Buyers drive the average price up to $17,280 at annual sale down south

Coonamble Rock Solid V105 may have topped the Davis family's annual Coonamble Angus on-property bull sale at Bremer Bay last week at $52,000, but the sale was more than 'Rock Solid' - it was sensational throughout as buyers chased the renowned genetics on offer.

With a large crowd around the selling ring when the sale got underway, it wasn't long before they kicked into action and chased the quality line-up of bulls with tenacity.

From the start to finish, the buyers were red-hot in their bidding as they pursued the highly acclaimed Coonamble genetics to add to their herds.

With 72 registered buyers in front of the Nutrien Livestock auctioneering team, led by auctioneers Tiny Holly and Austin Gerhardy, there was no shortage of competition on the extremely even line-up of bulls presented and this meant the selling team was kept on it toes as the bids came in thick and fast right through the sale.

In addition to the competition in the shed, there was also added interest on AuctionsPlus where the catalogue received 4028 views, nearly double the number of last year and the sale saw 226 logins which resulted in seven active online bidders placing 109 bids across 35 different lots.

From Mr Holly's opening call on lot one, the buyers who had travelled from as far away as Gingin in the north to Esperance in the east and Waroona in the west, showed their confidence in the offering, putting their hand on the bulls which met their breeding criteria.

As a result, the selling team hardly started a bull at the $5000 reserve price.

When the final bull left the ring, after just under three hours of selling and the statistics were calculated, the stud had again cemented its reputation as a leading supplier of Angus genetics.

The figures showed the Nutrien Livestock team had cleared all 118 bulls offered under the hammer by the Davis family to 63 different buyers, including 35 that purchased multiple lots, for a huge gross of $2.039 million and a $17,280 average, which was up $2004 on last year.

In comparison, last year the stud offered and sold 105 bulls to 52 buyers to a top of $72,000 and an average of $15,276.

In addition to the offering of bulls from the David family's Coonamble stud, Hayden Pedro, Osprey stud, offered and sold three bulls as part of the sale catalogue to a high of $18,000 and an average of $13,667.

It was not only the sale figures that impressed, but the fact the huge sale result was again achieved on the back of buying support from mainly commercial cattle producers keen to keep their herds moving forward and know the rewards and returns they get from using Coonamble genetics in their herds.

Mr Holly said it was another fantastic sale result for the Davis family.

"The bulls offered by the Davis family are good honest cattle which are presented in great fashion with 'work gear' on and truly ready for the job at hand," Mr Holly said.

"Nearly all of the catalogue had figures that really read in favour of those that follow the figures including gestation lengths, birthweights, 200, 400 and 600-day growth, mature cow weight and milk which were nearly well above breed average.

"The line-up of bulls was a credit to the Davis family not only on their presentation but also their figures and buyers once again showed their appreciation for the line-up and bid up strongly.

"It was once again a cracking sale for the stud with another 100 per cent clearance and an average where it deserves to be.

"The peak of $52,000 was excellent but it was still good to see bulls selling at under $10,000 at the backend as it means the Coonamble bloodlines can find their way into new herds for a cost effective price."

Equally impressed with the sale result was Mr Gerhardy, who is now based at Yea, Victoria, with Nutrien Ag Solutions.

Mr Gerhady said it was an outstanding sale which was a reflection of the bulls the stud offers and the confidence buyers have in the Coonamble genetics.

"As to be expected, the stud offered a quality line-up of bulls suitable for both stud and commercial buyers from start to finish which were backed by good figures," Mr Gerhardy said.

"The market tone for the sale was strong from start to finish, with buyers willing to invest in the bulls on offer.

"On the back of confidence derived from a successful growing season in 2025, especially on the South Coast and stronger commercial market conditions, buyers were certainly more willing to outlay higher values on the bulls compared to the past couple of years.

"Competition came predominantly from return buyers who are accustomed to the quality and reliability of Coonamble's genetics, but there was also a number of new buyers in attendance who added competition and purchased with confidence on the back of the stud's reputation.

"A lot of the bulls sold to buyers along the South Coast, but buying competition wasn't just restricted to this area, as there were also buyers operating from the South West, Wheatbelt and Midlands, as well as successful Eastern States' competition.

"To offer and sell a larger offering of bulls and see a rise in average of more than $2000 on last year is a testament to the stud's breeding program."

The massive sale figures weren't just the result of a couple high-priced bulls, but rather a large number of bulls consistently selling to strong values.

There were 33 bulls which sold for $20,000 or more, with 13 marking $30,000 or more, while another 74 sold between $10,000 and $20,000.

Even though a significant proportion of the catalogue sold for more than $10,000, the sale also catered for buyers with lower budgets, with 33 per cent of the bulls selling between $5000 and $12,000.

