WA buyers made their presence felt at the recent annual Woonallee Simmental bull and female sale at Millicent, South Australia, operating on lots in both the bull and female portions of the sale.
The highlight of the sale was the top price of $30,000 which was achieved for a traditional red Simmental bull which sold to New Zealand.
Tom and Adeline Sanson, Gold Creek Simmentals, Tekaraka, New Zealand, were prepared to go further than anyone else for lot six, the 22-month-old and 860kg, Woonallee Notice N141 (P).
The impressive Blonde son of Sibelle Dirty Harry 25Z arguably had the best scan and performance data in the catalogue, including a huge eye muscle and positive IMF and fat measurements.
“There were three main things that influenced our decision to purchase this bull,” Tom Sanson said.
“Firstly, he has complete outcross genetics from what we have in our herd, meaning we can mate him with any of our females, and with a moderate birthweight that includes heifers.
“Secondly he has impeccable structure, which is so important in our country in New Zealand, especially feet, and thirdly he is so easy doing, as soft as butter really.”
The one successful WA purchaser in the bull sale was RG & LG McDonald, who paid $9500 for Woonallee Napperby N385 (P), an impressive spring drop son of The Riddler.
It had EBVs including very good calving ease, above average growth rates of +30, +53 and +600 for 200, 400 and 600-day growth, +39 carcase weight and +0.6 IMF.
It was in the top one per cent of the breed for EMA at +5.7.
In the female portion of the sale prices hit a new high for the stud when they reached $30,000.
It was one of the online bidders, Dallas Kropp, Dallas Ranch, Preston via Toowoomba, Queensland, who purchased the new Woonallee record priced female, brought forward to be the second heifer offered.
He paid this for Woonallee Heaven Sent P4, a polled 11-month-old black heifer, an imported embryo from Lewis Farms in Canada.
“She is a really classy young female and certainly one of the best we’ve ever offered,” Woonallee’s Tom Baker said.
“You don’t have to go far north from here to know people are hurting out there with the seasonal conditions, so we knew we’d have to offer some really good ones to attract potential buyers and interest.”
Two of the females to make $10,000 or better were both purchased by WA buyers Paul and Natalie Tuckey, Mubarn Simmental stud, Blythwood, for $11,000 and $10,000.
These were two of four traditional heifers they purchased at this sale, averaging $6875.
They later added a semen package from the red sire MRL Capone 130B (P) for $1300.
This was the Tuckey’s third visit to Woonallee female sales, purchasing five at a $7100 average in 2017, including the $19,000 sale topper; the same number and average that they purchased in 2015.
“We look for the best quality we can buy, and that quality is certainly over here at Woonallee,” Mr Tuckey said.
“That’s why we keep coming back.
“Our four purchases are exceptional quality females, they have great figures, plus they are total outcrosses from the genetics we have, or can get in WA.”
Kevin and Janice Hard, Naracoopa stud, Denmark, also chimed in with two top black heifer purchases at a $5500 average.
Also making a big impact from the west via phone link was the Patterson family, Bullock Hills Simmental stud, Katanning, through Landmark Perth with three heifers to $5000 and averaging $4500, plus the top semen package at $4200 for 10 straws from MRL Missile 138C.
“It was terrific to see such great and continuing support for our program from so many repeat clients, but it was also good to see some new ones as well,” Lizzy Baker, Woonallee, said after the sale.
