Tas stud secures 'stand out sire prospect' at Belmore Shorthorn sale
An even line-up of easy-doing bulls with carcase merit sold from Qld to Tas at Belmore Shorthorn stud's 12th annual bull sale.
There were plenty of favourable comments about the bulls but with only 13 registered bidders it was always going to be an uphill battle to achieve a healthy clearance.
Of the 31 bulls offered, 19 sold for a $7052 average at the stud's Wild Dog Valley property near Naracoorte.
This was one more than 2024, where 18 of 33 bulls averaged $9055.
Lot 5, Belmore Tiger Moth U60, which was described by stud principal Andy Withers as a "stand out sire prospect" made the sale's $12,000 top price.
Tas breeders Reg and Rebecca Woodiwiss, Royston stud, Sunnyside, put in the winning bid through Elders Naracoorte's Tom Dennis for the 21-month-old roan bull.
"They loved his skin, he was very correct, beautifully covered, great feet and legs, his scrotal was adequate and he was nice and tidy underneath," Mr Dennis said.
Tiger Moth U60 weighed 860kg and had an eye muscle area of 128 square centimetres with 10mm rib and 10mm rump fat.
Mr Withers said when he first saw Yamburgan Tiger Moth Q172 - the sire of the sale topper - he knew he was a "total frontline stud bull", paying the $30,000 top price for him at Yamburgan's 2021 sale.
Long-time client Brenton Lush, Corriedale Hills, Inman Valley, bought another Tiger Moth son in lot 19 paying the $11,000 second highest price, while highly respected breeders, the Morgan family, The Grove stud, Condamine, Qld, outlaid $10,000 for lot 6 Belmore Blotched U40.
With many bulls knocked down with one bid there was some great value buying.
Nutrien Port Augusta's Cameron Paul bought eight bulls for the Greenfield family, Billa Kalina Pastoral Co, at $6000 each, while long-time buyer GM Butler & Sons, Lochaber, snapped up five bulls for a $6200 average.
Another highlight of the sale was the donation of the Dectomax pour on drench, which they had received as the volume buyer, back to be auctioned for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
It made well above the retail price selling for more than $500 with Nutrien Naracoorte the buyer.
Mr Withers was rapt with the maturity pattern, carcase and fat cover in their offering and also to see the return of a couple of long-time clients.
"We always knew we would be short a buyer or two and other sales haven't had perfect clearances either," he said.
Elders SA stud stock manager and auctioneer Tony Wetherall had high praise for the bulls. He said after being impressed in 2024 the depth of quality was even better.
"They were in ideal sale condition and showed those commercial attributes, they are moderate frames with good shape and are very soft, reds or roans you could have bought any of those today," he said.
Mr Wetherall said some buyers held off buying or bought less than in previous years due to the poor season but it was still a "good result".
"Belmore will have their turn next year because the bulls will be probably even better and they have 55 years of breeding so why wouldn't you come here," he said.
