By Jodie Rintoul and Kane Chatfield
Courtesy Farm Weekly
STRONG support from a long list of return and new buyers, a quality line-up of bulls and a strengthening cattle market all combined to ensure an impressive result at last week’s Monterey annual bull sale with prices hitting a high of $9750.
Like many sales this season, Landmark auctioneer John Wirth and Elders auctioneer Gary Preston found the going easier in terms of extracting bids from buyers compared to last year, which was no doubt a result of the cattle market being in a stronger position.
And this buyer willingness to bid was certainly noticeable when all the important figures were calculated.
By the end of the sale 70 of the 79 Murray Grey and Angus bulls offered had sold under the hammer for a solid average of $4861 and a gross of $340,250.
In comparison at last year’s sale, the stud offered 80 bulls and sold 57 under the hammer for an average of $4469 and a gross of $254,750
This meant both the clearance, average and most importantly the gross figure, were up significantly on last year, the average jumped $392, the clearance increased 18 points and the gross was up $85,500.
Speaking after the sale Mr Wirth said the quality of the bulls was magnificent from start to finish and buyers appreciated that quality.
“The first run of Murray Greys, were very, very strong however buyers became selective on the second run and this allowed volume buyers to pick up their bulls more easily,” Mr Wirth said.
“The Angus were also very even and sold strongly from start to finish.
“The sale again attracted a cross section of buyers from across the State and some interstate interest.
“All in all it was a very solid sale, with buyers putting their hands into their pockets in recognition of the quality of bulls on offer.”
Elders stud stock manager Tim Spicer said it was a very solid sale, with a lot of support from the close to 60 registered buyers.
“The quality on offer was very high and the Bullers need to be congratulated on the presentation and temperament of the bulls,” Mr Spicer said.
“The top bulls made great values and were well sought after.
“The first run of Murray Greys and the Angus had strong competition from buyers covering a wide area of the State.
“However buyers were a bit more selective in the second run of Murray Grey bulls and this allowed volume buyers to average back their teams later in the sale.”
p Murray Greys
Buyers were not afraid to bid up on the Murray Grey bulls which best suited their requirements and this resulted in the clearance rates lifting on last year.
By the time the last Murray Grey had left the ring, the Bullers had cleared 41 of the 49 bulls offered to a top of $9750 and an average of $4841, which was back $44 on 2013.
But the most important figures of clearance and gross, or the money that goes in the bank, were both up – the clearance by 11 per cent and the gross by $17,750.
The strong line-up of Murray Grey bulls were like peas in a pod in terms of quality and picking a standout bull wasn’t easy.
But in the end buyers showed their preference for Monterey Harmony H62 in lot eight when it entered the ring.
Bidding started at $4000 on the April 2012-drop long, deep, grey sire and quickly rose until only two serious contenders were left.
In the end it were return buyers Ian and Narelle Willcocks, Ayr Park Murray Grey stud, Woodstock, New South Wales, who were written in as buyers after giving buying instructions over the phone to Landmark Boyanup agent Chris Waddingham.
After looking through the catalogue, Mr Willcocks said the bull was one of six shortlisted for its description and figures but was picked out after seeing photos sent by Gary Buller.
He said the bull arrived at their property on Monday morning and he was very happy with it.
“We wanted to keep the grey pigmentation coming through,” Mr Willcocks said.
“He fitted the criteria that our commercial clients look for in moderate frame, good muscling and softness and doing ability.
“He had good raw data with 114cm2 eye muscle, weight for age with a +77 for 600-day weight and low birthweight with a tight sheath and soft coat.”
The very appealing, well-structured 842kg bull was sired by Monterey Megaforce D222 and had EBVs of +4 for birthweight, +29, +48 and +77 for 200, 400 and 600-day weight, +46 for carcase weight, +1.6 for EMA, -0.4 for rib fat, -0.5 for rump fat,+1.0 for retail beef yield and +0.2 for IMF, as well as index values of +$43 for vealer terminal, +$43 for supermarket and +$70 for EU heavy steer.
These figures ranked Harmony in the top one per cent for 600-day weight and EU heavy steer index and top 10pc for 200 and 400-day weight, vealer terminal index and supermarket index.
