Magic at Merridale sale

They achieved a total clearance of 34 bulls, and they sold to a top of $15,000 twice and an average of $8279. These results were up $1000 on last year’s sale-high, and by $764 for the average, over more bulls sold.

The first bull to reach $15,000, was lot 6, that the Collins family and auctioneering team decided to pull out of catalogue order to be the first bull sold.

Auctioneer Kevin Norris, Landmark Albury, said Mr Collins had considered keeping Lot 6, Merridale Milane M101 (AI) (ET) in the stud. Mr Norris said the yearling bull was one of the best young bulls he’d seen “for a while”.

Milane M101 balanced phenotype, performance and pedigree all in one package.

It is sired by ABS Australia’s US super sire, Tour of Duty, and its pedigree on its dam side is equally as impressive - it is out of young donor cow, Merridale Dream J100 (AI) (ET), which is a direct daughter of the $37,000 Vermont Dream E096; a sister to the $45,000 Vermont Dream B227 and also the $48,000 Aberdeen Estate Dream F21.

At only one years old, the bull weighed 601kg and had a scrotal size (SS) of 40cm. It was knocked down to SBC Farms, Mickleham. Kyle Landy purchased the bull on behalf of this new stud operation, that has about 160 registered females boosted by purchases at Coolana Angus’s dispersal earlier this month.

“I liked everything about this bulls – he’s very correct, very long, has great weight for age, is clean-shouldered and has beautiful feet. I was impressed by its full ET sister that was on display,” Mr Landy said.

SBC Farms will use Milane M101 in its AI program. They also bought Lot 3, Merridale Legacy L143 (AI) (ET), for $10,000. It was one of four full brothers by Rennylea H106 (ET), a son of Tuwharetoa Regent D145 (AI) (ET), and out of proven Merridale performer Merridale Vicky D55 (AI) (ET).

Merridale has used the 22-month-old bull naturally, recognising that it has always been the heaviest calf and also scanned the highest within his contemporary for both eye muscle area (EMA) and intramuscular fat (IMF).

One of its full brothers at Lot 4, Merridale Lieutenant L110 (AI) (ET), reached the equal sale top of $15,000. This 19 month-old bull weighed 740kg and had an SS of 40cm.

It was purchased by the Wall family, Lynfield, Gowangardie, and Jeff Wall said the family had been buying cattle from the Collins family’s stud for more than 40 years.

He and son Simon said the bull was a good package, combining estimated breeding values (EBVs) and a phenotype of great bone, stature and muscle.

Its EBVs included +2.3 birth weight (top 10pc for 2015-drop Angus); +8.5 square centimetres eye muscle area (top 5pc); and +2.6pc intramuscular fat (top 20oc).

They bought another two bulls, lots 16 and 34A, for an overall average of $10,000.

Simon Wall said the bulls would be put out in June, probably with heifers, as part of their 260-cow herd.

The Merridale bloodlines have performed well, with the resulting steer calves consistently being in the top row of Euroa’s feature black sale. Other accounts to book three bulls each were IE Cameron & Co, Jerilderie, NSW, (av $8333); KM&SMA Finn, Deniliquin, NSW, (av $7000); and Cistercian Property Association (av $7333). Five bulls made $10,000 and one made $11,000 – Merridale Langford L49 (AI) (ET), another Rennylea H106 (ET) son, which was knocked down to account Antan, Yea.

This 19 month-old bull weighed 706kg and had a SS of 39cm.

Merridale also offered heifers, and 13 of 14 stud heifers sold to $10,500, av $4038. Ross Varvis, Cudgewa, bid to the section top to secure Merridale Ester L101 (AI) (ET).

This two year-old heifer was by Carabar Docklands D62 (AI) and was PTIC.

Merridale’s seven commercial heifers were sold in one lot of seven for $1600 a head.