Top price bull at Belmont Red sale bound for stud duties, heifers sell strongly
The opportunity to secure a bull described as "powerful in the flesh and in the data" was too good to let go for one of the two vendors at the Belmont Reds Bull and Female Sale at CQLX Gracemere, on Monday, September 1.
The sale featuring offerings from Paul and Julie Watson, Greenhills Belmont Red, Toogoolawah, and Robert and Jane Sherry, Wahroonga Belmont Reds, Clarke Creek, saw 27 bulls sell of the 33 offered for a clearance rate of 81 per cent, a gross of $176,000 and an average of $6518.
It was the Watsons who paid the top price of $14,000 for Wahroonga 240117.
Mrs Watson said she and her husband bought the top-priced bull because he had really good EBV and Breedplan figures that would complement their herd.
"And hopefully improve some of our genetics so we can produce better bulls," she said.
The 23-month-old poll bull, Wahroonga 240117, was sired by Wahroonga 210125 and was out of Wahroonga 150084.
He weighed 680 kilograms, had an eye muscle area of 120 square centimetres, a rib fat and P8 of 7 and 10 millimetres respectively, and a scrotal circumference of 41 cm.
The bull was described as having excellent fertility, powerful in the flesh and powerful data to back him up, and was in the top 5pc of the breed for the self-replacing Index.
Mrs Watson said he had good length, depth and bone, and his temperament was really good.
Mr Watson said the Wahroonga bull would put new blood into their herd.
The Watsons sold all six bulls they offered for a gross of $40,000, a top of $9000 for Greenhills 240004, and an average of $6666.
The Sherrys sold 21 bulls of 27 offered for a 78pc clearance, a gross of $136,000, and an average of $6476.
They also sold all nine of their heifers for a gross of $21,000, a top price of $3250 and an average of $2333.
The combined sale gross totalled $197,000 for an 85pc clearance.
Last year's sale saw a complete clearance of all 34 bulls, to a sale high of $20,000 and average of $9558.
At this year's sale, first time buyers, Paul and Jenny Buchanan of Goomboorian, bought five bulls and six heifers for an average of $3590, including the top priced heifer, Wahroonga 240344, for $3250.
The homozygous polled 22-month-old heifer was sired by Mt Eugene 190074 and was out of Wahroonga 190112.
The Buchanans have a breeding operation, running 300 head on 600 acres, selling weaners straight off their mothers to feedlots.
Mr Buchanan said they currently had Droughtmasters and wanted cattle that gave them better marbling in the meat.
"We want to sell meat instead of selling cows," he said.
He said he chose the Belmonts for their quietness, better marbling, and their tick and fly resistance.
"We will put the bulls over our cows and have something more marketable for meat straight to the people," he said.
"You don't have to finish these (cattle), you can sell them for meat straight out of the paddock and finishing costs money, and so it relates better to dollars and cents."
Mr Sherry expected more bulls would sell before the day was finished, adding that it was good to see repeat buyers.
"Everyone loves repeat buyers, so we're really happy and really thankful that they came and supported us and it's always good to see some new faces," he said.
Mr Sherry said he chose Belmont Reds for their fertility.
"That's the main reason everyone seems to get into Belmont Reds, their fertility...they're just really efficient animals, they're a very underrated breed...but really efficient and good doers," he said.
"They might not be the flashiest cattle in the world, but they tick all the boxes, they make money and add to your bottom line."
- Agents: GDL with StockLive
