Strong commercial demand drives prices at online Valley Creek Simmental sale
Strong commercial demand helped Valley Creek Simmentals exceed demand at its fifth online Bull and Female Sale at Binda on Friday, August 21.
The sale had nineof 10 bulls average $11,556 and top at $20,000 while four females sold to average $6250 and top at $9000. The 10th bull sold shortly after the sale's conclusion.
The $20,000 sale-topper, VC War Horse W031, was bought by Liam Kuyken, Mooroolbark, Vic.
The March 2025-drop polled bull was a son of Springcreek Launch 110E, out of VC Cream Soda S031, and recorded a weaning weight expected progeny difference (EPD) of +84.3 and yearling weight EPD of +119.6.
He weighed 744kg, with an eye muscle area of 127 square centimetres and an intramuscular fat reading of 5.1 per cent.
Valley Creek stud principal Stuart Moeck said War Horse had been shown earlier in the year and stood out for his structural soundness, body and rib shape.
"He just was super sound, structurally really sound with a bit extra body shape and rib shape, which is sort of like the VC type, I guess," Mr Moeck said.
"He had a bit extra bone and that seemed to be what the buyers were chasing."
Mr Moeck said the same preference was evident across the offering.
"The recurring theme was body shape," he said.
"They were looking for softer bulls with a bit of body shape and a bit of bone, a bit extra fat.
"It's sort of something that we specifically focus on, their natural doing ability."
Sons of RF Caliber 014G also attracted strong competition.
VC Caliber W024, W016 and W017 were full brothers by RF Caliber 014G, out of VC Cream Soda S031, while VC Caliber W027 was another son of RF Caliber 014G, out of VC Lady Luck R016.
VC Caliber W024 sold for $16,000 to Rachel Leitch, Leitch Holdings, Springsure, Qld, while VC Caliber W016 sold to Abarrak Farming Co, Inverell, and VC Caliber W017 went to Kwiksted Pty Ltd, Greenethorpe.
Ms Leitch also bought VC Caliber W027 for $8000, with her family, accounting for four head from the offering when combined with purchases made by her parents, Suzanne Pickersgill, W and S Pickersgill, Theodore, Qld.
Mr Moeck said VC Caliber W024 was particularly highly regarded by Valley Creek and would continue to have a role in its breeding program.
"I love the head carriage on the bull, love his head shape," he said.
"Whatever's not related to him is going to be flushed to that particular sire and we'll use him a fair bit coming into the future."
Mr Moeck said demand for the bulls exceeded the number available and he had spent the following day trying to source bulls from other studs for clients who had missed out.
"We personally could have sold another 10 bulls on that auction easily enough," he said.
He said demand within the Simmental breed was increasingly favouring softer, bigger-ribbed cattle while retaining growth and frame.
"We believe the growth is in the softer, bigger rib shape sort of cattle with an added bit of frame," he said.
In the female offering, VC MRL Miss W005 topped at $9000, selling to Grant Daniel and Long, Meandarra, Qld.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions through AuctionsPlus using the Helmsman system.