With a very even catalogue packed full of top quality, well-structured bulls carrying some of the famous Coonamble bloodlines, as well as some new ones and backed up by great figures, there were plenty of bulls which could have attracted the attention of buyers and caused a bidding war to break out.

The bull which caught the eye of buyers the most and fielded plenty of bids was the stylish and deep Coonamble Rock Solid V105 in lot 14.

When the well-muscled, eye-catching 894 kilogram bull entered the ring, buyers kicked into action.

Mr Holly took an opening bid of $20,000 on the classy bull and from there the price quickly rose as a handful of buyers battled it out to take it home.

Eventually it was the Bairstow family, Arizona Farms, Lake Grace, which bid with the assistance of former Nutrien Livestock Great Southern livestock manager, Bob Pumphrey, that prevailed with the final bid at $52,000 to set the tone for the rest of the sale to follow, after they outbid a partnership of the Black Market stud, Boyanup and Tonebridge Grazing, Tonebridge.

The mid-April 2024-drop bull, is by Alpine Rock Solid R289, which is a grandson of Coonamble Junior J266 and out of a Coonamble Prospect P372 daughter, Coonamble S83.

Along with impressing on the eye, Rock Solid V105 also had a very impressive set of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), especially for growth with figures of -9.8 for calving ease direct (DIR), -4.6 calving ease daughters (DTRS), -2.6 gestation length (GL), +5.6 birthweight (BWT), +63, +117 and +151 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights, +154 mature cow weight (MCW), +0.48 maternal body condition, +8.3 maternal cow height, +16 milk, +3.8 scrotal size (SS), -6.5 days to calving, +88 carcase weight (CWT), +11.8 EMA, -2.1 rib fat, -3.0 P8 fat, +1.1 retail beef yield (RBY), +3.8 IMF, -0.01 feed efficiency (NFI-F), +20 docility (DOC), +0.56 claw set, +0.74 foot angle and +0.88 leg angle.

With these figures Rock Solid V105 ranks in the top 5pc of the breed for 400-day weight and MCW, top 10pc for 200 and 600-day weights, MBC, SS, CWT, EMA, claw set and foot angle as well as top 20pc for DTC, RBY and leg angle.

It has index values of +$230 for the $A index, +$193 for the $D index, +$302 for $GN index and +$219 for the GS index, which are in the top 28-34pc of the breed.

Luke Bairstow said they were very happy to be able to secure Rock Solid V105 as they had been keeping their eye on it for a while.

"He will be a new bloodline for our herd and he had great appeal to us on his sire's side," Mr Bairstow said.

"On his sire's side he goes back to Coonamble Junior, while there is plenty to like on his dam side as well in terms of his breeding."

But it wasn't only Rock Solid V105's pedigree that appealed to the Bairstows, so did its phenotype and figures.

"He is a perfectly footed bull, with a square, deep body and a lovely docility," Mr Bairstow said.

"His figures also stood out for us and he had plenty highlighted in the catalogue particularly for growth and carcase traits.

"He certainly ticked all the boxes for us figure wise."

The Bairstows are planning to use Rock Solid V105 both in an AI program and naturally over a specially selected group of third and fourth calvers to breed back- up bulls and replacement females.

Rock Solid V105 wasn't the only bull secured by the Bairstow family, they also purchased another three bulls to finish with a team of four at an average of $36,250 as they chased new bloodlines for their herd.

Included in the family's other purchases were Coonamble Roger V252 from lot three at the $44,000 second top price and Coonamble Testament V159 at $31,000.

The late-May 2024-drop, 858kg, Roger V252 is by Coonamble Max R519 and out of Coonamble Q438, which is by Coonamble M355 and it ranks in the top 1pc for DOC, top 10pc for MCW and EMA, top 15pc for 600-day weight, milk and CWT plus top 20pc for 400-day weight.

Mr Bairstow said they selected Roger V252, as the bull stood out in terms of the type they were chasing and its pedigree.

"We want square, deep-bodied, quiet bulls and this certainly ticks those boxes," Mr Bairstow said.

"His bloodline was also of interest to us, it is not completely new to us but it was his pedigree on his sire's side (Max R519) that appealed greatly as his dam is Coonamble D94," Mr Bairstow said.

"D94 has been a great matron for the stud and we have had really good success with bulls we have purchased that have her in their pedigree.

"We will use this bull both naturally and through AI over a select group of third and fourth calvers as well."

Testatment V159, an 860kg late April 2024-drop, is by Tehama Testament and out of Coonamble P319, which is a daughter of Coonamble Leader L325.

It ranks in the top 5pc for leg angle, top 15pc for NFI-F and top 20pc for 200-day weight, MCW and MBC.

