A NEW stud on property record of $22,000 was achieved on Monday at the Graham family's annual Bongongo Angus bull sale, Coolac, as commercial buyers continued to play at the top end, off the back of high cattle prices.
A total clearance of 53 Angus bulls averaged a solid $12,566, as a large local buying contingent that knew the bulls inside and out, settled in for the two hour Helmsman auction to secure the bulls of their choice.
The top price bull, Bongongo Q637, was a son of Granite Ridge Kaiser K26, out of a Te Mania Africa daughter, weighing in at 704 kilograms as a rising two-year-old, with a scrotal circumference of 39 centimetres, strong estimated breeding values for 200- day and 600-day growth of +131, +8.8 eye muscle area and intramuscular fat percentage at +3.1.
He was snapped up by PE Graham Trust, Adjungbilly, who knows the cattle well and regularly buys at the top end.
Tony and Grant Fenn, with manager Mark Edwards, Eurobin, Gocup, paid $18,000 for a Lawsons Momentous son weighing 742kg, with strong growth and carcase figures to +9.6 EMA and above average $Index values, along with a second bull by Granite Ridge Kaiser K26 for $11,000.
Grant Fenn said they were chasing good all round bulls that could do a job with cows or heifers to produce 450kg feeder steers from their 500 cow herd.
Bongongo stud principal Bill Graham said the Lawsons Momentous sire and his calves were scanning the house down across the industry and he was a bull really starting to create a lot of interest across the stud world.
Sunny Point Pastoral Company, Oberon, led the charge for volume buyers with three bulls averaging $16,667, while the Lenehan family, Beggan Beggan Pastoral Company, Harden, bought well with five at $9600 and Gungong Pastoral Company, Coolac, sent three across the river for $14,333.
Several bulls made $17,000 with G H Harris and Sons, Coolac, Caroline and Rosie Spittle, Kingslea Partnership, Jugiong and Schlunke Pastoral Company, Bowning all snapping up a new sire at this price.
Rounding out the sale Julong Partnership, Wee Jasper, paid $16,000 for a new sire, while DJ Graham Trust, Coolac, averaged three at $13,000, Euramie Angus, Araluen, snapped up three at $13,000 and Lachballin Farm Trust, Cowra, loaded two at $13,000.
The sale was conducted by Elders Gundagai.