Merridale Angus has near total clearance in an 'outstanding result'

A near-total clearance at a leading northern Victorian Angus stud was an outstanding result, according to one of the principals.

Merridale, Tennyson, sold 37 of 38 bulls and nine of 11 heifers at its annual on-property sale.

Two bulls sold to a top of $26,000, for an average of $13,086, while the top heifer went for $18,000, averaging $7778.

Merridale Angus co-principal Brodie Collins said he was "over the moon" with the support from buyers.

"With cattle prices being okay, buyers showed a bit of confidence in our program," he said.

"I am ecstatic."

The first of the two top-priced bulls, which sold for $26,000 each, was lot four.

The March 2023-drop Merridale Usha U132 was by Blam186 Knowla Monty M186 out of CMDQ103 Merridale Dream Q102.

He was bought by Ellingerren Pastoral, Inverleigh, who also bought the top-priced heifer.

Usha had TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation figures of a 5.6 kilogram birthweight (BW), a 64kg 200-day weight, 109kg 400-day weight and 151kg 600-day weight.

His eye muscle area (EMA) was 12 square centimetres, while he had a -0.4 millimetre rib and -1.4mm rump measurement.

The bull's intramuscular fat measured 3.3 per cent, and his retail beef yield (RBY) was 1.2pc.

On sale day, he weighed 882kg.

The second bull which sold for $26,000 was Merridale Urbane U7.

A March 2023-drop bull, Urbane was by USA 19418329 Myers Fair-N-Square M39 out of CMDM68 Merridale Ester M68.

He was sold through Costello Rural, Corryong, to the Paton family, Thowgla Valley.

Urbane had TACE estimated breeding values (EBVs) of 6.2kg BW, 81kg 200-day weight, 151kg 400-day weight and 206kg 600-day weight.

He weighed 900kg on sale day.

His EMA was 8.3 sq cm, rib measurement was -3mm, and rump was -2.6mm.

Urbane had an RBY of 0.6pc and an IMF of 0.1pc.

Mr Collins said Ellingerin picked him up because they were "sick of seeing IMF bulls with no shape in them - and that bull has plenty of shape, and he has got a bit IMF.

"He is pretty well the whole package; he has plenty of growth and carcase data."

Urbane had "great data", unseen in the industry and the stud had retained semen.

"l love tinkering with the genetics and the data side of things, so we will continue to do that," he said.

"We are trying to record as much performance as possible, so our data accuracy is banging on the money.

"We are backing genetics and performance data in."

Many of the bulls were by high feed-efficient sires, "you have to have cattle on the ground and in the paddock that 'do' well and 'do' well on their own," he said.

Charlie Paton bought Urbane with his family and said they were specifically looking for a high-birthweight animal.

"The figures were very good, we buy the Raff (King Island) or Merridale bulls at the moment - they are usually all high birthweight, which doesn't concern us," Mr Paton said.

"All his figures were exceptional.

"We've always been a bit opposite to most other people, trying to breed low birthweight bulls - you can breed enough little ones as it is without trying to do it."

He said he hoped to maintain weight in the herd.

"He will be a huge animal, based on his capacity - he will be what we want."

The Patons will calve 340-350 cows this year, mainly selling over the hooks.

"We take those cattle out to 400kg bullocks, which is the other reason for having those big-figured bulls."

The top-priced heifer was lot 45, Merridale Vicky U111, by Blam186 Knowla Monty M186, out of CMDK74 Merridale Vicky K74.

The March, 2023-drop heifer had TACE figures of 3.2kg BW, a 51kg 200-day weight, 90kg 400-day weight and 117kg 600-day weight.

Her EMA measured 2.7 sq cm, rib was -0.7, rump -1.6mm, RBY 0.3 and IMF 2.1pc.

Nutrien South East stud stock manager Peter Godbolt, Albury NSW, said Merridale offered a perfect lineup of bulls and females.

"Under the hammer we nearly sold them all, we sold a couple of bulls and females after the auction, so it would nearly be a full clearance," Mr Godbolt said.

"It was a great result; many return clients, a heap of bulls went back up to Corryong, and new clients purchased one of the top-priced bulls and heifers."

He said Usha "oozed carcase and quality, with a depth of body and structure," while Urbane had performance.

"His 600-day weight is nearly unheard of, in the breed, it puts him right up in the top echelon," he said.

"He would nearly be the top bull in the breed for this age group - he just had a heap of power and performance, and he is just going to put the weight in the calves, and that's just what the fellas in Corryong want - they get paid on weight."

He said the top end of the bulls at all studs had been selling very well.

"There is a little bit of fear that if it does break in the next year, bulls could be up 25-30pc in price, so if they can buy good bulls this year, they are a bit cheaper, or if they can get an extra one, at a good price, they are willing to do it."

Most pulls were snapped by Corryong agents, Costello Rural, who picked up nine animals for clients.

Others went to producers at Pyalong, the Goulburn Valley, Wangaratta, Euroa, Bendigo, Ballarat, Echuca and Gippsland.

Volume buyers included HC Auchinlek (three) and Ross Jarvis (four).