*28 of 35 bulls sold to $6000 (3), av $4196
THREE bulls sold at $6000, in a solid Spring sale at Leawood Angus stud on Friday, where the 18-month-old future sires were sporting traditional yellow on black.
In fact, lot 4 was sporting a broad stripe, after stud manager Luke Stuckey prepared the bulls in traditional Leawood livery.
Stud master, Graeme Stuckey, is a lifelong Richmond AFL fan.
While lot 4 returned a creditable $5500, it was lot 2 who was the first bull to top the sale at $6000. Lot 2, bred out of sire Leawood Express, had a birthweight (BW) of 40kg, frame score of +6.8 and sale weight of 752kg, with scrotal circumference 44cm.
He was bought by Landmark-East Gippsland Livestock’s Brad Obst on behalf of Trevor and Carryn Caithness, Caithness Pastoral Co, Bengworden, return buyers who breed a composite commercial herd.
“I wanted a well muscled bull,” Mr Caithness said.
“We’ve bought one or two bulls from Leawood stud every year, for the past seven or eight years. We’re looking to turn off calves at 400-day weights and these bulls do well joined to second-calvers.”
Lot 6 was the next bull to sell at $6000, to Leongatha breeder, Ross Rigano, Malaleuca Pastoral Co. Mr Rigano runs a commercial Angus herd and turns cattle off at 20-months-old to dress out at 300kg.
He was also the underbidder on Lot 2.
“We’ve bought two Leawood Angus bulls previously and I wanted a new Angus bull this year, one true-to-type,” Mr Rigano said.
“I like that Graeme Stuckey breeds and finishes these bulls on grass, like we do with our cattle; and, because he’s also a commercial breeder, it’s always good to see his heifers and cows with their calves on the ground.”
Lot 6 was sired by a Leawood Bonus bull, with BW 39kg, sale weight 706kg and frame score +6.3. His scrotal circumference was 43cm.
The purchaser of the third top-priced bull, lot 17, was also looking for a bull to join to a commercial breeding herd. Stuart Baud runs an Angus herd at Mt Taylor and this was the first Leawood bull he had purchased.
“He was looking for a bull with good structure, good feet and at the lower end of the birthweight scale,” said Brad Obst, who bought the bull on behalf of Mr Baud.
Lot 17, also sired by a Leawood Bonus bull, had BW 34kg, sale weight 662kg, frame score 5.7 and scrotal circumference 42cm.
Graeme Stuckey said he expected these three bulls to perform exceptionally.
“Number two for Richmond is Dean Grimes, a solid backman. Grigg, number six, is a centre player and key midfielder, with great legs and presence,” Mr Stuckey said.
“Daniel Riolli, number 17, got goal of the year.
“Seriously though, we’re very happy with today’s sale and it was good to see many return and some new buyers get the bulls they wanted.”
Among the volume buyers, Ben Thexton, Gormandale, bought two bulls, to $3500.
There was a draft of females with calves put up for auction as well. Rejoined heifers with calves at foot sold to $2250 and cows with CAF sold to $1850.
The sale was managed by Landmark; auctioneer was Kevin Norris.
