Coffin Creek average soars as repeat buyers compete on consistent line

There was strong bidding competition across a big crowd of buyers at Coffin Creek Angus, Mudgee, helping push the sale to one of the five highest bull sale averages in the state this season.

At the sale, on Friday, September 12, the full offering of 56 bulls sold to a high of $32,000 - paid for three bulls - and an average $16,321, which was up $1600 on 2024.

The first of the $32,000 bulls, also the first yearling in the catalogue, was Coffin Creek Veto V306, a Millah Murrah Trigger T308 son, out of Coffin Creek Prue S192.

The bull was bought by long-time clients Tom and Susan Combes, Lue Station, Lue, among their three successful bull purchases.

Veto V306 ranked in the top 10 per cent for 400-day and 600-day weights at +111 and +148, respectively, carcase weight at +87, eye muscle area of +4 and feed efficiency at -0.56, as well as milk at +29 and gestational length at -7.7.

He also ranked in the top 20pc for 200-day weight, mature cow weight, retail beef yield and claw set.

Mr Combes said he had been after a Trigger son, and admired the figures on this one.

"He's the best bull in the sale and the price reflected that," he said.

Mr Combes said he was selecting for "balanced" bulls with their operation aimed at producing stock for the feedlot market.

"I need all my steers off by 16 months, and I don't have any trouble and Coffin Creek can take all the credit for that," he said.

He has been buying for Coffin Creek for about 15 years and said there were several other bulls he would have liked to buy but the auction competition was too strong.

All up, the three Lue Station bulls averaged $21,333.

Mr Combes was also the underbidder on another of the $32,000 bulls, a full brother to his top price bull, Coffin Creek Veto 365.

This bull was one of eight bulls - two at $32,000 - selected by the top price buyer at the past three Coffin Creek sales, Fernside Partnership, Rylestone.

Veto V365 ranked in the top 10pc for milk at +30 and feed efficiency at -0.35, while his 400-day and 600-day weights were +103 and +132 and retail beef yield was +1.0.

The third bull at $32,000, also to Fernside Partnership, was Coffin Creek Vertex V274, by Millah Murrah Quartz Q29 and Coffin Creek Abigail M160.

This bull's figures included a carcase weight of +83, retail beef yield of +0.8 and 400-day and 600-day weights of +93 and +125, with the bull marked as suitable for heifers.

Fernside Pastoral Company's Steve Reibel said he was selecting bulls on those 400 and 600-day weights, suitable for their operation aimed at the feedlot market.

He said the Coffin Creek bulls they had been using had produced some great calves.

He said it was also important for him to have bulls suitable for heifers.

Fernside Pastoral runs its own artificial insemination program and he said some of his bulls would be put to use there.

All up, the eight Fernside bulls average $21,500.

With such strong bidding competition, there were few buyers able to successfully select in bulk, however Wiltara Farms, Tongy Station, Coolah, picked up four bulls to $16,000, averaging $14,000.

There were five bulls sold via AuctionsPlus.

At the conclusion of the sale, the vendors also offered five lots of 10 commercial heifers with the best of these making $2300, via AuctionsPlus.

Coffin Creek co-principal Jack White said they were pleased to clear all the bulls and to see the repeat clients coming back.

Harry White said they would be looking to continue to grow the operation in the coming years.

The sale was conducted by McDonald Lawson Carter, Mudgee, and Nutrien, with Paul Dooley the guest auctioneer and the online interface provided by AuctionsPlus.