Stud heartened by buyer support that delivered a complete clearance

Positivity continued through to the sale ring at the Burrow family's Mason Valley stud at Youngs Siding last Tuesday, when solid competition from a strong buying bench resulted in the entire 2026 sale team selling under the hammer.

Darren, Narelle, Connor and Lara Burrow put together an exceptional sale team featuring 29 rising two-year-old 'V' bulls to celebrate their fifth annual on-property bull sale.

Progeny from 10 sire lines ensured there was a bull to suit all buyers breeding objectives and requirements, supported by the Burrow family's core values of physical merit in functional, fertile and sound cattle that perform well.

Despite cold, wet and windy weather, buyer interest remained strong and didn't deter bidders from securing their catalogue favourites.

Both new and returning buyers travelled to attend the sale, hailing from the local South Coast region, Great Southern, Wheatbelt, as far as the Goldfields-Esperance region.

At the completion of the sale, all 29 thick, ready-to-work bulls, had found new homes to an improved sale average of $6431.

Sale Summary

• (Under the hammer results)
• Offered: 29
• Sold: 29
• Top: $11,000
• Gross: $186,500
• Average: $6431

In comparison, Mason Valley sold 17 of 25 bulls last year to an average of $6853.

Nutrien Livestock auctioneer and East Albany Livestock accounts manager, James Culleton, said it was a great result for the Burrow family and Mason Valley team.

"The bulls presented very well," Mr Culleton said.

"With the way the beef industry is going at the moment it is very promising, and with that as well as a good season last year reflected both the clearance and prices at the sale.

"New buyers present at the sale certainly helped its momentum.

"It was good to see both new and returning clients at the sale.

"It was a great result, congratulations to the Burrow family on putting up a great line-up."

Prices peaked at $11,000 when Gibson account, Quahlea Cattle Pty Ltd, bid up to secure the lot two bull, Mason Valley Vector V77.

The 818kg Mason Valley 38 Special T66 son is an April 2024-drop sire out of Mason Valley Everate R34.

It has Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) of +4.6 direct calving ease (DIR), +0.7 calving ease daughters (DTRS), -5.1 gestation length (GL), +3.7 birthweight (BWT), +62, +103 and +133 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights, +130 mature cow weight (MCW), +0.39 mature body condition (MBC), +8.9 mature cow height (MCH), +13 for milk, -4.7 days to calving (DTC), +2.4 scrotal size (SS), +9 (DOC), +75 carcase weight (CWT), +9.5 eye muscle area (EMA), -2.5 and -3.9 for rib and rump fat, +1.5 retail beef yield (RBY), +2.4 intramuscular fat (IMF), and +0.44 net feed intake (NFI-F).

With these figures it ranks in the top 4pc for RBY, top 13pc for 200-day weight, top 14pc MCW, top 19pc for Angus Breeding Low Feed Cost Index ($A-L) ($353), top 23pc for MBC and RBY, and top 25pc for foot angle (FA) (+0.86).

The Gibson producers bought a team of four bulls in total, averaging $7875, which included a $9000 March 2024-drop bull, Mason Valley Prime Minister V10, weighing 860kg.

The Dunoon Prime Minister P758 son ranks in the top 4pc for SS (+4.4), 10pc for leg angle (LA) (+0.86), and top 14pc for IMF (+4.4).

Buyer Glen Leenhouwers is a returning client and said the lot two bull was a standout for him.

"He is a great bull," Mr Leenhouwers said.

"Structurally he's a great bull with good shape too.

"He had good figures too, particularly the 200 and 400-day weights and good EMA.

"He was also docile and had good docility figures, which was important because I like to have my bulls nice and quiet."

Mr Leenhouwers plans to use the bull over his cows.

"It's a bonus that he's a heifer suitable bull too," he said.

Achieving a similar sum was the second top-priced bull, Mason Valley Recharge V68, which sold to the James family, Stockdale Enterprises Pty Ltd, Karlgarin, for $10,500.

The deep, thick April 2024-drop bull is a son of Dunoon Recharge R102 and Mason Valley Highland Silk S50 weighing 776kg, weighing 775kg.

It has EBVs of +9.9 DIR, +4.3 DTRS, -6.4 GL, +1.3 BWT, +44, +93 and +117 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights, +95 MCW, +0.32 MBC, +7.3 MCH, +20 for milk, -5.8 DTC, +2.5 SS, +7 DOC, +68 CWT, +3.1 EMA, +2.2 and +3.3 for rib and rump fat, +4.0 IMF, and +0.45 NFI-F.

With these figures it ranks in the top 2pc DIR, 7pc for rump fat, 9pc BWT, and 11pc for rib fat.

The James family rounded out their purchases with a March 2024-drop bull, Mason Valley Recharge V23, weighing 820kg for $9000.

The bull is also a son of Dunoon Recharge R102, and ranks in the top 2pc for DIR (+9.9), top 4pc LA (+0.78), and top 11pc for BWT (+1.5).

Chris James is a returning client and selected bulls based mainly on low birthweight.

"They are going over our Shorthorn heifers so we wanted something that was heifer suitable," Mr James said.

"The bulls both had good overall conformation with plenty of volume and great heads and shoulders."

Ray Mountford, Yandilla Grazing Co, Manypeaks, bought the third top-priced bull for $10,000.

Mason Valley Vezina V75 is a Pine View Veniza J166 son, weighing 752kg.

The April 2024-drop sire is a thick bull ranking in the top 4pc for DOC (+40), top 8pc for CWT (+88), top 9pc for 600-day weight (+147), top 11pc for 400-day weight (+111), top 12pc for 200-day weight (+62), top 14pc for MCH (+10.3) and top 15pc for MCW (+129).

Hay River Grazing, Mt Barker, was the volume buyer, taking home nine bulls post-sale, all at $5000 each.

Of the nine bulls, six of which are Mason Valley Fair N Square T62 sons, two are Black Market Beast Mode Q087 sons, and the remaining bull is a son of Pine View Vezina J166.

The highest ranking of the bulls was Mason Valley Vezina V57, a 740kg sire ranking in the top 1pc for EMA (+16.9) and RBY (+2.7), whilst 822kg Mason Valley Viking V66 ranks in the top 3pc for CWT (+95), top 4pc for 200-day weight (+68), top 6pc MCW (+144), top 7pc for 400 and 600-day weights (+114, +150) and top 8pc NFI-F (-0.27).

Also purchasing larger teams of bulls was PR & SM Marshall, Albany, when it won the bid on three bulls and paid an average of $5833 and a high of $6500.

The April 2024-drop sire, Mason Valley Vezina V67 was catalogued in lot 18, weighing 810kg and ranks in the top 5pc for NFI-F (-0.37) and top 9pc for 400-day weight (+112).

Mason Valley stud co-principal Narelle Burrow said on behalf of herself, and the Mason Valley team a big thank you to their clients.

"It was great to see both new and returning clients at the sale, as well as people wanting to buy multiple bulls," Ms Barrow said.

"Having a 100pc clearance as well was really positive.

"It was very heartening to see people also travelling long distances to attend the sale in person."