Mordallup sets a $20,000 high

Despite the threat of rain buyers were out in force at the sale and bid up strongly on the quality line-up of Angus sires on offer from the Muir family, pushing prices to a season high $20,000.

With the ability to buy right through the catalogue with confidence, due to the evenness and quality of the line-up, buyers kept the Landmark selling team on their toes right to the very last bull.

They cleared 56 of the 59 bulls offered at a clearance of 95 per cent and an average of $7188, which was up $798 on last year when the stud averaged $6390 for 57 out of 59 bulls.

Landmark auctioneer Tiny Holly said it was an excellent presentation of bulls with good growth and eye appeal from a very good breeding herd of big, roomy cows.

"With the confidence that is around in the cattle market at the moment buyers were competitive on all lots, which resulted in a rock solid sale right through," he said.

"Some buyers, however, had certain sires in mind and that is what they chased which resulted in some very strong prices. I think the top end of the sale was certainly stronger than I had expected.

"Like always there was again strong support from return buyers who appreciate what the Mordallup genetics do for their herds but more pleasing was the solid interest from a handful of new buyers operating for the first time, who bid up strongly.

"Overall it was a very solid sale."

Mordallup stud principal Mark Muir was also pleased with the result.

"We are really happy with the final result in terms of both the clearance and prices which were strong," he said.

"Once again this year we had new buyers operating, who had attended our field day in January which is great to see but it was also pleasing to see our long-term clients back and bidding up strongly as it means our bulls are performing out in their herd."

With a very even line-up of well-bred bulls, it was always going to be hard for buyers to pick a stand-out and this was reflected with seven bulls selling for $10,000 or more and another eight selling for between $8500 and $10,000.

In the end it didn't take long for the top bull to emerge, when buyers showed their hand and bid up strongly on lot six, Mordallup Moorook L111(AI) (TW), after Mr Holly took an opening bid of $6000.

From the moment the SAV Harvestor 0338 son entered the ring it became clear many buyers had it circled in their catalogues, as it exhibited plenty of depth, volume, softness and a great hindquarter and as a result the price quickly rose beyond the five figure mark.

Eventually it became a battle between two determined buyers and when the bidding duel ended it was Don and Bev Strang and son Don, BM Strang, Donnybrook, who were victorious with a bid of $20,000 on the twin-born, February 2015-drop bull.

The 1020 kilogram bull was out of a HF Tiger 5T daughter, Mordallup Triess G159, and had a frame score 6.8 and a scrotal circumference of 40cm.

But not only was the bull easy on the eye it also had the figures to match with impressive EBVs of +55 and +95 for for 200 and 400-day weights, which rank it in the top 5pc for the breed, while it ranks in the top 10pc for 600-day weight (+120), mature cow weight (+113), carcase weight (+70).

Its indexes are +$94 Angus breeding, +$99 domestic, +$82 heavy grain and +$100 heavy grass.

But the Strangs' spending spree didn't finish at the top-priced bull, two lots later they were at it again when Mordallup Nullagine L170 entered the ring in lot eight.

After an opening bid of $8000 another long bidding duel broke out before the Strangs had a final bid to secure the 1010kg, soft and thick bull at the sale's $18,000 second top price.

The long and deep-bodied bull was sired by Mordallup Thunder H131, which is a son of SAV Thunderbird 9061, and out of a Mordallup Net Worth C187 daughter.

The classy 7.2 frame score bull carried a strong set of EBVs with it ranking in the top 5pc for 200 and 600-day weights (+53 and +127), mature cow weight (+119), top 10pc for 400-day weight (+91) and top 15pc carcase weight (+68).

Its indexes are +$107 Angus breeding, +$101 domestic, +$104 heavy grain and +$110 heavy grass.

Mrs Strang said they were chasing new bloodlines for their herd as they hadn't purchased for a couple of years.

"The two bulls we purchased were the only two we really wanted, so we are very pleased to be able to get them," she said.

"They are complete new bloodlines for our herd and that was our main reason for selecting them.

"They both also had good depositions, were well-structured and had good figures for growth and milk

"Basically everything matched to go with our cow herd.

"We really like how the Mordallup genetics perform in our herd with their growth.

"They produce top class calves year-in and year-out."

The Strangs run a mixed breed herd which contains some pure Angus cows and sell their calves straight off mum to processors or to feedlots depending on their weights.

Losing out on both occasions to the Strangs on the two top-priced bulls was Joe Davies, JP & J Davies, Manypeaks, who was at the sale with his father Ross.

While the pair may have missed out on the top-priced bulls they didn't go home empty handed - they secured lot four, Mordallup Binar L314 at the sale's $13,000 third top price and lot nine, Mordallup Moorook L225 at $10,000.

