The Branson family’s annual Banquet Angus bull sale has regularly delivered top end results, but even those high standards were exceeded last Thursday at Mortlake.
There was another total clearance of the 89 impressive ‘Big Bold Banquet Bulls’ to go through the auction sale ring, these selling for a Banquet record average of $9169 and topping at $52,000, another Banquet record. These were up $300 and $31,000 respectively on last year’s sale result.
In introducing the first lot to the big crowd of close to 300 people and containing over 90 registered bidders from five states, Landmark auctioneer Kevin Norris said, “Banquet is one of the most prepotent female herds in the country and it shows in the quality of these bulls.”
The $52,000 record and sale topping bull was the 19 month-old Banquet Lukas L200 (AI). Sired by the USA bull Sydgen Black Pearl 2006, this 740 kilogram bull took the eye of many in the pre-sale inspection pens and this flowed through to the sale ring with a flurry of bidding until it settled down to the final two bidders for the last quarter of bidding action.
Winning that battle was Alex Scott Agency’s Rob Ould, bidding on behalf of John and Peter Blyth, Blyth Bros, Fernleigh Angus, Elmbank, Victoria.
The smooth skinned Lukas L200 had Breedplan figures including +4.2 for birth weight, +18 for Milk, +50, +88 and +115 for 200, 400 and 600 day weight and + 6.6 for EMA, while also having strong bone and a stud sire’s powerful head and muzzle.
The sale’s second highest price was set earlier in proceedings when Charles and Cass Kimpton, Toora West stud, Glenthompson, Vic, outlaid $30,000 to purchase Banquet Leigh L010. Sired by Aberdeen Estate Homer H70, this 23 month-old was the heaviest bull in the catalogue at 945kg, with growth figures of +53, +93 and +135 for the three weight categories.
Underbidder on both this and the top priced bull was Tasmanian Livestock Consulting’s agent Cade Ebdon, operating for long term Banquet client Tom Shoobridge, Cleveland Cattle Estate, Ouse, Vic. Banquet Liverpool L186 (AI) by Silveiras Conversion 8064 was another to exceed last year’s $21,000 top price when purchased by Gilmandyke Angus, Orange, for $22,000. This 720kg and 18 month-old youngster attracted a lot of pre-sale interest and was brought forward 21 places in the catalogue to be sold at lot three.
Three exciting ET yearling bulls were included in the offering, these selling to $18,000 and averaging $14,333 to buyers from three states. Banquet Mantra M003 went to Mark Scott, Mole Creek, Tasmania for $18,000.
Long term Queensland supporter, Brad Saunders, Pheasant Creek Angus, Wowan then paid what he considered a bargain $12,000 for Banquet Major M004, later adding B. Langdon L194 for $9000. AG & LP McKinlay, Emerald later joined Pheasant Creek on the Queensland buying list.
M.C, A.D and C.M Steinert, Flaxman Valley, SA then bid $13,000 to pick up Banquet Magnum M005, the third of these impressive yearling youngsters. They were one of five SA buying accounts, with Ken Badenoch, through Ray White Keatley Mt Gambier being one of the strongest bidders in the sale. He purchased four bulls to $13,000 and at a $9500 average.
A new client account was established when Matthew and Charmayne Clarke, Pinegrove Station, Hawker purchased two bulls to $12,000 and averaging $10,000. Volume buying featured two buying accounts in particular. Peter Rollason, facilitating the Auctions Plus bidding, purchased 11 bulls from $4000 to $7000, with eight of these going to Mark Stoney, Bass, south east of Melbourne.
Elders auctioneer Ross Milne highlighted the value on offer saying, “It was a great sale result but there were plenty of top value bulls in the sale, while some others made more than expected.”
Agents were Landmark and Elders with Kevin Norris (Landmark) and Ross Milne (Elders), taking the bids.