'Might be a very good year to be buying bulls': agents upbeat for stud sale run

As studs and producers prepare for the run of spring studstock sales in NSW, agents say the outlook is positive based on the confidence in the cattle market and the state of the US market.

Barana Simmentals and Angus was held on Friday at Coolah. Polldale Shorthorns, Dubbo, and Booragul Angus, Piallaway, will auction this week before the run of consecutive on-property sales kicks off in the north.

Auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth, said there were a lot of very good bulls set to be offered in the coming weeks.

There was confidence about the cattle job and the market was solid with even better prospects, he said.

Some areas of the south that had experienced a poor season were beginning to get a break and he noted the US market was tracking very well.

"Generally, our market trends follow theirs," he said.

"If the cattle market goes the way the experts are predicting - and that I agree with - bulls are going to be better value this year than they will be next year.

"We've seen in the past when the market has got really strong, the bull market has followed it, and I just think with the benefit of hindsight in a couple of year's time, this might be a very good year to be buying bulls."

Mr Dooley said most buyers at northern NSW sales were experiencing good seasons, and while averages were affected by the circumstances of individual sales, he expected the early run of studs to record slightly better results than last year.

Producers would be looking for heifer bulls along with other "money-making" traits.

"A live calf on the ground, good growth for age, and they're going to chase marbling," he said.

"While no one is probably getting paid much for high marbling in their cattle, in the future you might, so people are trying to keep a reasonable marbling content in their herds."

John Settree, Nutrien Stud Stock, said there was good demand for easy-keeping, quality bulls with data.

He noted many areas of western, central, and northern NSW had experienced a couple years of average, or better, seasons.

While it was dry in the south, he was hopeful that could improve.

"If they're banking up some moisture, there might be some later sown crops in that area too that will be a bank of feed for them in a quick turnaround," he said.

Heifer bulls were in demand every year, he said, and he expected they would be particularly sought after if the season did permit a herd rebuild in the south.

Other sought-after traits would depend on individual operations, and budgets.

"If there's a high-data bull, that can usually add several thousand dollars on," he said.

Overall, he thought clearances would be similar to last year, although some averages may be back slightly without a full gallery of southern buyers.

"The studmasters have done their homework, they've worked out what they can sell and what their quality is in terms of the lineup in the catalogue," he said.

He noted Queensland producers were also having a good season and would be seeking quality bulls at affordable prices.

"Get in and buy your bulls early," he said.

"Make sure people vet check their bulls now. If they've got six or eight bulls sitting in the paddock, check them now.

"Get them semen tested - don't wait until the last week in September when the bull sales are over and you want to find two or three bulls."