Highest priced NSW bulls sold in 2024 stud season revealed: The Last Lot
Progeny with the "ultimate package" were in high demand this sale season, with buyers from across the country eagerly investing in quality genetics.
It was another standout year at the top end of the bull sale market, with several studs achieving record breaking on-property results.
To celebrate this, The Land has compiled a list of the highest-priced genetics sold by NSW studs at NSW sales.
While this list doesn't encompass the entire seed-stock sector, it provides a unique perspective on NSW bull sales, highlighting only the top-priced progeny.
Dunoon T1361, Dunoon Angus, Holbrook
Dunoon T1361, better known as Bob, was the talk of the season when he shattered Dunoon Angus' on-property record by about $100,000 with a remarkable sale price of $225,000.
Purchased by Gilmandyke Pastoral, Orange, the 23-month-old Dunoon R135 son, decendent of the influential sire Landfall Keystone K132, weighed 808 kilograms with a near perfect score on his structural assessment.
Bob ranked in the top four per cent of the breed for estimated breeding values (EBVs) at +93 for carcase weight, in the top 5pc for +12.1 eye muscle area and +115 for 400-day growth.
He also placed in the top 6pc for +37 docility and top 8pc for gestation length, birthweight and 600-day weight, with figures of -7.9, +1.5 and +147, respectively.
Gilmandyke Pastoral stud manager Pete McNamara said the bull ticked all the boxes for the program, in terms of his calving ease and growth pattern.
"There's curve bending EBVs there and then the addition of his carcase weight and eye muscle area, it's just the perfect combination of a few fundamentals," he said.
"At the end of the process carcase is what we are all about, [and his] docility and strucutre are spot on.
"That's most important to us, phenotypically he has a good sire's presence and nice balance, he is a bull that you can invest in."
Gilmandyke Pastoral operations general manager Wade Peatman said the purchase was an investment in genetics which fed into the commercial product they wanted at the end.
At the time of sale, Mr Peatman said 1000 plus doses would be placed into the operation's commercial herd later this year.
Millah Murrah Ramjet U356, Millah Murrah, Bathurst
After two plane trips, Western Australian buyers Shepwok Angus, Gibson, were determined to take home Millah Murrah Ramjet U356.
Following spirited bidding that began at $20,000, return client, Jordan Whiting, Shepwok Angus, secured the yearling bull for $140,000.
Son of Milwillah Ramjet R1029, and out of Millah Murrah Prue R96, the 13-month old weighed 628kg with a 40 centimetre scrotal. Millah Murrah had collected semen from the bull.
Ramjet recorded EBVs in the top 1pc for gestation length, top 6pc for calving ease daughters and top 10pc for docility.
Mr Whiting said the operation was a relatively new stud that was targeting type, body and structure.
"The type and the body of the animal is what really got us but also because he was a complete outcross," he said.
"Bringing the Ramjet in with the Millah Murrah female side which is so strong, that's what really drew us in."
Mr Whiting said the stud had a lot of Millah Murrah blood throughout the cow herd, having purchased bulls such as Millah Murrah Sunstruck S207. At the time of sale, he planned to market semen.
Milwillah Blackout T244, Milwillah Angus, Young
Queensland bidders were the buyers to beat at the Milwillah Angus spring sale, securing the top-priced bull, Milwillah Blackout T244 for $120,000.
Knocked down to Lisa McKinlay, Gogango, Qld, the 24-month old son of Milwillah Blackout Q822, out of Milwillah Mittagong P7, weighed 927kg. He also ranked in the top 10pc of the breed for days to calving.
Ms McKinlay said Blackout T244 was a "smooth, tidy and beautiful bull".
At the time of sale, Ms McKinlay had recently purchased her father Charles McKinlay's Brahman stud Chasmac, and had about 300 breeders.
"We will put him over straight Brahman cows to breed Brangus. I also have some Elrose stud Brahman cows he'll go over," she said.
Blackout was one of five bulls Ms McKinlay purchased, including the first cab off the rank, Milwillah Turn-Out T614 for $55,000, for an overall average of $46,200.
Cascade Tosca T042, Cascade Poll Hereford, Currabubula
In an incredible effort, Cascade Poll Hereford, more than doubled their on-property record of $52,000 set in 2022.
Cascade Tosca T042 sold for $110,000 to dual buyers Glendan Park, Kyneton, Vic, and an undisclosed whiteface stud from eastern Victoria.
By Injemira Fortune M152 Q034, the 948kg 24-month old bull had EBVs of +5.4 for birthweight, and +52, +83 and +121 for 200-, 400- and 600-day growth respectively.
Nutrien Ag Solutions agent Peter Godbolt, Albury, bid on behalf of Glendan Park and said Tosca had a balanced set of data.
"We admired him for his power and presence, and he had a lot of carcase." Mr Godbolt said.
"He has a big, long body with real sire appeal."
Cascade stud manager Jack Smith said that before the sale, there wasn't any indication that T042 was rated so highly. He was the first son of Q034 to be sold at Cascade.
Weebollabolla Tinkler T109, Weebollabolla Shorthorns, Moree
Following the passing of highly respected director Sandy Munro, Weebollabolla Shorthorns set a new stud record at their spring sale.
Influential Weebollabolla Quanto Q9 son, Weebollabolla Tinkler T109, was sold to long-term supporters The Grove, Condamine, Qld, for $105,000.