Another return buyer not afraid to bid up after achieving top results with Monterey genetics was Hampden Farms Pty Ltd, Brookhampton, which has just registered a Murray Grey stud under the name Hampden Farm.
It secured Monterey Hummer H77 in lot three in a three-quarter share and possession deal for $8000, the equal second top price in the Murray Grey run.
The 896kg, silver Hummer was sired by Monterey Steamroller B140 and had EBVs of +6 for birthweight, +35, +62 and +78 for 200, 400 and 600-day weight, +48 for carcase weight and +2.9 for EMA, as well as index values of +$48 for vealer terminal, +$55 for supermarket and +$73 for EU heavy steer.
These figures ranked Hummer in the top one per cent for 400 and 600-day weight and EU heavy steer and supermarket indices and top five per cent for 200-day weight, carcase weight, EMA and vealer terminal index.
Hampden Farm manager Mick Gray said it was the size and structure of Hummer which appealed most.
“He is a big, well-structured bull with good growth,” Mr Gray said.
Hummer will be used in the operation’s stud herd over females purchased from the recent Monterey mature female dispersal sale.
Securing the second bull to sell for the $8000 equal second top price were return buyers Mark and Karen Forrester, Kanandah station, Rawlinna, when they purchased Monterey Hendrix H44 in a three-quarter share and possession deal.
The 866kg silver Monterey Megaforce son had EBVs of +4.7 for birthweight, +32, +50 and +80 for 200, 400 and 600-day weight, +44 for carcase weight, +1.6 for EMA, +0.1 for rib fat, +0.2 for rump fat and +0.3 for IMF, as well as index values of +$46 for vealer terminal, +$54 for supermarket and +$83 for EU heavy steer.
These figures ranked the long, well-muscled Hendrix in the top one per cent for 600-day weight and top five per cent for 200 and 400-day weight and carcase weight.
Mr Forrester said Hendrix fitted all his selection criteria.
“He has good milk, fantastic growth and a good IMF figure, which is important to us because it affects meat quality,” Mr Forrester said.
“He is a nice young bull with a good constitution.
“We will use him over our better cows to breed replacement females.”
Hendrix was joined by another seven grey sires bought by Kanandah station at the sale for an average of $4906.
They will be used over a 3000-head breeding herd of Murray Grey and Murray Grey-Brahman cross females.
Included in the team purchased by Kanandah were a son of Monterey Far Out F27, Monterey Heineken H201 for $5500, the 916kg Monterey Hob Nob H88 at $5250 as well as two other sires at $5000.
Mr Forrester, who has been buying from Monterey for 12 years, said the genetics suited their operation which involves marketing a certified organic beef product from the station which was sold predominantly into the local market as well as the international markets.
“We have been producing the certified beef for five years and we work in a fair bit with Warren Pensini, Blackwood Valley Beef,” Mr Forrester said.
“Generally our aim is to turn the cattle off at 430-500kg liveweight (220-250kg carcase weight) as young as we can, generally before 24 months.”
Also not afraid to bid up on their preferred bulls early in the sale were return buyers Chris and Daryl Avery, WC, BE and DC Avery, Nannup.
Their purchases started early when they secured the 912kg, long, muscly Monterey Hogan H91 in lot one and the deep-bodied, long Monterey Himalaya H158 in lot nine both at $7250.
Hogan was a son of Monterey Easterly and had growth EBVs of +36, +58 and +85 for 200, 400 and 600-day weight, while Himalaya was sired by Lindsay Empire E46 and had growth EBVs of +25, +47 and +64 for 200, 400 and 600-day weight.
The Averys rounded out their purchases buying two more bulls at $5500 and $5000.
Busselton operation RH Norman & Son, was another not afraid to show its support for the Monterey Murray Greys when they purchased the 850kg, soft Monterey Economist son, Monterey He Man H21 for $6500.
The Busselton operation also purchased another two Murray Grey sires during the sale for $5000 and $3750.
Back again at the sale this year, after achieving good results with Monterey genetics was Wuluru Farms, Dunsborough, which secured three silver sires and one grey sire to a top of $4750 and an average of $3813.
Also buying strongly in the Murray Grey run to a top of $5000 and an average of $4000 for a team of three was Lake Muir Prime Beef, Lake Muir.
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