Bannaby Angus bulls sell for stud record $12,525 average

The average was a 36 per cent increase on last year's sale, despite the stud increasing their offering from 42 to 59 bulls this year.

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Bannaby Angus' Keith Kerridge said it was a very exciting sale for the stud.

"We were obviously worried because of COVID restrictions, last Sunday it didn't look like we were going to have a sale, it was a great relief to get the exemption order through on Monday," Mr Kerridge.

There were two bulls that sold for the top price of $21,000. The first was Bannaby Metamorphic Q162 who was purchased by Cate Investments, Crookwell.

The two-year-old was sired by Ben Nevis Metamorphic M51 and out of Vermont Edwina D115, purchased at the Vermont dispersal.

He was the heaviest in the draft, tipping the scales at 948 kilograms and he stood out for his growth and carcase estimated breeding values, with a carcase weight value of +84, in the top four per cent.

Elders agent Daniel Tarlinton purchased the bull on behalf of Cate Investments and said they liked him for his growth and capacity.

"They're setting up their cow herd and looking to breed replacement heifers with some volume in them," Mr Tarlinton said.

The second bull to sell for $21,000 was Bannaby Beast Mode Q89 by renowned US sire Baldridge Beast Mode B074. He sold to another local client, Merricroft Pastoral, Golspie.

His dam was Tuwharetoa E159, a daughter of the dam of Rennylea Edmund E11.

"Tuwharetoa E159 has bred really well for us, there are a number of her sons in the sale, and a number of her daughter's sons in the sale," Mr Kerridge said.

"She has a very high IMF and lifts the IMF of all the progeny."

Bannaby Beast Mode Q89 had an IMF of +3.0 and growth EBVs in the top five to 10 per cent (200-day +57 to 600-day +143) with a positive calving ease.

His purchaser, Luke Carroll, said they were chasing a bull with high growth rates to join with their mature cows.

"We're looking to get more size, growth and frame into our cows," Mr Carroll said.

He was one of two Mr Carroll bought on the day, also purchasing a Bannaby Discovery N93 son for $6000.

Mr Kerridge said they had used a lot of Beast Mode sons over their heifers this year.

"Beast Mode on his EBVs has very low birth weights and explosive growth and that's what we've found, we're very happy with his progeny," Mr Kerridge said.

The four Beast Mode sons in the draft sold for an average $14,250.

Other top sales included Bannaby Loch Up Q145, who sold for $20,000 to the Milson Family Partnership.

The bull, sired by Millah Murrah Loch Up L133, was sold as a charity lot raising money for the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse Equity of Access Fund in memory of Bannaby Angus team member Maureen Kerridge AM.

He was one of four bulls to sell for $20,000. The Pastoral Company, Crookwell, another branch of Cate Investments who purchased the $21,000 bull, bought Bannaby Reality Q101 for $20,000.

While, Veolia Environmental Services purchased two bulls for $20,000, Bannaby Berkley Q96 and Bannaby Apache Q120.

Volume buyers included Mt David Ag Trust, Mount David, who came away with six bulls for one property and two bulls for another.

McArthur Onslow also purchased five bulls on the day.

The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien and interfaced on AuctionsPlus, with Lincoln McKinlay, Elders taking the bids.

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