The 'first of many' network heifer sale kicks off for renowned Walcha stud
The Inaugural Ben Nevis Angus Network Heifer sale on March 27 produced a pleasing result for the vendors and intends to create an ongoing marketing opportunity for buyers.
Ben Nevis principals Erica and Stuart Halliday, Walcha, impressed successful buyers by stating that there would always be a market for heifers born from the females bought at the sale.
Two pens sold for $2300, the top price, with 307 averaging $1971. Seventy-four heifers joined to natural sires were passed in at auction, most due to calve in September.
All the heifers were pregnancy-tested in calf. Calving was due to begin on or about July 6, with the last lots calving on or around September 29.
Ray White, Gloucester, bid online for the equal top-priced pen, 13 PTIC heifers, artificially bred to their successful Ben Nevis sires Ben Nevis Rambo, Ben Nevis SmikinJoe and NBN24U265. All three bulls were selected for low birthweight (BW) figures and high intramuscular fat (IMF) traits. The heifers shared an average weight of 491 kilograms.
HM Hine and DT Menzies bought a second pen with 12, averaging 472kg, through Adcock Partners, Walcha.
Tayla Craig, Objective Livestock Management, Goondiwindi, Queensland, was a volume buyer of four pens early in the sale, totalling 50 heifers averaging $2100. Ms Craig bid online through AuctionsPlus.
Peter Brown, Bovine Breeders, Armidale, was another volume buyer with three pens totalling 38 for a top of $1900 for two pens, averaging $1847.
Walcha buyers were prominent in the sale.
Bidding online was David Law, Willaroon, with a pen of 15 for $1900 and another of 10 for $1700.
DK Hoad and Son, Edina, Walcha, bought 13 for $2200 and seven for $2000, while Angus and Pip Monie, Merlan, Walcha, bought 12 for $2000 and 10 for $1700.
E and S Fogarty, Tressa Vale, Walcha, bought 13 at $2100 and 14 at $2100, while PMH Investments, through Nutriens Boutons bought 24 averaging $1700.
Ruby Hills Partnership, Walcha, bought 12 at $1700, 10 at $1900, and another 12 at $1900.
James Sweetman, Sweetdale, Mulbring, in the Lower Hunter, with Emily and Julie Sweetman, was visiting Ben Nevis for the first time and bought a pen of 10 for $1800.
The selling agents were Nutrien Boulton's, Walcha, and Paul Dooley, the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
