VICTORIAN stud Te Mania Angus sold a record 156 bulls in a full clearance, and also set a record average for the stud at $9282 at their Mortlake sale on March 1.
Jodie and Shane Foster, Boonaroo Angus, Casterton, Victoria, bought the top-priced bull again, after having bought the equal highest selling bull last year.\
They secured Te Mania Lackey L27 (AI) for $30,000, $7000 more than what they paid last year.
Lackey L27 weighed 788 kilograms at 19 months. He was in the top one per cent of the Angus breed for all four profitability indexes – with an Angus Breeding Index of $153, Domestic Index of $133, Heavy Grain Index of $176 and Heavy Grass Index of $140.
His estimated breeding values (EBVs) for fertility, IMF and docility were in the top 5pc for 2015-drop Angus cattle, as well as growth figures all in the top 5pc including of +52, +99 and +127 for 200-day, 400-day and 600-day weight.
Mrs Foster said they picked this bull, their sole purchase for the day, as it would continue the calving ease of their herd, while having the growth, structure and temperament to complement their cattle.
She said they continued to use Te Mania genetics for their predictability and great industry benchmarking through Team Te Mania.
The Fosters will join about 400 cows this year and plan to collect from Lackey before joining him to heifers for a spring calving.
Te Mania Lakewood L119 (AI), sold to Curracabark and Pathfinder Angus studs for the second highest price of $28,000.
Long-time Te Mania supporter Dennis Power, Minnamurra Pastoral Company, Coolah, bought seven bulls, including two at $26,000, for an overall average of $17,400.
Te Mania Lambrusco L155 (A) was the first bull purchased for $26,000.
The Te Mania Jerome J131 (AI) son was out of a Te Mania Mittagong heifer, and had an impressive, balanced set of EBVs including those in the top 1pc for intramuscular fat at +3.8, carcase weight at +81 and fertility indicators, including scrotal size at +3.6 and days to calving at -9.9.
He had EBVs in the top 5pc for eye muscle area at +8.8 and 200-day growth at +52. He was in the top 1pc for the four profitability indexes.
Mr Power also secured a son of Te Mania Gaskin G555 (AI) for $26,000.
At 18 months, Te Mania Legwork L697 (AI) weighed 792kg, making him one of the heaviest bulls in the draft.
He said they started using Te Mania genetics nearly 20 years ago and continued to do so for the “quality of the cattle”.
A great demonstration of how well the Te Mania genetics work for the operation is Minnamurra, who had three teams of steers in the top 10 of the Beef Spectacular Feedback Trial, receiving reserve champion, fifth and eighth, as well as the champion Teys Premium Quality Carcase.
The new Te Mania bulls will go to “Cortina”, Mudgee, where the Minnamurra team joins about 2500 Te Mania-blood females for a spring calving. Mr Power said he’d likely buy bulls at Te Mania’s Walgett sale later this year.
The account to take home the most bulls was a client of Brodie Agencies, Winton, Queensland, who secured 15 bulls through AuctionsPlus.
This represented half of the 30 bulls sold through AuctionsPlus, and its market operations staffer Anna Adams said there were eight successful bidders who secured the 30 bulls that came from five states – Vic, NSW, Qld, South Australia and Tasmania.
Ms Adams said AuctionsPlus bidders were active on all but four bulls.
Te Mania stud co-principal Hamish McFarlane said the average sale draft weight was 720kg, which was some 40kg heavier than last year, and was evident throughout the offering.
He said as well as the bulls presenting well this year, improved commercial cattle prices had boosted buyer confidence in the industry.
