Efficiency focus pays off at Glenavon Angus sale with bulls to three states
A challenging eight-month preparation failed to dampen buyer demand at the 42nd annual Glenavon Angus sale, where bulls topped at $24,000 and drew interest from across NSW, southern and western Queensland and western Victoria.
Principals Richard and Prue Post offered and sold all 107 bulls for an average of $10,420.
The draft comprised 80, two-year-old bulls - including the sale topper - averaging $10,912, and 27 yearling bulls, which topped at $15,000 and averaged $8962.
The overall average was slightly down on the snow-impacted 2025 sale, where 119 of 126 bulls averaged $11,815.
The $24,000 top-priced bull, Glenavon Patriarch V048, was secured by David Grills, Aberfoyle, Armidale, for use in his in-herd sire production battery.
Calved on July 4, 2024, the 886kg bull was sired by Tehama Patriarch F028 and out of a home-bred female by Glenavon Intensity Q207.
His estimated breeding values (EBVs) featured in the top 10 per cent of the breed for 200-day growth (+65) and 600-day (+148), and the top 5pc for 400-day (+117).
He also posted a milk EBV of +10, birthweight of +5.4, eye muscle area (EMA) of +3.2, and intramuscular fat (IMF) of +1.8.
Mr Grills said the bull would sire bulls for his commercial herd, operating across the Armidale and Guyra districts.
In his pre-sale address, Mr Post acknowledged the severe drought conditions during the preceding eight months, while expressing optimism for a productive spring.
He highlighted the herd's commercial efficiency, backed by benchmarking data from Wagga Wagga-based consultants Agrista. The figures revealed that in 2024-25, Glenavon produced beef for $1.37 a kilogram.
"This is significantly below the industry average of $3 to $4 per kilo, and it is all verified data," Mr Post said.
"Cost of production is a key metric because it provides a clear line of sight to herd profitability. Linked to that is kilograms of beef produced per hectare-we produced 255kg/ha in 2024-25.
"In a beef enterprise, you are largely a fixed-cost business, so every extra kilogram produced spreads those fixed costs further."
Equal second-top honours went to two bulls at $22,000.
The first was Glenavon Patriarch V102 (by Tehama Patriarch F028 out of a Stony Point Nolte N340 dam), bought by Geddes Ag, Telemon, Springsure, Qld, which secured three bulls averaging $15,000.
The second was Glenavon Select V096 (by Glenavon Enhance Q042 out of a Matoni Reality M19 dam), bought by Garthowen Partnership, Attunga.
Leading the volume buyers were James Knight and Bruce Allen, The Sisters, Dornoch via Mortlake, Victoria, who secured 15, two-year-old and yearling bulls to a top of $13,000 twice, averaging $8800.
Mr Knight noted the purchase was a case of "playing catch-up" after buying only seven bulls during last year's Victorian drought, while Mr Allen described the southern season as "one of the best I've ever seen".
Queensland buyers were active throughout, including Jack and Bianca Reddan, JBR Grazing, Roma, who bought eight bulls to $12,000, averaging $9500.
Cressbank Cattle Company, Alpha, Qld, bought five bulls to $13,000 twice, averaging $10,800; AJM Pastoral, Burleigh Station, Richmond, Qld, bought three bulls for an average $11,000 and the Corningford family, Authoringa Station, Charleville, Qld, selected bulls to $13,000, averaging $8333.
NSW buyers also provided solid backing, with Citriodora Pty Ltd, Yarragrin, Mendooran, picking up bulls to $15,000 and an average $11,000.
Glendon Pastoral, Armidale, bought four bulls to an $11,000 top, three times, averaging $10,500; Better Grow P/L, Two Mile Flat, selected five bulls to $10,000, averaging $8000; and Byron Pastoral, Byron Station, Inverell took home five bulls to $10,000, averaging $8000.
The sale was conducted by Elders Armidale and Guyra, with Lincoln McKinlay wielding the gavel. Online bidding was facilitated via AuctionsPlus.
