Confident bidding pushes up prices, with averages much higher than in 2025

It may have only reached a maximum of 24 degrees outside on Monday at the Metcalfe family's Koojan Hills Angus and Melaleuca Murray Grey on-property bull sale at Manypeaks, but the same couldn't be said about the red-hot buyer competition in the selling shed where buyers pushed prices to a sale high $28,000 and the average up more than $2600 on last year.

After a couple of challenging seasons in 2023 and 2024 along the South Coast, it was a different story this year when buyers entered the selling shed and the sale got underway.

With the season and the cattle markets in their favour, buyers were certainly more confident in their bidding as they chased the bulls which best suited their herd requirements from the quality line-up on offer.

The increase in confidence from buyers compared to last year, combined with the quality line-up of Angus and Murray Grey bulls offered by the Metcalfe family from start to finish were the perfect combination to ensure a standout result for the Metcalfe family.

Strong bidding from start to finish by buyers helped push prices to a high of $28,000 for an Angus bull and $11,500 for a Murray Grey sire, while there were another 51 bulls to sell for $10,000 or more during the sale, compared to just a total of 18 last year.

All up there were 75 registered buyers at the sale and another four active online bidders on AuctionsPlus from WA, who kept the Elders selling team led by auctioneer Pearce Watling on their toes as bids flew in thick and fast on the entire catalogue offering.

By the time the final bull went on the big screen in the selling shed and on the screens of the online buyers, 94 of the 99 bulls offered had been cleared under the hammer to not only local buyers but also from further afield including the West Coast, Gingin and Esperance, at a 95 per cent clearance rate which was up 22pc on last year and the average of $10,277, was up $2674.

In comparison, in last year's sale 78 bulls sold from 107 offered at a 73pc clearance rate and average of $7603.

Along with the solid bidding in the stands, the contribution of the AuctionsPlus platform also played a role in the final result.

The online catalogue received 2439 views, which was up 381 views on last year and during the sale there were 29 online bids placed across 13 lots which resulted in five lots selling to three of the four active online bidders.

Mr Watling said it was a terrific sale for the Metcalfe family, with prices and clearance well up on last year.

"It was a quality presentation of Angus and Murray Grey bulls which were a credit to the Metcalfe family," Mr Watling said.

"The line-up of bulls was even from start to finish and this showed in the prices which were very consistent and strong throughout.

"There was strong support once again from the stud's loyal clientele base along with a handful of new buyers and they were all strong in the bidding and this buying support came from right along the South Coast from Walpole to Esperance, as well as the South West and up to Gingin.

"After a challenging sale last year it was great to see the clearance and prices were well up and that is no doubt on the back of the South Coast experiencing a better season and the cattle market lifting significantly on last year.

"Both the prices and clearance were significantly stronger than presale expectations which was very pleasing for all involved.

"The excellent sale result is a testament to the Metcalfe family's breeding program and the direction they are heading with it into the future."

Koojan Hills

Once again it was the Koojan Hills Angus bulls which led the sale and they didn't disappoint, with the quality line-up receiving extremely strong support to see prices top at $28,000.

All up, 81 Angus bulls went under the hammer and Mr Watling found new homes for all of them, as 45 different buyers purchased them at an average of $10,722.

In comparison to last year, the average was up $2814 and added to this the stud sold an additional 16 bulls under the hammer.

In last year's fixture, the Metcalfe family offered 89 bulls and sold 65 to 31 buyers at an average of $7908 and to a top of $16,000.

With a very even line-up of sires and a range of new bloodlines in the team, picking a standout wasn't easy, but the bull which created that little bit extra interest among buyers before being knocked down for the day's $28,000 top price was Koojan Hills Man In Black V30 in lot three.

Mr Watling took an opening bid of $10,000 on the 844 kilogram, March 2024-drop bull and from there the price quickly rose as a number of bidders threw in bids.

