PRICES reached $4400 for a modest but quality line-up of Blonde d'Aquitaine bulls at the Amaroo stud's inaugural winter bull sale at Mundijong on Saturday.
Despite a number of late scratchings that reduced the sale field to nine bulls, the sale attracted 17 registered buyers.
Buyers overcame a reluctant start to bid competitively on their selected lots to clear five bulls under the Landmark hammer to average $3680.
The overlooked pure Blonde bull and the Murray Grey-Blonde bull were immediately snapped up as soon as the sale finished leaving the two Angus-Blonde bulls unsold and giving the stud a solid sale clearance.
Amaroo stud has been breeding Blonde cattle for 18 years and is one of the biggest Blonde herds in Australia.
Amaroo stud principal Gerald Bersma said during his sale opening address that he was proud of the sale team.
He said the winter sale provided producers who prefered to purchase bulls just prior to joining or who have had a late bull breakdown, the opportunity to fill their requirements.
Mr Bergsma said the stud had focussed on early maturity, increased muscling and softness, testicular size and above all temperament, exemplified by some of the sale bulls taking only three days to break in.
He said he hoped Amaroo clients were enjoying the Blonde impact.
"Easy calving and produce hybrid vigour over British Breed females," Mr Bergsma said.
"Quicker growth, higher feed conversion and dressing percentages."
Andrew Maxton, EA Maxton & Sons, Upper Kalgan, wasn't to be outdone on lot four and bid to the sale's $4400 top price for Amaroo Gergo.
The 898kg bull born on June 2, 2011, was sired by homebred parents Caesar and Dancer but featured a great pedigree with French sire Neilsen and the stud's best cow Amaroo Vogue on the dam's side.
Gergo recorded solid growth EBVs, a top IMF scan and docility score and the highest EMA scan of the sale team.
Buyer Andrew Maxton runs 300 breeders including 100 Angus, 100 Simmental and 100 Simmental-Angus with the Blonde bulls to go over the herd's mature Angus breeders.
Mr Maxton, who has used Blondes in the past, said the bull fitted what he liked about the breed of easy calving, early maturing, quiet temperament and easy handling.
The Maxton family sell their Blonde sired calves straight off mum through the Mt Barker saleyards, targeting 380kg-400kg liveweight at about 10-months-old.
Mr Maxton said the Blonde calves present well in the saleyards.
"They are generally an even line of calves and you don't seem to get a tail in the draft," he said.
"More weight means money.
"They are still a relatively new breed but will appeal more to butchers because they are leaner and dress out with a higher yield."
The Maxton family also purchased lot eight containing Amaroo George, a 814kg low birthweight bull by Amaroo Diesel and Denta.
George was born mid-June, 2011 and recorded in the top 10 per cent of the breed for birthweight.
Jostian Farming, Bullsbrook, paid the sale's $4200 second top price for Amaroo Polled Genius, a polled 840kg son of Amaroo Diesel and Polled Darby.
Regular buyer DJ Cocking, Oldbury, kicked off the sale by paying $3000 for lot one, Amaroo Gripper, a polled 810kg, late June, 2011-drop son of Amaroo Caesar and Bernice.
The sale's lucky buyer prize went to Stephen Mitchell, A Mitchell & Co, Oldbury.
Mr Mitchell successfully bid on lot five containing Amaroo Genes Plus for $3000 and in doing so went home with a free Amaroo yearling Blonde bull.
Genes Plus is a 758kg, late May, 2011-drop son of Amaroo Caesar and Alice.
Local agent Dene Bickers, Landmark Pinjarra-Serpentine and Landmark auctioneer Deane Allen agreed it was a good clearance in a tough bull selling climate.
They said it was an excellent presentation and even line-up of quiet tempered, soft and moderate framed bulls that stepped out beautifully.
