Excerpt Courtesy Farm Weekly
With 76 registered buyers and another surge in confidence on the back of unprecedented beef prices recorded earlier in the week, all signs were pointing to a cracker of a sale.
And the buyers delivered on expectation.
The Murray Greys saw 29 of 30 bulls sell to average $5517.
This capped off a stunning recovery from last year’s modest results where nine of 26 bulls sold to average $3411, a mighty $2106 jump in average.
Topping the Murray Grey section was Monterey Jumbuck J183 in lot 48 when Mal Barrett, Elders Boyanup, representing Peter and Judy Middleton, P & J Middleton, Lowden, bid to $7000.
The 754kg silver son of homebred parents Corroboree and Melissa F268 displayed a balanced set of growth and carcase data within the breed’s top 25 per cent for most traits including top 5pc for scrotal size (SC) (+2.0), eye muscle (EMA) (+2.6) and retail beef yield (RBY) (+2.0).
The Middletons run a split herd of 200 Angus and 200 Murray Grey breeders and have been sourcing some bulls from the Monterey stud for six years.
The Middletons also purchased a Monterey Escalator son for $5250.
Mr Barrett said the Middleton family had significantly improved their herd by sourcing top bulls.
“The Middletons are regular suppliers of cattle to the Elders weaner sales at Boyanup in the summer,” he said.
“To lift the quality and really produce a top product, they have been trying to buy bulls from the top 20pc of the bull sales they attend.
“The top bull had a magnificent temperament, was extremely well balanced and had a true Murray Grey head.”
The $6500 second top price was paid by both the volume buyers in the Murray Grey line-up with Kanandah station, Kalgoorlie, and BV Smith, Mettler, collecting four bulls each and paying from $5000 to $6500.
Kanandah station bid to $6500 on its first selection and the fifth bull into the ring, Monterey Jindalbie J232.
The 858kg Jindalbie was an early July 2013-drop son of Monterey Freight Train and described as one of the picks of the catalogue.
http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/cattle/beef/angus-bull-tops-monterey-sale/2733554.aspx?storypage=0