BEEF producers didn’t let the dry start to the season deter them from stocking up their sire requirements at Monterey stud’s winter bull sale at Brunswick last week.
It was the tenth anniversary of the Buller family’s Monterey winter bull sale and return and new clients from throughout the State, buoyed by the pending break of the season from an ominous cold front approaching the west coast late last week, chalked up a solid clearance of the quality, well-grown rising two-year-old offering of Murray Grey and Angus bulls.
Overall the Elders and Landmark selling teams sold 47 of the 58 bulls (81 per cent) at auction to average $5410.
Broken down 27 of 29 Angus bulls sold at auction to average $5361 and 20 of 29 Murray Grey bulls cleared for an average of $5475, however a flurry of buying activity following the sale resulted in a total clearance of Angus bulls and a number of Murray Grey bulls finding new homes.
While values were back on last year’s sale, Monterey stud principal Gary Buller said they were very happy with the overall results of the sale in light of the tough season.
“We are very grateful for the support we received in the sale from our clients in spite of the hard season and where the cattle market is currently sitting,” Mr Buller said.
Elders auctioneer and Margaret River agent Alec Williams said it was a very pleasing result considering the season, market conditions and the supply of bulls still available for sale.
“The excellent quality of the catalogue resulted in the overall average price being very respectable along with the good clearance on the day,” Mr Williams said.
“There was a good spread of past and new clients from north of Perth, Wheatbelt, Kalgoorlie, South West and Great Southern, securing some very good sires at reasonable rates.
“Overall it was a very pleasing outcome.”
Landmark auctioneer Tiny Holly said it was an excellent presentation of bulls offered by the stud and the final sale result was on par with presale expectations.
“Despite the tough season across the State buyers purchased with confidence which resulted in both a solid clearance and prices,” Mr Holly said.
“There was good repeat business from long term clients in the sale.
“Buyers operated strongly on the newer genetics on offer and were very selective on quality bulls.”
The team of Angus bulls got the sale underway and it was the early September 2016-born son of Monterey Keating K55 in lot 18 that ignited a bidding battle between Joe Brooks, J, L & S Brooks, Witchcliffe and Mal Barrett, Elders Boyanup, representing PJ & F Giadresco, Gelorup, with the latter winning out with a $12,250 bid.
The 936kg bull Monterey Mainland M226 was out of Monterey Vanilla H249 and scanned an impressive 6.8 frame score (FS), 42cm scrotal circumference (SC), 128cm2 eye muscle area (EMA) and 6.3pc intra muscular fat (IMF).
Peter Giadresco said the bull was a standout by a million miles, being head and shoulders above the rest.
“He just took my eye straight away in the yards, because he is just such a well-balanced bull,” Mr Giadresco said.
“His length and frame size are awesome for his age and he is well put together.
“For his age, he shows great growth and if this trait flows through into his progeny they will hopefully mature early.
“He is also gentle and quiet.”
The Giadresco family, who run 320 Angus breeders on properties at Manjimup and Lake Muir, will use Mainland over breeders at their Manjimup base to breed replacement females.
Mr Giadresco said they had used Monterey genetics in their herd in the past and had been happy with the performance on the Monterey-sired calves.
“The Monterey bulls just go out in the paddock and do the job,” he said.
The Giadresco family also secured a Monterey General son in lot two for $4500.
Not dismayed Mr Brooks paid $9500 for Monterey McGuvver M9 a few lots later and another Angus bull following the sale.
McGuvver was a 980kg mid-March 2016 born son of Millah Murrah Equity J110 and displayed raw data of 6.5 FS, 41cm SC, 127cm2 EMA and 5.8pc IMF.
Elders stud stock manager Tim Spicer, bidding on behalf of strong Monterey supporters, the Greville family, Gingin Pastoral Company, Gingin, paid the sale’s $10,250 second top price for Monterey Maverick M224 in lot 21.
Maverick was the first son of Millah Murrah Tex K37 to be offered at Monterey with the late August 2016 born bull out of Ebony H16 tipping the scales at 868kg.
