Ascot autumn sale reaches top of $18,000​

The buyers’ preference for polled genes was in evidence after three of the high selling homozygous  youngsters averaged $12,333 almost doubling the sale average of $6750 for 20 Charolais bulls.

Throw into the mix the red factor gene and you have the $18,000 top money Charolais bull, Ascot Leverage L523E (P) (RF), which was bought by Andrew Meara, Elders, Toowoomba, QLD, on behalf of Ian and Di McCauley, Valinor Grazing, Valinor Park, Kilcoy, QLD.

Mrs McCauley said the poll and red factor genetics were the two most important factors in their decision to buy Ascot Leverage which will be used in their Belmont Red/Senepol herd.

Ascot Leverage is a 19-month-old son of Ascot Eldorado (P) which weighed 886 kilogram and was supported by balanced EBVs and had a ‘peggy bag’ of 41 centimetres which ranked him in the top two per cent.

The McCauleys sell most of their weaners annually at the Toogoolawah, QLD, sale in early May

A total of 40 Charolais heifers were sold, mostly joined and sold to $5000 for a $2712 average.

The top-priced heifer Ascot Pickaback L63E (P) was bought by Ian Bebbington, Mountview Charolais, Cambooya.

Demand for the Angus bulls was strong after 24 youngsters changed hands for a $7375 average and sold to $13,000.

The top-priced Angus bull, Ascot  Linesman L651, was bought through Harriet Forster, AuctionsPlus, Sydney on behalf of Michael Pratten, Koolewong, Borenore.

Linesman was a high Breedplan ranking bull across all traits and the only Wattletop 1407 F77 son in the catalogue which had a ton of length and was also very well balanced.

Mike Wilson, Mike Wilson Stud Stock and Bloodstock, Armidale, bought five Angus bulls full of ‘meat and muscle’ for a $7000 average for Nick Mather, Samuel Holdings, Lyndley Station, Jandowae, QLD.

Central Queensland operators, the Rytara-Sainsbury family of Kabra via Rockhampton, bid the $8000 top Angus female money for Ascot Flower L329, a quality daughter of Irelands Galaxy G43 which was PTIC to Millah Murrah Highlander G7.

Volume Angus female buyer was Noel Courtice, Ladas Downs, Glenmorgan who bought 14 PTIC heifers for a $2750 average for his soon-to-be-registered stud, Cobblegun Angus.

In all, 37 mainly joined Angus heifers averaged $3418. Ascot Cattle Company raised $3000 for the Trio Angus bush fire appeal through the sale of their joined Angus heifer, Ascot Tamsyn L366.

Another feature of the sale was the spread of buyers who came from as far north as Julia Creek and Collinsville, west to Quilpie, QLD, and all points in between and additional competition was underpinned by strong local support.

Interstate buyers travelled from Borenore, Coolah, Stroud and Tewinga, and extended further south across the border to stud breeders from Hansonville in Victoria.

The sale was interfaced through AuctionsPlus with live video and audio streaming throughout the entire sale. Harriet Forster, AuctionsPlus, Sydney was on hand at the Ascot fixture and facilitated the sale of the $13,000 top-priced Angus bull, Ascot Linesman L651, for a NSW based client and half-a–dozen extra lots via the online platform.