Sumo Wagyu sold a full blood heifer, in calf to a sale top of $23,000 at their annual production sale at Lawrence via Grafton on Tuesday where bids came from afar as the United States but the top bid went to a local buyer from The River City.
The black two year old fullblood, dehorned, Sumo Aizakura R150 is a daughter of Mayura L064 and was bought as a foundation dam, to supply donor eggs to a recipient herd.
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Underbidders on this top bid included Rodney Fisher, Comboyne and father and son team from Rosevale, Qld, Alex and Oscar Saez, who paid $17,000 for the three year old black cow Sumo Hikokura Q174, fullblood and dehorned.
The well balanced daughter of Sumo Michifuku F154, who was known to produces progeny with consistent carcase data averaging marble score 8.3, came with an Estimated Breeding Value marble score of +2.2 and above average carcase weight, ranking in the top 5pc across all indexes.
Interest in Sumo's 33 years of genetic experience in full-blood Wagyu also realised bids of $14,000 from Charlie Pye, Gingie Pastoral Co, Walgett, for a choice of embryos from Sumo Hikohime Q132, or Sumo Dai 2 Kinntou Q208 both going back to Sumo Itoshigenami G113 and rated in the top one per cent across all indexes, in the case of Q208 and in three of the four for Q132.
The mixed farmer with 12,000ha of crop and 15,000 Dorper sheep says his Wagyu interest is confined to a herd of 200 mostly poll cattle but likes to incorporate Sumo fullblood genetics because of their good growth traits, fertility and excellent mothering abilities.
Volume buyer was Stephen Gibbons, Birregura, Vic, taking away a cow and a calf for $9000 and five unjoined heifers to a top of $11,000 for Sumo Hikokura R134 by Sumo foundation bull Itoshigenami C0158, with +1.8 marble score and +29kg carcase weight.
As a commercial producer of Wagyu steers backgrounded for the feedlot, he said carcase data was critical to breed success and the Sumo genetics were backed-up by excellent carcase data.
"Sumo can claim with certainty their carcase traits," he said. "They fit well into my program."
United States' buyer Synergy Wagyu, from Pennsylvania, paid $12,000 for unjoined heifer Sumo Dai 2 Kinntou R94 by US sire Itoshigenami TF148 going back to Sumo Michifuku on the dam's side.
Guyra fullblood breeder Lock Rogers paid $9000 on behalf of his son, also Lock, for the unjoined heifer Sumo Hikohime by proven performer Sumo Itomichi P143.
Mr Rogers said demand for fullblood bull calves meant most were sold when they hit the ground with increasing interest from northern first and second cross breeders.
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