Eventually it was the Cowcher family, Willandra Angus stud, Williams, which prevailed as the winning bidder at $28,000 on the thick, well-balanced bull.

Buyer Peter Cowcher said Man In Black V30 was his top pick in the catalogue and he made the trip to the sale with the hope of being able to secure it.

"When I saw his video and picture online, I was very impressed as he ticked a lot of boxes," Mr Cowcher said.

"Then when I inspected him today, he was equally as impressive.

"He has excellent structure and conformation plus real stud sire appeal.

"He has plenty of style, great depth of body, an excellent topline and spring of rib.

"To me he was clearly the best bull in the catalogue.

"Also we liked his breeding, as he is related to a bull (Traction P40) we bought a few years ago from Koojan Hills.

"They are both out of the same dam, which made him even more attractive.

"We have been very happy with the females we have bred by Traction P40, some of them had bulls in our sale team this year."

Man In Black V30 is a son of LAR Man In Black and out of one of the stud's best cows, Koojan Hills G54, which is a Te Mania Africa A217 daughter.

Along with showing presence, style and stud sire appeal, the ET-bred bull has Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) of +6.2 calving ease direct (CEDir), +0.9 calving ease daughters (CEDtrs), -5.5 gestation length (GL), +4.5 birthweight (BWT), +51, +90 and +126 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights, +104 mature cow weight (MCW), +0.31 mature cow body condition (MBC), +2.4 scrotal size (SS), 25.2 days to calving (DTC), +55 carcase weight (CWT), +9.2 eye muscle area (EMA), +0.0 rib fat, -0.6 P8 fat, +0.4 retail beef yield (RBY), +3.4 intramuscular fat (IMF), +1.03 feed efficiency (NFI-F), +35 docility (Doc), +0.50 claw set (Claw), +0.70 foot angle and +1.04 leg angle.

With these figures Man In Black V30 ranks in the top 5pc of the breed for Claw and foot angle, top 10pc for DOC and top 25pc for EMA and CEDir.

Mr Cowcher said they would be easily able to use Man in Black V30 over nearly all of their breeders, but they would probably look at using it over Paratrooper sired females this year.

The next best price in the Koojan Hills run was $18,000 and it was achieved twice.

The first bull to hit the sale's $18,000 second top price was Koojan Hills Right Time V152 in lot 15 when it was secured by first time buyers John and Jonine Lee, J.A.C Lee, Bullsbrook.

The 858kg, AI-bred bull is by S Right Time 7861 and out of Koojan Hills N89, which is by Granite Ridge Kaiser K26.

Along with having plenty of growth and softness, Right Time V152 has EBVs which rank it in the top 5pc for MBC, top 10pc for CEDtrs, MCW, NFI-F and leg angle, top 15pc for 200, and 600-day weights and SS plus top 20pc for 400-day weight and CWT.

Mr Lee said it was the first time they had attended the Koojan Hills sale and purchased from the stud.

"I was looking for a significant number of new bulls this year, so we decided to come down and have a look due to the larger selection on offer," Mr Lee said.

"I have a friend who has bought from Koojan Hills in the past and the bulls have always done well for him, so we decided they were worth an inspection and when I got here I was very happy with what I saw and how the day went."

Prior to getting to the sale, Mr Lee said he had picked out a number of bulls based on their figures and he then fine-tuned his selections when he walked through the bulls in their inspection pens.

When it came to Right Time V152, Mr Lee said V152 was a very nice bull and the all round package, in terms of both its phenotype and figures.

"He has good confirmation and moves well, plus he has good 200, 400 and 600 day growth figures and a good feed efficiency figure," he said.

"He is not over the top in terms of muscle but he just looks the part.

"We will use him over a large number of cows with the hope of trying to get some of his thickness traits into their calves."

Right Time V152 won't be the only bull heading to the Lee's Bullsbrook property, as they also purchased six other bulls for an overall average of $13,714, to make them the sale's volume buyer.

