VALUES were up across all indicators at the fifth annual Monterey Murray Grey and Angus Winter Bull Sale at Brunswick last week.
With hundreds of private sale bulls still to find new homes throughout the State, combined with a fickle beef market, the winter bull selling period has been described as tough by agents and stud breeders alike.
But the Monterey stud, backed by the Landmark and Elders teams and some favourable seasonal conditions, defied the odds and recorded an extremely solid result, clearing 85 per cent (50) of the 59 Murray Grey and Angus bulls catalogued at auction to gross $204,250 and average $4085.
This equated to a six per cent improvement on clearance, $74 spike in the overall average and $23,750 lift in the gross compared to last year's sale where 45 of 57 bulls averaged $4011.
The sale attracted 40 registered buyers from throughout the State, while there was also a successful South Australian buyer.
Both breed's shared the $6500 top-price honours but the Murray Greys continued their gradual improvement at recent Monterey winter sales and overtook their Angus stable mates as the strongest performer on sale day.
Only one of the 29 Murray Grey bulls was overlooked at auction with the average $4107, up $178 on last year's sale where 21 of 28 bulls averaged $3929, while 22 of the 30 Angus bulls sold under the hammer to average $4057 to record a slight improvement of $26 in average.
The result is also testament to the even catalogue of Murray Grey and Angus bulls presented by the Buller family and the Monterey team which typifies the quality and genetics the stud has built its reputation on.
Buyers demonstrated their confidence in the Monterey brand with consistent bidding throughout the catalogue.
This was led by Peter and Dianne Michael, Jemocon Nominees, Harvey and Landmark Manjimup agent Brett Chatley, who paid the sale's equal $6500 top price for a Murray Grey and Angus bull respectively.
Penned in lot one, the silver Murray Grey bull Monterey Good Looking G105 was one of the picks of the catalogue and didn't disappoint with Landmark Capel agent Chris Waddingham, representing the Michael family, making the equal $6500 top price bid.
The 805kg, 25-month-old bull was by Yamba Bonanza B32 and out of Monterey Showgirl Y202 and recorded raw data of 5.5 frame, 42 scrotal circumference (SC), 115cm2 eye muscle area (EMA) and 4.1 intra muscular fat (IMF), with all bulls scanned on May 13.
This was matched with strong Breedplan data including above breed average for all growth traits, SC, mature cow weight (MCW), carcase weight (CW), EMA, retail beef yield (RBY) and Supermarket index.
Buyer Peter Michael said the bull's clean lines, thickness, depth, conformation and gentle nature were strong buying points.
He said it will be used over their small herd of pure Murray Grey breeders to breed progeny for the weaner market and replacement breeders.
The history of the Michael family's herd has strong links with the Monterey stud with it established from a line of 15 heifers purchased from Monterey in 1992.
Further breeders were added from the dispersal of the Boonining stud, Darkan, but all females had been deregistered and were run commercially.
Buyer Brett Chatley, representing an undisclosed Manjimup buyer, made it a trifecta after successfully buying the first three Angus bulls of the sale for a healthy $5333 average and the equal $6500 top price for the second lot, containing Monterey Goodwill G154.
G154 was by Monterey Colossus C44 and out of Monterey Broadway B183 and was the heaviest Angus bull in the catalogue weighing in at 918kg.
It also recorded other impressive raw data of six frame score, 45cm SC, 120cm2 EMA and 4.6pc intra muscular fat (IMF).
Mr Chatley said the bulls would be used over a herd of Angus breeders, breeding progeny targeted at the weaner market and were selected for their thickness, length and genetics.
In the Murray Grey section, buyers bid to the $5000 price tag on several occasions but the most prominent buyer of the day was regular volume buyer Kanandah station, Kalgoorlie, which paid to $5000 and averaged $4200 for a team of five bulls.
The pastoralist's top bid didn't eventuate until lot 23, Monterey Grand Slam G19, an 805kg, March-2011-drop moderate birthweight son of Tarlina Cairna C18.
The silver bull recorded an even spread of figures including positive fats and raw data of 5.5 frame, 41cm SC, 120cm2 EMA and 4.9 IMF.
Esperance graziers BM & CD Scheer paid to $5000 for three bulls, including a silver late April 2011-drop son of Monterey Bootlegger B216, that recorded positive fats and in the breed's top 15-25 per cent for most traits and indexes including the top one per cent for SC.
Other buyers to pay $5000 for single selections included HT & KM Winterbottom, Northampton, EJ Penny, Yarloop, Alec Williams, Elders Margaret River, representing JS Whyte, Cowaramup and Landmark Northampton agent Garry Harrison, representing JT & VM Williams, Northampton.
Multiple Murray Grey bull buyers included Michael Lynch, Landmark Albany, representing Durnbond Pty Ltd, Walpole, who bid to $4250 for three bulls, repeat clients JM & H Della Gola, Northcliffe, claimed two bulls to $4250 and Rangeview Farm, Mandurah, paid to $4750 for two bulls.
The sale swung to the Angus line-up and another buyer to pay top money included Callanish Grazing, Donnybrook, bidding to the sale's $5250 second top price for Monterey Griffin G211.
Griffin was also one of the picks of the catalogue and one of the final sons of Wallaroy Expert X255 to be offered.
Out of Monterey Y Not X23, the 852kg mid-July, 2011-drop bull, recorded raw data of 6.4 frame, 43cm SC, 116cm2 EMA and 5 IMF.
Elders Manjimup, representing A & M Fox, Manjimup, paid $4750 for a late March 2011-drop son of Monterey Colossus C44, with raw data of 868kg, 6.2 frame, 50cm SC, 116cm2 EMA and 4.9 IMF.
Repeat buyers Red Lancer Pty Ltd, Pinjarra, collected two bulls at auction and paid to $4500 for another son of Colossus - born mid-June 2011, with raw data of 804kg, six frame, 42cm SC 122cm2 EMA amd 4.6 IMF - and secured one bull following the sale.
Natawandi Enterprises, Nillup, did the same and paid to $4500 for two bulls, a mid-March, 2011-drop son of Lawsons Gar Direction X3 with raw data of 890kg, 6.4 frame, 43cm SC, 116cm2 and 5 IMF.
Scott River Trading, Karridale, outlaid $4250 for a 778kg Wallaroy Expert son.
