Lorenzo sons spark an Angus renaissance at Yerwal Estate's annual bull sale

The first sons of Landfall Lorenzo S1834 to be offered by Yerwal Estate Angus impressed buyers at the stud's 24th annual sale at Lucindale, with their impeccable phenotype and high performance figures.

Nearly two thirds of the catalogue were sired by the Tasmanian-bred bull, which Regan and Connie Burow bought for $36,000 in 2023.

He has had a huge impact on their herd.

"We looked high and low for a bull that would lift our data, IMF, structure and docility. We ended up narrowing it down to a half full down there and then just him," Mr Burow said.

"He has just fixed everything in one hit, without losing phenotype."

The sale's highest price of $19,000 was paid for one of these Lorenzo sons.

Lachie McKenzie, McKenzie Ag Services, put in the winning bid for lot 3, Yerwal Lorenzo V80, describing him as "good a phenotype you would see in an Angus bull", with outstanding shape and exceptional structure.

"That bull has heaps of muscle and power, if he was a bit higher in IMF, he would probably have been a stud sire," he said.

"We already have other high data bulls for our herd, so he will complement some of the softer, less carcase type females we have."

The 866kg bull had a good balance of figures being in the top 10pc for eye muscle area at +11.4 and top 3pc for retail beef yield.and top 16pc for Angus indexes.

McKenzie Ag Services will calve down about 1350 Angus females in Vic's Western District areas this July from their Bruanlea, Torah and Condah Hills properties.

They have a few registered cows to breed a few of their own bulls and also have a feedlot to finish cattle for JBS.

Later in the sale, Mr McKenzie also bought another Lorenzo son, lot 42 for $12,000.

The 19-month-old had been a favourite of many during Stock Journal's Beef Week.

"We are a spring joining, so we will tuck him away for later on," Mr McKenzie said.

Mr McKenzie has bought several high price bulls at Yerwal Estate in the past five years and has a great relationship with the stud principals. His nutrition company also sources feed.and prepare rations for Yerwal's stud cattle.

"It is good to deal with good people who breed good cattle," Mr McKenzie said.

The sale's second highest price bull was lot 4, Yerwal Lorenzo V94, which sold for $17,000 to LD Mulraney, Mount Gambier.

The 21-month-old, which weighed 832kg, excelled for growth figures and had an $Angus index of 419.

Twenty sons of Lorenzo sold in the auction for an outstanding $11,250 average.

Other stud breeders will be hoping the first sale of 2026 SA Angus Week is a sign of things to come with Yerwal Estate selling six more bulls than 2025 and lifting their average by nearly $1500.

As buyers huddled in the shed from the rain and wind, 35 of 47 Angus bulls averaged $9457.

Another three passed in lots sold soon after the sale.

Heathvale, Millicent, who were underbidders on the sale-topper, went on to buy three bulls.

They paid to $14,000 for a high growth bull, Yerwal Lorenzo V131, in lot 7.

Three other buyers also went home with three bulls, including long time client GW Jones, Mumbannar, who paid to $13,000 for his top picks.

The Burows were "very happy" with the sale result and have a good crowd of repeat and new buyers.

"It is good to see good bulls going to good homes, that is the biggest thing for Regan and I," Mrs Burow said.

Mrs Burow was also proud that a stud sire that they had selected together (Lorenzo) had really clicked in the herd.

She is now eagerly anticipating the next step in their breeding program.

"The sisters to these bulls are at the point of calving and we have another $46,000 Landfall bull, which we have crossed over those Lorenzo daughters," she said.

"We are always looking if our clients are retaining females from these bulls what they can put over them next."

Nutrien SA stud stock auctioneer Richard Miller - who shared the auctioneering with Gordon Wood - said it was the best line-up of bulls he had seen offered at Yerwal Estate.

"They are the right type for the industry at the moment, they are soft easy doing cattle with a heap of growth and very good figured cattle and now have that IMF factor that they were missing a bit in the past," he said.

Mr Miller noted there were some very affordable buying at the $6000 base price, but buyers also more willing to chase bulls beyond $10,000.

"We haven't seen that here in a few years," he said.

In previous years, Yerwal Estate has offered a few Simmental bulls in its auction to cater for locals, but this year opted to have a pen of Black Simmental and SimAngus bulls for private selection on sale day.

The stud has focussed on the Qld market, which is strong for Simmentals and will again be a vendor at the Ag-Grow Elite Multi Breed Beef Bull sale in Emerald in June, and the Qld Simmental bull sale at Gracemere in July.

Nutrien Naracoorte conducted the sale.