*12 of 25 bulls sold to $9000, av $4875
A Mount Macedon Charolais stud is celebrating its “coming of age” by buying the top-priced bull from NSW’s Rosedale stud.
Waterford Charolais’ Sapphire Halliday said the first bull the stud ever bought, 21 years ago, was from Rosedale.
“Mum (Deborah) fell in love with this bull, so stuck up her hand and bought him,” Ms Halliday said.
The bull, Rosedale Mercury, was sired by Rosedale H168 (P) MRHI68E (P), and was out of Rosedale Beatrix E10 (P) MRE10E (P).
The sale-topping April 2016-drop bull weighed 900 kilograms, and had an eye muscle area (EMA) scan of 134 square centimetres.
Mercury had estimated breeding values (EBVs) in the top 10 per cent for 600-day growth (+49kg), and top 20pc for domestic and export (at +$34 and +$51 respectively).
He had EBVs of a 10 millimetre rib fat and six mm rump fat, with an intramuscular fat of 5.1pc.
Ms Halliday said the bull’s maternal line was also attractive to Waterford.
Mercury also had bloodlines running back to the first cow Waterford ever bought.
“The first cow we ever bought got bitten by a snake and went through a fence but we’ve never forgotten her,” she said.
Ms Halliday said Mercury had the highest fat cover of all of the bulls in the draft.
The bull was also homozygous polled, which Ms Halliday said was the way the industry was going.
He would be joined to select Charolais cows, at Waterford.
“Rosedale has focused a lot on carcase traits, and we hope he will improve them, in our herd,” she said.
Rosedale stud principal James Milner said it was the sixth time the stud had brought bulls to Yea.
“This year was a little bit disappointing,” Mr Milner said.
But Mr Milner said he was pleased with continued solid support from Garrison Cattle Feeders, Swan Hill, which bought six bulls.
Rodwells Adam Mountjoy said the sale was similar to others, for the breed, this season.
‘It was tough enough,” Mr Mountjoy said.
“There was a small following but a very good quality line up of bulls.”
The auction was conducted by Rodwells.
