MONTEREY stud’s ninth annual winter bull sale at Brunswick last week continued the strong form of this season’s South West summer bull sales.
The stud improved its sale results across the board with its quality catalogue of Angus and Murray Grey bulls drawing widespread buying support from across the country.
The 56-strong registered buyers list was well represented by South West producers with bulls also heading to new homes north of Perth, the Nullarbor, Northern Territory and Tasmania.
While several buyers purchased multiple lots, most were single bull buyers topping up their sire requirements for the traditional winter joining season upon us.
The Buller family increased its sale numbers from last year with 59 bulls ranging from 18-28 months selected from its Karridale and Scott River properties.
Overall the Landmark and Elders selling teams cleared 54 Angus and Murray Grey bulls at auction (92 per cent) to average $6380.
This was a much-improved result in clearance with 16 more bulls sold and the average up $755 compared to last year’s sale where 38 of 54 bulls (70pc) sold under the hammer to average $5625.
This resulted in a significant $130,750 boost for the sale’s gross returns.
The line-up of 29 Angus bulls got the sale underway with a complete clearance leading to a $6690 average.
This marked a $416 increase in average and an additional eight bulls sold from last year where all 21 Angus bulls sold to average $6274.
The biggest improvement came from the Murray Grey line-up.
An extra eight Murray Grey bulls were also sold with 25 of 30 bulls (83pc) selling to average $6020, a $1196 swing north in average from last year where 17 of 33 bulls (52pc) sold to average $4824.
Landmark auctioneer Tiny Holly said overall it was a solid sale with a good clearance and prices achieved.
“There was a good range of bulls on offer to suit all requirements and buyers responded accordingly and bid strongly on the bulls best suited to their needs,” Mr Holly said.
“Buyers were selective in their purchases and prepared to pay good money for the top bulls which were well presented and exhibited good temperaments.
“In terms of the buying support it was widespread with buyers from as far away as the Northern Territory and Tasmania through to Albany and across the Nullarbor, showing the strength of the Monterey brand.”
Elders auctioneer Nathan King said there was good support right through the catalogue with multiple buyers operating on most bulls.
“There were 56 buyer registrations presale and this nearly matched the number of bulls on offer, so we knew there was good competition throughout and this was certainly the case,” Mr King said.
“While most buyers only purchased single lots, there was a couple of volume buyers in both the Angus and Murray Grey line-ups which kept the sale ticking along.
“Overall it was a solid sale and good bulls sold well to strong competition.
“I think some buyers certainly took the opportunity to top up their bull requirements closer to mating.
“And the rain in the last week and also the forecast for the coming days gave buyers some extra confidence in the market.”
While the Angus lineup took the sale’s average spoils, the Murray Greys regained top-priced honours with Monterey Lifeguard L143 selling to the Eastern States for $12,000.
Tasmanian graziers EG Brosell, Rocky Cape, placed the winning bid via phone through Elders Margaret River agent Alec Williams.
The 885kg (current weight) early June 2015-born bull was a son of Monterey bred sire Harley Davidson H113, from a Rowan family cow E79 and displayed an outstanding set of BreedPlan figures.
These were highlighted by a top 5pc ranking in the breed for 200, 400 and 600-day weights, carcase weight (CW), mature cow weight (MCW) and all index values while its milk, scrotal size (SS) and IMF all finished in the top 10pc.
The bull’s late April scan results were equally impressive being the number one bull for IMF, 7 frame score (FS), 40cm scrotal circumference (SC) and 125cm2 eye muscle area (EMA).
Lindberg Farms, Augusta, bid to the sale’s $10,500 second top price for the silver Murray Grey bull in lot 44 Monterey Liberty L265.
The 810kg son of Yamba Bonanza B32 and Monterey Magnolia B119 was born mid-September 2015 and also recorded strong growth and carcase EBVs.
Liberty ranked in the top 5pc for all weight intervals, MCW and CW to complement its top 15pc for calving ease and scanned 6.2 FS, 41cm SC and 119cm2 EMA.
Phil Tomlinson, P & SA Tomlinson, Napier, assisted by Landmark Southern Livestock manager Bob Pumphrey, paid $9000 for Monterey Lancaster L244 in lot 50.
Lancaster was an early August 2015 born bull by homebred parents Heathcliffe H93 and Magnolia F284 and displayed a strong balance of well above average EBVs.
