Woonallee Simmental bull sale tops $35,000 at Taroom for an $8864 average
Summary
Storms on the horizon at the Taroom Showgrounds brought buyer confidence for the first annual Woonallee Simmental Northern Performance bull sale on Thursday, October 15. It was the first time the South Australian stud had hosted a sale in Queensland, having previously held its northern sale at Tamworth, New South Wales.
At the conclusion of the sale, 44 of the 48 bulls offered sold for a 92 per cent clearance and an $8864 average, for an overall gross of $390,000. All remaining lots sold post-sale to bring the clearance to 100 per cent at an $8625 average.
The top-priced bull, Woonallee Nashville V192, sold for $35,000 to Naracoopa Simmental stud, Denmark, Western Australia. Sired by Woonallee Nashville N39 and out of Woonallee Ashante T208, the 1045 kilogram, 31-month-old bull recorded 11 millimetres of rump fat, 7 millimetres of rib fat, an eye muscle area of 146 square centimetres, 5.3 per cent intramuscular fat, 87 per cent morphology and a scrotal circumference of 41 centimetres.
The bulk buyer of the sale, Flinders Rural, Hughenden, purchased 12 head for an average of $6167 through AuctionsPlus.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Bulls offered, sold at auction | 48 offered, 44 sold |
| Clearance rate |
92 per cent |
| Sale average | $8864 |
| Sale gross | $390,000 |
| Post-sale clearance, average | 100 per cent at $8625 |
| Top price | $35,000 |
| Bulk buyer purchase, average |
12 bulls at $6167 |
| Top bull weight | 1045 kilograms |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What did the Woonallee Simmental sale top at?
The sale topped at $35,000 for Woonallee Nashville V192. From 48 bulls offered, 44 sold for a 92 per cent clearance at an $8864 average, grossing $390,000. All remaining lots sold post-sale, lifting the clearance to 100 per cent at an $8625 average.
Who bought the top-priced bull?
Naracoopa Simmental stud, Denmark, Western Australia, secured him. The buyer is a repeat purchaser of Woonallee bulls and had been chasing Nashville genetics for some time, having missed out on the sire the previous year when he made more than $60,000. The purchase was made on photos and figures without an in-person inspection.
What figures did the top-priced bull record?
The 31-month-old weighed 1045 kilograms with 11 millimetres of rump fat and 7 millimetres of rib fat. He recorded an eye muscle area of 146 square centimetres, 5.3 per cent intramuscular fat, 87 per cent morphology and a scrotal circumference of 41 centimetres. He is by Woonallee Nashville N39 out of Woonallee Ashante T208.
Why did that bull appeal?
The buyer described him as the whole package, noting he was a bit smaller-framed than bulls they had bought in the past but carried good fat cover in the top 2 per cent. He cited a below-average birth weight and growth figures above the top 50 per cent, and that the bull is homozygous polled.
How will the top-priced bull be used?
He will join a herd of 40 breeders for stud duties at Denmark, where the operation breeds both traditional and Black Simmentals. The buyer said the stud is not large by design, working on quality rather than quantity. The bull will not be used until March when the bulls go out.
Who was the bulk buyer?
Flinders Rural, Hughenden, purchased 12 head for an average of $6167, bidding through AuctionsPlus. That was the largest single order of the sale.
Why did the stud move its sale to Queensland?
The stud principal said most of the bulls were coming north anyway, and that conditions at Tamworth had been so tough and dry that cow herds there had diminished. He described the move as very much bringing the bulls to the people. The stud had previously sold at multi-vendor sales in Queensland.
How did the stud rate the first Queensland sale?
The stud principal said he was extremely pleased with the results of its first annual standalone sale in the state, calling it a really good start and saying he expected some very happy buyers. He said the stud was blessed that northern producers supported it so well, and noted the first sale is always the hardest. Elders and Linc'D were the selling agents.
