Weebollabolla Shorthorns attracted some solid prices at its 50th anniversary sale today, despite the hot, dry weather.
The sale topped at $20,000 and averaged $7694 for the 72 bulls that sold from 81 offered.
The sale topper, Weebollabolla Lincoln L98, was a son of Marellan Nuclear (by Weebollabolla Theodore) and from the Belmore Jackaroo daughter, Weebollabolla Brisvegas H76.
Lincoln tipped the scales at 896 kilograms, with a 41 centimetre scrotal circumference, 12 and nine millimetres rump and rib fat depth scans, a 130 square centimetre eye muscle area, and a 6.3 per cent intramuscular fat scan with a marble fleck score of 4+.
This was one of two bulls purchased by the Morgan family of The Grove Shorthorns, Condamine, Queensland, the other being Weebollabolla Lover Boy.
The Morgans bought Lover Boy, a son of Yamburgan Zeus and from Weebollabolla After Hours G164, for $18,000.
Spencer Morgan, The Grove, said Lincoln was “balanced across the board”, possessing good growth and carcase qualities.
“That’s the target we’re trying to get, is to hit that B2 MSA Index,” Mr Morgan said.
Lincoln had an MSA-B2 Index figure of $75, helped by a figure of +5.2 for eye muscle area, +1 for intramuscular fat and good growth figures.
Lover Boy, which the Morgans bought for their heifers, had an MSA B2 index of $62, as well as low birth weight figure of +1 and a gestation length figure of -1.9.
Mr Morgan said this bull had a great carcase traits, but it was also its calving ease traits they liked, with the aim of being able to get the quality they were seeking in the calves without the risk of calving issues.
Second top bull sold for $19,000. This was for Weebollabolla Laird L85, which was knolcked down to Kindee Pastoral Company, Hope island, Qld.
Laird was a son of Weebollabolla Hallmark H206 and from Weebollabolla Colleen H46 and had above average breeding values for growth, scrotal and IMF.
Laird weighed 986kg with a 39.5cm scrotal circumference, 13mm and 8mm rump and rib fat, a solid 138cm2 EMA, 5.2pc IMF and a 3+ marble fleck score.
Essex Grazing Company, Middlemount, Qld, was the largest of the volume buyers, taking seven lots to a top of $12,000, twice, and to average $8286.
Vendor, Sandy Munro, said he was very happy given the tough state of the season and the high Australian dollar, which had impacted on the market.
“I was very happy to get by today considering … I don’t think it’s going to be a wet summer,” he said.
He said it will also be good to see how the feedback shapes up from the branded product the stud was working on with NH Foods, which was targeting the Asian market.
He said as the burgeoning Asian market continued to grow its middle class, that region would continue to seek an increased amount of red meat, both off grain and grass, which he said Shorthorns excelled at.
The sale was conducted by Bob Jamieson Agencies and Elders, with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, was auctioneer.