*100 of 102 bulls sold to $130,000, av $10,700
A BOUYANT beef industry and a super sire genetics drove the top price to $130,000 at the 2021 Lawson Angus Victoria and NSW combined yearling spring sale.
Top was an AI son of elite sire, GAR Momentum, Lawsons Rocky R4010, which was bought by a syndicate of northern NSW breeders and a local Yea breeder - Gilmandyke, Dunoon, Kelly and Knowla Angus for the bull that was part of the NSW offering.
Described as having the potential to be an elite stud sire, the August 2020-drop bull's highlight figures on Group Breedplan EBVs was +5.2 intramuscular fat (IMF), +11.6 eye muscle area (EMA) and a Heavy Grain Index (GRN) of 192. The bull also had figures of 54 kilograms at 200 days, 95kg at 400 days and 119kg at 600 days.
There were 65 registered buyers online and 145 viewed online and 24 registered on site for the sale that was conducted at the Yea and Boorowa properties as a physical sale conducted by DLS and interfaced online via Elite Livestock Auctions.
DLS Rural livestock specialist manager, Scott Lord, said it was a great sale, supported mainly by return buyers.
"There was not a big crowd in attendance due to COVID but there was a large number viewing and competing online," he said.
"Lot 80 had lot of inquiry from stud industry as a potential sire and that helped create an Austrlalian record for a yearling bull," he said.
Given all yearling bulls the Lawson family were happy with the total clearance and sale result.
In all 100 lots sold at auction to average $10,700.
Second top price of the day was $16,000 for lot seven, Lawsons Get Cracking R5100, a son of Alloura Get Cracking G10, with an IMF of +4.1 and EMD of +10.6. The June 2020-drop bull was bought by Ridgemount Pastoral, Glen Innes, NSW. The bull appealed because of its high marbling and balance of traits.
Lot four, Lawsons Montalto R5104, by Te Mania Montalto M1314, was sold for $15,000 and bought by a NSW corporate account. The bull had a GRN of 200, highest in the sale and top 1pc of the breed as well as a IMF of +3.7.
Warbrook, Tooma, NSW, bought three bulls to a top of $14,000 being for lot 48 Lawsons Ashland R5028, by GAR Ashland, which came with an EMA of +10.7.
Volume buyer of the day was account TRT Pastoral, King Island, Tasmania, which bought 15 bulls. The account spent to $12,000 on two occasions, the first being lot 26, Lawsons Genuine R1077, one of 12 sons of outcross sire, GAR Genuine, and ranked top 5pc of the breed for GRN at 172.
The second bull making $12,000 was lot 37, Lawsons Momentous R1054, by Lawsons Momentous M618.
The Mason family, Meadow Flat, NSW, was an active buyer securing 10 bulls and paying to a top of $13,000. The top lot was lot eight Lawsons Reliant R5167 by GAR Reliant and ranked in the top 5 per cent of the breed for GRN, top 10pc for 600-day growth and top 7pc of the breed for Calving Ease Direct (DIR).
The same buyer paid $12,000 for lot 10, Lawsons Ashland R5105, a son of GAR Ashland.
Nangwarry Pastoral, Naracoorte, SA, bought five bulls to a top of $14,000, all sired by GAR Ashland. The top was lot 95, Lawsons Ashland R4032, with a GRN of 168 and IMF of 3.4. Lot 94 went the same way for $11,000 for Lawsons Ashland R4030, a bull with a 600-day growth of 138.
Other buyers included Linton Park Pastoral, Ballarat, a long-time client who bought five bulls to a top of $13,000.