Glatz reaches almost $30,000 and clears all at first February Victorian sale

Pictures by Petra Oates

Glatz Black Angus held its first-ever autumn bull sale in Victoria today, after a cracking South Australian sale last week.

The stud offered and sold 21 Angus bulls at its Branxholme property, recording an average price of $9429, just below the $11,106 average recorded at its SA sale.

The sale kicked off with fierce competition, with the second bull through the ring, Lot 3 in the catalogue, fetching the top price of $28,000.

The 22-month-old sale topper, Black Angus New Ground U39, was bought by repeat buyers AJ & PA McBride, which has five grazing properties across south-east SA.

AJ & PA McBride general manager Drew Maxwell and livestock overseer Jye Doig were at the sale to purchase the bull, who they said was a standout in the catalogue.

"We picked him for his structure, docility, growth and fat," Mr Maxwell said.

"I breed all the bulls for the McBride operation so he will go into our bull breeding operation.

"We've got 200 cows in our stud and we try to get 50 or 60 good-quality commercial bulls for the company each year."

The bull boasted estimated breeding value figures in the top 1 per cent for scrotal size, top 2-4pc for 400 and 600-day growth and top 3pc for positive rib and rump fat.

The bull's dam, Stoney Point Yankee Queen M173, was a record-priced cow Mr Glatz purchased for $46,000 in partnership at the Stoney Point dispersal in 2021.

The half-brother of the top-priced bull, Lot 4, Black Angus Mr Squiggle U47, achieved the second top price of the sale at $16,000.

Lot 4 was bought by Nicolai Farms, Marcollat, SA, who was the top-priced buyer at Glatz' SA sale the week prior, having secured the top bull for $18,000.

Glatz stud principal Ben Glatz said the stud was now offering around 150 bulls a year across its three SA and Victorian sales.

"We were confident in the cattle and our brand," he said.

"We were more than happy with the average price today, backed up by a full clearance.

"We haven't been located here in Victoria for long enough to experience a normal season, but we're thrilled with the result."

Mr Glatz said a few new buyers joined the sale alongside support from their long-term SA clients, some of who made the journey across the border.

"We've been selling to the McBrides nearly a stud bull a year since 2017 and they're getting great results with their cattle," he said.

Nutrien auctioneer Richard Miller said the Glatz SA sale last week was the highest-averaging sale for the state that week.

"On the back of that, clearly demand was going to be good today," Mr Miller said.

"The sale was underpinned by a couple of volume orders and repeat buyers.

"To get north of $25,000 this year is not easy."