Inglebrae Farms’ first on-farm Angus bull sale, at Braeburn via Tenterfield, recorded a top of $10,000 and an average of $5657 with a shed-full of onlookers and 32 registered bidders on Friday.
While there was teasing drizzle soaking country that has been needing a drink for some months, the outlook of a dry spring and a lack of real western rain from last week’s encouraging forecast played a hand in proceedings.
The reality of this tough season reared its head during the sale, where apparently keen registered bidders shied away at the post with 19 sold and 12 passed in, although four were sold immediately after.
This makes a change from the past three years when the stud recorded a 100 per cent clearance.
While there was no volume buyer – other than a few bidders who purchased a couple of bulls each – there was a number of breeders, both new and repeat, who found what they wanted in the Inglebrae genetics.
Of the herd’s 823 cows just 25 presented with calving difficulties this season.
Inglebrae farms manager Darren Battistuzzi who, with his wife Kelly, has steered the stud for the past 17 years, said the stop-and-go summer made preparing bulls difficult, although a handy crop of oats on their western country provided feed at a critical time. No grain was fed in the lead up to the sale.
Top of the two year old bulls, lot 4, Inglebrae Farms Reality M19, was purchased for $10,000 on behalf of Joe and Jayne Richardson, "Wraxall", Timbarra Road via Tenterfield. Sired by Matauri Reality from an Inglebrae cow going back to Booroomooka blood, Reality M19’s estimated breeding values show +2.3 for calving ease, +115 for 600 day growth, +11 for milk, +60 for carcase weight and +4 for eye muscle area (EMA) which measures 113 square centimetres with intra-muscular fat scanned at 7.2 per cent.
The Richardsons also purchased lot 2, Inglebrae Farms Bando M52 for $8000 by his Inglebrae Farms namesake from a Booroomooka Uradale with a +127 for 600 day weight, +14 for milk and an EMA of 114 square centimetres.
Charlie and Kate James, “Katelyn Grazing” at Wondoan, Qld, selected on length and height when they purchased lot 3, Inglebrae Farms Reality M6 by Matauri Reality from an Inglebrae cow, going back to Sara Park and Booroomooka, for $8500.
Reality M6 showed calving ease of +3.5 and gestation length of -5.7 with an EMA of +5.4.
Meanwhile, the James said they were somewhat hopeful of a forthcoming season, after receiving 42mm last week that assisted paddocks now sprouting a bit of optimistic clover and green pick.
The couple also purchased Inglebrae Farms Barnaby M57, by Booroomooka Barnaby, for $4000.
Repeat buyer Ian Cuthbertson, Yetman, bought Inglebrae Farms Consensus M62 for $7500, with +19 for milk and +7.6 for EMA.
Repeat buyer Darryl McCarthy, Tenterfield, bought Consensus M33 for $7000, also showing high milk EBVs at +18 and +7.4 for EMA.
Kerry and Jan Baguley, Tenterfield, bought Inglebrae Farms Barnaby M56 for $7000.
The sale was conducted by Ray White, Tenterfield, with Blake O'Reilly, Guyra, taking the bids.