Prominent Victorian beef stud spends six figures at Tasmanian bull sale
A northern Tasmanian beef stud has hit six figures for one of its bulls at its annual spring sale.
Landfall Angus stud, Dillston, Tas, offered and sold all 246 yearling and two-year-old bulls at the sale, averaging $12,182.
The stud sold Lot 3, Landfall Riverside U227PV, for $165,000 to Te Mania Angus stud, Hexham.
Landfall director Ed Archer said the family was pleased with the result, with the top-priced bull going to a "good home".
"People are positive, and obviously the market has kicked in the right direction," he said.
"There's no doubt there are still lots of areas that haven't had enough rain, but the people who are lucky enough to have some feed are positive and continuing to invest in their beef enterprise."
Mr Archer said the top bull had a very good spread of birth-to-growth estimated breeding values, with "very usable" carcase figures.
The July 2023-drop bull, who was sired by Landfall Lorenzo R411 and out of Landfall S846, weighed 828 kilograms.
His TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation estimated breeding values (EBVs) included a birth weight of 4.7kg, 200-day weight of 71kg, 400-day weight of 127kg, 600-day weight of 162kg, eye muscle area of 7.3 square centimetres, rib fat depth of 0.4 millimetres, rump fat of 2.6mm and intramuscular fat of 4.6 per cent.
Te Mania director Tom Gubbins said the company searched throughout Australia for bulls that could increase profitability.
"This particular animal came up on the list, so we purchased him," Mr Gubbins said.
He said they had bought Landfall bulls previously.
"They have similar principles to Te Mania - they performance record, which means we can have more confidence in buying the cattle and that the animal will stay true to what the EBVs say," he said.
"He had all the traits that worked on our index to increase the profitability of our animals.
"His structure was excellent, he looks the goods, so that's all exciting - they are all things that are bonuses."
Mr Gubbins said the bull had an "unusual combination" of traits, so he expected it to sell for "good money".
"It fits in with a lot of our animals and will reduce inbreeding," he said.
"He is going to be a very valuable asset."
Nutrien livestock agent Cooper Lamprey, Devonport, Tas, said the top bull was "an exceptional bull".
"Riverside had very good data, a very good phenotype and outstanding temperament," Mr Lamprey said.
"He has growth in the top 1-2 per cent for 200-600 days, moderate birth with very good growth, so Te Mania was probably looking at that.
"He sits in the top 2pc in the breed for carcase weight and top 3pc for docility."
He said 142 two-year-old bulls were sold, for an average of $13,485, with 104 yearlings selling for an average of $10,403.
Bulls went to four states, with 21 headed to King Island, Tas, 56 going to Flinders Island, Tas, 73 staying on the Tasmanian mainland, 40 going to NSW, 55 to Victoria and one to Queensland.
