Weeran Angus' huge bull sale result fuelled by 'game-changing' US data

Pictures by Petra Oates

A western district beef stud has defied dry seasonal conditions to record one of its best-ever bull sale results.

Weeran Angus stud, Byaduk, sold 69 of the 72 Angus bulls on offer to average $10,465 and top at $35,000.

Weeran stud co-principals Alec and Jo Moore said they were overwhelmed with the sale results which far surpassed their expectations.

"I thought we'd sell maybe 10 more bulls and average about the same as last year's [autumn] sale," Mr Moore said.

"But we offered about 20 more bulls and we would be at least $2000 up on the average.

"I can't believe it."

Last autumn, Weeran cleared 53 of 70 bulls to average $8567 and top at $25,000.

The stud's spring sale in September sold 46 of 58 bulls for an average of $9240.

The top-priced bull, Lot 38, Weeran Varnish VHW24V254, sold for $35,000 to a stud and commercial partnership between Greg and Sally Chappell, Dulverton Angus, Glen Innes, NSW, and John Sylvester, Sylvester Cattle Company, Nundle, NSW.

Sired by Myers Fair-N-Square and out of Weeran N442, the 18-month-old bull was the first of the younger spring-drop bulls to be offered at the sale and attracted frenzied bidding from the crowd.

He had estimated breeding values of 81 kilograms carcase weight, 57kg 200-day weight, 112kg 400-day weight and 147kg 600-day weight.

Dick Whale, Independent Breeding and Marketing Services, Wangaratta, assessed the bull pre-sale for the Moore family and was the bidder to secure the bull for Dulverton Angus during the sale.

"I said before the sale, I think he's the best bull that Alec has bred," Mr Whale said.

Data from the bull was sent off to Igenity - an American genomic testing database that tests traits further to those collected by BreedPlan.

Mr Whale received the results of the Igenity testing at 4am the morning of the sale.

"I was very pleased to see those results come through - he tested as high as any other Australian bull," he said.

"There is a huge American database of about 27 million bulls for the Igenity testing."

Mr Moore said while he had known the Chappells for a number of years, this was the first time he had bought from their stud.

"We've got similar breeding objectives and Greg has been a very progressive breeder for a long, long time," he said.

"He has also adopted the Igenity testing stronger than anyone.

"He's grabbed onto it with both hands and believes it's game-changing information."

A total of 25 bulls were selected from Weeran's autumn catalogue this year to have samples sent off for Igenity testing.

It is the third year they have used the American-based genomic testing.

The second top-priced bull, Lot 2, Weeran Vice President VHW24V70, made $23,000 and was bought by Texas Angus, Warialda, NSW.

The two-year-old bull was sired by Dunoon Recharge R102 and out of Weeran Wilcoola R65 and has been used by Weeran in their herd.

Long-time clients Nareen Station, Nareen, were the volume buyers of the sale.

Alexandra Dickinson and daughter Asta Vickery picked up a total of 10 bulls during the sale which topped at $16,000 for Lot 4, Weeran Volcanic.