Bongongo Angus, Coolac, again wrapped up the run of Angus bull sales in the south on Thursday with a strong performance late in the season to record an impressive $14,924 average and reaching a high of $30,000.
A strong and loyal client base of commercial buyers went to work from the start paying to the top money of $30,000, while not flinching to pay north of $15,000 for most bulls.
The top bull was secured by David Graham, DJ Graham Trust, "Red Hill", Coolac, in a draft of five top end bulls, averaging $18,800.
The sale-topper, Bongongo R209, was a son of the highly reliable Rennylea L519 that has performed well for the Bongongo stud, including in the areas of growth and carcase traits.
The bull, 18 months, was offered with figures of +57 200-day growth through to + 144 for 600-day growth, coupled with a mature cow weight of +141, +3.7 for intra muscular fat percentage and a $Index value of $195 for heavy grain index.
The Rennylea L519 sons were a feature line of the sale, with buyers attacking every option to get their hands on one, resulting in all 18 in the sale averaging $19,389.
David Simpson, Elders Bathurst, secured two sons of L519 for the second top price of $26,000 and a third for $18,000 for an undisclosed buyer at Oberon.
Mr Simpson said they desperately needed three new bulls to put over second and third calving cows and they had used Bongongo bulls before and loved the progeny.
"We were chasing the younger 18-month-old bulls to put over a line of Millah Murrah bloodline cows and targeted only the L519 sires," he said.
Long-time supporters G.H. Harris and Sons, Coolac, paid to $22,000 for a L519 son with a +4.0 IMF figure as part of a draft of two bulls for which he averaged $17,500, while Frank Lopresti, Kearns, paid $21,000, online, for a Baldridge Command C036 son with good growth and carcase numbers.
Regular volume buyers, the Lenehan family, Beggan Beggan Pastoral Company, Harden, bought seven bulls to a top of $19,000, competing heavily on the top end bulls to average $16,143.
Peter and John Armstrong, Baltimore Enterprises, Junee, had been buying at Bongongo for 10 years and again walked away with six bulls, averaging $16,000.
John Armstrong said they were chasing bulls to produce feeder steers around the 450 kilogram mark and needed bulls with good 400 day growth, positive fat figures and high IMF.
Stephen Simpson, Wylarah Pastoral Company, Tallong, wanted a selection of heifer bulls, with good growth and high eye muscle area and IMF.
He secured five new sires in total, averaging $14,800.
Mr Simpson said he sells his calves at 400 days of age either through the weaner sale system or on Auctionsplus, while keeping their heifers to run with their 500 strong female herd.
"We were chasing the younger bulls and were really happy we landed a son of Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15 for $17,000 as well as Beast Mode and Fail Safe sons," he said.
David Tout, Gundagai, kicked the sale along, securing a $25,000 L519 son with good 400-day growth at +102, positive rib and rump and an IMF figure at +4.5, before securing a second bull at $14,000.
Grant Fenn, Tumut, averaged two bulls at $18,500, while Glendaruel Pastoral Company, Holbrook, loaded three at $13,667 and S.J. and C.A. Guest, bought three at $12,667.
Rounding out the sale, Julong Partnership, Tumut, averaged two at $16,000 in the younger bulls, while Steiner and Hurbert, Gundaroo, ACT, paid to $20,000 for two bulls, including an LK519 son, averaging $16,000.
The sale was conducted by Elders with Steve Ridley and Harry Waters as auctioneers.
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Brett Tindal
National Livestock Manager for ACM Agri. 22 years experience in the Livestock Media industry. Media, Marketing, Photography, Videography and Livestream
National Livestock Manager for ACM Agri. 22 years experience in the Livestock Media industry. Media, Marketing, Photography, Videography and Livestream
