Turn around in season encourages Lyndhurst buyer to spend up at Weebollabolla
Weebollabolla Shorthorns at Moree sold meaty bulls with softness to stud producers and commercial clients alike to return a solid average price during their 58th annual event on Friday (September 12).
There was a 100 per cent clearance on the 48 sires that went through the auction ring to record an average of $15,166 and a top of $34,000.
The bidding was consistent from start to finish, with the first five lots averaging $23,000.
But the best price went to the homozygous roan bull, lot 7, Weebollabolla Umbilical U188, by The Grove Napco R0952 from a Weebollabolla Wedding, 874 kilograms at 25 months with a 134 square centimetre eye muscle area, 41cm scrotal circumference, 7.3 per cent intra-muscular fat, and a semen morphology result of 94pc.
With estimated breeding values showing top 30pc of the breed for calving ease and growth, Umbilical was graded a 7+ (exceptional) for phenotype and structure by IBMS Breeding Services.
Successful bidder Janelle Johnstone, Ronelle Park Shorthorns, Lyndhurst, said her new sire "ticked all the boxes".
"I like his phenotype, his weight for age and his fats were good," she said.
"He has a moderate frame, I like the fact that he is homozygous poll... he will work well in my program."
While the season at Lyndhurst has turned around in the past six weeks, it has been "horrendous" before that, with cattle on agistment in Queensland.
Meanwhile, at Moree, the season hasn't looked this flush since the mid-1970s when four-wheel-drive vehicles bogged in the clover - a story relayed by one of the bidders at the sale.
Repeat commercial producers, Chloe and Ryan Hodgkinson, Cairo Cattle Co at Clermont, Qld, paid $30,000 for Weebollabolla United U46, homozygous poll, by Weebollabolla Sandy S19 and from Weebollabolla Allpass - the sire having been named after the late stud principal, Sandy Munro.
Presenting at 864kg with 130cm EMA, 7.4pc IMF and 84pc motility, he came with EBVs in the top 10pc for carcase weight and top 15pc for calving ease, growth and MSA index.
Cairo Cattle Co will put this bull over Droughtmaster cows to soften progeny destined for the feedlots.
The Morgan family, from the century-old Shorthorn stud The Grove at Meandara, Qld, once again supported the extended Munro family with the purchase of Weebollabolla Uluru U70 for $26,000. Weighing 922kg with 41cm scrotal, 135cm EMA, 7.1 IMF and 90pc morphology.
Repeat buyers, the Campbell family at Mitchell, Qld, also went home with five bulls to average $12,000 and top at $16,000 for Weebollabolla Undaunted U149 by The Grove Napco R0952.
These new sires will be put to Santa Gertrudis cows to soften calves, which will end up in the feedlot.
Tasmanian commercial producers and repeat clients Frank and Donna Wagner, Winnaleah, bought five bulls to average $14,000 to top at $17,000 for the homozygous roan Weebollabolla Unequivocal U140. He was by Weebollabolla Packer P9 from a daughter of The Grove K0182.
Weighing 876kg with a 40cm scrotal, 130cm EMA, 6.7 IMF and 95pc morphology, Unequivocal came with top 10pc EBVs for carcase weight, 400-day growth and calving ease making him most suitable for the Tasmanian grass-finished operation that supplies Greenham with premium product.
The sale was conducted by Elders and BJA Stock and Station Agents, with auctioneer Lincoln McKinlay, Linc'D Pty Ltd, Esk, Qld, taking the bids.