Included in the other six bulls purchased by the Lees were Koojan Hills Three Rivers V187 at $15,500 and Koojan Hills Showman V251 at $15,000

Three Rivers V187 is an AI-bred son of Ellingson Three Rivers 8062 and it ranks in the top 1pc for 600-day weight and top 5pc for 200 and 400-day weights, MCW, CWT and NFI-F while Showman V251 is an AI-bred son of Schiefelbein Showman 338 and is in the top 5pc for RBY and CWT, top 10pc for 600-day weight and top 15pc for 200 and 400-day weight, MCW, EMA and NFI-F.

Mr Lee said his main selection goal with the bulls he purchased was to secure ones which would produce a good weaner which could be turned off at 280-300kg at an earlier age.

"So the bulls had to have quick growth and good feed efficiency along with good conformation and high EMAs," he said.

Currently the Lees are joining 350 mainly Angus breeders in a split autumn and spring calving and they generally sell their weaners to feeders.

But looking forward, Mr Lee said he was leaning towards a full spring calving with the drier seasons being experienced.

The second bull to hit the $18,000 equal second top price was Koojan Hills Reebok V74 in lot 23 and having the final bid this time was Wallacup Farms, Albany.

Reebok V74 is an AI-bred son of Mandayen Reebok R442 and out of a Sterling Pacific 904 daughter, Koojan Hills Ada T79.

Not only did the 816kg Reebok V74 impress on the eye with its depth of body and excellent hindquarter, it also has the EBVs to match with it ranked in the top 10pc for 200, 400 and 600-day weights, top 20pc for GL and top 25pc for MCW, CWT, NFI-F and DOC.

Regular buyer, the Roe family, Benalong Grazing, Gingin, was also not afraid to bid up and outlaid the $16,000 equal third top price for Koojan Hills Vancouver V353, which is a son of homebred sire Koojan Hills Nuttella T187.

The 852kg Vancouver V353 ranks in the top 1pc for DOC and top 15pc for 600-day weight, MCW, MBC and NFI-F.

Fred Roe said they liked buying from the Metcalfe as there were always plenty of bulls to choose from and because of the size of the commercial operation the Metcalfes run alongside their stud setup.

Also outlaying the $16,000 equal third top price was a buyer operating on AuctionsPlus based at Esperance.

At $16,000 this buyer secured an AI-bred son of Ben Nevis Rambo R230, Koojan Hills Rambo V120 which is in the top 10pc of the breed for 200-day weight and top 15pc for 400 and 600-day weights plus CWT.

There were two other bulls to sell for $15,000 or more in the line-up and they were both by Mandayen Reebok R442.

Koojan Hills Reebok V88 was purchased at $15,000 by a buyer based at Boyup Brook operating on AuctionsPlus, which also purchased another bull at $13,000, while Lancelin Nominees, Albany, secured Koojan Hills Reebok V55 at $15,000 plus another sire at $13,000.

Two buyers to have a significant influence on the sale in terms of numbers bought and prices paid were return buyers the Gorman family, Gorman Pastoral, Wellstead and Scenic View Grazing Co, Kendenup.

The Gorman family, who were looking for mainly heifer bulls, finished the sale with four bulls to a top of $13,000 twice and an average of $12,500.

The Gormans have been buying from Koojan Hills since the Metcalfe family purchased the stud and James Gorman said they like buying from the Metcalfes because they get longevity out of the bulls as they were bred in the same environment and because they run a good commercial enterprise as well.

"Today we were looking for more heifer type bulls, so the bulls had to have a low birthweight but we also wanted a good mature cow weight," Mr Gorman said.

This year the Gormans will join 580 cows for a March/April calving and 200 heifers for a February/March calving.

"We wean all our calves in November and sell the majority of our steers in the Nutrien Livestock Mt Barker Angus weaner sale in January."

