'Simmental royalty' takes the throne at the first stage of Wormbete female sale

Emotions were high as bids at the first stage of the Wormbete Simmentals traditional female sale at Allawah, Illabo, on Friday, as females sold to six states.

Overall, 68 of 77 females sold to a top of $36,000 to average $8840, with four sold after the auction.

A cow who has been an integral part of the stud, which has a rich history within the breed dating back to 1972, continued to prove herself, reaching the top price.

The 11-year-old cow Wormbete Mishka K57 was purchased by Samantha and Stuart Moeck, Valley Creek Simmentals, Binda.

Having 15 progeny recorded, four of the matron's daughters sold for an average of $14,500, while also having 20 granddaughters on offer throughout the sale.

She was also the dam of three herd sires for the stud in Wormbete Notredam N070, Wormbete President P181 and Wormbete Parliamentarian P185.

She recorded a carcase weight expected progeny difference (EPD) of +34, putting her in the top 10 per cent of the breed, while ranking in the top 25pc for rib eye area EPD of +0.95.

She was also pregnancy tested in calf to Wormbete Thor T131 and is due to calve in July.

Purchaser Stuart Moeck, Valley Creek Simmentals, said he, along with his wife Samantha, purchased the cow's sire BullockHills Gladiator in partnership with the Hopkins family and had seen Mishka K57 as a calf at six-weeks-old.

"I think she's a cow you can breed to any bull and it will work," he said.

"She has a really good balanced set of data for a traditional Simmental that really reflects the cow, mid birthweight, breed average calving ease; it can really compliments some of the newer bulls that are coming in.

"The feet and the skin type just really compliments what we want to do, good calving ease and a cow that can breed for everything.

"I said to myself 10 years ago if that cow ever came up I'd have to stand up and buy that cow."

Mr Moeck said the couple planned to flush the female to some new Canadian sires after she calved down, with one embryo package already being sold internationally.

Being in the rebuild phase, the couple has invested in embryo transfer programs, incorporating new genetics into the Australian gene pool for the breed.

"We are going really hard at the embryo transfer, and when the right cows pop up, we want to step into them in some shape or form," Mr Moeck said.

Wormbete co-stud principal John Hopkins said the matron was 'a legend'.

"She has been a massive influence in our program; she'll do a fantastic job wherever she goes," he said.

"She has just been breeding the house down all the way through and she's still as sound as a bell for her age.

"It's fantastic seeing cattle in the breed like that."

Two females were sold for the second top price of $22,000.

The first was eight-year-old Wormbete Henrietta N21, purchased by Grangeburn Simmentals, Hamilton, Vic.

The Wormbete Jackaroo J64 daughter placed in the top 1pc for stability with +20.9, as well as the top 4pc for milk with +35.7.

She also placed in the top 20pc for maternal weaning weight with +69.2.

The Victorian stud also secured an additional three females to average $11,750, including the oldest and last cow in the catalogue, twelve-and-a-half-year-old Wormbete Nell H112, for $13,000.

The second cow to reach the equal second top price of $22,000 was Wormbete Henrietta T111, purchased by Litt Simmentals, Cumnock.

The three-year-old Wormbete Notice N141 daughter, a descendant of Wormbete Jackaroo J64, placed in the top 1pc for stayability with +21.1 while also placing in the top 2pc for milk with +36.9.

She also ranked in the top 20pc for docility with a figure of +12.8 and top 10pc for maternal weaning weight with a value of +72.2.

The stud also purchased five other females to average $17,583.

Northern buyer Joe Streeter, Streeter Grazing, Taroom, Qld, who purchased 11 females for a top of $15,00 to average $10,227.

Mr Streeter said the operation of 2000 cows had a core herd of 50 pure Simmental cows and 70 Simbrah cows. They bred bulls for their own programs.

"The Wormbete cows are good even cattle," he said.

"Good red colour, just what we like.

"We have a Brahman stud as well, that's our main base, and the commercials get Angus bulls over them, and then the Simmemtals go over all the Brangus females, and we keep all the Brangus daughters."

Tim and Jess O'Connell, Berry, purchased nine females to average $5166.

Interstate buyers included Casa Toro Pty Ltd, Dulacca, Qld, who purchased five cows for a top of $13,000 to average $8300, while Meldon Park Simmentals, Cecil Plains, took home five females for an average of $6500.

Carrinyah Park, Nebo, Qld, also secured six females to average $5833, while Tasmanian purchaser Philip Partridge, Scottsdale, took home a Wormbete Jenny M14 for $5000 and Topweight Grazing, Forest Grove, WA, secured Wormbete Miska R24 for $11,000.

Wormbete co-stud principal John Hopkins said he was overwhelmed by the result.

"This has been a difficult decision to part with our beautiful girls, and one we have not made lightly," he said.

Mr Hopkins said his parents Henry and Judy Hopkins were one of the founding members of the breed society in the country.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions Wagga Wagga, with Tim Woodham and Peter Godbolt as auctioneers.

AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.