Good buying value and 100pc clearance as Merriwa Angus stud disperses
The entire Dales Angus stud herd dispersal of 150 three-in-one units and 120 pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) females was sold to a 100 per cent clearance and averages encouraged by 'good value' for buyers.
The top-priced cow/calf unit sold for $8200, and 66 lots averaged $3387, while 52 PTIC heifers sold to $7300, averaging $2550.
Wayne Dunn, The Falls, Glen Elgin, and his son Brad bought the top-selling three-in-one unit, Dales N153, a July 13, 2017, drop female sired by NFSK81 Farrer K81, out of a Wattletop Sitz 458N female.
The cow had a 404 kilogram 11-month-old bull calf at foot, sired by Merit Investment 1054J SC.
N153 had impressive estimated breeding values (EBVs), including an eye muscle area EBV of +7.2. She had a birthweight (BW) EBV of +1.9, a 200-day growth EBV of +43, a 400-day EBV of +81, a 600-day EBV of +99 and a milk EBC of +11.
Mr Dunn said he and his son run about 500 Angus cows and plan to use N153 and four other cow/calf units as potential dams for breeding bulls for their sire battery.
"Don't forget they're all PTIC to good AI (artificial insemination) sires and we should get some good calves," Mr Dunn said.
"She's got a great bull calf at foot and we can start to breed a few of our own bulls," he said of his sale-topper.
Overall, the Dunns bought five cow/calf PTIC units, averaging $5180.
They paid $5100 for Dales R9, an April 2020 daughter of imported AI sire, 18636106 GAR Phoenix, out for a Northern View SMW Gustov 32 daughter.
She had a BW EBV of +3.4, 200-day growth EBV of +54, 400-day +92 and 600-day +109, +12 for milk and +80 for carcase weight EBV.
Another of the selections made by the Dunns was the $4800, Dales P33, 29-07-2027, sired by Knowla Kiwi K41 out of a BCOG110 Ithica G110 female.
P33 was another female possessing good EBVs: +3.8 EMA, +3.3 BW, +46 200-day, +46, 400-day, +84 and 600-day, +107 and +14 for milk EBVs.
The top-priced PTIC female was Dales U5, a June 2023 drop female sired by LFTN76 Dales N76 out of a Carabar Wheel Wright H215 female. She was bought for $7300 by the Sloman family, Glen Innes, who were bidding online.
She had a BW EBV of +4.5, a 200-day growth EBV of +51, 400 day of +88 and 600-day +122. A milk EBV of +12 and an EMA EBV of +7.3.
A volume buyer at the sale was the burgeoning Timor Creek Angus stud, Timor, with 57 lots averaging $3135.
Timor Creek Angus stud manager, Corey McKinnnon, said the property ran 2000 breeders and was developing its stud breeding herd.
He said the new purchases allowed Timor Creek to access quality genetics and buy at a good value.
"Timor Creek's stud program is being developed and still in its growth phase," Mr McKinnon said.
Boosting Timor Creek's order book were 49 PTIC cows with calves at foot, priced from a top of $3300 down to $2900.
Neill Gorrell, Tamworth, bought seven cows with five calves, averaging $3271, while Ben and Annabelle Monie, Northtor Angus, Little Plain west of Inverell, bought four units to a top of $4000, averaging $3825.
In the middle of relocating from Armidale to a newly bought block at Orange, Jeff and Kerry Etheridge bought eight cows with seven calves, averaging $3587.
D Brazier, Dubbo, bought 27 PTIC heifers, averaging $2250.
The selling agents were Davidson Cameron and Company, with Tom Tanner and Hunter Harley the auctioneers.