At 892kg, the bull had huge weight for age and EMA scanning the equal second highest IMF 5.9pc, 117cm2 EMA, 7 FS and 39cm SC.
Northcliffe graziers MG Armstrong were one of only a few multiple bull buyers at the sale paying $7000 and $8000 for two Murray Grey bulls.
Their top bid went to Monterey Lone Ranger L195 in lot 39, a 830kg low birthweight son of Heathcliffe and Rejoyce E61.
The early-July 2015 born bull’s retail beef yield (RBY) ranked him in the top 5pc while most of its other recorded traits were firmly entrenched in the breed’s top 15 to 25pc.
Lone Ranger scanned 6.2 FS, 42cm SC and 120cm2 EMA.
Volume buyer in the Murray Grey lineup was Elders Goldfields representative Alan Browning who purchased four bulls from $4000 to $5500 on behalf of the Forrester family’s Kanandah station, Nullabor.
There were 15 single bull buyers in the Murray Grey line-up but among only a few multiple bull buyers were Preston Clarke, Elders Gingin, representing M & B Errington, Jurien Bay, with two bulls for $4000 each and Mal Barrett, Elders Boyanup, also securing two bulls for $4000 and $7000 on behalf of AC & CJ McNab, Scott River.
The team of Angus bulls led the sale and it wasn’t long before the $10,000 top price was set.
Mal Barrett, Elders Boyanup, representing long-time Monterey supporters G & RM Telini, Dardanup, bid top dollar for the powerful bull in lot one, Monterey Lethal Weapon L20.
The 37kg birthweight mid-March 2015 drop bull was by veteran sire Vermont Duke E193 and out of Monterey Elated B48.
It was the heaviest bull in the sale weighing in at 1048kg while scanning on April 25 it was the second highest for IMF 6.3pc, 7 FS, 48cm SC and 134cm2.
Mr Barrett said they thought Lethal Weapon was the pick of the catalogue.
“It was probably the best balanced bull in the sale with a bit of growth and quiet tempered,” he said.
“The bull will be used over the Telini family’s Angus cows and we will look to retain replacement females from his breeding.”
The $9500 second top Angus bull price was paid on a few occasions.
This included the sale’s most influential buyer Rodney Galati, Brunswick, buying on behalf of Consolidated Pastoral Co, Newcastle Wasters station, located in the west Barkly region, Northern Territory.
The purchase of seven Monterey Angus bulls paying from $7000 to $9500 continues the group’s recent Angus bull buying spree in WA.
The operation’s top bid was paid for Monterey Leningrad L185 in lot 15, an early August 2015 drop son of Monterey Gothic G153 and Monterey Serene H167.
The 810kg bull displayed raw data results of 6.2 FS, 4.9pc IMF, 45cm SC and 108cm2 EMA.
Mr Galati said the operation was looking for some new Angus bloodlines to inject into its herd with the bulls heading to Newcastle Waters to be joined to Brahman cows.
“I was chasing some particular bloodlines for the operation and was also looking for bulls which would suit the station environment,” he said.
Nillup graziers DB Reid paid $9500 and $7000 for their two bulls purchased at the sale.
Their top price was paid for lot 25 containing Monterey Legionaire L36, a 898kg late March 2015 born bull by Monterey Far Out F177 and Vanilla F53.
Legionaire scanned 6 FS, 5.9pc IMF, 39cm SC and 120cm2 EMA.
Williams operation MA, GD & BA Cowcher, also paid $9500 for their handy bull in lot 21, Monterey Leader L182.
The 802kg bull was born in early August 2015 to homebred parents General G103 and an Elated family cow E147, weighing 35kg.
Leader displayed scan results of 5.8 FS, 4.9pc IMF, 38cm SC and 115cm2 EMA.
Other stronger prices paid in the Angus section include Mayfield Park Farms, Manjimup, parting with $9000 for lot three, Monterey Legion L35, which had been used in the Monterey stud.
The 1042kg late March 2015 born son of Far Out F177 and Vanilla F39 which scanned the highest EMA and SC in the sale team at 138cm2 and 48cm respectively and equal second highest IMF 6.3pc.
Alec Williams, representing D & A Campbell, Karridale, was the only other multiple bull account that joined a long list of 18 single bull buyers.
The Campbells paid $4000 and $8000 for their selections.