ANGUS breeders chasing a drop of Champagne, the odd Blackbird, but especially a Dream helped set a new Australian breed record at the dispersal of the Vermont Angus stud near Penshurst, in western Victoria, this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
The mammoth two-day auction by agents, Elders and Landmark, grossed $2.26 million for 709 live lots plus embryos and semen to be what is believed to be one of the highest grossing beef dispersals in Australia.
The sale was the first offering for several years of females from the well-known Dream cow family, but leading breeders also took the rare opportunity to stock up on the sought-after Champagne, Blackbird and Wilcoola bloodlines.
But it was Taralga breeder, Keith Kerridge, Bannaby Angus, with manager, Glynn Langford, and Elders Goulburn’s Steve Ridley who dug deepest on the first day to make a knockout bid of $45,000 for 31/2-year-old Vermont Dream B227, outbidding Aberdeen Estate Angus stud, Fitzroy Falls.
Mr Kerridge’s surprise final bid set a new Australian record for an Angus cow and ended a tense battle between Aberdeen Estate (last bid $44,000) – owned by Rex Airlines founder, Michael Jones, and wife, Michelle – and a Granite Ridge-Pathfinder partnership (last bid $43,000).
Landmark auctioneer, Peter Godbolt, said it felt “brilliant” to help set the record.
“The adrenalin hits you and you just fly with it.”
The previous record of $42,000 was paid by Aberdeen Estate for Ardrossan Princess W38 in October last year.
The stud has been paying top dollar for elite females to build its recently-established herd.
Stud part-owner and manager, Graham Winnell, said cows like B227 gave a stud entry to the breed’s top level.
In other highlights, bulls sold to $40,000 – among the top prices for Angus bulls sold at auction in Australia – while an 11-month-old heifer made $37,000.
Both were knocked down to Landmark Albury on behalf of a mystery NSW client.
