CHRIS Knox and Helen Alexander celebrated their 24th annual Angus and Charolais bull sale with a $24,000 high.
Held at the Gunnedah Saleyards, the DSK bull sale attracted buyers from across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
Thirthy-eight from 40 Angus bulls offered sold to a top of $24,000 and averaged $6711; 19 from 27 Charolais bulls offered sold to a top of $9000 and averaged $5790; one Charolais x Angus bull sold for $3000 and Lonnie Stone, DSK stockhand, offered one Angus x Shorthorn bull which sold for $4000.
A feature to the DSK sale was the offering of long yearling bulls which saw 22 Angus yearlings sell to a top of $13,000 and average $5955 whilst six Charolais yearlings sold to a top of $8000 twice and averaged $5667.
The $24,000 sale top, DSK DHP Lassiter L114, was catalogued at lot 1.
Strong competition from the stands and phone bids pushed the 23-month old to double figures with Geoff McInnes, Innesdale Angus, Winnindoo, Victoria winning the bid over the phone.
The Dunoon Highpoint H744 son from a Kansas Upward daughter with SVF Hi Road also on the dam side, weighed 918 kilograms, with a scrotal of 43 centimeters, 9mm on the P8, 8mm on the rib and eye muscle area (EMA) of 129 cm2 and an intramuscular fat (IMF) of 6.6pc.
Auctioneer, Peter Godbolt, Landmark Studstock, Albury commented on the buyer’s behalf.
Mr Godbolt said the McInnes family have a lot of bull clients who finish their progeny off on grass and feel L114’s carcass, softness and deep body would suit that market really well.
Topping the Charolais draft was DSK VF Lobo L63E, a Venturon Frankie son from a Moongool Encore daughter with DSK WW Wendy Z4E, a DSK top breeder, as the grand dam.
The 22-month old polled sire was purchased over the phone by Ivan Price, Moongool Charolais, Yuleba Queensland.
Weighing in at 862kg the bull measured 41cm in the scrotal, 7mm on P8, 4mm on rib, and EMA of 131cm2 and an IMF of 4.1pc.
First time buyers, Bill and Maggie Fanning, “Inverell Station”, Inverell secured six Angus bulls from the sale including the highest priced yearling, DSK YXC Murdoc M34 for $13,000.
Mr and Mrs Fanning have been fans and following the DSK success in the show ring for over 20 years and were drawn in by the Canadian Genetics.
“We had pure North American Angus cattle and were one of the first importers of Canadian genetics into NSW back in the day, over the years our content had reduced so we are excited to infuse Canadian genetics back into our herd” said Mr Fanning.
The Fannings also had there own feedlot operation and bought in Wollomombi Station cattle on a regular bases.
“The Wollomombi cattle were based on DSK genetics and would put on nearly half a kilogram more per day than any other cattle in the feedlot” said Mr Fanning who now runs a commercial Angus operation joining 600 females annually.
Another volume buyer on the day was Russell Partnership, “Brubri” Manilla who secured seven Charolais bulls to average $5571.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Gunnedah and Purtle Plevey Agencies, Manilla.