It displayed raw data of 6.4 FS, 42cm SC, 123cm2 EMA and 5.3pc IMF.
The balance of the Angus bulls sold from $4000 to $6250.
Brett Chatley, Landmark Manjimup, paid $6250 for a Millah Murrah Docklands J193 son and later in the sale, paid $7000 for a black Murray Grey bull by Monterey Hotshot H251, while Cowaramup graziers P & T Duggan outlaid $6000 for a son of Monterey Harlequin H125.
Landmark Boyup Brook agent Jamie Abbs was the sale’s volume buyer with several multiple bull orders to fill.
He selected three Angus bulls from $4250 to $5750 for JHH Bowie & Co, Bridgetown, two Angus bulls costing $5000 each for AH & JC Knox and two bulls at $4000 each for PJ McKay.
Other multiple Angus bull buyers were RH & SJ Manning, Busselton, also with two bulls at $4000 each and Yackaboon Contracting, Williams, three bulls costing from $4500 to $5500.
Next up was the team of Murray Greys and the top-class grey bull that entered the ring in lot 38 stole the breed’s top-priced honours.
Monterey Monarch M278 was knocked down for $8500 to Cameron Harris, Elders Manjimup, representing return Monterey stud buyer Cliff Weichelt, Koora Murray Grey stud, Karnup.
Born mid-August 2016, Monarch was by Monterey Economist E30 and out of top Monterey dam Showtime C47 and is a maternal brother to stud sire Limitless L198 retained at Monterey.
The 938kg bull scanned 6.4 FS, 43cm SC and 131cm2 EMA and displayed a strong set of EBVs including in the breed’s top 5pc for 400 and 600-day weights and all its indexes and top 10pc for 200-day weight, mature cow and carcase weights.
Mr Weichelt said there was a strong Monterey base in his stud’s female herd and the bull provided a slight outcross to existing bloodlines in a powerful strong growth package.
“Overall he is a very good bull and will add what we need with oomph and style,” Mr Weichelt said.
“I do think he is among the up-and-coming sires, definitely the pick of the day and at that price good value for money.
“He was the only Economist son in the sale and its grand dam Showtime S8 is one of the biggest cows bred at Monterey.”
Consistent top-end buyer P & SA Tomlinson, Napier, paid the $8000 second top Murray Grey price for a late-June 2016 born son of Monterey Howzat H20 and elite cow Mannequin G79.
The silver bull rocked the scales to 1004kg with raw data of 6.8 FS, 42cm SC and 129cm2 EMA, with equally as impressive EBVs ranking it in the top 1pc for 200-day weight and retail beef yield, top 5pc for milk, 400 and 600-day weights, carcase weight and vealer index.
Other high prices paid for Murray Greys included regular volume buyer of Monterey bulls Kanandah station, Kalgoorlie.
The Goldfields pastoral buyer secured six bulls paying from $4000 to a $7500 top price reserved for one of three black Murray Grey bulls catalogued at the sale.
The mid-April 2016 born average birthweight son of Monterey Hot Shot H251 scanned 942kg, 6.5 FS, 41cm SC and 126cm2 EMA with positive fats and in the top 15pc for milk.
Muchea producers RL & GW Edwards collected a younger late-September 2016 born son of Monterey Galactic for $6500.
A low birthweight high growth son of Monterey Hamersley is heading to South Australian grazier Glenn Davis, Unley Park, with Landmark livestock manager Leon Giglia bidding $6000 on their behalf.
Multiple Murray Grey bull buyers included return buyer MG Armstrong, Northcliffe, with three bulls from $4000 to $5500.
The Armstrong family are return Monterey buyers of 25 years and currently run 250 Friesian cows rearing F1 beef calves and 180 Angus, first-cross Angus and first-cross Murray Grey breeders.
Wheatbelt buyer LR, GI & IJ Simmons, Brookton and Rangeview Farm, Mandurah, picked up two new Monterey bulls each.
