WITHERSWOOD
*52 of 59 bulls sold to $15,000, av $5510
THE rain held off in perfect time to see a large gallery of buyers attend Witherswood Angus’ bull sale at their Taminick property on Tuesday.
Of the 59 bulls on offer, 52 sold, to a top price of $15,000, and an average price of $5510.
The top price was down $6000 on last year, but the clearance rate was up by three per cent, and the average price only down by $59.
While many thought lot 4 would be the top-priced bull, hitting $14,000 early in the sale, towards the latter half of the sale, lot 53 exceeded this price, reaching $15,000.
Both bulls were bought by the same buyers, Lou, Rosemary and Jasmine Maher, Meerlieu.
First-time buyer, Mr Maher said both bulls appealed to the family because of their genetics and structure.
Lot 53, the top-priced bull, was sired by Matauri Reality 839, and recorded estimated breeding values (EBVs) of +4.5 kilograms birth weight, and growth figures of +51kg 200-days weight, +92kg 400-days weight, and +121kg 600-days weight.
The 19-month-old bull weighed 659kg.
Lot 4, a 20-month-old bull, was sired by Millah Murrah Jackpot J137, weighed 698kg, and recorded EBVs of +4.8kg birth weight, and growth figures of +44kg 200-days weight, +83kg 400-days weight, and +109kg 600-days weight.
Mr Maher said the two bulls would go over a selection of heifers, to breed for the store cattle market.
Seven Creeks Estate owner Ross Carrington and manager Wayne Ellis, Euroa, were the biggest volume buyers of the day, taking home six bulls.
Return buyers, they bought to a top price of $7500, av $5667.
“Witherswood’s bloodlines are as strong as any other stud,” Mr Carrington said.
“We’ve bought five or six bulls every year for the past five years.”
He said in that time, they have had a lot of success.
“The quality of what we’re buying is definitely being seen in our herd,” he said.
“We’ve definitely seen improvements this year, our heifer calves are some of the best we’ve ever seen.
“They’ve got consistent growth rates, and we’re getting good feedback from our own clients that they’re growing out well.”
He said the six bulls will go over their heifers and cows, to breed for the weaner market.
“We wanted some that would be suitable for heifers, as we’ll join about 150 heifers this year, but also some good, solid bulls to go over cows,” he said.
“We like to have a look at the bulls first, and then check out their figures.”
Witherswood principal John Woodruff said he was delighted with the result of the sale.
“I’m very pleased that we got good, solid prices for a range of bulls,” Mr Woodruff said.
“It was good to see bulls spread out over a wide area.”
Bulls went up into Albury and Wagga Wagga, NSW, and were then spread out throughout central and eastern Victoria, into Benambra, Stratford, Rochford, and Oxley, among other areas.
He said they had been striving to breed bulls with structure, depth, and capacity.
“That’s our standard type of bull,” he said.
Glasser Total Sales Management auctioneer Michael Glasser said repeat buyers helped the stud achieve a fantastic result.
“They’ve got a good following here, which has led to more volume buyers,” Mr Glasser said.
The second biggest volume buyer of the day was JM&AM Wallace, who bought five bulls to a top of $4000 (twice), av $3700.
S&S Palmer, Wagga Wagga, NSW, bought the first bull of the day at $10,000, and then two more, to average $8334.
Other buyers who bought three bulls included Frank Sorraghan, Wagga Wagga, NSW, top $8500, av $6167, Hurley Family Partnership, Dargo, top $5500, av $4500, ND&KE McIntosh, Yackandandah, top $5000, av $4333, and Deepdale Seaton Park Partnership, Tallarook, top $6000, av $4833.