Mr Bairstow said Testament V159 caught the eye immediately as it had a beautiful phenotype but it was its pedigree that they were really chasing.

"The Tehama Testament bloodline will be a new one for us, but it was his dam's pedigree that we were chasing the most," he said.

"His dam's side features a couple of the stud's super dams in D94 and A61 combined with Elevator.

The final bull the Bairstows purchased was a Ellingson Three Rivers 8062 son, Coonamble Three Rivers V196 from lot two at $18,000.

This year the Bairstows will join close to 1680 females, which includes 255 heifers and 89 new cows purchased from the Wishart family's herd dispersal and 200 breeders in a nucleus herd, where they breed back up bulls mainly for their own use, for a March calving.

Mr Bairstow said it was easy to come and select bulls from the Coonamble offering as the stud always presents a very good and even line-up.

"This year was another impressive line-up of bulls where you could pick bulls out anywhere in the catalogue and buy," he said.

"The new genetics looked very good, while the bulls by the homebred sires again stacked up.

"The line-up and sale result was a credit to the Davis family.

"It is great to see them have a really strong sale as they are very good people to deal with."

There were two bulls to make the $40,000 third top price and they were full ET brothers which were by Coonamble Samson S54 and out of Coonamble S191.

The first of the brothers to make $40,000 was Coonamble Samson V520 in lot 50 when it was purchased by Rhodes Pastoral, Boyup Brook, which has been buying from the stud for more than five years.

The stylish and slick skinned, 674kg, early-September 2024-drop bull ranks in the top 1pc for 600-day weight and MCW, top 5pc for 400-day weight and GL, top 10pc for CWT and leg angle plus top 15pc for 200-day weight, MBC, claw set and foot angle.

Rhodes Pastoral manager, Michael Wright, said Samson V520 was exactly the type of bull they are trying to chase.

"He has fantastic structure, is beautifully soft and has really good style as well," Mr Wright said.

"We also liked his bloodline and figures.

"He had a good low birthweight, good milk and good growth.

"He just has the shape we want and ticks all the boxes for what we are trying to achieve with our heifer joining program.

"He has all the traits we need.

"We will use him in our AI program over heifers and younger cows."

In addition to purchasing Samson V520, Rhodes Pastoral purchased four more Coonamble bulls including two at $26,000 and one bull from Osprey at $13,000, to finish with a team of six at a $23,667 average to make it the day's volume buyer.

At $26,000, it purchased Coonamble Goalkeeper V174 from lot six and Coonamble Prospect V205 from lot 70.

Goalkeeper V174, is by Baldridge SR Goalkeeper and ranks in the top 5pc for foot angle and top 10pc for 400 and 600-day weight, MCW and NFI-F, while Prospect V205 is by Coonamble Prospect P373 and is in the top 5pc for 200-day weight and MCW as well as top 10pc for 400 and 600-day weights, MCW and leg angle.

Mr Wright said Goalkeeper V174 was a nice all round bull with a good set of figures and Prospect V205 was a good looking bull.

"We will use Prospect V205 in our AI program over heifers while Goalkeeper V174 will be used over mature cows," Mr Wright said.

He said they were looking for both heifer and cow bulls and were paying particular attention to birthweight, growth and milk figures.

"The bulls also have to be structurally sound with good feet, which is never a problem at Coonamble as their stock are always good on their feet," Mr Wright said.

"We like buying from Coonamble because what you see is what you get.

"They also have very good temperaments and their progeny are in demand.

"Our steers sell themselves, while we are having great success with selling mated heifers because buyers are chasing the Coonamble bloodline.

"We have sold about half of our March 2025-drop steers (180 head) to a Hyden feedlot and the buyer is very happy.

"The Coonamble sired progeny are so even and just sell themselves.

"They are good people and good bulls, but most importantly the genetics work."

This year Rhodes Pastoral will join 600 cows and 180 heifers of which 80 will be kept as replacements and the remaining 100 will be sold as joined heifers.

The other full ET-bred brother, by Coonamble Samson S54 and out of Coonamble S191, to sell at the sale's $40,000 third top price was Coonamble Samson V24 in lot 83 and it was secured by a stud based at Young, New South Wales, operating on AuctionsPlus.

The 822kg, mid-April 2024-drop Samson V24 ranks in the top 10pc for 400 and 600-day weights, CWT and claw set, top 15pc for 200-day weight, MBC and foot angle plus top 20pc for GL and milk.

After $40,000, the next best price was $36,000 and it was bid by third year buyer Wayne Tapscott, Waymu Farms, Albany, on the soft, thick, 886kg Coonamble Roger V301 in lot four.

The late-May 2024-drop, Roger V301, is by Coonamble Max R519 and out of Coonamble R95.

