Francs Angus returns to sale format as bulls sell to $21,500

The stud decided following a successful Stock & Land Beef Week to offer their 28 bulls under the helmsman system.

The top-priced bull was Lot 3 - Francs R55 - an August 2020-drop calf by artificial insemination sire JK Makahu, who was purchased by John and Benn Fraser, Fraser Partners, Bo Peep.

R55 had a +3.9 birth weight and growth figures of +51, +96, and +123 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights.

Fraser Partners also secured the second top-priced bull, Lot 4 - Francs R56 - a Black Onyx son, for $19,000.

"We were looking for low birth weight, easy calving bulls, that are going to be easy doing bulls," Benn Fraser said.

"We were also looking for high 400 and 600-day weights and we are starting to focus on carcase traits a bit more, particularly eye muscle area and intramuscular fat.

"We have used Francs bulls in the past and they have worked well for our mixed enterprise, particularly being that the climate is much the same to what the bulls are raised in."

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Fraser Partners was also the volume buyer of the sale, securing three bulls in total for an average of $18,000.

Picking up two bulls, including the third top-priced bull - Lot 19 - for $18,000 was Joe Nolan, JA Fraser Holdings, Leslie Manor.

"We have purchased bulls from Francs in the past, and they have produced really good calves for us," he said.

"We are aiming to continue on with their bloodlines now and we know that we are getting the returns using their bulls already.

"Lot 19 had really good fat estimated breeding values, and he is also sired by Musgrave Stunner, who is a bull I really appreciate.

"Lot 18 was our pick to be used over our heifers, we have used Landfall Keystone semen directly over heifers, and we liked those calves so we decided to get a son."

Francs Angus stud principal Nick Franc was exceptionally happy with the result after the timer closed down, even offering to showcase some more bulls for clients that might not have gotten a bull.

"This system really suited us, and it allowed our clients to have the option on their first bull, but also be able to go back and get their second choice, all within their budget," he said.

"The sale did actually exceed our expectations, but given that our average was on par with other Angus sales, I'm really proud.

"We did an open-cry sale in 2018, which did well, but it was stressful, this is what we will do for now on."