Buyers chase heifer bulls with high-growth at Gates Performance Genetics
Repeat and new buyers chasing heifer bulls with high growth traits were in abundance at the Gates Performance Genetics Angus bull sale at Armidale on Monday, August 10.
With a sale top price of $17,000, 39 of 42 bulls sold for an average of $8000.
The buyers of the top-priced bull were Gostwyck Partners, Uralla.
The bull, Gates V116, is an 834-kilogram, August 2024-drop son of JRGV Revolution R177, with estimated breeding values (EBV) traits for rib and rump in the top 7pc, at +2.8 and +3.3 respectively.
Its intramuscular fat (IMF) was +4.7 and its 200-day growth figure was +59, 400-day was +111 and 600-day was +139.
With a scrotal circumference of 42cm, the bull was described as a "balanced package".
Gostwyck Partners also secured the second top-priced bull, Gates V221, for $15,000.
A Gates T15 son, out of a Gates T40 female, he had four EBVs in the top 5pc, including 400-day growth of +128, 600-day growth of +159, milk at +27 and a carcase weight of +114 - in the top 1pc.
He weighed 770kg with a scrotal circumference of 41cm.
They also took home the first lot of the day, Gates V23, for $8000.
Overall bulls sold from Macksville to Broken Hill, Wodonga, Vic, and up to Goondiwindi, Qld.
Sam Gates, Gates Performance Genetics, said there were some nerves going into sale day but he was pleased with the overall result, given the season.
"We're always nervous in a tight season but we had plenty of repeat clients and new people looking for heifer bulls and cow bulls too," Mr Gates said.
"There's plenty of optimism within the cattle market, it's just that on the New England we're at the back of winter after a tough autumn.
"Southern NSW, Victoria and South Australia are really driving the demand for cattle at the moment but we will see that turn around if southern Queensland and northern NSW get a good spring and summer.
"The quality of the bulls was there in a tight season and the preparations are always a lot tougher so we were happy with the condition of the bulls and you could see their genetic potential and buyers could come and buy bulls with confidence and put them to use with ease."
Other stand-out lots included Gates V73, which caught the eye of Shalimar Park, selling for $14,000 while Gates V304 was secured for $12,000 by Strathroy Enterprises, Yarrowyck.
Local volume buyers were also in strong attendance, including Paul and Michael Corcoran, Corcoran Pastoral Company, Araluen, Bingara, who bought five bulls for $6000 each.
Holly Holdings, Glen Innes, took four bulls home, including Gates V197 for $7000 and another three bulls for an overall average of $6250.
Forster and Sons, Uralla, loaded two bulls on the truck for $11,000 and $7000.
The selling agents were Elders, Guyra and Armidale.
The auctioneer was Scott Cooper while AuctionsPlus provided the interface.
