YEARLING bulls led the way at the 75th Ben Nevis Angus sale, where two sold for $40,000 and 31 averaged $21,161, while in the two-year-old section, 45 sold to $36,000 and averaged $20,200.
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Overall, 76 bulls averaged $20,600 with a complete clearance, compared to the 2021 Ben Nevis Sale, where 73 of 73 sold to $70,000, with an average of $16,171.
Ben Nevis's co-principal, Erica Halliday, said she and husband Stuart Halliday were keeping the legacy established with the foundation of the stud, seeking the best combination of carcase and maternal traits in a breed that might not have been fashionable 75 years ago but now "is one of the most popular in the world". She said that the Ben Nevis herd had been founded on Booroomooka bloodlines.
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Ms Halliday said the sale result was more than expected, and it was "such an even sale".
She said buyers were looking for a 'true yearling with good data for intramuscular fat (IMF), carcase traits and a good phenotype.
When the first draft of the yearling bulls entered the ring, she said the sale "went off", and several studs stepped up and bought sire genetics for their herds.
The equal top price at $40,00 was Ben Nevis Storm Trooper S272, sired by Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15. Tipping the scales at 575 kilograms, the 14-month-old was assessed to have a B- muscle score (MS) and a 600-day estimated breeding value (EBV) for growth of 149, which places it firmly in the top 5 per cent of the breed.
The buyer was Sinclair Munro of Booroomooka Angus, Bingara, who said the bull's balance of traits presented him with a sire with "no weaknesses".
"He is a bull of very nice shape and muscle pattern and has a very good temperament," he said.
"He had high weight-for-age and very positive figures for calving with an easy doing nature that will produce good weights in carcasses and be able to finish quickly.
"He is the type of sire that will produce bulls that will suit our customers in the high-end grass production system," Mr Munro said.
Hancock Pastoral, buying through Ray White Tenterfield, bought the other $40,000 bull, Ben Nevis Scorcher S465, a 13-month-old that weighed 575kg.
Sired by Baldridge Beast Mode B074, Scorcher had high-value EBV traits, including 200-day growth in the top 5pc and 400-and 600-day EBVs in the top 10pc of the breed.
Selling for $38,000 was Ben Nevis Stormfront S263, bought by Coolie Angus, Merriwa.
Stormfront was the first of the Te Mania Pythagorus calves in the catalogue with 10 sons of the sire, owned in partnership with Ardrossan and Bulliac studs, averaging $20400. Aged 13 months, Stormfront weighed 553kg, with a scrotal size of 41cm.
Coolie Angus's manager, Jamie Edmonds, said Coolie Angus had visited Ben Nevis with two bulls in ind, but Stormfront was a stand-out.
"He really caught our attention," Mr Edmonds said. "He read very well on paper with his data set, but to us, the more important thing was his real sire appeal and phenotype presence.
"He had a deep muscle pattern we really liked as well as maintaining his phenotype."
Mr Edmonds said Coolie Angus had high regard for Ben Nevis and its team: "They run a very good show there," he said.
Okavango Investments, Stirling, Belgravia bought the top priced bull in the 17-19 month draft, with Ben Nevis Stereo S403 for $36,000, one of six bulls averaging $24,333.
Stereo S403 was sired by GAR (Gardiner Angus Ranch) Prophet and, at 19 months, weighed 744kg with a 600-day growth EBV that placed it in the top 15pc of the breed.
Stuart Hobbs, Hobbs Livestock and Merit Farm, Garra bought Ben Nevis Smokin Joe S146 for $35,000. At 19 months, Smokin Joe weighed 710kg and was sired by GB Fireball 672 out of a Beast Mode dam. It was described as a calf with a "massive hindquarter" with a set of data in the top 1pc of the breed, with a "huge curve-bending ability".
Middlebrook Park, Garoo via Tamworth, volume buyers in 2021, returned to buy two bulls: Ben Nevis Strategist S227 for $24,000 and Ben Nevis Sonic S202 for $26,000.
Karori Pastoral Company, Walcha bought three bulls to $14,000 and averaged $12,666 while Rosehill, Glen Innes through Newberry Te Velde Carige, paid $22,000 for Ben Nevis Saturn S402 and $30,000 for Ben Nevis Scooby S411. Scooby was sired by Yon Full Force C398 and weighed 724kg at 19 months.
Andrew Clarke, bidding on AuctionsPlus, Allandale Station Oodnadatta, South Australia, bought Ben Nevis Sir Cumference S360, sired Baldridge Forecaster B160, for $22,000 and Ben Nevis Spotlight S297, sired by Baldridge Beast Mode B074, for $20,000.
The selling agents were Nutrien Ag Solutions Boulton's Walcha with Paul Dooley, the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus providing the online interface.
Simon Chamberlain
I have comprehensive experience in rural and regional journalism, as well as more than six years as a media officer for several politicians and worked in local government. I rejoined The Land in May 2022 and have loved being back in harness, reporting on a massive range of topics.
I have comprehensive experience in rural and regional journalism, as well as more than six years as a media officer for several politicians and worked in local government. I rejoined The Land in May 2022 and have loved being back in harness, reporting on a massive range of topics.
