Coonamble bulls to $17,500
Coonamble Angus stud is truly "in the black" after its record-smashing bull sale last week in Bremer Bay, setting a new Angus benchmark in WA for the highest average price - 56 bulls sold at $8268 per head.
Bull buyers pushed the top price to a stud auction record $17,500 and the average price soared by $2347/head compared with last year, when 57 bulls sold for an average of $5921.
The annual on-property sale grossed $463,000 for the Davis family, who have been persistent in offering bulls that have been reared under paddock conditions only, with no grain feeding at any time.
"The entire stud is run under normal commercial grazing conditions," studmaster Murray Davis said.
Landmark auctioneer John Wirth said it was the richest cattle sale he had conducted.
"The bulls weighed up to 890kg, partly due to the season, but genetics are certainly playing a part, especially as they are only grass and hay fed - they are easy-doing cattle," he said.
"The success of Coonamble has been from repeat buyers who speak of how their calves do better in both performance and in the market place."
Mr Wirth said Coonamble was put on the map when Coonamble Elevator E11 sold to an Eastern States syndicate for $50,000 in 2011.
The stud's ongoing success of quality has resonated with many buyers at this year's sale, including Borden producers Phil and Cathy Wishart, who paid the top money for Coonamble J64.
Mr Wishart said the Booroomooka Yogi Z27-sired bull would go to work in a nucleus Angus cow herd to breed bulls to put over their commercial herd.
"We have had good success with the bull's genetic grandsire (Vermilion Yellowstone), which has produced well-muscled progeny," he said.
The 890kg bull, J64, was Mr Davis' pick for the best structured type in the catalogue.
Its Estimated Breeding Values for growth were +48, +97 and +128 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights.
The Wisharts, who also run a feedlot, have been on Coonamble bloodlines for many years and are impressed with the feed conversion results in their quest to value-add on-farm silage production and other costly feed inputs.
The couple also bought an Elevator E11-sired son for $11,000 and a September-drop junior bull with good growth figures for $6500.
The underbidder on the top-priced bull was Black Market Angus stud, of Donnybrook, which was also keen to acquire a stud sire.
Impressed with first matings from first bulls purchased last year, the Barstow family, of Arizona Farms, Lake Grace, returned to the sale to secure more Coonamble genetics.
The Barstows, who run a pure Angus herd of 1700 females and are steadily increasing numbers, bought five bulls to a top of $14,500 for an Elevator E11 son, Coonamble J98.
"We were selecting for good physical structure and balanced figures," Noel Barstow said.
"Current cattle prices are where they need to stay."
The Barstows also paid $12,750 for a low birth-weight (+1.8) bull sired by Sydgen Trust 6228.
Manypeaks producer Brian Lester paid $12,500 for an Elevator son and bought two other bulls for $7750 and $6750.
Esperance producer Wes Graham paid $11,500 for his first Elevator E11 son, Coonamble J149.
"The bull has good growth for age, softness and muscle and will go over Angus cows," he said.
Mr Graham, who runs 1800 Angus breeders, also paid $8750 for a Tuwharetoa Regent D145-sired bull. Borden producer WF Gaze & Co also bought a Regent son for $10,000.
_ *Coonamble Angus * _
_ *Bull Sale * _
Offered * 56
Sold * 56
Top price * $17,500
Average * $8268