Out of Weebollabolla Words P197, by The Grove K0182, the 24-month old homozygous poll was a standout in the lead-up to this year's sale, with length, depth and temperament.
His EBVs backed up the visual assessment, with carcase weights, 400- and 600-day growth all in the top 10pc of the breed while his scrotal size was among the top 1pc. His MSA-B2 index also ranked in the top 5pc.
Buyer Spencer Morgan, The Grove, described his new sire as "pre-potent", with good skin and temperament and a balanced set of figures.
"He will be a beautiful addition to our herd," he said.
Ben Nevis Ultra U223, Ben Nevis Angus, Walcha
A yearling sire with the "complete package" shattered Ben Nevis' on-property record at their spring sale.
The 14-month old was knocked down to Boambee Angus, East Seaham, for $100,000 with a quarter share and 1000 straws of semen collected over three years retained by Ben Nevis. He sold with full marketing rights.
By Alpine Real Deal R163 and out of a Baldridge Forecaster daughter, the 642kg bulls and EBVs in top 5pc for intramuscular fat, top 13pc for 400-day growth, and top 17pc for EMA.
He also ranked in the top 4pc for an MSA marbling score of +172.
Boambee Angus stud principal Margo Duncan was confident the addition of Ultra U223 to the herd would bring a "return on investment".
"He's a good showy type with a lot of potential," said Boambee Angus livestock manager Jamie Grosser.
"We could see his consistency among his brothers in this sale. We saw in him a type of animal and we like the fact that he comes from a good cow herd."
Texas TNT T317, Texas Angus, Warialda
With a reputation for high-quality genetics, Texas Angus once again cracked the six figure mark at their spring sale.
Chris and Robin Kemp, Milparinka, Blackall, Queensland, were the bidders to beat, securing Texas TNT T317 for $100,000.
The 992kg son of Poss Rawhide, who had an average daily gain of 1.31kg, was Wendy Mayne's pick of the sale.
He also had EBVs of +5 for birthweight, 200-,400- and 600-day growth of +65, +109 and +147, respectively, and +89 for carcase weight.
Mr Kemp said TNT was an excellent carcase bull with great temperament and style.
"He also had a bloodline we've been chasing for quite some time," he said.
The Kemp family run an aggregation of three properties near Blackall, as well as another property, Eungie, near Dysart.
In total they run about 4000 cows, of which no less than 1000 are almost pure Angus. The operation started with a base of Santa Gertrudis females, of which some are joined to Poll Hereford bulls, and the first cross is joined to an Angus.
Mr Kemp said TNT would be used to breed herd bulls by joining it to "some of our better cows".
Gilmandyke Versatile U176, Gilmandyke Angus, Orange
A chorus of bids errupted from $20,000 at the Gilmandyke Pastoral spring sale when Gilmandyke Versatile U176 went under the hammer.
The 18-month old bull set a new on-property record, selling to Corio Ag, Cootamundra, for $100,000.
By US sire Baldridge Versatile and out of Gilmandyke Dream S199, the 672kg bull recorded EBVs in the top 2pc for IMF at +5.9, top 1pc for docility, top 7pc for days to calving and top 20pc for 400-day growth.
Gilmandyke stud manager Pete McNamara said the bull had the whole package and was used in the stud's autumn program.
He had seen the sire last year and appreciated what he could do for the breed given his docility, IMF, and curvebending-spread of birth to growth data.
Corio Ag runs a commercial operation and is a long-term buyer at the stud.
Mr McNamara said as specialist heifer bull, U176 would be used an an AI sire that would add structure, docility and carcase value.
Yavenvale Trump Card T350, Yavenvale Herefords, Adelong
Falling just shy of the $100,000 mark, Yavenvale Herefords sold April-2022 drop Yavenvale Trump Card T350 for $96,000 at their autumn sale.
The homozygous poll was kocked down to new clients Jacqui, Thomas and Indianna Baulch, Jaclinton Poll Herefords, Illowa, Victoria, with semen retained by Yavenvale for in-herd use.
By New Zealand sire, Limehills Streaker 150368 and out of a Tobruk Maverick daughter, the bull ranked in the top 1pc of the breed for EBVs of +31 milk, top 2pc for IMF, 400-day growth, and top 3pc for 600-day growth and rump fat.
At the time of sale, Tom Baulch planned to join the sire in June with heifers and mature cows in July.
"He had that real sire appeal, and really stood out among the 135 bulls [on offer]," he said.
"Plus his pedigree with his mother being a great donor cows and having a good data set as well."
Catch up on previous episodes:
- Most influential NSW meat sheep studs in 2024 season revealed: The Last Lot
- Most influential NSW Merino studs in 2024 season revealed: The Last Lot
- Most influential NSW non-Angus studs in 2024 season revealed: The Last Lot
- Most influential NSW Angus studs in 2024 season revealed: The Land's Last Lot
- Sales belie wool market, buyers travel for best rams: The Land's Last Lot
- Dry out west but buyers prepared to pay for quality: The Land's Last Lot
- Top end stays strong, data proving a selling point: The Land's Last Lot
- Ram sales start well and yet more stud records: The Land's Last Lot
- Four different sales smash stud records: The Land's Last Lot episode two
- Catch up on studstock sale trends and results with The Land's Last Lot
