IT'S no secret many parts of pastoral country in WA are desperate for a good drink and a drop in buying orders at the annual Biara Santa Gertrudis stud bull sale at Northampton last week was a direct reflection of those dry conditions.
The usual sort of numbers were offered to buyers with the Biara team yarding 71 Santa Gertrudis and Sangus bulls, joined by three further Santa Gertrudis bulls from Wendalla stud, Chittering, with a total of 41 bulls clearing under the hammer across the two teams, to a top price of $9000 and an overall average of $3695.
Values and clearances were down on the 2018 sale but were in line with expectations given the reality of seasonal conditions impacting many long-term Biara clients.
The sale kicked off after Landmark auctioneer Tiny Holly requested a minute of silence to reflect on the passing of Biara matriarch Barbara Hasleby last year and much more recently, the passing of highly respected livestock agents Peter 'Windy' Gale and Mal Barrett days before the sale.
It was a sombre start to the day of selling, but once hats were back on heads around the ring buyers got back to business and competed on their selected lots, pushing the sale top price to $9000.
David Greenup, Rosevale stud, Jandowae, Queensland, who had been the losing bidder on last year's $14,000 top priced bull, made sure he didn't miss any opportunities this year by attending the sale in person to single out the stand-out bull of the day.
Mr Greenup was joined by Mark and Chloe Madew, Cundarra Pastoral, Gingin, in a 50:50 share of Biara 7105 (PS) which was a May 2017-born son of Rosevale Crackerjack F334 (P).
Their $9000 purchase was a classified stud bull, with Breedplan figures including +16, +24 and +34 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights, +30 mature weight, +1.6 scrotal size and -4.4 days to calving.
Mr Greenup, who is very familiar with the quality of Biara genetics, said the bull had everything the duo were looking for in a good Santa Gertrudis bull.
"He's a very balanced bull," Mr Greenup said.
"He backs up his visual outlook with good raw data and EBVs so he's a good safe bull to breed from."
Mr Madew agreed Biara 7105 (PS) was a balanced bull.
"I think he shows great growth for age and good carcase traits which are matched by his figures," Mr Madew said.
"This is the first time we've bought from Biara so we're looking forward to seeing how the progeny perform."
By the end of the sale, the Biara Santa Gertrudis line-up had averaged $3743 overall, including a few bulls which drew more attention than others.
The second top-priced bull sold on the day was a commercial bull which made $8500 when the July 2017-born son of Gyranda Kenny (PS) in lot four was bought by Halleen Livestock, Chittering.
Immediately prior, another Eastern States name was called out when Peter and Patrick Mahony, Gyranda Santa Gertrudis stud, Theodore, Central Queensland, bought the classified stud bull Biara 7089 (P) for the third top price of $8250.
The May 2017-born calf was by Gyranda Kenny (PS), going back to Rosevale Bandanna on the dam's side and had balanced figures to match their earlier purchase which was the very first bull offered on the day.
Proving the old adage 'the first bull is always the cheapest', the Mahonys paid just $5000 for sale leader Biara 7144 (PP), a classified early-June 2017-born son of Rosevale Bandanna.
Peter Mahony said he tried to get over to WA every couple of years to inspect the Biara cattle and was always impressed with what he saw.
In the volume buying stakes, Landmark Mid West agent Mitchell Braithwaite made his presence felt, landing 11 Santa Gertrudis bulls and three Sangus bulls from the Biara catalogue for his clients under the hammer.
"The Santa Gertrudis bulls I was bidding on today will be going to two new clients to the Biara stud," Mr Braithwaite said.
"I'm extremely happy with the quality in the catalogue there was to choose from and I'm sure they'll do well for their new owners."
Mr Braithwaite landed a team of six Santa Gertrudis for JL & JC Pumpa, Murchison, at
an average of $2667 and five for Georgina Farms, Georgina, for $2500 apiece.
Elders Geraldton's Gary Preston bought a few as well, tallying up a team of four on behalf of long-term buyer of Biara bulls, Granite Peak station, Wiluna, for an average of $3875.
"We picked out bulls suitable to heifer joining with moderate frames, plenty of fleshing with a nice topline and hindquarter," Mr Preston said.
"We managed to secure the number of bulls we wanted but if Granite Peak had seen more rain, we would have bought a lot more."
Moving on to the Sangus portion of the sale, Mr Braithwaite said the quality of the bulls offered improves each year.
"We had quite a lot of enquiry on those bulls this year and they sold well considering the season," he said.
Mr Braithwaite bought three Sangus bulls with the bidding card for GB & G Nicoletti, Walkaway, to a top of $3250 twice and an average of $3167.
The top-priced bull in the Sangus portion of the sale made $4250 after the bidding was opened at $3000, selling to Freeway Farms, Geraldton.
Biara 7206 (P) was a late-July 2017-born calf by Biara 9104 (P) and out of a proven Mordallup mother, Mordallup H244 (P).
Landmark auctioneer Tiny Holly said the bulls were presented in their working clothes and ready to go to work.
"Seasonal conditions have really determined the volume buyers were able to buy but we knew going in it was going to be tougher than last year," Mr Holly said.
"We had some great support from the Eastern States who have built a relationship with the Hasleby family over the years, along with all the local buyers, many of whom were returning but many were also new to the sale which was good to see."
Speaking on behalf of the Biara team, Glenn Hasleby agreed it was great to have returning and new clients bidding on bulls at this year's sale.
"As we expected, the tough and dry seasonal conditions had an impact on the sale but we're happy to be able to offer these bulls to buyers and hope they do well for them," Mr Hasleby said.
"We're grateful for all the continued support we've received from both local and Eastern States clients."
Negotiations on the passed in bulls continued post sale.
Wendalla
Following the indefinite postponement of the annual Invitational Narngulu bull sale fixture this year, the Hasleby family welcomed to the sale Wendy Gould's Wendalla stud, Chittering, with a team of three quality Santa Gertrudis sires.
After selling Wendalla Romano R04 (P) at auction for $3000 which was paid by JW & JP Caunt, Dongara, private negotiations saw Wendalla Qualifier Q47 (P) sell for the stud's top price of $4500 to Tyson and Melissa Deutscher, Badgingarra.
Qualifier was a late-October 2016-born son of Bullamakinka High Expectation H178 (P) and was out of Wendalla Lotus L44 (P).
The classified stud bull caught the attention of the Deutschers with its overall softness and balance.
"This is the first time we've bought from Wendalla - we came along to the sale today and this bull stood out to us," they said.
