THE new $225,000 Australian record priced Angus bull sold at the annual Texas Angus sale near Warialda last week will find his way onto the semen market, with straws expected to be released for sale in late August or early September.

As Beef Central reported last week, the 2021 spring bull selling season has set off to a cracking start, with a new national Angus breed record of $225,000 set at the annual Texas Angus bull sale in northern NSW last Thursday.

The new record holder, 15-month old Texas Iceman R725, was bought by Salt Ash-based Robert McKenzie, Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef at the Mayne family’s annual sale held near Warialda.

The result surpasses the previous Angus record of $160,000 set by for Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15 sold by Millah Murrah Angus, Bathurst at its spring bull sale in September 2019.

Texas Iceman is a son of boom US Angus sire Poss Maverick, whose first sons were offered in Australia by Texas Angus this season. Maverick is ranked top 1pc in the US for IMF, SC, SB, top 5pc heel and top 35pc REA.

Rapidly becoming one of North America’s most sought-after sires, Maverick’s sons have sold to A$1.157m, the highest price in the US in 2021, and the second highest Angus sale bull ever. His daughters have sold to A$137,0000 in the US.

Iceman’s maternal brother out of Texas Undine H647 (dec) sold last year for $108,000. Her 12 sons sold prior to this morning’s record had averaged $26,400.

“He is one of the widest, most heavily-built muscular bulls we have bred for a long time, with a huge back-end,” the Maynes’ catalogue comment entry said about Iceman.

Scanned at 11 months of age weighing 660kg, he produced an eye muscle scan of 98sq cm, and 7.2 for intra-muscular fat. His growth figures include +149 for 600 days, +90 for CWT, and +11.1 for EMA, placing him in the top 1pc and 5pc for 200, 400, 600 day, CWT, EMA, AB, Domestic, and Heavy Grainfed indexes. See his full BreedPlan data below.

Sexed semen from 2022

Macka’s Angus managing director Robert McKenzie said Genetics Australia had been appointed to market Texas Iceman semen.

Despite the price paid, Mr McKenzie described Iceman as “a value-for-money” bull that would benefit his operation and the Angus breed around Australia.

“He gives us something we’re looking for to put some serious power into our 3500-commercial herd operation,” he said.

Macka’s plans to artificially inseminate 1000 breeders using Iceman this year, and will use him in a new stud operation managed by Robert’s son Jack Mackenzie.

Genetics Australia beef manager Nigel Semmens predicted huge demand for the bull, with semen expected to be available towards the end of August.

“There was already high demand for his semen, and that will only increase after last week’s sale,” Mr Semmens said.

“We will start collecting semen straight away for Genetics Australia to sell, as well as the large-scale AI program within in Macka’s Angus Beef program.”

Mr McKenzie said he expected strong demand for Iceman’s semen. “It was proven at last week’s sale. There were multiple bidders offering big money, so there’s definitely going to be strong demand for this bull. We’re proud we’ve been able to secure such a unique bull for our operation and to be widely used here in Australia and around the world.

“We’re all about strengthening the genetics of Angus cattle around Australia and it’s great that we can help people get some great genetics.”

Mr Mackenzie said he would have bid even more than $225,000 he paid to secure the bull.

“We would have gone well and truly above that, because he was a bull that fitted our operation and our future,” he said. “For us, he was a cheap investment into our operation and a great investment for all of Australia to be able to share the genetics.

“We have an operation from paddock to plate and our customers are looking for the best product. This bull gives us an even better opportunity to deliver better quality to consumers. We will also be using his genetics to sell PTIC heifers into the marketplace to give other people the opportunity to have great genetics.”

Mr Semmens said Genetics Australia anticipated high demand, and encouraged customers to register their interest early in Iceman semen for the spring breeding season.

“Moving into 2022, Iceman will have a heavy workload to meet domestic demand and to produce export semen, and he will be a sire for which male and female sexed semen will be available,” he said.

Record bull season unfolds

As a measure of the current extraordinary trading environment for bulls, last week’s Texas Angus sale averaged an incredible $20,967 for a complete clearance of 181 bulls. The same sale last year averaged $14,052 for 151 bulls, representing a 49pc increase in 12 months.

Buyers came from all over Australia, with 203 registered bidders online, plus 703 other viewers plus 120 registered bidders on-property. There were more than 1000 people engaged in the sale, either online or in person.

The new $225,000 record elevates Angus up the list of breed record prices compiled by Beef Central, jumping both Wagyu ($185,000) and Droughtmaster ($180,000) on the list, now sitting only behind Brahman bulls on $325,000.

Click here to access Beef Central’s comprehensive summary of breed record prices for bulls and registered females.