Boonaroo Angus sells 114 bulls at auction as Ballantyne Ag buys the top lot
An Angus bull described as the perfect all-rounder with high docility has topped western Victorian stud Boonaroo Angus' 2025 bull sale near Casterton.
Boonaroo Angus stud principals Shane and Jodie Foster and their children Tom and Claire sold 114 of 115 bulls at auction to a top price of $20,000, recording an average of $11,035.
The bulk of the bulls were bought by clients within a 150-kilometre radius of the Corndale stud.
Mrs Foster said an infusion of new genetics and the offspring of some prominent Angus bulls added to the fanfare of the sale.
"Considering the difficult year that everyone in the south-west of Victoria and south-east of South Australia had in 2024, we had some really good support from return and new clients," she said.
The Fosters had bulls on sale from three key sires they bought in 2022, including Te Mania Reaves 574, Cluden Newry R214, and Lawson Quantum R652.
Mrs Foster said the Te Mania bull was purchased by the stud for $130,000, while the Cluden and Lawson bulls were secured for $50,000 and $40,000, respectively.
She said the bloodlines of the three bulls were highly sought after.
"We like to buy bulls physically so we can see their parents, their feet and assess the docility of the animals ourselves so we know what we're getting," Mrs Foster said.
"To have those outcross genetics is essential to keep the breed diverse."
The top-priced bull, Lot 14 Boonaroo Quantify U34, was bought by Ballantyne Agriculture, Wattle Range, SA, for $20,000.
The July 2023-drop bull was sired by Lawson Quantum R652 and out of Boonaroo Marlene S221.
He recorded a scrotal circumference of 40 centimetres, an eye muscle area of 112sq cm, a rib fat of nine millimetres and an intramuscular fat of 5.6 per cent.
The bull was described as an "all-rounder".
"He has plenty of calving ease whilst still having growth in the top 30 per cent of the breed," Mrs Foster said.
"He was also a high fat and high marbling bull with very high docility and all those factors made him a very saleable bull."
Buyers Robert and Peter Ballantyne, Ballantyne Agriculture, said it would be joined to a herd of commercial Angus breeders.
"The bull had a balanced set of EBVs, good doing ability and was well-structured," Peter said.
"We target an export market and sell our cattle at 18-plus months, so this bull will help get these animals to our target weight more quickly, especially in drier times."
Among the volume buyers was Iredell Farms, Pigeon Ponds, which bought five Angus bulls to a top price of $14,000 for Lot 114, Boonaroo Genuis U372, with an average of $10,200.
Grazier Rick Iredell Farms, Pigeon Ponds, said he ran an Angus and first-cross prime lamb operation across 3500 hectares at Pigeon Ponds and Powers Creek.
Mr Iredell said he had bought bulls from Boonaroo for the last six years.
"We have found Shane and Jodie to be very good operators, they look after their bulls and present them very well," he said.
"They produce nice, good-framed bulls with an excellent temperament."
The Iredells run an autumn-calving herd and sell a bulk of their steers at the Naracoorte, SA, weaner sale.
Heifers are sold often via a saleyard in South Australia or Victoria, or by private treaty.
Other volume buyers included the McErvale family, Cadell, Branxholme, bought six bulls to a top price of $14,000 for Lot 92, Boonaroo Shine U241, recording an average of $10,166.
Local grazier John Carmichael, Lake Mundy, bought four bulls to a top price of $14,000 (three times) for Lots 49, 67 and 100, with an average $12,500.
