Mungatta tops Midlands Cattle Breeders’ Association sale at $11,500
March 13, 2019By
Courtesy Farm Weekly
PRICES topped at $11,500 for a Mungatta Murray Grey bull at the 31st annual Midlands Cattle Breeders’ Association Gingin Bull Sale.
A big crowd of buyers and onlookers again turned out to the purpose built yards at the Gingin Recreation Centre to welcome original and new sale vendors and the top line-up of bulls the sale is renowned for.
The sale was again interfaced on AuctionsPlus and the quality catalogue of 72 bulls representing five British and European beef breeds from nine vendors, drew widespread support from across the State.
When the sale got underway there were 40 buyers on the books from Pemberton in the south to Geraldton plus the Eastern States registered and they bid strongly on the bulls that best suited their requirements.
While some vendors enjoyed solid sales with both good prices and clearances, selective buying in some breeds saw a number of bulls overlooked.
Overall 55 bulls (76 per cent) sold from 72 offered under the Landmark and Elders hammers at an average of $6227 and a gross of $342,500.
Like most sales this year the average and gross figures were back with the average down $1028 and the gross dropping by $27,500 but in a positive result for the sale, vendors sold four more bulls than last year and the overall clearance was up by 9pc.
Last year’s sale saw 51 bulls sell from 76 offered at an average of $7255.
Landmark auctioneer Tiny Holly said the presentation of bulls was once again very good and a credit to the vendors and as a result the bulls sold accordingly.
“There was good buying support throughout the sale but at times buyers were selective and with this selective buying the prices came back on previous highs achieved in the past,” Mr Holly said.
“There was good buying support once again from regular buyers coming from the deep south through to north and east of Geraldton and this just shows they trust the sale and the bulls the vendors present in it.
Topping this year’s sale was the Stickland family’s Mungatta Murray Grey stud, Wongan Hills, when its second bull into the sale ring was finally knocked down for $11,500.
The bull, Mungatta Renaldo N28, was purchased by return buyer Shane Edwards, Stockhill Grazing, Quairading, after a lengthy bidding battle with an Eastern States bidder on AuctionsPlus following an opening bid of $6000.
The 796kg, mid-March 2017 born bull was the first progeny of semen sire Michaelong Advance D26 to be offered in WA.
Advance hails from the original Murray Grey herd of the Sutherland family, Barnawarthau, Victoria, who founded and developed the Murray Grey breed in Australia.
Out of homebred cow, Mungatta Hibiscus H18, the frame score six Renaldo displayed an even spread of above average BreedPlan figures with growth mostly in the top 25pc, top 15pc mature cow weight (MCW) and top 10pc gestation length.
Mr Edwards said he saw Michaelong Advance at the Sutherland’s property about three years ago and believed it was the best semen sire at the stud.
“I’ve had an interest in the progeny since and first saw Renaldo at Mungatta in October last year and was impressed,” he said.
“It had the heaviest 200 and 400-day weights and the best muscling in its drop of bulls at Mungatta, with one of the best coats I have seen on a Murray Grey bull.
“It carries most of the traditional Murray Grey traits which can be hard to find on a frame score six bull.
“It has an outstanding disposition and is a clear cut outcross for our herd being the first bull offered in WA by its international semen sire.”
Mr Edwards said the bull will be used largely over female families that go back to his herd’s foundation sire purchased in 2006, Mungatta Explorer.
After a special highlight, things got a little tougher for the Stickland family’s team of 11 bulls with only a further four bulls finding new homes at auction to average $5500 overall.
And while it was a disappointing clearance, the results were improved from last year’s sale where three of 12 Mungatta bulls sold under the hammer to average $5167.
Consistent buyers of Mungatta bulls Mikkelsen & Wilson, Dandaragan, returned to pay $5000 for the sale team leader Mungatta Ramiro N50.
The 820kg, frame score six, late March 2017 born son of Mungatta Overton K76 (by Monterey Elegant Lad E265) displayed impressive figures with weight intervals in the top 5-10pc, top 5pc MCW, top 10pc carcase weight along with high indexes including top 5pc for vealer terminal and heavy grassfed steer indexes.
H & K Rowe, Mullewa, paid $4000 for another Overton K76 son, while Melvin Hettner, Ideal Murray Grey stud, Kojonup, secured a Willalooka Uplift U5 son for $3500 and an Elegant Lad E265 son following the sale.
The 31st annual Midlands Cattle Breeders’ Association Gingin Bull Sale last week saw bull prices reach a top of $11,500 for a Mungatta Murray Grey bull. With the bull, Mungatta Renaldo N28, were Mungatta stud co-principal John Stickland (left), Wongan Hills, buyer Shane Edwards, Stockhill Grazing, Quairading and Landmark Wongan Hills representative Grant Lupton.
