JAD Speckle Park gross over $715,000 with bulls sold to five states
Buyers from five states sought easy-doing bulls with excellent carcase and growth at Justin and Amy Dickens' JAD Speckle Park on-property sale near Yeoval on Friday.
In the breakdown, 46 of 47 bulls sold to a top of $18,000, twice, to average $9630. One lot was passed in but sold immediately after the sale.
The 25 pregnancy-tested-in-calf stud heifers sold to an $11,000 top to average $6780; three pens of PTIC commercial heifers sold to $2750 to average $2654; and 16 lots of semen packages sold to $500 to average $289 per straw.
Tasmanian buyers Shannon and Samantha Abraham, Halfway Farm, Waterhouse, secured the first sale-topper, JAD Upper Deck U375 ,for $18,000.
The 18-month-old bull by Maungahina Nikko and out of JAD 61Y Fancy Free N66, ranked in the top five per cent of the breed with +29 200-day weight, +58 600-day weight, +67 mature cow weight and +10 milk.
He weighed 699 kilograms and scanned nine millimetres rump fat, 7mm rib, 108 square centimetre eye muscle area and 5.4 per cent intramuscular fat, with an average daily gain of 1.18kg.
The first-time buyers run an Angus operation with 500 head of breeders and plan to pivot into the Speckle Park breed.
"Angus just weren't doing what we wanted and Speckle Park seemed to tick all the boxes in terms of moderate frame, early maturity, structure and efficiency," Mr Abraham said.
Mr Abraham said he sought bulls with moderate frame, thickness and the ability to finish early.
They also purchased three other bulls to average $13,000.
The second sale topper, JAD Urban Cowboy U137, was knocked down to return buyer Catherine Cox, Burranah Pty Ltd, Mudgee, for $18,000.
By JAD Quistacat Q48 and out of JAD 300x Niome S113, the 20-month-old bull ranked in the top 5pc of the breed for -0.8 birthweight and +1.4 scrotal circumference.
He weighed 628kg scanned 109sq cm EMA, 7.2pc IMF, and 11mm and 8mm over the rump and rib.
Todd and Melissa Wathen, Golden Pastoral Holdings, Nullin, Yuleba, Qld, purchased four bulls to $16,000 to average $12,750.
The first-time buyer runs a crossbred Angus operation across properties near Charleville, Dulacca and Yuleba.
Traditionally targeting the weaner market, Mr Wathen said the business pivoted to feeders before progressing to kill cattle.
He was intrigued by the doability and drought tolerance of the Speckle Park breed showcased in the Dicken's recent ABC Landline story.
"I listened to them speak about yield, carcase and eating quality and it made me start thinking about trying it in our operation," he said.
"I watched it on the weekend, made some phone calls, and by Tuesday decided I'd come to the sale."
When selecting his draft of bulls, Mr Wathen considered carcase, growth, scrotal circumference, EMA, IMF, feet, and larger frame.
"I wanted bigger bulls as they'll go over moderate-sized cows and I don't want their progeny to be any smaller than they already are," he said.
Panorama Farms Speckle Park, Narrabri, secured the top-priced stud heifer, JAD Q48 Amy U347 for $11,000.
Pregnant-in-calf to JAD Unstoppable U126, the 20-month-old female by JAD Quistacat Q48 and out of Waratah E25 Amy K52 ranked in the top 10pc for +26 200-day weight, +41 400-day weight, +50 600-day weight and +1 retail beef yield.
Volume buyers included Mathew and Kylie Buchanan of MAK Agriculture Pty Ltd, Gulgong, who bought five stud heifers to average $8200, as well as two PTIC recipient females for $5000 each and four semen straws for $275 each.
Tathra Pastoral Partnership, Branxholme, Vic, purchased five bulls to $14,000 to average $9000, as well as six PTIC commercial heifers for $2700 per head.
Graham and Susan Coddington, Gilgai, Geurie, secured three bulls to $13,000 to average $9666, and three stud heifers to average $5666 as well as 10 PTIC commercial heifers for $2550/head.
Justin Dickens, JAD, said he was extremely pleased with the sale's result.
"To say we're humbled would be an understatement," he said.
"There is so much merit in these cattle and commercial opportunity. We've got to build together as a breed to continue to push forward."
Bowyer and Livermore conducted the sale with Brian Leslie, Dairy Livestock Services, the guest auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
