Bulls reached a high of $18,000 and females topped at $5000 at the 21st Anniversary Wallawong Carcase Quality Sale at “Marriot Park”, Gunnedah, on July 12.
Of the 19 bulls offered by the James family, 15 sold for an average of $6077 and twenty females sold for an average of $2975.
Diane Whale of Glenliam Farm Murray Greys, Glen William, bought the top bull, paying $18,000 for Wallawong Magic Man M47, a 24-month-old son of Lindsay Fusion F94 and Wallawong Emerald F68.
Weighing 910 kilograms, the bull had an eye muscle area (EMA) of 127 centimetres, intramuscular fat of 7.6 per cent and rib fat of 16mm.
Mrs Whale said Glenliam would use the bull in the stud and commercial herd, along with marketing semen.
“We were looking for the right balance between conformation and carcase quality and to have his EMA, fats and marbling combined is very rare,” Mrs Whale said
Three bulls made the second-top price of $7000, with Lot 1, Wallawong Masterclass M22, and Lot 6, Wallawong Master & Commander, selling to new clients in Western Australia and repeat client Warren Gunter taking Lot 9, Wallawong Mercury M45, back to Baradine.
Stud principal Lachlan James said buyers were looking for bulls with good muscling and fat coverage to meet Meat Standards Australia requirements.
“A lot of our clients are focusing on producing heavy supermarket cattle that are efficient, finish off grass, and have high yields,” Mr James said.
“This is the best group of cattle that we have put up, fitting of our 21st anniversary sale.”
Stud co-principal Kate James said it was pleasing to see so much interest in the sale, given the state’s current drought conditions.
“We have had interest come from people right across Australia, bulls and females went to Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria which is good,” Mrs James said.
“It’s even more pleasing to see that interest come considering the current drought conditions we and so many others are facing.”
The sale was conducted by Ray White Fleming and Ross, Gunnedah, with auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth, taking the bids.
