Tonight’s article marks the return of genetics editor Alister Rayner’s weekly columns for Beef Central on topics related to bull breeding and selection, bull buying, genetics and genomics. These weekly contributions will continue throughout the spring bull selling season until November, before going into annual recess.

JUNE is not only the first month of winter, but it is also traditionally seen as the month where bull sales ahead of spring joining begin to build momentum.

With sales in southern parts of Australia already underway, producers have multiple opportunities to assess and secure genetics.

The spring selling season is also equally notable for the volume of bulls catalogued. Across breeds the scale of offerings can be significant, particularly in British breeds such as Angus and in the tropical bred listings, led by Brahman genetics. The Angus breed website currently has 86 sales listed between now and mid-October.

For many commercial cattle producers, the breadth of opportunities to access new genetics is both an impressive and slightly overwhelming experience.

Bull market expectations

As the selling season gets underway, assessing the potential averages that could be expected is always one that tests industry observers.

The fluctuations of season and commercial cattle markets do make significant impact on the ability and willingness of producers to invest. A clear trend already this spring Is that more southerly bull sales Impacted by local seasonal pressure are not performing as well, on average, as those further north where conditions are better.

With seasonal conditions remaining positive in much of northern NSW and in Queensland, and strong international demand for Australian beef, there is a feeling of positivity among agents and seedstock breeders for the selling season that lies ahead.

Bull values versus bullocks

Over recent years there has been a strong alignment between the average value of a bull and the commercial price paid for heavyweight steers.

In 2021, well known Queensland stud stock agent Harvey Weyman Jones presented a table analysing the number of heavy steers required to be sold to buy a typical bull. This comparison has proven to be a useful guide for many producers budgeting for new sires.

A 14-year table (updated to include the years 2022-24) shows the ratio of steers to bulls has remained fairly consistent in order to determine average value. The data below is based on a large stud stock agency’s annual statistics for bull sales, MLA’s heavy steer indicator (c/kg carcase weight); and average $/head for a 350kg carcase.

Click on image for a larger view

Based on current prices for commercial steers, a general increase in the average price paid for bulls is not necessarily an unrealistic expectation for the season ahead.

Note in the table above that during the peak of the recent bull price cycle in 2022, the number of bullocks required blew out to a record 6.79, 32pc higher than this year’s forecast. During the tough 2019 drought year, the ratio fell to 3.47.

Broader motivators

While price is often the focal point of any discussion around the bull sale, it is also important to consider some broader motivators that may influence producer purchasing decisions.

Across bull sales held in recent weeks (click here to access Beef Central’s summaries of recently completed sales) there are some common trends already emerging that are likely to be relevant to the spring selling season, more generally.

It does seem that commercial confidence is underpinning the willingness of producers to invest in bulls this season, however this confidence is being invested in bulls that have accurate performance data.

Additionally, it does appear that repeat clients have underpinned demand at many recent sales. It has been very clear that where strong relationships exist between breeder and client, those sales have shown better clearance rates than those which are largely focussed on attracting new clients each year. It also appears that buyers are increasingly placing a focus on their breeders’ values and reputation generally.

Supply chain alignment

An additional commercial consideration for both producers and breeders is the increasing importance of supply chains and the expectations many of these programs have for the cattle that are to enter these programs.

As more commercial buyers align their programs with specific market destinations, which may range from MSA compliance to specifications for finishing or branded beef programs, seedstock breeders need to understand those requirements and tailor their offerings accordingly.

This includes selecting and promoting bulls with the right combination of carcase traits, such as intramuscular fat (IMF), eye muscle area (EMA), and carcase weight.

While there is always considerable discussion around the premiums that the top selling bulls achieve, it has been noticeable in the sales held recently that competition for mid-tier bulls appears more selective.

Feedback from recent buyers suggests that balanced phenotype, quiet temperament, and functional traits such as foot and sheath structure continue to be highly-valued. For bull breeders, ensuring bulls meet practical paddock-readiness expectations remains critical to sale success, especially for buyers managing large commercial herds in extensive environments.

There are some fundamentals that are now considered standard expectations among bull buyers.

Access to high-accuracy EBVs has almost become non-negotiable. EBVs and increasingly, genomic data are seen as essential tools for evaluating sires, and many buyers will not consider a bull unless this information is readily available in advance.

Secondly, digital accessibility has become a critical factor, with recent sales in northern NSW highlighting how buyers from across state borders are confidently using online platforms to inspect, assess, and purchase bulls.

For seedstock breeders, this means that both data transparency and digital readiness are no longer optional, they are prerequisites for market engagement.

Alastair Rayner is Principal of RaynerAg.  Alastair has 28 years’ experience advising beef producers & graziers across Australia.   He can be contacted here or through his website www.raynerag.com.au