Te Mania Angus offered and sold all 107 bulls, to a high of $52,000 and unprecedented average of $18,327, up 70% on last year’s average.
Te Mania Angus director, Hamish McFarlane thanked buyers for their support of Te Mania Angus genetics through the years of drought, and now today with competition and prices so strong.
“We are overwhelmed, and humbled, by this response from our clients and it has sent us one very clear message – we need to get more bulls out there at a commercial price range to allow more people to access the Te Mania Angus value proposition through genetics; which is clearly very profitable for those clients,” Hamish said.
“Demand was strong at our autumn on property bull sale, when we sold 169 bulls to a $13,035 average and high of $65,000; but the rapid-fire bidding and the prices at Walgett for our two-year-old bulls was like nothing we have seen before, and we would like to thank all our clients, old and new, for this incredible display of confidence in the work we are doing,” he said.
“Demand for the top priced bull, Te Mania Qrusade Q1454, exploded the minute he entered the ring; with on-site and on AuctionsPlus hurling bids faster than the auctioneer could keep up.
“Te Mania Qrusade – clearly identified for his marbling (his IMF of +6.8; putting him in the top 1 per cent of the breed compared with the breed average of +2.0) – is a son of Te Mania Kirby K138; the highest ranked marbling sire in Australasia.”
Hamish said the superstar bull also had calving ease EBVs in the top 1 per cent of the breed, to go with his marbling; and was eventually knocked down to a syndicate led by Rennylea Angus.
Volume buyers at the sale were led by long-term Te Mania Angus clients Michael and Annie O’Brien, Brigalows, Carinda, NSW; and Dennis Power, Minnamurra, Wollar, NSW.
Brigalows put together a line of seven bulls for a gross of $138,005 and average of $19,715; with Michael saying his new bulls would be used in his heifer program.
Minnamurra’s six bulls grossed $136,002 and averaged $22,667 for their Angus herd at Wollar. Minnamurra general manager Dennis Power said the two-year-old sires – all in the top 5 per cent to 10 per cent of the breed for maternal traits – will be used over Angus cows as part of the aggregation’s F1 program with its Speckle Park herd.
“This was a real vote of confidence in homebred sires; we had support from as far north as Wandoan; 300km north of the Queensland border; and Camperdown in Victoria; 1240km due south,” Hamish added.
“A lot of this year’s buyers were targeting heifers as they all work hard to upgrade the quality of their breeding herds,” he said.
“We are also proud we have now been able to show the market for the past few years that Australian bred bulls for Australian conditions are the way to go; and if we ever needed confirmation we are headed in the right direction, this year’s sales at Mortlake and Walgett; despite the strong market, have delivered that.”
Mark and Sue Evans, Martindale, Walgett, were pushed to $30,000, second highest price, for Lot 32 Te Mania Qomprehend Q1063, before backing up with $18,000 for a high marbling “bargain”! The Evans selected Te Mania Q1063, a Te Mania Magnate son for his blend of low birthweight, big growth gains and the milk and fertility figures.
Mark said: “I have always been prepared to pay for the right bulls, with the genetics I need”.
“We are in the process of rebuilding our cattle and this will be our first joining since the drought where we are at our optimum numbers. We are an all-Angus herd and we have worked with natural mating and some AI, to get the profile we are looking for in our herd.”
The Evans also have good demand for their steers at both Killara and Rangers Valley feedlots and Mark said their relationship with Killara extends to backgrounding steers for its program.
“With the support of these buyers recognising the value of homebred bulls we are enormously encouraged the industry can see which way we are taking our genetic strategy and they are coming with us,” Hamish said. “That is the real reward on occasions such as this, to know the work you are doing is hitting the mark.”
Strong support from other local breeders came from Kevin Keech of Narran Lake Pastoral Company; with four bulls for an average of $15,500; Kia Ora Feedlot purchased two for an average of $16,000; Jack Harris, Miralwyn Cotton purchased 2 lots for $16,000 each. Single bulls sold to Michael Garnsey, Wyalla; Russell Chape, Fairfield, Richard Jackson, Calmundi and Wal Friend, Kercargo Pastoral.
“It was fantastic to see breeding cattle returning to the Walgett area, and our clear take-home message is we need to get more bulls out there in a commercial price range,” he said.
The behind the scenes support leading up to and on sale day from Clemson Hiscox, led by Chris Clemson and Russell Hiscox, Shane Watts, Wayne Sullivan, along with Garry and Leanne Hall from Warren, was phenomenal.
The Walgett Historical Society provided excellent catering for morning tea and lunch which featured steak sandwiches of Marble 5+ Angus steak, from the Rangers Valley, Black Market line.
