IT was an outstanding result for Southend Murray Grey stud principal Kurt Wise and his extended family at the stud's 21st annual on-property sale at Katanning last week.
Thirty one potential buyers registered for the 35 bulls and 59 heifers on offer.
Of the 35 bulls catalogued, 30 were registered two-year-olds and five were unregistered yearlings, while 10 yearling stud heifers and 49 yearling commercial heifers were also offered.
Based on the results and the comments made by successful purchasers, the type and quality was just what they wanted and the average price for the bulls was up close on $480 on last year's sale and the heifers were up by just under $350.
Adding to this very positive result was a record top price set for the stud at $17,500.
The first of the bull catalogue into the selling ring, Southend Lucas, just rising two years and out of heifer Southend H-Gemstone AI joined to Kelso Cracker, came with excellent credentials based on its EBVs and scan data.
Its recent scan data was EMA 124cm 2, IMF 6.4, P8 and rib fats 13mm and a current bodyweight of 942 kilograms and 42 centimetre scrotal measurement.
Its EBVs are +30, +49 and +71 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights, +11 milk, +74 mature cow weight and +5.1 for birthweight.
Elders auctioneer Gary Preston received an opening bid of $5000 and bidding then became quite brisk until it was down to two bidders when finally at $17,500 it was knocked down to Boyup Brook commercial clients Rob Bass and Kerry Pinch who were delighted with their new sire.
Mr Bass said they run a commercial herd of about 120 mainly grey females based on Southend bulls over the past 14 years.
He said Lucas was just right for their herd and would use him to breed females.
Earlier in the sale they had also bought six yearling heifers at up to $1600.
The second bull into the ring Southend Lara also had very impressive figures throughout and had earlier impressed Kurt Wise to the extent he used it in the stud's 2016 joinings for a short time.
Again there was good bidding competition and at the sale's second top price of $8500 was knocked down to Graham Bell, GE Bell, Porongurup.
Losing bidder on the two top-priced bulls was another regular buyer of Southend bulls, Ray Farmer, Charles Farmer Family Trust, Boddington, who went on to purchase at $5500 the third bull into the ring which had also been used in the 2016 joining.
The buyer of the equal top-priced bull at $10,500 last year, Bryan James, BA & LD James, Kalgan, was back again this year going home having purchased two at $8000 and $5000.
Another client to pay up to $8000 along with another at $4000 was Michael Telini, G & RM Telini, Ferguson, who came to the sale with Mal Barrett, Elders Boyanup, along with Daryl Avery, EC, BE & DC Avery, Scott River, who went on to buy two at $7500 and another at $7250.
Multiple buyers also included an undisclosed South West buyer, with four up to $7000 and MH Collins & Co, Nyabing, were again active buyers purchasing three up to $4500 twice.
Also very pleasing for Mr Wise and his family is a bull heading east.
Bryce and Di Whale, Glenliam Farm Murray Greys, Glen William, New South Wales, had visited the Southend stud previously and specifically came back this year for one bloodline.
They had earlier introduced Tullibardine blood into their stud and with lot eight in this year's sale by Tullibardine Hellraiser, they were also very impressed with its positive EMA of 122cm2 and other figures along with its natural doing ability, weight for age and softness and balance.
Under some keen competition they went to $7000 and later were delighted to have secured it.
One of the prominent buyers throughout the entire sale was Nathan Baynes, NP & NM Baynes, Katanning.
Nathan and his wife Nicole run a pure Murray Grey commercial herd based on Southend bloodlines on their Badgebup property.
Gradually building up numbers, Mr Baynes bought two 2015-drop bulls at up to $6500 and one yearling bull at $3500 and was also the major buyer in the heifer offering getting one stud heifer at $1500 along with six lines of five commercial heifers also at $1500 per head.
The offering of five unregistered yearling bulls saw two sell at $3750, one going to AG Hambley, Brookton, the other to Twiga Farm, Kojonup, and another also sold at $3500.
First offered through the selling ring prior to the catalogue of bulls were 10 stud registered yearling heifers followed by nine lines of five and one of four 2016-drop commercial heifers.
The major buyer of the registered 2016-drop heifers was Joe Della Vedova, JLW & C Della Vedova, Esperance, who paid up to $2800 for one of the six heifers purchased and later securing one of the 2015-drop bulls at $4500.
Two other stud heifers at up to $1700 went to Eric Penny, EJ Penny, Yarloop, who also bought a pen of five yearling commercial heifers and another five heifers went to Henco Rural, Donnybrook.
Given the overall result, stud principal Kurt Wise said he was somewhat overwhelmed and looks forward to breeding quality offerings in the years to come to present to the beef industry.
Elders auctioneer Gary Preston commented it was a top presentation of excellent quality bulls and heifers and an absolute credit to Mr Wise and his family and well received by those buyers who turned up for the sale as indicated by the values paid.
