'Honest' bulls, real results: Bongongo Angus marks century milestone sale
Explosive growth and commercial doability were highly sought after at a milestone sale for Bongongo Angus, Coolac.
The on-property sale, held on Wednesday September 23, marked a century of operation for the Riverina stud.
With strong buyer interest from across the district and further to the South West Slopes and Central West, the top and average price climbed from previous years.
At the fall of the hammer, 105 of 106 bulls sold, reaching a $27,000 top and averaging $13,333.
Top-priced bull, Bongongo W012, was purchased by Paul Graham, Bongongo Adjungbilly, who also purchased three other bulls to average $20,250.
A Paringa Statesman S115 son from Bongongo U329, the March 2025-drop bull recorded estimated breeding values (EBVs) in the top 5 per cent or higher for 200-, 400-, and 600-day growth, at +71, +119 and +156.
His carcase weight and eye muscle area were in the top 4pc and 10pc of the breed at +94 and +11.4, along with rump fat in the top 10pc at +2.9.
Equal second-top-priced bulls, Bongongo W316 and Bongongo W019 sold for $26,000 to Baltimore Enterprises, Wantabadgery, and CAS Grazing, Wee Jasper.
By Bongongo S1012 and from Bongongo R273, Bongongo W316 recorded EBVs in the top 4pc for gestational length at -9.3, rump fat in the top 6pc at +3.7 and carcase weight in the top 20pc of the breed at +82.
Another Statesman S115 son, Bongongo W019 recorded 400- and 600-day traits in the top 10pc or higher of the breed, at +113 and +150, along with carcase weight in the top 4pc at +95 and gestational length in the top 17pc at -7.
Equality was a theme also in the volume buyers, where BridgeLane Bundarbo, Jugiong, and Redhill Partnership, Adjungbilly, secured six bulls each for their operations. The volume buyers averaged $11,333 and $15,000, respectively.
First-time buyer, BridgeLane's Ken McGuirk said after leasing bulls for the 1260 breeding cows, it was time to invest in the Bongongo program.
"We've done embryo transfer and artificial insemination on all the cows here, and we've let our bull numbers drop," he said.
"We had to buy more ... they'll be backup bulls onto an AI program."
Knowing the bulls had the ability to produce when AI might not, Mr McGuirk said calving ease and growth rates were key factors, along with suitability to their commercial operation.
"Part of the reason we're brought from down there is because of the location, we're close to Bill [Graham]. He's got similar country to what our bulls have," he said.
"You could go out west and get flatter bulls out of that flatter country, but they don't do as well as what they do from around here."
The Miles family, Big Springs, who made their first Bongongo purchase in 2025, returned to pick up three more bulls, averaging $10,000.
Beggan Beggan Pastoral Co, Beggan Beggan, secured five bulls to average $16,800.
Stud co-principal Georgia Graham said it was a privilege to be born into a family dedicated to producing commercially-relevant bulls, made to work in some of the toughest conditions.
"They're all very innovative, they stuck to what they knew in the commercial sense," she said.
"We breed a very functional animal that can handle multiple environments, our bulls are grown in large contemporary groups. They have sheep under them, and you know we don't coddle them at all.
"They're built to work, and Dad will always tell you that they're always sold in their working clothes, we sell them as an honest animal."
Ms Graham noted that of the best-selling bulls, all were sired by Australian bulls, showcasing a strong future for the industry.
"That's really exciting for Australia, and the industry, and we'll continue to focus on using those sires that did well," she said.
"There's three Statesman sons that sold well - Dunoon Data Plus, Alpine Real Deal - all are Australian bulls."
The sale was conducted by AGT Stock and Station Agents and Elders Stud Stock, with auctioneer Ryan Bajada, and interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
