Show steer enthusiasts swoop on Spence's inaugural sale
Spence's Show Steers' inaugural online sale on Monday was a big success with interest from as far afield as Qld and northern NSW.
Jono Spence and his children Thomas and Zanna, from Keith, have been a dominant force at the Royal Adelaide Show's led steer competition in the past eight years, winning at least 20 broad ribbons.
This year they were keen to offer up their successful bloodlines to others and hope to make it an annual sale.
They sold 17 Limousin and crossbred steers from 20 offered for a $2000 average.
The steers had all been broken to tie and started on a feed ration.
The sale's $3300 top price was lot 17A- a Limousin sired steer that was out of an Angus-Shorthorn-Simmental cow.
Buyer Jason Foote, Brentvale Limousins, Senior, was keen to secure a crossbred steer to add to his show team, buying it in partnership with Keajura Park Limousins, Tarcutta, NSW.
Mr Foote saw the potential in the October 2024 drop which was 276kg.
"With many of the steers sired by one of the bulls I own (Mandayen Jackaroo Q209) I thought was a good enough reason to support the sale," he said.
"He has plenty of muscle with a big top - he was a bit harder muscle than some of the others but we have a fair way to go 140 days on feed so we will see what he turns into."
The sale's other two Pick of the Pairs - lot1 and lot 3A - both purebred black Limousins made the $2600 second highest price.
Lot 1, a September 2024 drop son of JYF Gentry was snapped up by Ray White Dorrigo, NSW, while lot 3A was one of a couple of steers bought by HB Rural, Warnertown.
These will be put through their feedlot before being shown by the Tiller family at the Royal Adelaide Show.
The steer -sired by Mandayen Xtra Loyal S12- was also one of the youngest in the catalogue at five months of age and weighed 246kg.
The other steers offered in these three pairs will be retained by Spences's Show Steers for their show team.
Mr Spence said they were grateful for all the support and a big attendance at their on-farm inspection afternoon held on the eve of the Keith Show which attracted a record 86 cattle, including 30 steers.
From the four steers they entered at Keith Show, they took out both champion and reserve champion steer prospect.
"You never know what to expect from a first sale but the top end, average, and clearance were all better than I could have hoped," he said.
"The most pleasing part for me was that it provided an opportunity for young people like Haydn Boxall from Tintinara and the Nickolls boys (Nickolls Brothers Show Steers) from Pinnaroo who are great friends of the family to buy good steers."
Mr Spence anticipates 11 of the steers are destined for the Adelaide Show and is looking forward to following their progress.
