Santa bull values off to strong start

The first run of sales for the 2012 bull selling season have indicated there is strong demand for Santa Gertrudis bulls this year. 

Early sale results have seen bulls sell for a range of prices catering for all price and breeder demands. 

Values soared to a top of $23,000 at the annual Watasanta Sale, Tamworth, NSW selling to Gyranda Stud, Theodore Queensland. At the annual Northern Breeders Group Santa Sale also at Tamworth bull values peaked at $15,500 selling to Rosevale Stud, Jandowae Queensland.

General manager of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders Association, Bill Dunlop said the sales comprised good value, good quality bulls.

“There’s strong demand evident for Santa bulls for crossbreeding,” Mr Dunlop said.

“It’s a result of mounting awareness by producers that Santa bulls increase weaning weight and access greater market flexibility in their herds, especially Northern herds. In the next four months there’s opportunity to purchase from thousands of Santa bulls at auctions stretching from Casino in northern NSW through to Charters Towers in Queensland.”

The breed has received solid interest in the export of genetics from South America and South Africa breeders due to the quality and the victories of Santa and Santa composite cattle in the seedstock, prime cattle and carcase areas during the recent 2012 Santa World Congress held during the recent Brisbane Show.

Te Mania sets new record at Walgett

Te Mania Angus sold 118 bulls to a high of $18,000, with a sale average of $7923 in a total clearance at its northern spring sale at Walgett, NSW last week.

Boosting the average by $755 on last year's result, this was Te Mania’s best northern result after six years at Walgett and ten years in Queensland before that.

In its two annual sales this year – on property at Mortlake in the autumn and Walgett in the spring – Te Mania Angus has sold a total of 263 bulls for an average $7909.

Top-priced bull Te Mania Fogged F737 went to long-time client Minnamurra Pastoral Co for $18,000.

Te Mania F737, by Te Mania Yorkshire Y437 is a thick set, high capacity bull with exceptional figures across the board and a lot of herd potential.  His EBVs are in top 5pc of the breed for calving ease, days to calving, 400 and 600 day weight, fertility, IMF, as well as all the $Indexes – Longfed/CAAB, heavy grassfed and shortfed markets.

Minamurra went on to purchase nine bulls.

Lindy and Gordon Evans, Duntroon, purchased the second highest price bull at $17,000, Te Mania Flatline F611, another Yorkshire son, and two other bulls later in the catalogue.

In a strong endorsement of Te Mania bloodlines, 92 of the bulls sold were by Te Mania Angus sires and sold for an average of $8119.  The 26 bulls sold by sires introduced from Australia and overseas averaged $7228. 

Five sons of Te Mania Yorkshire Y437 averaged $12,900 as buyers chased their balance of calving ease, growth, carcase weight and IMF while 20 sons of Te Mania Berkley B1 (by Yorkshire) averaged $10,125.  

Te Mania Angus director Hamish McFarlane said the success of the sale was the consistency of the sale team and strength right through the catalogue.

"When the last bull in the sale is knocked down for $10,000 you know there was no tail in the catalogue," he said.

Volume buyers were Duddy Management purchasing 13 bulls, and Clemson Hiscox clients O’Brien Brigalows Pastoral who put together 10 bulls averaging $8400.   The Wickman and Buchanan families also took three bulls each.  

Peter McSwan of Brenda Station, Goodooga, NSW, bought five bulls for an average of $10,500 while Goondiwindi buyers David and Kim Coulton, Morella Agriculture, averaged $9000 for their three bulls.

In his first sale for Te Mania Angus, Elders auctioneer Paul Dooley pushed the 118 bulls through the sale ring in 110 minutes.

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