Competition lacking at Yancowinna sale

In what was stud manager Rob Ewing’s final week at the stud, before moving onto new ventures, the Cape Paterson stud offered 35 bulls, and sold 22, to a top price of $7500 (twice), and an average price of $4700.

The first bull to reach the $7500 top price was Lot 2, Yancowinna M38, who was purchased by return clients Bill and Jill Belfrage, ‘Belfrage Pastoral’, Bass.

Mr Belfrage said the bull was a standout offering, who would fit in nicely into their herd.

The August 2016-drop bull weighed 754 kilograms, and recorded BreedPlan figures of +3.3kg birth weight, +50kg 200-day weight, +100kg 400-day weight, and +129kg 600-day weight, as well as an eye muscle area (EMA) of +6.3 square centimetres.

The second bull to reach the top price was Lot 19, Yancowinna M71, who was also purchased by repeat buyers, Fergus and Chris Cameron, Phillip Island.

Mr Cameron said Lot 19 was a standout because of his low birthweight, and conformation.

The Camerons purchased two other bulls, av $5333, and said two of the three bulls would be joined to heifers, and the other to cows.

“We’re very focused on getting the right bulls for heifers, so that we have smooth calving periods, and we also need the calves to be able to get up to the weights that we want,” Mr Cameron said.

“It’s about finding a combination, and we’ve had a good deal of success out of Yancowinna bulls in the last few years.”

He said the Yancowinna bulls also offer good temperament.

“Temperament is a priority for us, and we’ve had comments in the past about the temperament of our cattle when we sell them in the yards,” he said.

Their top-priced bull weighed 712kg, and recorded BreedPlan figures of +4.1kg birth weight, +46kg 200-day weight, +89kg 400-day weight, and +114kg 600-day weight.

Tim and Tony Roberts, ‘Maranup Park’, Pound Creek, bought two bulls at the sale, one at $5500, and one at $4000.

The Roberts family are return clients of about 10 years, and said the bulls “do what we want them to do”.

“They’re good bulls, with good bloodlines, and they’re not artificially pumped up,” Tim Roberts said.

“We liked the sire of the bulls we bought (Texas Mount K002), and we’re hoping they’ll produce good progeny.”

Yancowinna stud principal Dennis Ginn said it was a “tough sale” that was “a bit behind target”, but he was proud to have been able to offer a quality lineup.

Mr Ginn said the priority had been being able to offer structurally sound, highly fertile bulls with good growth figures and temperament.

He said he was sad to see stud manager Rob Ewing leave, after six years at the stud.

“Rob has done a great job for us, he’s been good for the grass, and good for the breed,” Mr Ginn said.

“He’s definitely a future leader of the industry.”