'Proven' bloodlines prove worth throughout 'consistent' Gilmandyke offering

Prices stayed strong from start to finish through a "solid" Gilmandyke on-property auction at Orange on Thursday, August 28.

All up, 96 bulls sold under the hammer, from 100 offered, to a top of $40,000 and an average $11,531.

This included 61 of 62 18-month-old bulls to $20,000, averaging $11,410; 17 of 18 two-year-old bulls to $40,000, averaging $15118; and 18 of 20 yearling bulls to $14,000, averaging $8556.

The $40,000 top price bull came early in the run of two-year-old bulls, paid for Gilmandyke Striking U231, a 1002-kilogram, August-2023 drop.

The bull, by Gilmandyke Striking S9 and out of Gilmandyke Bonny N281, was bought by Currowar Angus, Orange.

U231's figures includes +120 for 400-day weight, +165 for 600-day weight, +166 for mature cow weight and +110 for carcase weight - all in the top five per cent for the breed; the 200-day weight of +65 and claw set of +6.0 were in the top 10pc and gestation length of -7.3, milk of +23 and net feed intake of -0.14 were all top 20pc.

Currowar Angus also bought Gilmandyke Pacific U385 at $18,000, as well as three stud heifers to $4000, averaging $3667.

Henry Bateman said the top-priced bull was a "multi-generational" Gilmandyke sire, with proven bloodlines on both sides, including Gilmandyke Jackpot L0253 on the dam's side and Gilmandyke Pioneer P182 on the sire's side, both examples of longevity in the breed.

"He's soft, easy-doing, his feet are fantastic," he said.

Gilmandyke general manager Wade Peatman said the bull was a good example of the type of bull they were trying to produce.

The second-highest priced bull in the catalogue was another two-year-old, Gilmandyke So Right U240, bought at $24,000 by Strugln Enterprises, Julia Creek, Qld.

The 914kg bull was by Knowla So Right S48 and out of Gilmandyke Eutesca P147.

His figures included a mature body condition of +0.55, in the top 5pc, while the 200-day, 400-day and 600-day weights of +61, +109 and +142 were all in the top 15pc, as was the eye muscle area of +10.2, with gestation length of -7.0 and docility of +31 in the top 20pc.

Bidding on behalf of Strugln Enterprises was Catherine Campbell, who said conformation and temperament were the biggest focus, while they were also looking at the 200 and 400-day weights as well as docility.

All up, she was successful on three bulls, averaging $15,333, as well as two heifers to $9000, averaging $8000.

Strugln Enterprises has land in Central West NSW as well as Queensland, and this was the second year of buying at Gilmandyke.

Included in the offering were 19 unjoined heifers, with bidding reaching $10,000 for an average $4579 and full clearance.

The top-priced heifer was bought by The Towers Angus, Sutton, alongside another at $4000.

Gilmandyke Wilcoola V396, by Waitara GK Safekeeping S56 and Gilmandyke Wilcoola T45, had figures of +73 for 200-day, +120 for 400-day and +152 for 600-day weight and a net feed intake of -0.74 - all in the top 5pc - as well as carcase weight of +90, in the top 10pc.

United States sire Sterling Pacific 904 had 42 sons across the sale, including 35, 18-month-old bulls. These Pacific sons sold for an average $12,142.

The sale's volume bidder was Corio Ag, Paddys River, which last year paid the $100,000 stud record top price at Gilmandyke.

All up, Corio Ag bought 10 bulls to $20,000, averaging $14,100.

Also buying in volume were Jason and Amanda Anderson, Swatchfield, Black Springs, with seven bulls to $14,000, averaging $10,857.

AA Knox Pastoral, Holbrook, took home six to $16,000, averaging $13,333.

To kick the sale off, a run of commercial females was auctioned, with 63, two-year-old cows, with calves at-foot, selling to $3900, averaging $3595. The top price was paid for 12 cows with 12 calves, sired by Gilmandyke Striking S9 and Gilmandyke Shotgun S36, bought by Coleman Pastoral, Orange.

A run of 73 pregnancy-tested in-calf heifers, with the offspring sired by Landfall Trademark T1832, sold to $2500, averaging $2308.

Mr Peatman said the Gilmandyke team was pleased with the overall result.

"It was a really strong sale from our perspective and hopefully everyone got something they wanted," he said.

"There were good bulls right throughout the catalogue and people showed their knowledge in picking them out.

"I think the consistency of the draft was a big thing - from lot 1 through to 117, it was a bull for everyone there."

The sale was conducted by Bowyer & Livermore, with Nick Fogarty the auctioneer, and the online interface provided by both AuctionsPlus and StockLive.