BIDDING soared to $10,800 for a 13-month-old composite meat goat in the Manwaring family's second annual Malleevale Contender Meat Goats sale at Malleevale, Condobolin last Friday, more than tripling last year's inaugural sale result.
Raising the bar for commercial producers, Ian and Alison Manwaring and their children sold 40 from 47 bucks to a top of $10,800, to average $3278. Mr Manwaring said the draft was bred from a selection of Australian, Rangeland, South African and US Myotonics.
He said bucks were easy-care with rapid growth characteristics and the ability to fatten on grass.
"Our goal has always been to produce animals that add value to the commercial herd," Mr Manwaring said.
READ MORE:
Bidding was strong on growth and carcase traits, in a field of buyers from as far as Victoria and central Queensland. Both the top and second-top bucks were knocked down to Richard Hawken, Thurlstone, Cookamidgera.
The $10,800 high-selling lot 15 weighed 82 kilograms and had measurements of two millimetres for rib fat and 35 square centimetres for eye muscle area (EMA).
The $7600 second-top lot 4 buck weighed 98kg at 16 months and had measurements of 5mm for rib fat and 38 sq cm for EMA
Mr Hawken runs 140 Rangeland nannies, selling progeny over-the-hook at Cowra Abattoir. He first entered the trade after purchasing a property at Bogan Gate, and mustering the feral goats there.
Mr Hawken said he was now looking to improve the carcase and to produce heavier animals.
"I'm only new to the game but I can see there is money to be made," he said. "You've got to buy the best animals that will do the job for you."
Mr Manwaring said the sale had exceeded expectations. "The result was certainly very humbling. As commercial producers, it's wonderful that buyers have that level of confidence in our animals and will pay top money," he said.
Volume buyers were the McLeod family, Wentworth, eight bucks, and the Gadsby family, Morven, seven bucks.
The sale was conducted by Forbes Livestock and Agency Company and hosted online via AuctionsPlus.
Love agricultural news? Sign up for The Land's free daily newsletter.
