Repeat buyers support Tremere Pastoral's high-performing composite bulls
Tremere Pastoral was well supported by return buyers from across central Queensland at its annual African Genetics bull sale on Thursday, September 10, with two bulls topping the sale at $10,500.
Held on-property at Tremere, Moura, stud principals Swin and Kathy Hudson offered 27 composite bulls through the helmsman system, selling 15 for a 55 per cent clearance rate and an average of $7700. A further 11 bulls were sold after the auction.
Operating through Elders Mackay, the Davis family of Woonon Grazing, Sarina, paid the top price of $10,500 for TRE250131, which they will use in their composite crossbreeding program incorporating Charolais, Angus, Belmont Red and Brahman genetics. It was their first time buying at the Tremere Pastoral sale.
Weighing 451 kilograms, the red poll sire prospect measured four millimetres for rump fat and 3mm for rib fat, with an eye muscle area of 81 square centimetres and 3.7 per cent intramuscular fat.
In the Tropical Composite BreedPlan analysis, he recorded a birth weight EBV of -1.7 and gestation length of -1.2, both ranking him in the top 10pc. His carcase figures were also strong, with a carcase eye muscle area EBV of +2.7, rib fat of +1.8 and rump fat of +2.3, all ranking in the top 10pc.
Also bidding through AuctionsPlus, long-term Tremere Pastoral clients Sam, David and Raeleen Wright of Mt Spencer Pastoral, Nebo, secured TRE250193 for an equal top price of $10,500.
The 22-month-old bull weighed 468kg and combined strong growth and carcase credentials, scanning 5mm for rump fat, 3mm for rib fat, an 88sq cm EMA and 4.6pc IMF.
In the Tropical Composite BreedPlan analysis, TRE250193 recorded a birth weight EBV of -2.2, ranking in the top 5pc, while his gestation length EBV of -2.4 placed him in the top 1pc.
His carcase and index figures were also impressive, including a carcase weight EBV of +26, ranking in the top 5pc, while eye muscle area at +1.8 and intramuscular fat at +0.1 both ranked in the top 25pc. He also ranked in the top 10pc for the self-replacing index at +95 and the top 1pc for the terminal selection index at +54.
The Wright family has been buying composite bulls from Tremere Pastoral for more than 10 years, with their selection decisions focused on fertility, growth and carcase performance.
"We look for a balanced bull, using both EBVs and phenotype, and this bull met our criteria," Sam Wright said.
"Fertility is the biggest thing for us. We look for above-average days to calving, and the mum needs to have a calf every year."
The Wrights have gradually shifted their herd from a predominantly Brahman base towards a more composite type, with the herd now about half Brahman and half composite.
The move towards composites has also been driven by market returns, with a significant price premium for crossbred feeder cattle compared with Brahman cattle of a similar weight.
"Over the last two years, there's been about a $200 to $300 difference between our Brahman feeders and our crossbred feeders of a similar weight, so we want to take advantage of that," Mr Wright said.
"We're aiming to get them to about 400kg liveweight as milk or two-tooth steers."
The Wright family bought a further two bulls, averaging $7666 across their three purchases.
A second top price of $10,000 was paid twice, with TRE250191 purchased by Brigalow Beef Co, Injune, and TRE250229 bought by JM Cottam, Bowen.
One of the volume buyers was Stuart Zlotkowski, Beeron, who secured six bulls at an average of $6500.
The 10 bulls sold after the auction went to Cunningham Cattle Co, Katandra Station, near Hughenden.
The sale was conducted by Elders Biloela, with Elders stud stock representative Randall Spann, Rockhampton, performing the auctioneering duties. AuctionsPlus provided the online bidding interface.
