SUMMIT Gelbvieh offered a top notch presentation of Gelbvieh and composite genetics last week at the Pugh family’s annual on-property sale at Narrikup, where results were up across the board.
The numbers offered and sold were up, as were the gross, average and top price, further bolstered with private negotiations continuing after the final fall of the hammer, making for a positive note to mark the 10th anniversary of the stud’s on-property sale.
Under the hammer results posted an average of $5146 paid for the selection of red and black Gelbvieh sires available which was up by $490 on the 2017 sale result.
Nine more bulls were offered this year, including 23 red bulls, six black and five composites, which sold at an improved clearance on last year, while the seven pens of 10 composite heifer weaners offered sold to a total clearance.
The sale top price was set at $9000 at the conclusion of the sale when return buyer Daryl Avery, Scott River, signed on the dotted line for the red fella in lot 13.
During the official proceedings, Mr Avery was the final bidder on the soft muscled red bull at $8500 after the bidding began at $6000, but the late June 2016-drop sire had impressed the Summit team enough to make the reserve price tag on it a little higher.
Described in the catalogue as arguably the best in the sale, the Summit team had already collected semen from the 914kg Summit Western Star M227, and Mr Avery was also impressed, willing to go a bit further in the private negotiations to secure the bull for his own use at Scott River.
“We thought it was the outstanding bull on the day,” Mr Avery said, assisted in the bidding on the day by Elders Boyanup agent Mal Barrett.
“It was one of the better bulls we’ve seen here for a while.”
The Avery family runs a Gelbvieh and Murray Grey cross herd with a Santa Gertrudis background and returned to Summit to buy again because the cattle had performed well for them in the past.
“We like the style of the Summit cattle,” Mr Avery said.
“The high-yielding carcase and soft, fleshy body types are what we’re after.”
The bull was sired by Summit Western Star H23 and had EBVs putting it in the top one per cent of the breed for 400-day weight, carcase weight, EMA and retail beef yield (RBY), and it also ranked in the top 5pc for 200 and 600-day weights as well as mature cow weight.
The top priced bull under the hammer sold to Ben Tampalini, Bullsbrook, for $8000 when Summit Top Gun M032 strode into the ring at lot 27.
An early March 2016-born son of Summit Top Gun G222, the red bull tipped the scales at 804kg and measured 46cm where it counts.
Mr Tampalini runs a herd of 100 Angus breeders which will be served by his new Summit purchase.
“I’ve bought bulls from Summit in the past and liked the classic Gelbvieh characteristics that show through in the calves,” he said.
“The bull I bought at this sale was soft, well-muscled with a nice straight back, length and not too much in the shoulders.
“I also liked the quiet temperament of him.”
Coming in at the third overall top priced bull and the top priced black Gelbvieh on the day was Summit Trump M119, the late April 2016-born calf in lot 17.
It sold to Elders WA stud stock manager Tim Spicer who made the successful bid on behalf of a returning client with an Elders Moora account at $7750.
“We were looking for a well-muscled, moderate frame black bull to go over Angus breeders,” Mr Spicer said.
The 776kg bull had a sleek presence and quiet temperament in the ring, featuring good growth and carcase figures including in the top 10pc of the breed for RBY and 400-day weight, top 15pc for 200-day weight and carcase weight, as well as positive EBVs in the rib and rump.
Volume buyers of bulls included Daryl Avery who finished the day with three sires at an average of $5667, return buyer Willowbank Agistment Centre who finished with two at $6000 and $4000 apiece and Glenbrae Pastoral, Witchcliffe, who also finished with two at $5000 and $4000.
In the female portion of the sale, Mr Spicer was also active, throwing around enough bids to secure the top priced pen of 10 red coated 50pc Gelbvieh, 25pc Shorthorn, 25pc Red Angus heifers averaging 316kg at $1200 per head.
Buying on behalf of Ellet Contracting, Albany, who bought the top priced bull at the Summit sale last year, Mr Spicer said the outfit were looking for a pen of heifers suitable to mate in June, with a bit of frame and weight behind them.
“These heifers will go in with the bull they bought last year and will play a role in establishing their breeding herd,” Mr Spicer said.
Redmond-based producer John Meill bought three lots of heifers during the sale to be one of the volume buyers on the day.
His first selection was a pen of reds featuring 50pc Gelbvieh, 25pc Shorthorn and 25pc Red Angus blood averaging 302kg for which Mr Meill paid $1000 per head while the other two pens had black/grey colouring with 50pc Gelbvieh, 25pc Murray Grey and 25pc Angus blood, averaging 296kg and 300kg respectively for which he paid $1050 per head.
Mr Meill said he liked the maternal qualities of the Gelbvieh influence.
“I bought some black heifers at Summit last year which are due to calve down soon and they’re looking really good,” he said.
“I like the extra milk that comes with the bit of Gelbvieh in them and the hybrid vigour is good to see as well.”
Summit’s Alexandra Riggall said the Pugh family was very pleased with the quality of this year’s offering and was glad to see improved results under the hammer.
“It was great to see a few more sell after the sale and we had more enquiry this year than we’ve had previously so that is encouraging,” Ms Riggall said.
“In particular we were very happy with how the heifers sold.
“I think competitions like the Gate 2 Plate challenge really demonstrate what our cattle can do so we’ve been pleased to see new buyers at our sale, as well as returning clients.”
Elders auctioneer Nathan King said he was impressed by the offering on the day.
“I think this was the best line-up of Summit bulls I’ve seen,” Mr King said.
“If people take notice of things like the Gate 2 Plate results, it’s clear the Pughs are producing bulls that sire calves which compete very well on feed.
“Those looking for hybrid vigour and quality first crosses would do well to keep an eye on the Summit cattle and there was certainly more interest in the sale this year which was good to see.”