Speckle Park breeders from four states vied for the cream of the draft to secure 30 bulls for an average of $5700 at the annual Minnamurra stud bull sale, Mount Mill, Coolah, last Friday.
A total of 27 sold at auction from the 31 registered and purebred bulls, together with seven first-cross and four second-cross offered.
Progeny of Canadian-bred JSF Redneck Whiskey 4B, the 2015 Agribition junior champion, attracted the eye and bids with nine sons averaging $7778 including the $11,000 sale-topper Minnamurra Norton N134 from Minnamurra 300X Tori J113 by Spots 'N Sprouts Stands Alone 300X.
Norton weighed 696 kilograms at 20 months and carried a scrotal circumference of 39 centimetres, eye muscle area of 108sq cm and intramuscular fat scan of 5.7 per cent.
Five breeding operators from NSW, Victoria and New Zealand combined resources to pay the top money to secure Norton in a syndicate which included Victorians Paul Guy, Te Mooi stud, Benalla, John Ellis, Hanging Rock stud, Newham, and Wayne Munt of Munt Family Pastoral, Gundowring, and NSW breeder Garry Linfield, Glengarry stud, Oberon, and New Zealand stud breeders Robbie and Anna Clark, Parkvale stud, North Canterbury.
Mr Munt, who is also a partner in Snowline stud and runs 200 commercial breeders, said the bull would go to Holbrook Breeders Australia for semen collection, which would then be available in Australia, New Zealand and worldwide.
"This bull has balanced figures for high EMA, IMF and moderate birth weight," he said. "And structurally, is a beautifully put together animal. I believe a lot of studs will seek Red Neck Whiskey blood in the not-too-distant future."
Each of the buyers have 30 stud breeders on average, plus embryo transfer programs.
Paul Guy runs 30 stud females at Te Mooi as well as running a recipient herd of 65 autumn-drop breeders and 80 recipients for a spring drop, while Robbie and Anna Clark, Parkvale stud, also run a commercial herd of 3/4-blood females.
"This is the second year we have attended a sale," Mrs Clark said. "It's the strength of the Minnamurra female genetic base which is so important to us. Minnamurra has put Speckle Park cattle on the map in Australia with their strong commercial influence and success in steer and carcase competitions and trials."
Mr Munt said his operation was targeting the high-end of the beef market with Speckle Park's key attributes of high yield and high IMF.
"When it comes to meat quality I believe Special Parks are positioned between Angus and Wagyu," he said.
Chris and Tracey Rains, Yellowie, Canowie, South Australia, bought three bulls for a $6667 average topping at $8000 for a full ET brother to the sale-topper weighing 731kg at 20 months with a 37cm scrotal circumference, 114sq cm EMA and5.7pc IMF. The Rains have 580 commercial Angus breeders of Pathfinder blood and a North Ashrose blood Merino flock, joining 1800 ewes on 2024 hectares. They introduced Speckle Park three years ago.
"We were attracted to Speckle Parks by their low birth weights and high growth and fertility, a higher carcase yield and quick maturing with better marbling. Speckle Park produce 4-6pc better carcase (and are) quick maturing," Mr Rains said.
Malcolm and Gale McKelvie, Tartha Cottage, Moonie, Queensland, purchased two bulls for their beef-breeding enterprise of Droughtmaster/Limousin of 150 breeders, paying $9000 for another Redneck Whiskey son from the Spots 'N Sprouts Stands Alone-sired Minnamurra Janette J23, Minnamurra Napoleon N25.
They had purchased Angus heifers in calf to Speckle Park bulls from JAD stud, Yeoval, three years ago and paid $10,000 for a bull at this sale fixture last year. They've been crossbreeding for 30 years and run a large cereal and sorghum cropping program on 1822ha.
Justin and Amy Dickens, JAD stud, also purchased three bulls topping at $5000 to average $4333, while Donna Spedding, Summergrove Estate, Carool, bought two bulls paying to $9000 for a son of Six Star Royal Flesh 101Y and Mulcahy Nelson Livestock, Tatura, Vic, bought four bulls for clients through AuctionsPlus. Elders Wandoan, Qld, secured three.
The sale was conducted by Elders Scone, Tamworth and Gunnedah, with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, guest auctioneer.