This year the Gormans sold 251 steers (16 pens) in the sale weighing between 308-394kg at 454-510c/kg (466c/kg average) to return $1498-$1789 and the Metcalfe family purchased 206 head of them for their grass fattening program.

When it came to Scenic View Grazing Co, which bought with the assistance of Elders, Cranbrook agent Clarke Skinner, it also spent up securing five bulls to a top of $13,000 and an average of $10,600.

Mr Skinner said Scenic View Grazing was chasing moderate bulls, with an average birthweight, good 200 and 400-day growth, moderate mature cow weight and good gestation length.

"They also had to be good soft bulls from nose to tail," he said.

There were two other buyers that secured teams of four and five head and they were Roydon Nominees, Denmark, which purchased four bulls to a high of $10,000 and an average of $8250, while KD Power Pastoral Co, Busselton, collected five bulls to a high of $10,000 and an average of $7400.

Melaleuca

Following the offering of Koojan Hills Angus bulls, the Metcalfe family offered 18 Murray Grey sires from its Melaleuca stud and there was solid competition on them, ensuring they achieved a strong result as well.

By the end of the run, 13 of the 18 bulls had sold to 10 different buyers to a top of $11,500 and an average of $7500, which was up $1423 on last year.

Last year the Metcalfes offered 18 bulls and sold 13 under the hammer to nine different buyers to a top of $12,000 and an average of $6077.

Leading the way in the Murray Grey offering and achieving the $11,500 top bid was Melaleuca Vladimir V28 in lot 93 when it was knocked down to return buyer of more than 15 years Mike Twentyman, M & D Twentyman, Kalgan.

Mr Twentyman said he liked all the features quoted about Vladimir in the catalogue.

"He has great muscularity and carcase data," Mr Twentyman said.

"I think he will do a great job for us in terms of breeding replacement females.

"I will use him over both Murray Grey and Angus and I think he will put some real grunt into the calves."

The 818kg, square and thick, grey bull is by Melaleuca Phantom P110 and is out of Melaleuca Petronalla Q21.

Along with showing plenty of class in the flesh, the well-balanced bull also had a good set of balanced EBVs including -1.5 CEDir, -0.6 CEDtrs, -1.1 GL, +5.4 BWT, +30, +51 and +70 for 200, 400 and 600-day weight, +70 MCW, +5 milk, +1.1 SS, +43 CWT, +3.0 EMA, -0.4 rib fat, -0.4 rump fat, +1.7 RBY and +0.1 IMF along with index values of +$116 for vealer, +$153 for supermarket and +$174 EU heavy steer.

With these figures Vladimir V28 ranks in the top 5pc for EMA, top 10pc for RBY, as well as the EU heavy steer and supermarket indexes, top 15pc for SS, top 20pc for 400-day weight and the vealer index.

Currently Mr Twentyman is running about 40 Murray Grey breeders but is in the process of rebuilding the herd to about 100 head.

The second top price in the Melaleuca offering was $10,000 and it was bid by Lancelin Nominees which had earlier purchased two Angus bulls.

At $10,000 Lancelin Nominees secured the 760kg, grey Melaleuca Vladimir V22, which is another son of Melaleuca Phantom P110.

Vladimir V22 ranks in the top 5pc for EMA, top 10pc for milk and top 15pc for RBY.

Regular buyer, the Hadfield family, Salamar Pty Ltd, Quindanning, was again in the thick of the buying action and secured the third top-priced bull at $9000 and another at $7000.

Going home with them at $9000 was the silver Melaleuca Vladimir V34.

Vladimir V34 is by Melaleuca Phantom P110 and it ranks in the top 5pc for EMA and RBY plus top 10pc for SS, while it is in the top 20pc for 200 and 400-day weights and milk.

There were two other buyers in the Melaleuca run to purchase multiple bulls and they were TA & TL Bradshaw, Manypeaks, which secured two to a top of $8000 and an average of $7000, while Parker Farms, Kalgan, collected two to a high of $7000 and an average of $6500.