Perfect clearance for 'perfect' bull: six-figure top at Knowla Angus sale

A sire described as the "perfect Angus bull" has captured plenty of attention at the Knowla annual on-property sale at Gloucester on Friday, July 31.

The Knowla Livestock annual Angus sale delivered a perfect clearance, a robust average of $20,025, and a top-priced bull of $140,000.

The well-named Knowla VIP V264 came up quickly, selling as just the fourth lot to Victorian-based buyers McKenzie Ag, Buninyong.

The 822-kilogram, late September-drop bull was by Knowla Revolution R190 from dam Knowla Oakgate and, with some semen retained by Knowla, his sire potential was hotly discussed.

He boasted estimated breeding values (EBVs) in the top 3 per cent for eye muscle area, at +13.8, and docility in the top 1pc at +51, along with calving ease-direct EBV at +85, within the top 10pc, and 200-day and 400-day growth figures of +61 and +109 respectively, both in the top 20pc.

VIP also had high indices, including an Angus breeding index ($A) of $281 within the top 5pc, while his Angus low-cost feeding index ($A-L) was within the top 1pc at $472.

Damien Thomson, beef production manager, Genetics Australia, bought the bull on behalf of Lachlan McKenzie, principal of McKenzie Ag.

"There was a lot of talk about this bull," Mr Thomson said.

"He was an AI stud sire from the outset and, in many ways, he's the perfect Angus bull.

"He's perfect on structure and foot quality, and he scored a five by Roger Evans (accredited scoring technician), which is a pretty rare feat."

Mr Thomson said the bull was also perfect on docility, with "structure and docility the foundation of every breeding objective of beef cattle breeders in Australia".

He said VIP would enter the export collection centre, making his semen available for international markets.

"I think we got him for really good value," Mr Thomson added.

"I think he's worth every penny of $140,000."

Hugh McKenzie, son of Lachlan McKenzie, was also in attendance on behalf of his father, who was travelling in Western Australia.

Mr McKenzie said he expected VIP to be on collection for the next 12 months, given expected demand.

"We came up from Ballarat, VIc, this morning, and after looking at his data and seeing some great photos and footage of him, we had to get a look at him," he said.

"Dad is always looking for opportunities and getting through catalogues, and when he saw this opportunity to buy Lot 4, we couldn't pass it up.

"We have a few properties in western Victoria with our own breeder operation of Angus cattle, so we can't wait to incorporate this bull into it."

Friday's sale achieved a perfect clearance for stud principals James and Ted Laurie. A total of 183 head were sold, with the 78 bulls averaging $20,025.

The 39, two-year-old bulls, including the $140,000 VIP, averaged $22,308, while the 39 yearling bulls averaged $17,748 with a top price of $60,000.

The top price yearling bull was Knowla Walkabout W07, which sold for $60,000 to Blackwater Angus, Trangie.

Walkabout is a 758kg, February 2025-drop by Hoover About It, out of Knowla Doris T95.

His EBVs included an EMA of +17 (top 1pc), docility of +41 (top 3pc) and a retail beef yield of +1.2 (top 10pc). His 400-day and 600-day growth were +103 and +134 respectively.

Another notable result was Knowla Versatile V153, which sold for $44,000 to Raff Angus, Lymwood, King Island, Tas.

This 934kg, August 2024-drop was by US sire Baldridge Versatile and Knowla Designer.

He had a 200-day, 400-day and 600-day growth all in the top 1pc at +80, +134 and +169, respectively. His carcase weight at +101 and docility at +45 both sat in the top 2pc.

"By average, it's been our third-best sale ever, and our second-highest price ever," James Laurie said.

VIP's price fell short of only Knowla So Right S48, which sold for $190,000 in 2022.

Mr Laurie said there had been a lot of chatter about VIP leading into the sale, and it took only two committed operators going against each other to create the result.

"We really rate the bull," he said.

"We're using him in our program, so that's what we think of him, and we're pretty excited with where he's gone too because they are people that will make him available to the rest of the country, which is a positive for us because he gets used out there around the industry, and that's got to be good for our name."

The catalogue also included six pregnancy-tested in-calf (PTIC) selected stud heifers, which sold up to $20,000 and reached an average of $10,666.

The sale also sold 100 head of commercial heifers across seven pens, one of which sold to $4200 for 13. At 395kg, The total average across the commercial heifers was $3220/head.

"The word got around on these heifers," Mr Laurie said.

"A lot of them are by the same sires that produced those bulls today, and our commercial cattle perform really well for processor and feedlots.

"I think people know that when they come here, so they sell well."

The sale's volume buyer, with six purchases across the catalogue, was the Walcha cow and calf operation Glen Buddah, which produces black feeder steers.

Agent Ben McNaughton, Elders Walcha, was buying on behalf of the operation and said all six bulls would go onto the property.

"We've bought here for the last five years," he said.

"We usually buy anywhere from five to 10 bulls every year, but we came here for six and we got six."

Mr McNaughton said the sale was solid, but prices were where they should have been, given the quality.

"For us, we came looking for nice, decent bulls that we hope to get six to eight years out of, and I think that's what we got," he said.

The sale was conducted by Elders Walcha with guest auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.