Cows sell to four states as Futurity moves to spring calving program
A good match of phenotype, genotype and dataset what drove the buying decision behind the top price at the Futurity Pastoral Ladies of Autumn female sale on the property at Baradine Friday (March 7).
Futurity NB Mary Ann R202, which sold for $8000, was purchased by repeat buyers Lonnie and Nicole Stone of Southern Cross Shorthorns, Purlewaugh.
The four-and-a-half-year-old is the daughter of Futurity Nobel Boy N269 and out of Futurity MD Mary Ann P188 was offered joined to Eloora Melbourne T103.
She placed in the top three per cent of the breed for an estimated breeding value (EBVs) of 19.1 for stayability and top 10 per cent for milk and API.
Lonnie and Nicole Stone run a stud and commercial operation on 1000 acres near Purlewaugh with 100 Shorthorn breeders.
"They are a well-balanced British breed, great fertility traits, great doability, great milk, plenty of growth and well suited to our environment and in the north," Mr Stone said.
Mr Stone started with Shorthorns over two decades ago, and also travels scanning cattle for muscle and fat.
The Stones also purchased four other cows including the mother of the top price cow for $5000, this was a happy coincidence which they did not realise until after the sale.
They averaged $5800 across the group, not only buying to top price cow, but also the largest volume buyer.
The Stones don't focus on one particular estimated breeding values (EBV) trait
"Chase any EBV too hard you end up going down a rabbit hole" Mr Stone said.
The two semen packages from Bayview Daytona Q34 will be the last offered by the vendors, as he has since passed away, was snapped up by Ronelle Park Shorthorns of Garland NSW for $360 per straw.
Despite the challenging seasonal conditions, bidding was spread across Australia with 38pc of females sold through the AuctionPlus platform heading to South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.
"The cows we sold today represented really good buying for people who purchased them, a good opportunity for new and existing breeders to top up their numbers," stud principal Jason Catts said.
"Due to the climate and a cyclone off the east coast not the best day for a sale"
Mr Catts said the top price cow: "was a standout in the draft, in pedigree and type she put it all together, I'm glad she has gone to Southern Cross Shorthorns who are doing a really good job with their program".
The clearance was 25 out of the 51 head on offer.
The sale was conducted by Elders Gunnedah with Lincoln McKinlay taking bids as the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus had the interface.
