Northern breeders showed their industry confidence at Walgett last week when they bid to $15,000 at the annual Te Mania Angus northern spring sale.
A total of 70 bulls sold under the hammer for an average of $5280, with the remaining 15 bulls on offer sold privately straight after the sale. Buyers came from Queensland – Goondiwindi and Hebel – as well as across NSW, including Mungindi, Newcastle, Singleton, Nyngan, Coonabarabran and Coonamble.
Te Mania Angus director Hamish McFarlane said the sale high was Lot 24, Te Mania Hibbard H538, knocked down to return client Minnamurra Pastoral Company. Hamish said Te Mania Hibbard H538 is by super sire Tuwharetoa Regent D145 and out of a Te Mania Berkley B1 daughter.
“The genetic power of this young sire is the epitome of what we aim to produce and sell into the commercial beef industry,” Hamish said.
“Both his carcase weight EBV of +83 and marbling of +3.7 are in the top 1 per cent of the breed,” he said.
“Combine that with his excellent structure, growth (600-day weight of +128) and fertility, he was a standout lot in the catalogue.”
Te Mania Hibbard H538 was also part of a battery of 11 sires selected by Minnamurra, which was shopping with a keen eye on female traits, meat quality and growth rates to target the feedlot market.
Michael and Annie O’Brien were also major players on the day despite two years of extremely dry in the Walgett area. Hamish said when the sale ended the O’Briens had put together a quality line of seven young sires with a focus on producing more feature lines of high quality females at their property, the Brigalows, and steers for the feedlot market.
“Once again, the Te Mania Angus homebred sire lines outperformed imported sires, with 55 Te Mania Angus blood bulls selling for an average of $5572 while 12 imported sire lines averaged $4375,” Hamish added.
The sale conducted by Clemson Hiscox at Walgett, long-term supporters of the Te Mania Angus program.
Selling in a drought-declared region which has barely received 25mm (10 inches) of rain during the past two years, Te Mania Angus welcomed many new clients who travelled from outside the area, or bid through AuctionsPlus. Hamish said in the face of northern conditions he was delighted a third of the bulls went to new clients, who took the opportunity to introduce Te Mania Angus genetics to their herds.
With many of them, he said, citing the genetic value and opportunity to capitalise on the marketing clout of the Te Mania Angus brand in building female lines and sales impact of progeny from these sires.
“The RMA private agent network also provided strong support, in particular, Peter O’Connor at AJF Brien & Co, Coonamble; David Orr, Pitman Deakin, Moree and Scott Hamilton, Hamilton Mortimer, Narrabri,” Hamish said.
“Anthony Triggs from Elders Goondiwindi who purchased 14 bulls on behalf of the Coulton family from North Star and Duddy family, both from Goondiwindi,” he said.
“The support and power Clemson Hiscox achieved by attracting so many purchasers from outside the region in a season like this was an amazing outcome. It is clear to see how they have won the RMA AuctionsPlus Agent of the Year in the livestock category – for the past two years.
“Clemson Hiscox were well supported by community friends on the day, who provided catering on behalf of the Walgett Little Athletics Club and raising $1000 for the upcoming season. The Walgett camp draft was also a beneficiary, receiving the surplus oaten hay from sale day.”
– Auctioneer Paul Dooley and Chris Clemson
2014 Walgett: Amanda McFarlane, Annie O'Brien, Neil Newton and Michael O'Brien
2014 Walgett: Anthony Triggs with Lucy, Amanda, Pru Coulton and Belinda
2014 Walgett: Auctioneer Paul Dooley and Chris Clemson
2014 Walgett: RV Porterhouse Richard Eldershaw, Hamish, Garry Hall
Minnamurra Pastoral Company General Manager, Dennis Power with Hamish McFarlane and top price bull Lot 24. Photo courtesy of The Land.
