THERE was no shortage of buyers chasing excellent Shorthorn genetics at the inaugural Narralda on-property bull and female sale earlier this week.
Once again bidders were leaning toward the ladies, with almost all the registered and commercial heifers selling under the hammer to strong competition, with the few lots passed-in being snapped up before the end of the sale.
The registered stud heifers were in demand from buyers as far away as NSW, clearing 15 of the 18 Shorthorn stunners under the hammer for a top of $1600, grossing $13,000 and achieving an $867 average.
Narralda stud principal Alex Burrow's objective of breeding cattle suited to commercial operations was cemented when all of the 38 commercial heifers sold to gross $26,850 and average $707 after topping at $750 for three lots of five heifers each.
The bulls still posted a respectable result with 20 of the 27 sires offered, selling to gross $54,500 and average $2725, with the $5000 top price of the sale coming from the male section of the catalogue.
It was the first time Mr Burrow had tested the new technology of selling Narralda bulls via video demonstration from the comfort and shade of the shed at his Youngs Siding property.
After a sluggish start to the bull section, the Della Gola family, Northcliffe, were waiting for Narralda Goldrush G081 (P) to strike it rich with the ideal combination of Narralda genetics, making sure their only purchase of the day was the best one.
In lieu of gold jewellery, Helen Della Gola celebrated her birthday at the sale and received the mighty Goldrush instead from her husband John, son Matthew and his partner Felicity Willett for $5000.
Matthew said it was a purposeful present and an obvious choice as the April-born sire was the standout bull with the pedigree to match.
"We were mainly chasing his bloodlines but he had excellent weight-for-age and temperament," he said.
The Della Golas have been regular Narralda clients for about 14 years and will use the sire over their 400 Shorthorn breeders, an integral part of their 2500 cattle breeding program that included heifers.
Sired by Narralda Crusher C190 and out of Narralda Robin X8, Goldrush excelled in its 200, 400 and 600-day weights at +29, +34 and +46 and also had a moderate birthweight of +3.7.
Measuring +2.1 in the eye muscle, +29 carcase weight and an IMF of +1.1, it was easy to see how Goldrush could become the sire the Della Golas would never want to retire from their self-replacing Shorthorn breeding program.
Bolstering their breeding program in the female section was Catholic Agricultural College farm manager Kevin Marshall, Bindoon, who stood firm against an Eastern States phone bidder to pay the $1600 top price for a stud heifer.
Hidden away toward the end of the line as the second last registered heifer, Narralda Juliet H154 didn't need any recorded figures to show it was the most well-rounded, easy-doing heifer in the catalogue.
Sired by Narralda Edgar E177 and out of Narralda Juliet A009, Juliet H154 was born on 14 April, 2012 and was well-suited to continuing to strengthen the Catholic Agricultural College, Bindoon's, Shorthorn breeding program.
Before paying the top price, Mr Marshall had purchased three other stud heifers, two for $700 each and a third for $900.
Bulls
Despite the excellent showing of some outstanding Shorthorn genetics, clients were buying to a budget when it came to this year's bull requirements.
With the price rarely pushing past the $3000 barrier, there were some excellent sires that were secured at a bargain price and many clients took home just one or two for their breeding season.
But Pinjarra producer Marc Ross, Lanstal Park Shorthorns, bucked the trend and regularly flashed his bidding card to rack up seven easy-doing sires, paying $2500 for six and topping at $2750 for the seventh.
Mr Ross said he had been buying from the stud for 15 years and was pleased to see more softness coming through the Narralda progeny.
"I'm looking for that slightly lower birthweight and relatively good growth and carcase figures," he said.
Three bulls won a road trip to Meekatharra, as Elders Geraldton representative Gary Preston made the drive south to purchase them on behalf of Mt Augustus Station, paying $2500 for two and $2750 to round out the team.
Leith Nicholson, LJ Nicholson, Torbay, purchased two sires for $3000 and $2500, while fellow Torbay resident David Elphick, D & W Elphick, also secured two bulls for $2750 and $2500.
Heifers
Competition on both the registered and commercial heifers was strong as buyers focused on the breeders rather than bulls.
A number of registered buyers took home large teams of females, including long-term Narralda client Alan Hawley, AF & HM Hawley, Albany, who secured five stud females for a top of $1000 and 14 commercial females for an average of $700.
Coming from Woodanilling to secure quality Shorthorn genetics was Donald Carter, who purchased two stud heifers for $600 and $650, then paid $700 each for five commercial heifers, topping off with another five for $750 each.
NSW producer Ross Johnstone, RJ & J Johnstone, Lyndhurst, was also keen to purchase heifers with the help of Elders stud stock manager Tim Spicer.
Mr Johnstone was after a particular bloodline and paid $1200 for a stud heifer, immediately following with the next heifer for $1000.
Mr Spicer said the heifers were outstanding and even though buyers bought to a budget, the excellent quality of Shorthorn genetics available ensured the sale achieved a solid result.
