Offered 60 50
Sold 48 49
Top $10,500 $12,000
Av $4010 $4500
VALUE for money was the order of the day at Nampara Angus stud’s seventh annual bull sale at Penola on Tuesday last week.
Bidding was buoyant early in the sale on the grassfed bulls with plenty of carcase merit, but unfortunately demand was not strong enough to account for the larger offering of an extra 10 bulls compared with last year. Seven of the final 10 bulls were passed in.
In the breakdown 48 of 60 herd-improving February to May 2013-drop bulls reached a $10,500 top averaging $4010.
The 42 registered bidders from the Far North to the South East and western Vic enjoyed the exceptional value, 37 bulls making $4000 or less.
The Hann family has earned an outstanding reputation for their PTIC commercial females and maintain the same commercial focus in their stud on economic traits.
The sale top was paid by Anthony Hurst, Seriston Pastoral Company, Avenue Range, for Nampara Aberdeen J169.
The April 2013-drop was a son of United States super sire TC Aberdeen 759 and weighed 870 kilograms.
He had terrific carcase shape complemented by a remarkable eye muscle area Breedplan figure of +8.2 and positive rib and rump fat at +0.3 and +0.5 respectively.
Aberdeen J169 was also highly rated by Nampara, having been used over stud heifers and semen retained in the bull for future use. Elders livestock production adviser Nikki Armstrong did the bidding on behalf of Mr Hurst.
Two bulls made the $8000 second-top price – a Banquet Xplanation X060 son to HB Schinckel & Sons, Naracoorte, and a Raff Explosive E108 son to TR&EA Baker, Furner.
The catalogue featured a wealth of US and Australian genetics with 22 different sires, thanks to an extensive AI program.
Fourteen of the sale bulls had been used over Nampara’s commercial heifers and bounced back well.
These mated heifers had averaged an impressive $1490 and were keenly sought in the Naracoorte PTIC female sale in late January.
A couple of northern orders from Elders livestock sales manager Damien Webb were of great benefit.
DJ, JM & RJ Michael, Carriewerloo Station via Port Augusta, bought four bulls for a $3250 average. Yellowie Props, Hallett, bought three bulls at $3000.
Repeat buyer GM Butler & Sons, Lochaber, was successful on four bulls for a $3375 average.
Nikki Armstrong pictured with Nampara stud principals Stuart and Natalie Hann and Elders Naracoorte livestock manager Tom Dennis.
NAMPARA HIGH: Elders livestock production adviser Nikki Armstrong bought the $10,500 top-price bull for Anthony Hurst, Seriston Pastoral, Avenue Range.
Elders Naracoorte livestock manager and auctioneer Tom Dennis said the sale bulls were a great line-up of ”purpose” sires with a lot of performance in the top end.
“There were many regular volume buyers and a lot of positive comments about the (docile) temperament which was a real standout feature of the bulls,” he said.
Stud principal Stuart Hann said it was pleasing to see buyers coming back year-after-year highlighting that the bulls were performing in their herds.
“For us, seeing good bulls go out at value prices is more important than having high-flying prices and pricing some breeders out of the market,” he said.
Mr Hann said many clients were yet to reap the benefits of the rise in the cattle market, and the season had been difficult for many.
“We were lucky enough with our females the other week making good money, but many of the locals are still doing it tough season-wise and many sold calves before Christmas,” he said.
Catherine Miller
Livestock Editor and South East Journalist
