A consistent line-up of 70 bulls reflecting Karoo's breeding focus on efficiency and profitability resulted in a solid sale outcome during the on-property Karoo Angus bull sale at Meadow Flat last Friday.
The sale topped at $15,000 and averaged $6382, with all but two bulls sold during the auction.
Annie Scott, who runs Karoo with her father John Reen, husband Tony Scott and son Riley, said the result was as expected based on the dry season many of their clients were experiencing.
"Times are tough at the moment, but I have no doubt those who stick with cattle will be rewarded when it does rain," she said.
Bidding was consistently solid right throughout the sale and it was testament to the number of loyal repeat buyers looking to continue their breeding programs with Karoo bloodlines.
The $15,000 top priced bull, Karoo D26 Docklands N107, will make the trip to Condamine in Queensland having been bought by Justin and Kate Boshammer, JK Cattle Company, to be used with their stud heifers.
This was the first time Mr and Mrs Boshammer had invested in a Karoo bull, however they had been interested in the stud's breeding for some time. Mrs Boshammer said they were looking for a bull with low birth weight figures for calving ease that also didn't compromise on carcase characteristics.
The 862 kilogram bull's Estimated Breeding Values for birth (gestation length) were -6.7 days, while the carcase EBV for eye muscle area was +6.4. A son of Carabar Docklands D62, the two-year-old was noted for its softness and well-laid in shoulders.
Karoo K12 Reality N278 caught the eye of Cascade Angus, Currabubula, and Jack Laurie, Breeders Genetics, Gloucester, who bought the 918kg bull for $14,000.
Mr Laurie said Breeders Genetics will be in charge to market the semen of the bull, however Cascade Angus own the bull outright.
A son of Milwillah Reality K12, its EBVs for growth (200-day, +51; 400-day, +97, and 600-day, +138) made it a standout in the early run of two-year-olds.
Top priced yearling bull at $13,000 was Karoo G188 Franklin P65 bought by Studlea Pastoral, Molong.
The 750kg youngster was by Wattletop Franklin G188 and backed by a really strong Karoo cow family being from Karoo Wilcoola H258. The bull was also in the top one per cent for 200- and 400-day weight EBV.
There was a mix of return and first-time buyers from both the local area, Queensland, Victoria and numerous NSW regions.
Volume buyers Whitney Pastoral Company, Coombing Park, Carcoar, put together a run of six commercially focused bulls for a top and average of $4000, while Mark and Sue Evans, Martindale Investments, Walgett, took home four easy-doing, low maintenance bulls for a top of $12,000 and average of $9000.
Repeat buyers Sion Hill Pastoral Company, Lyndhurst, bought three bulls for an average of $7333 and top of $11,000. This included the heaviest bull in the catalogue, Karoo H176 Coonamble N327, which tipped the scales at 954kg and was by Coonamble H176.
Grant and Ros Simpson, Dowlings Hill, Braidwood, took home three bulls for an average of $8000 and top of $12,000, while GJ Whitehead P/L, Baldoon, Neville, bought three bulls for an average of $6667 and top of $9000.
The sale was conducted by Ray White Emms Mooney with Ben Emms as the auctioneer.