It ranks in the top 1pc for 600-day weight, MCW and CWT, top 2pc for 200 and 400-day weights, top 3pc foot angle and top 10pc for MBC, NFI-F and claw set.

Mr Tapscott said Roger V301 was a big powerful sire with heaps of grunt and a lot of meat.

"He will be a new bloodline for me, but it was his power I really liked," Mr Tapscott said.

"The aim will be to use him over Show Time blood daughters in a couple of years."

Roger V301 wasn't the only bull, Mr Tapscott secured from the catalogue, he also purchased a Coonamble Show Time S42 son, Coonamble Show Time V78 (lot 11) at $30,000 and a Coonamble Samson S54 son, Coonamble Samson V305 at $16,000, to finish with a team of three at an average of $27,333.

Show Time V78 is in the top 5pc for CWT and top 10pc for 600-day weight, MCW and foot angle, while Samson V305 is in the top 5pc for 600-day weight, MCW and CWT.

Mr Tapscott, who will join 420 breeders this year, said he was chasing bulls with depth and width, good feet and sound structure, while on the figures side they had to have good growth and gestation length but he didn't want a too lighter birthweight.

Regular Coonamble supporter, Murray River Farms, Waroona, was again among the top buyers outlying to a high of $34,000 for a team of three bulls that averaged $28,000.

At $34,000 Murray River Farms secured Coonamble Roger V253 from lot 72.

The late-May 2024-drop bull is by Coonamble Max R519 and out of ET-bred cow, Coonamble Q483, while it is in the top 10pc for rib fat and top 15pc for milk, EMA and P8 fat.

The other two bulls Murray River Farms purchased were a Tehama Testament son, Coonamble Testament V570 (lot 51) at $26,000 and an Ellingson Three Rivers 8062 son, Coonamble Three Rivers V165 (lot one) at $24,000.

Mr Hillman said they were looking for bulls which had both good structures and figures to use over mature cows and heifers.

"We like buying from Coonamble because it presents a good line-up of bulls to choose from," Mr Hillman said.

"It was a very good line-up of bulls again this year and there was something to suit everyone in it.

"We also come back here to buy as they are good doing bulls, they don't break down and in the three years I have been managing the herd I have been very impressed with our calves and their performance."

Denmark Beef, Denmark, was one of the buyers to outlay more than $30,000 for a bull, when they secured a Coonamble Samson S54 son, Coonamble Samson V3 from lot nine at $33,000.

Samson V3 is in the top 5pc for GL and top 10pc for 600-day weight and NFI-F.

There were a number of other buyers which weren't afraid to bid up as they chased their selections and secured bulls at $30,000.

These buyers included return buyers the Gatti family, L & C Gatti, Redmond and the Carroll family, Rayview Park, Albany.

The Gatti family, purchased three bulls at an average of $24,333 and to a high of $30,000 paid for a Coonamble Max R519 son, Coonamble Roger V259 which is in the top 5pc for RBY and NFI-F, while the Carrolls secured three bulls at an average of $24,000 and top a top of $30,000 for a Coonamble Max R519 son also, Coonamble Roger V277 that is in the top 10pc for claw set, foot angle and leg angle.

Other buyers in this category were Baboo Pastoral, Green Range, which secured two bulls to a high of $30,000 and an average of $22,500, while MJ Blyth & Co, Manypeaks, also paid $30,000 for a single selection.

At $30,000 both Baboo Pastoral Co and the Blyths secured Baldridge SR Goalkeeper sons.

There were a number of other buyers that had a significant influence on the sale, purchasing multiple lots at the top end and the biggest of these was buyer of more than 10 years the Pyle family, Millstream Pastoral, Manypeaks, which purchased five bulls to a high of $19,000.

Tim Pyle said they like purchasing bulls from Coonamble because the progeny grow extremely well and they were very efficient cattle.

This year the Pyles will join 800 cows and 200 heifers for a March/April calving.

"We sell the majority of our steer calves through the Nutrien Livestock Mt Barker Angus weaner sale in January, while we grow out our heifers and the ones which aren't kept as replacements are sold in the spring," Mr Pyle said.

Other buyers to have an impact in terms of numbers and price were JR & ME Rodgers, Denbarker, which purchased four sires to a high of $21,000 and an average of $17,500, while Ridley Plains, Esperance, which secured four bulls to a high of $17,000 twice and an average of $15,000, and Bullrush Farms, Gingin, averaged $21,000 across a team of three that topped at $25,000.

There were four other buyers to secure teams of three bulls are they were Gorman Pastoral, Wellstead ($13,333 average); Rathmhor Farming, Needilup ($10,333); Spring Creek Grazing, Cranbrook ($9000) and Nutrien Livestock Esperance ($7667).