The 962kg Binar L314, is by a SAV Camaro 9272 son, Mordallup Camaro H120, and has growth, weight and carcase traits all rolled into one package.

It ranks in the top 5pc for 200 (+54), top 10pc for 400 and 600-day weights (+92 and +119) and top 15pc mature cow weight (+106) and rib fat (+1.1).

Its indexes are +$118 Angus breeding, +$111 domestic, +$118 heavy grain and +$116 heavy grass.

Joe Davies said Binar L314 had really good structure and good figures which were backed up by the bull's presentation in the flesh.

"His bloodline was also another reason why we were after him, as it will be a new one for our herd," Mr Davies said.

When it came to Moorook L225 Mr Davies said its Harvestor bloodline was its biggest attraction.

"We were keen to get hold of the Harvestor blood to use in our herd because of its early, massive weaning weights."

The 974kg Moorook L225 was by SAV Harvestor 0338 and was one of the drop's top weight weaners in December 2015 gaining 1.7kg a day while on mum.

The long-bodied, soft bull was not only appealing on the eye but its arithmetic was also impressive.

It ranks in the top 1pc for 200-day weight (+57), mature cow weight (+132) and retail beef yeild (+2.6) plus top 5pc for 400 and 600-day weights (+98 and +133) and carcase weight (+73).

The Davies family have bought from the stud previously.

Mr Davies said Mordallup bulls perform and handle the conditions at Manypeaks.

Both bulls will be used over mature females to breed replacement heifers and hopefully back-up bulls for the Davies family's herd of 300 Angus breeders.

Fellow return buyer Vern Mouritz, VR & ET Mouritz, Hyden, again bid to $11,000 to secure the fourth top-priced bull. Last year he also bid to $11,000 which secured him the sale's third top-priced bull.

When Mr Mouritz had his final bid on the 982kg, SAV Harvestor son, Mordallup Moorook L156 (AI) in lot one, it set the tone for the sale to follow.

Moorook L156 had massive growth from birth to weaning recording a daily weight gain of 1.7kg a day through to yearling age and was the heaviest weaned calf at 550kg in December 2015.

Its growth EBVs backed up this raw data, with +58 for 200-day weight (top 1pc in the breed) and +100 and +128 for 400 and 600-day weights (top 5pc).

It also ranks in the top 5pc for carcase weight (+73) and top 10pc retail beef yeild (+1.3).

The other two bulls to sell for $10,000 or more were lot 16, Mordallup Drover L210 (AI) and lot two Mordallup Moorook L158 (AI).

The 1035kg Drover L210, which was a son of Mordallup Stockman U153, was knocked down to GK Beauah, Manjimup, at $10,500.

Moorook L158, which was a SAV Harvestor son and ranked in top 5pc for 200-day weight and top 10pc for 400 and 600-day weights, sold at $10,000 to Albany producers ID & JR Ridgway.

Return buyers Bill and Michael Hurst, WT & MC Hurst & Co, Boyanup, who run 250 mainly Angus breeders were also in the thick of the action early picking up two sires.

They paid $9500 for a Mordallup Sampi B363 son and $6500 for the first son of Connealy Consensus 7229 to be offered by the stud.

Three bulls sold for $9000 and they were knocked down to Southwest Pastoral Co, Pinjarra, and Giant Valley Beef, Denmark, which both secured SAV Harvestor sons and Scott River Trading, Nillup, purchased a Mordallup Sampi B363 son.

The volume buyers with four bulls pencilled next to their name at an average of $6750 were first-time buyers FL & MJ Dewar, Guilderton.

The Dewars paid to a top of $8500 for a 1030kg SAV Angus Valley 1867 son which is in the top 1pc of the breed for 600-day weight (+139) and mature cow weight (+129) as well as the top 5pc for 200 and 400-day weights (+53 and +96) and carcase weight (+74).

Their other purchases included a SAV Harvestor son at $7500 and another SAV Angus Valley 1867 son at $7000.

Other first-time buyers to bid up strongly included Depiazzi Agri Co, Dardanup, which secured three bulls to $5000 (twice), while the Kielman family, Lilyvale Grazing, Pinjarra, which run a 320-head Angus breeding herd, purchased two bulls both at $8500 and TH & L Gibbs & Sons, Ferguson, secured two at $6500 each.

Buying through Landmark Bridgetown agent, Ben Cooper, return buyers of four years G Tassos & Co, purchased three sires, all at $4000, for its herd of 400 breeders which is made up of a mix of black and grey cows.

Other multiple lot buyers were Fleming Grove Farms, Esperance ($7500 average); Moran & Co, Kronkup ($6750); Darren White, Walpole ($6750); Ray Johnstone, Boyup Brook ($6500); Caesia Pastoral Trust, Henderson ($5250) and TC Cooper & Son, Walpole ($5000).