Loyal long-term client achieves milestone purchase at Dunoon bull sale
There were multiple aspects to be marked in the history books at the Dunnon Angus bull sale, held near Holbrook, Monday, March 3.
One of the first being, five sons of the new sire Dunoon Sunstone S378 to be offered throughout the sale, with one achieving the top-price of $22,000.
Dunoon U810 was purchased for the top-price of $22,000 by loyal clients Greenwald Pastoral Company, Foster, Victoria.
Sired by the new homebred bull, who is a son of Dunoon Prime Minister P758, he weighed 678 kilograms at 19 months of age.
Being described as 'Mr Impressive' in the catalogue, U810 was recommended as a heifer bull with a birthweight estimated breeding value (EBV) of +3.8, as well as a millk figure of +24, a P8 fat value of +2.8 and a docilty figure of +35, all placing him in the top nine per cent of the breed.
He also recorded a days to calving value of -8.2, placing him in the top 3pc, along with an intramuscular fat (IMF) value of +6.2, placing him in the top 2pc.
The family also achieved a milestone purchase during the sale, securing their 400th bull purchased from the Harbison family.
The purchase was a first for the stud, Dunoon stud principal Jock Harbison said.
"I don't know if that has happened anywhere else in a bull sale in Australia," he said.
"On my calculations, it was lot 25 that was the 400th, and today he's free.
"I'm not playing favourites; anyone else who purchases their 400th bull can happily have that one as well, and there is a couple getting close. Don't worry.
"I don't think a family operation has bought 400 bulls at auction in Australia before."
Along with the $7000 bull, which was gifted to the family and the top-price bull, they purchased an additional 27 bulls throughout the draft with an average of $8827.
Malcolm Davies, Greenwald Pastoral Company, said the family has been purchasing bulls from the stud since their first Angus sale in 1997 for their 2600 Angus cow breeding operation.
He said they work hard to produce an animal that everyone can buy.
"We concentrate on high IMF in our herd and eye muscle area," Mr Davies said.
"We breed high marbling claves that have the ability to go up north on AuctionsPlus or sell locally around us.
"There are more and more feedlots now and that's what they are looking for."
All five of the Dunoon Sunrise S378 sons sold to average $17,800.
Another long-term client who was present at the sale was Widgiewa Station, Morundah, who purchased 17 bulls for an average of $8647.
Wayne Durnan, Widgiewa Station, said the operation has also been a long-standing client of the stud, buying bulls from them since the early 1990s.
Mr Durnan said he was chasing some new bloodlines for his 2000 cow breeding operation just south of Narrandera, with return buyers securing the steers as backgrounders.
"I am a bit of a fan of Dunoon Prime Minister, and of course, the bulls we have at home once they get to four or five years old, they are all the heavier bulls at home," he said.
"If you buy a smaller framed bull here, it ends up growing out well and if you buy a longer bull here, he ends up thickening up."
Throughout the draft buyers were active from three states with bulls heading throughout NSW, down into Victoria and up into Queensland.
Black Mountain Pastoral Company, Wulgulmerang, Vic, purchased 13 bulls for and average of $7769, while northern purchaser Vincent Grazing, Injune, Qld purchased four bulls to a top of $19,000 to average $14,750.
Mr Harbison said it was a good day for the stud as well as for the buyers.
"We were really pleased with the line of bulls," he said.
"They've gone to some wonderful homes and our repeat clientele was massive but we got a good spread of new clients as well."
Overall of the 157 bulls offered, 134 sold to a top of $22,000 with an average of $9574.
The sale was conducted by Elders Holbrook with Lincon McKinlay, Pittsworth, Qld as guest auctioneer.
AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
