VALUE for money was evident at the Karoo Angus bull sale held last Friday at the Bathurst property of the Reen family.
With a lot of local and stud support, a top figure of $25,000, an average of $6315 and a 100 per cent clearance was made.
After frantic bidding, the top priced bull, Karoo K12 Reality M367, a September 2016 son of Milwillah Reality K12, who weighed 944 kilograms and had a scrotal circumference of 39 centimetres will find himself at Alpine Angus stud, Porepunkah, Victoria.
Chris Oswin, Alpine Angus, was very happy with his purchase and said the bull would be put with a mob of 50 first-calvers.
“We were able to get a closely related bull a few years ago, we called him Karoo Knockout K176 and we really like those lines,” he said.
“We had previously viewed M367 when we went to New South Wales a little while ago now and feel lucky to have got him.
“He was the youngest 2016 bull at the sale and second heaviest.
“He is sound, has a nice nature and the numbers were a bonus.”
Second top priced bull at $11,000 was Karoo G357 Genesis M247, an August 2016 drop son of Pathfinder Genesis G357 who weighed 874kg and had a scrotal circumference of 44cm. He will be head to Lisa Leaver, Crookwell.
Volume buyers, Whitney Pastoral Company made a draft of six, with a top price of $4000 and an average of $4000.
George King, manager of Whitney Pastoral Company, Coombing Park, Carcoar, will be joining 1000 cows this year on the 3000 hectares that comprises the operation.
“We are trying to lift our genetics, we want to take our stock beyond being weaners in our commercial herd,” he said.
“These bulls are very impressive and good value, they always are.”
Hugh and Sheridon Brown, Newbridge, were another volume buyer purchasing four bulls with a top of $6500 and draft average of $5750.
“We liked the all round performance and figures and that they were a very good package,” he said.
“Last year was our first year purchasing from Karoo and we are very happy with the bulls we got then and their progeny so we have come back for more.
“We aim to sell at around the nine month age so are after the a high growth rate and milking ability as we retain our heifers.
“Our climates are very similar to Karoo, and this helps the bulls perform.”
Also taking home four bulls were the Stonestreet family, Barry, with a top price of $7500 and draft average of $6750.
Simon Clowes, secured three bulls at a top of $10,000 for Karoo K12 Reality M203, a August 2016 drop with a scrotal circumference of 40cm weighing 910kg. They averaged $7333 for their draft.
One of the many studs who attended was return buyer Matt Urban, Urban Angus, Dungog. They purchased one bull, Karoo K12 Reality N65, an April 2017 drop, 724kg sire for $9000.
Mr Urban said he would be used in their stud.
“I liked his good structure and good feet,” he said.
“He is a soft, easy doing calf which is what we are after.
“We need the bulls to be able to perform in our coastal country.”
Karoo co-principal Annie Scott felt their sale was a true value for money.
“It reflected the seasonal conditions on the Central Tablelands and beyond,” she said.
“We are really pleased to see a number of new clients as well as our regular bull buyers that support our program year in year out.
“The draft of bulls will go onto perform and we look forward to seeing their progeny. “
She said four of the bulls were going to stud herds.
“It is great to see Karoo genetics are being highly sought by industry leaders,” she said.
“Karoo truly stands by the fact that high performance cattle are still affordable.”
Ben Emms, Ray White Emms Mooney, believed that there was some great value, especially at the top end of the bulls.
“They were a cracking lot of bulls, certainly one of the most even drafts that Karoo have put together,” he said.
“It was great to see some return buyers putting together great drafts.
“In the season that everyone is having I thought it was a very fair result for everybody compared to all of other sales about.”
The sale was conducted by Ray White Emms Mooney with Ben Emms auctioneer.