Wakefield Charolais attract old clients and new for 20th annual sale
The 20th annual Wakefield on-property bull sale brought dedicated repeat clients back to the selling barn at Armidale on August 15.
Of the 46 Charolais bulls offered, 42 sold to average $7714 and top at $16,000 for the artificially-inseminated calf Wakefield Untouchable, by Ascot Recharge R125E from Wakefield Ace.
Weighing 664 kilograms at 24 months old, he presented with top two per cent estimated breeding figures for gestation length at -7.7 with positive growth including solid carcase weight at +35.
Successful bidder and volume buyer Michael Lawlor, Kilkenny Charolais stud at Taroom, Qld, has purchased more than 20 Wakefield bulls over the years because of their longevity on thin country.
He purchased six sires on the day to average $9833, plus a Wakefield heifer for $3000.
"I like the Frizell's bulls because they don't feed them up on grain," he said. "Our stud runs on forested country and these bulls can handle that. They have a constitution. We find that it is difficult for grain-assisted bulls to adapt well to our property."
Mr Lawlor also paid $13,000 for a full brother of the repeat Royal champion cow Wakefield Amaze 38, who last won in Sydney as an eight-year-old in 2022. He is the last naturally born calf from the prodigious dam Wakefield Amaze 10, by Advance Domino D36, weighing 762kg at 23 months.
Veterinarian Dr John Campbell, who farms with his wife Sophie and children Daryl and Sharon at Eltham via Lismore, bought three Charolais bulls to average $10,000 and top at $13,000 for the homozygous poll Wakefield U Rock by Wakefield Rockabilly.
Weighing 630kg at 21 months, U Rock presented with EBVs that included +5.8 for calving ease direct and +35 for carcase weight.
Dr Campbell will put his new sires to first cross Brahman/Hereford and Charbray cows, within a herd of 600 breeders. Progeny are marketed as weaners through the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange at Casino.
"I have bought more than 25 Wakefield bulls over the years, and their longevity is what brings me back to this sale," he said.
Kyogle weaner producer Sam Dietrich and Emma Davis paid $12,000 for Wakefield Uppity by Wakefield Noble from a Wakefield Amaze with +6.8 calving ease direct and +31 carcase weight. Weighing 650kg at 22 months, the new sire will join with first-cross and Charbray cows at Mr Dietrich's Cedar Point property, with some Droughtmaster and Brangus cows being serviced as well.
"He will punch some weight into my weaners," Mr Dietrich said.
Wakefield stud offered 14 Angus U bulls with 10 sold to average $6400, topping twice at $10,000 including a bid by volume buyers Werrimbi Pastoral, Hernani, with Wakefield Avenger U348 by Musgrave Avenger.
Of the Charolais heifers, six of nine averaged $2416, topping at $3000 four times.
The sale was hosted by Donovan Livestock and Property, South Grafton and Coramba, with Ian Weir and Son, Lismore. StockLive handled the online bidding.
