*Total clearance of 143 bulls sold to $45,000, av $13,389
THE scene was set from the first bull of the day at Dunoon Angus' on-property bull sale at Holbrook, NSW, this week, as the first bid kicked off at $36,000 and went on to top at $45,000 as buyers scrambled to get the upper hand early.
And the frenzy didn't slow down as all 143 bulls cleared to a $45,00 top and averaged $13,389 in a new stud record average.
You couldn't pick the difference between stud breeders and commercial buyers as bids flew thick and fast, with the first 50 bulls averaging $16,180, before the first 100 followed suit at a solid $14,500 average.
One would have thought bidding would tail off at the end, but it wasn't to be, with the entire draft averaging $13,839 at the close of the sale.
The top bull was Dunoon Q829, a son of Rennylea L519 out of the Dunoon Dandaloo line of cows, with a low birth weight of +3.7, strong growth to +123, positive milk, rib and rump figures, coupled with an eye muscle area (EMA) of +11.3 and an intramuscular fat percentage of +4.3.
He was snapped up by Steve and Amity Chase, Waitara Angus, Trangie, NSW, in partnership with Genetics Australia for $45,000.
Mr Chase said he was a very sound bull, with a good balance of numbers and phenotype, good through the feet and shoulders and had adequate muscling and genetics they could use with confidence.
"I love to see a yearling bull that has just been used, added to a catalogue and offered up for sale, it shows me he is ready to work," he said.
Peake Angus, Barraba, NSW, are no strangers to the ringside at Dunoon and again paid $21,000 for Dunoon 857, a Topbos Leading Edge L292 son that had been used on cows, with moderate birth at +5.5, a strong 600-day weight at +152 and a +12.1 EMA.
Steve and Leanne Collins, Brooksby Angus, Bundarra, NSW, paid $22,000 and $11,000 for two new sires, while Hicks Beef and Paringa Livestock teamed up to buy the only red gene carrier in the sale, by Rennylea L519 for the second top price of $24,000.
It was the commercial cattleman's day though, with Chris and Helen Nixon, Black Mountain, Orbost, leading the way, outlaying $190,000 on new sires to take home 15 at $12,667 to join to their 700-strong breeding herd.
Mr Nixon looks for easy calving bulls that have good fat cover to counteract the extreme cold weather they get in the high country.
"We run a farm at Orbost and another at Wulgulmerang, where we produce weaners at Orbost for the Mountain Calf Sales and grown heavy domestic steers on the coast to go direct to Greenhams," he said.
Sam Davies, Greenwald Pastoral Company, Foster, bought his 300th bull for his family from the Harbisons, with a relationship spanning more than 20 years, as he secured 14 heifer bulls averaging $13,571.
Mr Davies' family runs 3640 hectares and 2400 cows across three properties at Foster, Dartmore and Nambrok, producing weaners direct to JBS and sold through Leongatha saleyards, with a focus on 400-day weights.
WB and EJ Durnan, Widgiewa Station, Morundah, NSW, loaded 10 at $12,200, while Hill and Dale Farming paid $21,000 and $20,000 respectively for two sires, and Hugh Andrew and Son, Berrembed Station, Matong, NSW, secured eight at $11,375.
Rounding out the sale, P and G Lavis, Bungowannah, found value with three bulls at $8333.
Brett Tindal
National Livestock Manager for ACM Agri. 22 years experience in the Livestock Media industry. Media, Marketing, Photography, Videography and Livestream
National Livestock Manager for ACM Agri. 22 years experience in the Livestock Media industry. Media, Marketing, Photography, Videography and Livestream
