*54 of 54 bulls sold to $14,000 (three times), av $7750
The Weeran Angus stud at Weerangourt sold 54 bulls to a top of $14,000 on three occasions and at an average of $7750 at its spring sale.
The stud of Alec and Jo Moore achieved a record top price and average for the spring sale.
There was a rise in numbers of bulls sold as well as an increase in average price by $1779 on 2019.
The top price of $14,000 was achieved three times. Firstly lot 7, Weeran Parraffin P626, sold to first time buyer, Francs Angus at Beaufort.
P626 was a calving ease specialist with a birthweight estimated breeding value (EBV) of 2.8 kilograms, 200-day growth of 54kg, 400-day of 106kg and a 600-day of 138kg.
Equal top price was lot 16 Weeran Pooginook P387 sold to repeat buyer, the Allen Family of South Boorook at Mortlake.
P387 was a son of Paringa Judd M118 out of a Weeran Boomerang daughter. A calving ease bull P387 had figures of 51kg for 200-day, 94kg for 400-day and 130kg for 600-day growth.
The third bull to make the top price was lot 31 Weeran Quartz Q141 purchased by Tooma Station. One of the younger bulls in the sale, the bull was in the top 20 per cent of the breed for all indexes. Figures included 100kg for 400-day growth and 128kg for 600-day.
Second top price of $13,000 was paid by Peter Delany of Murroa East, Hamilton for Lot 28 Weeran Quebec Q66. One of the first Sydgen Enhance sons to be offered in Australia. Described by Alec Moore as "a real mover and shaker for carcase". Murroa East had been purchasing bulls at Weeran since 1995.
Lot 27 Weeran Quinn Q116 was purchased by Dick Whale of IBMS for Willalooka Pastoral Coy for $12,000.
Lot 42 Weeran Panorama P437 sold for $12,000 to Kilkenny Pastoral, Hawkesdale. The bull was one of the highest grading bulls in the sale and in the top 1pc of the breed for net feed efficiency, top 3pc for calving ease daughters.
Another to make $12,000 was lot 58 Weeran Peterpan P604 purchased by Alchorne Farms, Hawkesdale. P604 had figures of +10 eye muscle area, and +3.1 for intramuscular fat.
Elite Livestock Auctions ran a live simulcast viewed in QLD, NSW, SA and Victoria, with 10 bulls selling to online buyers.
Volume buyers on the day included Alchorne Farms, Hawkesdale, seven bulls, Nareen Station, Nareen, five and Tooma Station and B & L Armit, Swifts Creek both purchasing three. New client, Wells Ag Pty Ltd, Elaine, purchased four bulls.
Jo Moore said they were "very pleased" to have sold the most bulls for a spring sale and also to beat the previous top price for the spring sale of $12,000.
"To have $14,000 go three times was excellent," she said.
She said the online attracted 24 buyers as well as 92 watching which was "exciting".
The ten bulls that sold online went to five different buyers including a couple of news buyers, she said.
Alec Moore said result was terrific with "very good" top prices "but there was also affordability in the sale".
"You do have to make sure people can see value and with an average of $7750 you know your price per calf produced was around $35 to $40 a calf and that's affordable," he said.
"People running commercial herds have to do the maths," he said.
Mrs Moore said the sale was a big unknown with COVID going into the sale.
"It had a very different feeling to it. It was great to see the online component be a success at the sale," she said.
You've got to have a crowd, but the online platforms will give us the opportunity to get more exposure from greater distances and start to build some more clientele outside our local bread and butter area.
"Were really determined to advance our product and to do that you have to sell more cattle and online selling does that."
Mrs Moore said the feedback was that the Elite platform was excellent.
She said the temperament of the cattle going through the ring was "absolutely fabulous".
The auctioneer was Brian Leslie and settling agent Kerr & Co.
Full report at www.stockandland.com.au