Sprys sale topper shows value to be found in balanced phenotype and genotype
The investment in genetics from North American sire Bell M Foreman 30A has continued to pay off at the Sprys Shorthorn and Angus sale, at Ardlui, Wagga Wagga, on Wednesday, April 22.
Last year, a Foreman 30A son set a Shorthorn record at the Sprys sale, at $120,000 and it was another Foreman 30A son that hit the top price at the stud's 62nd sale.
All up, the sale offered 35 Shorthorn bulls, selling 30 to a top of $32,000 under the hammer, averaging $14,533, while 19 of 22 Angus bulls sold to $30,000, averaging $10,947.
Sprys Foreman V160 sold for the sale's top price of $32,000, bought by Glenalbyn Props, based at Dromore Station, Wilcannia.
Dromore Station's Lyndall Bennett said they had been buying Shorthorn bulls from Sprys for more than three decades.
She admired the 914-kilogram bull, which had a 41-centimetre scrotal circumference, for his conformation and docility, as well as medium maturity, with a good balance of figures.
In the estimated progeny difference, Foreman V160 had a docility score of +16.6 - in the top 5 per cent, as well as a carcaseweight of +16.3 and marbling of +0.12 - both in the top 10pc, and fat score in the top 15pc at -0.072.
"We've got to have some fat in our area," Ms Bennett said.
She said the marbling, as well as the birthweight EPD of +0.6 were also appealing. The bull ranked in the top 10pc for the all production index at +133.16.
The record genetics were not all on the sire's side, with the bull out of Sprys Emperors Primrose Q111, a daughter of the $95,000 high-priced Sprys Miss Buddy M36, sold in 2023.
The bull will be joined with first and second calvers, sired by Thermal Energy sons.
The young sire had already been used in the Sprys' spring breeding, prior to the sale.
Matt Spry said the bull had a good balance of phenotype and genotype.
"We think a lot of this bull and think he'll breed really well," he said.
The $30,000, top-price Angus bull, Sprys So Right V642, was bought by repeat buyer Wangolina Station, Kingston SE.
The 864kg bull was by Knowla So Right S48, bought for $190,000 in 2023, and out of Texas Undine M113, bought for $45,000.
So Right V642 ranked in the top 5pc for calving ease - direct, in the estimated breeding values, at +9.3, with the rump fat score of +3.4 in the top 10pc, while gestational length, maternal carcase weight, mature cow body weight and carcaseweight were all in the top 20pc.
Wangolina's Adrian Goode said there were four Knowla So Right S48 sons in the sale, and the consistency across them gave him confidence in his "thick and soft" pick.
The bull will be joined to Shorthorn cows to breed a Shorthorn-Angus female.
The Goodes sell their finished steers direct to processors so good carcase traits are important in their selection.
Matt Spry said this bull had been a standout of the Angus bulls since birth.
The Goodes also bought another Angus bull and two Shorthorn bulls for an overall average of $19,500.
This included 828kg, Shorthorn Sprys Enterprise V52 at $22,000, by Outback Sprys Enterprise S310 and out of Sprys Rembrandts Primrose N125.
Stud interest came from Eloora Shorthorns, Cavendish, Vic, which picked up the 764kg Sprys Guiness V151 at $22,000.
The son of another Canadian sire, Bell M Guiness 17G, out of Sprys Thermal Roany M153, ranked in the top 10pc EPDs for birthweight at -1.0, docility at +14.8 and API index of +132.15, while being in the top 2pc for stayability at +13.4.
Two semen lots of two new Sprys sires, Gilman's Clout 45H and Gilman's Golden Chain 54G, recently imported from Iowa in the United States, were both snapped up by Howard Williams, Marrington Shorthorsn, Dubbo, at $800.
The sale's volume buyer was Appleton Cattle Company, Tibooburra, which picked up five Angus and four Shorthorn bulls, bidding to $10,000, for an average $7778.
Bidding was Stewart Morton, Naryilco Station, Thargomindah, Qld, where the bulls will be heading.
He said they would normally select Angus bulls but more important was the overall quality.
He said the bulls were selected to incorporate carcase and meat quality into the herd, which is run as an organic operation.
Mr Morton said he was looking for length, depth and bone density.
"We want good, long bulls, with plenty of power and punch to them," he said.
Also buying in bulk was Manuka Farms, Lucindale, SA, which selected four Shorthorn bulls to $22,000, averaging $14,000.
Their lots included 740kg Sprys Down Under V36, by Sprys Down Under S77, out of Sprys P39 Roany 32, which ranked in the top 15pc for birthweight, stayability and API index at +126.39.
AO and MC Killalea, Wantagong, also selected four Shorthorn bulls to $16,000, averaging $10,500.
The sale was conducted by Elders and H Francis & Co, with Paul Dooley the auctioneer, while StockLive provided the online interface.
