Spring Bull Sale -For Results click here for Excel file
EXTRAORDINARY COMMERCIAL CONFIDENCE
On a cold, late winter’s day, Rennylea Angus held their spring on property sale at “Ellerslie Park” Culcairn. A large crowd gathered during the morning for pre sale inspections. By the time the sale commenced at noon, the sale shed was packed to the rafters and 119 registrations ensured that there was spirited competition throughout the catalogue.
Of the 141 bulls catalogued, 137 were offered and sold. The prices reflected the strong optimism of the current market, with the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator at a record high of over 700c. Interest came from every mainland Australian state and territory. The tweets from those at the sale give an indication of the pace, “of the first 20 bulls at Rennylea, just 8 have made less than $10,000”, “first 40 bulls at Rennylea – 27 made $10K or more, and topped at $18K”, “Angus bull just made $22K to top the Rennylea sale to date, could average more than $10K!!!”
It was a particularly strong performance catalogue, with large numbers of calving ease bulls packed with carcase performance. They averaged in the top 5% of the breed for marbling and eye muscle area, and there were 95 bulls in the catalogue with a birthweight EBV of less than 4.0. For those interested in selection indicies, the bulls (on the market this spring) with the highest Angus Breeding Index and Heavy Grain Index were catalogued and the dozen highest marbling bulls.
Thirty of the bulls were Herdbook registered and the rest are on the Angus Performance Register. Topping the sale, at $22,000 was Lot 102, Rennylea K835, a son of the rising sire Rennylea G420, and out of an E11 daughter. Quiet and moderate framed, K835 represents the Rennylea breeding objective, with top 1% IMF% and all indicies. He was purchased by Don McRae from Goondiwindi, Yea and Walcha and the underbidder was the Costello family from Crown Point Pastoral Company, south of Alice Springs.
Five bulls were purchased by bull breeders. Lot 11, Rennylea K522, by Rennylea E11 was purchased for $18,000 by Hardhat Angus at Dubbo. Brad Cavanagh was interested in K522 as a calving ease sire with loads of marbling. Lots 36 and 87 were purchased by Barwidgee Angus, Caramut Victoria. Lot 36, Rennylea L211, son of GAR Prophet, is a high growth, heifer bull and top 1% IMF. Lot 87, K811 is a son of Rennylea H7, with high growth and top 1% all indicies. Barwidgee have been using Rennylea semen sires for a decade and were keen to secure the next generation of sires for their program. Naranda Angus from Esperance in WA purchased Lot 16, Rennylea K1111, by another rising Rennylea sire, H556. K1111 is a stand out cow bull, purchased by David, Dale and Andrew Johnson, moderate and easy doing. Lot 34 was purchased by The Cascade Pastoral Company from Tallangatta in north east Victoria. Michael McCormack inspected L178 at the Beef Week field day and was determined to secure this GAR Prophet son. With tremendous structure, temperament and performance, the McCormack family paid $18,000 for L178.
The story of the day was the incredible support from the commercial industry. Based at Home Hill in the Burdekin valley south of Ayr in North Queensland, Don, Scott and Peter Heatley travelled south to secure 10 bulls for an average of $12,200. They have been using Brahman x Angus bulls bred out of high carcase Rennylea cows, for a number of years, and decided to change to purebred angus cows and breed 50% progeny. The 10 bulls were by a range of sires, moderate birthweight, growth in the top 25% and high EMA and IMF.
A number of clients purchased multiple lots, including the Hassal family from Holbrook, who bought four lots to a top of $12,000 for Lot 109, L113, by VLYG554. Jim and Bob Miller from Coolac Cattle Company, purchased 4 bulls focussing on high marbling genetics all with an EBV for marbling greater than 4.0, and averaging $15,000. Widgeongully Trading from Coolac purchased 4 bulls to $10,000 for Lot 108, L66. The Nicholls family from Cooma also purchased 4 bulls to $10,000.
Malcolm and Prue Sinclair worked hard for their 8 bulls, commencing at Lot 13 and securing one of the final lots, 38. Malcolm is interested in calving ease, moderate phenotype and high carcase value. Over the past ten years they have developed a herd with a strong fertility and carcase profile at Greenethorpe.
The 137 lots grossed $1,473,000 and averaged $10,752. The auctioneers were Andrew Wishart and Peter Godbolt from Landmark.
Click here for Catalogue pdf and here for video of bulls
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