,333, and BM&BP Mumford, Redhill, averaging $8667.

Despite some lofty heights, 12 bulls made $5000.

Mr Moyle said it was fantastic to see 90pc of the buyers were repeat clients.

Many had enjoyed outstanding weaner sales with progeny topping at Naracoorte and Hamilton, Vic.

Wrights Swamp, Heywood, Vic, received $4.46/kg or $1605 for Pathfinder-blood heifers in January and another client Biggin Hill Trust, Lochaber, sold their complete drop of yearling heifers for $1400.

“Our philosophy is simple – to have the most profitable clients in the livestock industry,” Mr Moyle said.

“To do that the cattle must be fertile, have calving ease and wean the maximum weight calf.”

Prior to the bull sale, 100 2010- and 2009-drop pregnancy-tested in-calf females, due to calve from early March, were offered in pens of 10. The top price pen sold at $3040 to repeat buyer David Blaxland, Warrnambool, Vic, buying through J&J Kelly & Co.

Landmark auctioneers Kevin Norris and Gordon Wood said it was a privilege to stand over such a top quality offering, with plenty of quick fire bidding.

“To put up 122 bulls of the calibre and evenness of these with the softness and easy fleshing ability is testament to the time, knowledge and passion the Moyles invest into the stud,” Mr Wood said.

“The Genesis and Goldmark lines were outstanding and buyers extended themselves trying to get them.”

Mr Norris made particular note of the 28 spring 2015-drops, which averaged $9607, and included both the $32,000 sale top and $24,000 second highest price.

“The breeding program has produced an outstanding draft of spring-drop bulls, which just reinforces how the program is marching forward,” he said.