Local and volume buyers drive success at inaugural Skibo Angus stud sale
The Hooke family of Skibo Angus stud are still smiling after the success of their inaugural on-property bull and heifer sale, held on Friday, July 24 at Gloucester.
They sold 16 of 17 bulls offered to a top of $13,000 and average $6720, as well as selling their full offering of 10 cows and calves with Wattletop and Glenavon bloodlines.
The top-priced Angus bull, Skibo V19, sold for $13,000, to long-time clients Jim and Mandy Latimore, Bulliac.
The Hookes' top pick of the catalogue, the rising two-year-old bull is by Ascot Signpost S435, and is the grandson of Dunoon Prime Minister P758.
The Latimores also bought 10 rising three-year-old cows with calves by another Ascot sire, Ascot Stockbroker S382, for $3400 per unit.
Mandy Latimore said they hoped their new sire would continue to improve their line of 100 Angus-cross breeders.
Using Angus bulls for the past 15 years, Jim Latimore said the Skibo bulls were not "mollycoddled".
"They are not overdone, and keep on growing once we get them home," he said.
"We keep our steer weaners and grow them out to Jap-ox, selling off our heifers."
The second top-priced bull was Skibo V22, by Wattletop N61, which sold for $12,500 to Hugh and Margaret Wilson, Bowman Farm.
Skibo V9, also by Ascot Stockbroker S382, sold for $12,000 to father and son partnership, Joe and Ken White, Doon-Ayr, Bulliac.
Bulls predominantly stayed local, however volume buyers were Max and Julie Ireland of Prairie Fields, Walcha, who bought three bulls for an average of $7500.
Using the Helmsman system for his auction, Mr Hooke said while "it took a bit of time to get going", he would definitely use it again for next year's sale.
"We've previously been selling at the all breeds sale in Gloucester for many years, and this year decided to go out on our own," he said.
"I sold another bull over the weekend, and have another buyer coming this week, so the demand is obviously there for our genetics, which is great."
After experiencing what he described as a "cracking season", Mr Hooke said he felt that also contributed to the positive sale outcome.
The sale was conducted by Gooch Agencies Real Estate and Livestock with James and Casey Gooch coordinating the bids.
