TE MANIA ANGUS defied the drought stricken northern NSW cattle market today when it offered and sold 88 bulls at its annual Walgett northern bull sale.
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The Mortlake, Victoria-based stud saw bulls twice reach a sale high of $12,000 for a gross of $558,976 and an average of $6352.
Bulls went to Queensland, NSW and Victoria, and 11 new buyers took a total of 28 bulls from the sale.
Te Mania Angus director Hamish McFarlane said "we had great support today from a strong and loyal client base - plus new clients - in what we all know are very difficult times here as producers wait for significant rainfall."
"There was plenty of positive discussion about client breeding programs at the dinner, and at the saleyards today, about targeting better marbling bulls and aiming for the longfed market," he said.
Kerrabee, NSW, buyer Kerrabee Park paid $12,000 for Lot 53 - Te Mania Niccoli N618.
This ET conceived son of Te Mania Jenkins, from the Wargoona cow family was a very well put together sire with exceptional EBVs for growth, carcase, fertility, structure and an easy handling temperament.
Hamish said "sons of Te Mania Jenkins have been in big demand this year - at our autumn on-property sale another of his sons sold to a multi-stud syndicate for $42,000."
Kerrabee principal David Beak and manager Denny Farley were at the sale and ended up with a draft of six bulls for an average of $9000.
Denny said their 350-head breeding herd had been moving towards Te Mania Angus genetics following the purchase of their first 100 Te Mania Angus blood females in Autumn 2018.
He said they had followed that up with a line of Team Te Mania heifers and last year at Walgett purchased their first Te Mania Angus bulls - taking two home that time.
"We are still developing our herd and are seeing the injection of Te Mania Angus genetics as our fast track to the premium longfed markets such as Rangers Valley," Denny explained.
"We can see the evenness in the Te Mania Angus progeny and the market awareness of the brand, will make them more saleable. With the bulls we have purchased today we are looking for growth and carcase, including bulls that can be put over our heifers," he said.
"Of course the other big attraction for us has been the marbling potential and the great temperament of the Te Mania Angus cattle."
The second sale topper - Lot 56 Te Mania Noiseome a stylish son of Te Mania Governor G576 with well balanced EBVs- was purchased by an institutional buyer.
Volume buyers on the day were longtime clients, Grant and Daryl Ford from Newcastle, who finished with eight bulls to take home for an average of $6750.
Grant said "Te Mania Angus genetics do very well on our two properties at Tea Gardens and Gloucester. We are wanting further genetic gain in marbling and growth, and that's what we have been able to get".
"We are wanting to build on the long-term future for our business - and we get to put a Te Mania Angus stamp on our herd at the same time."
Pru and Ben Coulton, "Wallaroi", North Star, finished the day with five bulls for an average of $7800.
Pru said they liked Te Mania Angus genetics because their progeny as "so much easier to market, and the Te Mania Angus people are good people to deal with."
Michael and Annie O'Brien continued their outstanding support and positivity, purchasing 4 sires for their Brigalows breeding herd which has now been re-located from Carinda to Stratton, Roma. Brigalows cattle have achieved sale high prices on AuctionsPlus, and are highly sought after by backgrounders and feedlotters.
The only bull purchased for the Walgett area was sold to the Pike family of "Yarraaldool".
Hamish said he believed the sale line up had been a very good and even line of docile, well grown out young sires. They were largely by Te Mania home-bred sires who are part of our progeny test program run in herds across NSW, Vic and SA.
Hamish said "all the feedback we are receiving from clients, feedlotters and processors, is that compliance to market specifications is what sets commercial producers apart."
"It increases the importance of commercial breeders sourcing genetics from more tested and commercially-focused seedstock suppliers. This factor is only compounded in difficult times like this.
Settling agents for the sale were Clemson Hiscox, with Paul Dooley as auctioneer.
