COOLANA ANGUS
*Total clearance of 130 bulls, sold to $17,000, av $7588
COOLANA Angus set a record bull price and sale average last Wednesday.
Mark, Anna and Max Gubbins’ decision to combine their annual South Australian and Victorian autumn Angus bull sales into one only sale at Chatsworth paid off, with strong support by both local Victorian and interstate buyers.
The 130 Angus bulls all sold to $17,000 and averaged $7588, both being new records for Coolana.
The 18 month-old record-setting $17,000 top-priced bull, Coolana NZ465-L238 was purchased by long-time supporters, the Kelly family, Mooramook Pastoral, Caramut.
Sired by the New Zealand background bull, Te Mania 11 465, this magnificently structured and balanced youngster was supported by equally impressive and balanced Breedplan figures, up to +112 for 600 day weight, +17 for Milk, +2.8 for Scrotal, +6.3 for EMA and +2.7 for IMF. This topped the previous Coolana record of $16,000 set in their 2015 spring sale and equalled at last year’s spring sale.
Very prominent SA purchaser over several years, Legh Winser, Benara, Mt Gambier, sent a strong buying order through beef consultant Dick Whale. He bought five bulls for Benara, averaging $10,800, including the $15,000 second top priced Coolana New Day H36-L122, plus the equal third top of $14,000 for Coolana Black Pearl L157. Sired by Coolana New Day H36 and Sydgen Black Pearl 2006 respectively, these two bulls had a very similar level and balance of BreedPlan figures to the sale topping bull.
Mr Whale purchased 18 bulls for five accounts. These included Burnfoot Pastoral, SA (seven bulls to $7000, av $6214) and Allhill Pty Ltd, Corowa, NSW (four bulls to $10,000, av $9125).
The dominant buying account was once again Princess Royal Station, represented by Simon, Andrea and Jack Rowe, buying through Elders Burra. They purchased 28 bulls, av $6911.
Princess Royal produces heavyweight steers for the EU market and the Rowe family swear by the quality and predictable performance of the Coolana bulls that really match their Breedplan figures.
Eighteen other South Australian producers made it onto the buyers’ list together the state accounted for 58pc of the 130 bulls, while 27 buyers from Victoria purchased 34pc of the offering.
McCarthy Livestock, buying through Elders Lucindale, got six bulls to $8500, av $7000. Swan Brothers, Meningie, SA, were also strong with five to $9000, av $8400.
Victorian buyers with four bulls each were Abbey Hills Partnership, Hawkesdale (av $8000), Hopkins River Pastoral, Dunkeld (av $8250) and CP&LM Iredell, Pigeon Ponds through PPH & S Naracoorte (four av $6500).
After the sale, senior principal Mark Gubbins paid special tribute to his strongest mentor and family friend Malcolm Macdonald who is currently very ill and not able to be present.
Mr Gubbins made a presentation to Mr Macdonald’s three daughters who were present at this sale bidding against each other and all other bidders; Andrea (Princess Royal, 28 bulls), Deb (Moonee Hills, four bulls) and Helen (Boundy and Macdonald, one bull). Wayne Croft representing sale sponsors provided the Eclipse cattle product for this presentation.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Spence, Dix & Co, with Ross Milne (Elders) and Jono Spence (Spence, Dix & Co) calling the sale.
