Glatz's Black Angus sale average lifts with 'wonderful' draft of bulls

The first AI-bred sons of United States sire Ellingson Rangeland to be offered by Glatz's Black Angus stud provided many of the highlights in the stud's successful SA bull sale at Avenue Range.

The eight Rangeland sons, which ranked highly for their calving ease, growth and maternal traits, averaged $12,250 and included the $18,000 sale topper.

The 22-month-old, lot 12, Black Angus Rangeland U226,was in the top 18-28pc for growth and carcase weight figures.

It was snapped up by Nicolai Farms who have been buying in the top end for four years.

They secured four bulls for a $14,000 average.

Luke Nicolai said they were seeing the results using the Glatz genetics to improve their self-replacing Angus herd at Tresant, Stewarts Range.

"We can see a lot of good temperament in the calves, a lot more structure, and we are selling the calves earlier at a better weight," he said.

The nearly 30 registered bidders quickly realised they had to step up their bidding with fewer bulls on offer than last year as the stud prepares to hold its first Vic summer sale on Monday at its Coroona property, Branxholme, Vic.

The first 12 lots in the SA sale offered by Ben, Samantha, Dylan and Jack Glatz set a cracking pace averaging $14,333.

This included three bulls at the $16,000 second highest price.

Lots 2 and 9 were bought by Springwood Trading Trust, Padthaway, while lot 5, a Baldridge 38 Special son, was knocked down to the Mumford family, Redhill.

Mr Glatz said the plan was to offer a similar number of bulls across the two summer sales as they had previously done in the SA sale.

"We were expecting the market to be a little more cautious this year due to the seasonal conditions and potential cash flow limitations," he said.

"It has cost us a lot of money and all of our clients a lot of money to get through the last 12-18 months so we are thrilled how they got behind us."

Overall 47 of 48 bulls averaged $11,106- the top stud average in SA Angus Week.

This was up on 2024's sale of 76 bulls where 73 topped at $35,000 and averaged $10,507.

Mr Glatz said the family was very grateful to have so many repeat clients coming back year after year.

The sale's volume buyer was Angus Hill, Hill Waters Farm, Lake Mundi, Vic, who like many of Glatz's clients had cattle excel in the recent SE and western Vic weaner sales.

Hill Waters Farm selected seven bulls for a $11,714 average.

"We are going to cull a heap of old bulls, these were pretty good buying," Mr Hill said.

Beare Pastoral, Kingston SE, also added to the competition with six bulls for a $10,000 average.

This included the last lot of the sale, lot 51- a Glenoch JK Makahu son- which made $11,000.

Nutrien stud stock auctioneer Richard Miller said it was a "wonderful draft of bulls" which had great natural shape, doing ability as well as an incredible balance of figures.

"There were a number of people looking for four to six bulls and they were able to shop from lot one right the way through to lot 51 which is a credit to the Glatz family the way they turned them out, " he said.

"It has been a pretty tough year and they were as affected as anyone but they have got them up an absolute treat."

Nutrien SA stud stock manager Gordon Wood said the sale was underpinned by mostly repeat buyers locally and into western Vic.

"They were happily opening the bidding at $12,000 to $14,000 today so obviously they are getting the value out of these cattle to keep forging forward," he said.

Nutrien Kingston SE conducted the sale.