Interstate buyers drive fierce competition on Shorthorns, Charolais at Futurity sale
Buyers from as far afield as South Australia's Adelaide Hills and Tasmania's King Island helped drive Futurity Pastoral's 18th annual on-property bull sale to a successful outcome at Glen Ayr, Baradine, on Thursday, August 27.
A large crowd gathered ringside, while strong AuctionsPlus activity added another layer of competition as buyers from across eastern and central Australia competed for the Catts family's Shorthorn and Charolais genetics.
There was full clearance of 103 bulls sold to a top of $60,000 and average $15,773.
Futurity Pastoral principal Jason Catts said they had gone into the sale expecting solid demand.
"We thought it'd be a strong sale but you never just know how strong," Mr Catts said.
The $60,000 sale-topper, Futurity Victory V647, was secured by Carlton Stud, Hahndorf, South Australia, for Lynn and John Nitschke.
Mike Newton bought the bull on their behalf and said they had specifically been looking for a red bull.
"I think he ticks all the boxes that they were looking for," Mr Newton said.
The March 2024-drop Victory was a son of Weebollabolla Route R81 and out of Futurity Daytonas Enia T317, a Bayview Daytona daughter.
His expected progeny difference (EPD) figures included a calving ease direct figure of +23.6, ranking in the top 1 per cent of the breed, milk of +20.7 and an all-purpose index (API) index of +131.41.
Mr Catts described Victory as "an ideal bull for heifers".
Shorthorns set the pace, with 54, two-year-old bulls selling to a top of $60,000 and averaging $17,472.
Six yearling Shorthorns sold to a top of $12,000 and averaged $8500.
The second-highest price of the day was $47,500 for Futurity Versatile V656, another bull carrying strong calving ease and marbling figures, which was knocked down through AuctionsPlus.
Versatile recorded a calving ease direct EPD of +22.2, placing him in the top 2pc of the breed, a weaning weight figure of +50.4 and marbling of +0.31, ranking in the top 1pc, with an API of +153.57.
Repeat buyers provided plenty of depth through the catalogue.
Brian Kennedy, Elders, secured six bulls for a longstanding private client running Brahman cows on a large pastoral holding at Jericho, west of Emerald in central Queensland.
Mr Kennedy said the operation was looking for bulls to put over Brahman females to produce flatter-backed progeny with greater fat coverage for domestic markets.
The client had returned to buy bulls at Futurity for the past five years.
"They're very, very happy with what they're getting, and that's why they keep coming back," Mr Kennedy said.
The sale also attracted producers looking to introduce Shorthorn genetics for the first time.
Peter and Rosslyn Smith, Karoola, Charleville, Queensland, secured Futurity Vincente V611 for $18,000 and Futurity Vaughn V612 for $17,000.
The Smiths traditionally run Droughtmasters and were buying Shorthorn bulls for the first time.
"We're just trying to beef the Droughties up," Mr Smith said.
Long-term Futurity clients Tim and Will Bowman, Glen Iris, Tooraweenah, were among the return buyers to Futurity, buying three bulls with marbling a key selection consideration.
The Bowmans have been buying Futurity genetics since the on-property sale began.
Among their selections were Futurity Vertue V670 at $37,500 and Futurity Velvet V680 at $20,000, both carrying marbling EPDs ranked in the top 10pc of the breed.
Stirling Fergusson, Moreton Bay, Dunedoo, attended with his son Jake and also secured three bulls, paying $7000, $9000 and $8000.
Mr Fergusson said weight-for-age, particularly weaning and yearling weight EPDs, was important in their selections.
Futurity Valentino V602 was a standout on figures among their purchases, ranking in the top 20pc of the breed for both traits.
The Charolais offering maintained competition through the second half of the sale, with 29, two-year-old bulls selling to $19,000 and averaging $15,344.
The $19,000 section-topper was Futurity Viking V522E, secured by Yacca Grazing, Roma, Qld.
Fourteen yearling Charolais sold to $17,000 and averaged $12,928, with Gwenbrook Farms securing the top-priced yearling, Futurity Valedictory V547E.
Scott Cooper, Elders Stud Stock, described the sale as "very solid", pointing to the geographic spread of buyers.
Purchasers stretched from Tasmania through Victoria, South Australia and NSW to Queensland; with AuctionsPlus buyers contributing to the enormous geographical spread.
The sale was conducted by Elders, with Lincoln McKinlay taking the rostrum for the Shorthorn offering and Scott Cooper selling the Charolais, while AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
