Quality and quiet breeding proves to be a winner for Stoney family

The Quanden Springs quality and quiet slogan was an exact representation of this year's sale team, when the Stoney family offered an exceptional line-up of bulls at its on-property sale at Redmond on Monday.

With that slogan in mind, the cohort of two-year-old summer, autumn and spring 2024-drop sires are a testament to the Stoney family's consideration to also consider structure, phenotype and Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), using fertile, easy-birthing cows to produce calves with good growth and carcase traits.

A catalogue of 25 true-to-type Angus sires, hand picked by Noel, Robyn, John and Kimberley Stoney, were up for grabs, which attracted plenty of local support.

Clients were presented with a broad range of genetics from bulls suited to both heifers and mature cows, some proving to be hot property, with prices soaring to a whopping high of $17,500.

Of the 25 bulls that paraded extremely quietly around the sale ring, 17 sold under the hammer to an average of $6618, which was up $671 on last year's sale.

Sale Summary

• (Under the hammer results)
• Offered: 25
• Sold: 17
• Top: $17,500
• Gross: $112,500
• Average: $6618

In comparison, last year the Quanden Springs stud sold 19 of 31 bulls to a $5947 average.

Nutrien Livestock auctioneer and East Albany Livestock accounts manager, James Culleton, said the bulls presented very well.

"It was a good, even line-up of bulls that represented the breed well," Mr Culleton said.

"The temperament of the sales team as a whole was outstanding.

"The Samson pedigree is certainly making a big impact, which we saw today it's in high demand."

Mr Culleton congratulated the Stoney family and Quanden Springs team on the offering.

"Well done to the Stoney family on putting up a great offering of bulls," he said.

After spirited bidding and plenty of competition, prices peaked at a whopping $17,500 for lot 10 sire, Quanden Springs Samson V39.

After numerous raises of the hand, the Coonamble Samson S54 son was knocked down to Nutrien Livestock Mt Barker agent Harry Carroll, who bought the bull on behalf of Darrell Panizza, Lancelin Nominees, Albany.

The 774 kilogram bull is a February 2024-drop, out of Quanden Springs Topaz T16 and boasted EBVs of +5.5 direct calving ease (DIR), +7.0 calving ease daughters (DTRS), -9.0 gestation length (GL), +3.5 birthweight (BWT), +61, +112 and +149 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights, +102 mature cow weight (MCW), +0.19 mature body condition (MBC), +6.7 mature cow height (MCH), +22 for milk, -3.2 days to calving (DTC), +3.8 scrotal size (SS), +39 for docility (DOC), +74 carcase weight (CWT), +9.6 eye muscle area (EMA), -0.4 for rib fat, +1.2 for P8 fat, +0.5 retail beef yield (RBY), +0.7 intramuscular fat (IMF), -0.18 net feed intake (NFI-F).

Suiting both heifers and mature cows, Samson ranks in the top four per cent for GL and DOC, top 7pc for 600-day weight, top 8pc for SS, top 9pc for 400-day weight, top 13pc NFI-F, top 14pc DTRS, top 18pc for EMA.

Lancelin Nominees rounded out its sales with a second bull, Quanden Springs Victor V3.

The January 2024-drop sire is a Baldridge SR Goalkeeper son, weighing 812kg, and ranks in the top 1pc for EMA (+15.2), top 6pc DOC (+37), top 19pc for BWT (+2.4) and top 20pc for RBY (+0.9).

Mr Carroll said Mr Panizza was after a heifer and a cow bull.

"The lot 10 bull ticked a lot of boxes," Mr Carroll said.

"This included its high milk figures, moderate birthweight, negative gestation length, which I'm a fan of, and high eye muscle area."

The bulls will go over a predominantly Angus-based herd the Panizza's run.

Two bulls achieved the sale's $8000 second top price.

First to pay the sum was DK & MA Smart, Warrenup, for Quanden Springs Tonkin V24.

The Quanden Springs Tonkin T38 son is a February 2024-drop bull weighing 782kg and ranking in the top 1pc for NFI-F (-0.73), top 3pc for 600-day weight (+159), MCW (+154) and MCH (+12.3), top 7pc for 200-day weight (+64), top 8pc RBY (+1.3), top 9pc for 400-day weight (+112) and top 10pc CWT (+87).

Next to achieve $8000 was Quanden Springs Vic V56, paid by the volume buyers, Fiona and Bruce Marshall, PR & SM Marshall, Albany.

The Coonamble Samson S54 son is also a February 2024-drop bull, weighing 826kg and ranks in the top 4pc for DOC (+39), top 15pc NFI-F (+-0.15), top 17pc GL (-6.8), top 18pc DIR (+6.4).

The Marshall's bought three bulls to a $6000 average.

Bruce Marshall said they were looking for heifer bulls.

"Low birthweight was important, and so were good milk figures," Mr Marshall said.

"Of the bulls we've bought in the past, they have all performed really well.

"We are fans of the quality of the bulls, and progeny.

"The calves always sell well too."

The Marshall's run 430 Angus breeders.

The $7500 third top price was achieved twice in the sale, firstly being paid by TA & TL Bradshaw, Koojaneerup South.

Quanden Springs Valentine V46 is a 846kg, February 2024-drop Coonamble Samson S54 son, which ranks in the top 2pc for 600-day weight (+164), top 4pc for 400-day weight (+119), top 7pc for GL (-8.2) and CWT (+90), and top 9pc for MCW (+137) and EMA (+11.1).

The Bradshaw family bought two bulls in the sale, averaging $6250.

Buying the remaining $7500 third top-priced bull was Mount Barker Estate Farms, Mt Barker.

The 790kg bull from lot 20, a Quanden Springs Trailblazer T46 son, Quanden Springs Viceroy V68 is a March 2024-drop bull ranking in the top 3pc for EMA (+13.3).

The Mt Barker account also bought two bulls to an average of $6250.

Also buying a team of two bulls, was Spring Creek Grazing Co, Cranbrook, which paid an average of $5250, and a high of $5500.

Quanden Springs stud co-principal Noel Stoney said on behalf of himself and the Quanden Springs team a big thank you to their clients for their support.

"A big thank you to our clients for their support and the Nutrien Livestock team," Mr Stoney said.