Girls win average at Monterey

With the $12,500 top-priced Monterey bull are buyer Leon Stickland, of Mungatta Murray Grey stud, Nathan King, of Landmark, Don Morgan and Alec Williams, of Elders, Gary Buller, of Monterey, and John Stickland. PHOTOS: BOB GARNANT

Monterey production sale
STUD	OFFERED	SOLD	TOP PRICE	AVERAGE
MONTEREY
Murray Grey bulls	51	50	$12,000	$5240
Angus bulls	29	27	$7000	$2926
Murray Grey females	18	18	$9000	$5375
TULLIBARDINE
Murray Grey bulls	14	14	$10,500	$4357

Monterey's Murray Grey girls won the average honours at Gary and Julie Buller's excellent 18th annual production sale at Kojonup last week.

For 18 cow-and-calf units, the average was $5375, a few dollars higher than the $5240 average for the 50 Monterey bulls.

But when it came to the day's top price, the bull component shone brilliantly, with $12,000 the top price, paid for Monterey Dunkirk (sired by Monterey Impeccable, the 2007 Interbreed champion bull at the Perth Royal Show).

Gary's notes cited Dunkirk as a potential stud sire and by a stud he certainly was bought - the Stickland family's Mungatta Murray Grey stud at Wongan Hills.

Mungatta was one of about 12 Murray Grey studs from arcross Australia represented at the sale, so bidding was rewardingly strong, because Monterey greys are eagerly sought Australia-wide.

But not only Monterey greys sold strongly.

Alastair and Jenny Murray's Tullibardine Murray Greys found immense favour - theirs was a full clearance of the 14 bulls offered at the invitation sale where Tullibardine's top price was an impressive $10,500 for Tullibardine Delectable D88, the supreme champion Murray Grey bull at the 2009 Perth Royal Show.

The buyers were Ian and Narelle Wilcox, of Ayr Park Murray Grey stud, Woodstock, New South Wales, with agent John Atkins, of Albury, bidding on their behalf.

Tullibardine's second top price was $7250, AT Larussa, of Gingin, the buyers.

But back to the Monterey senior bulls. Mungatta's Stickland family bought from Monterey two years ago and came back for more last week.

"That bull, Monterey Bertrand, bred really well for us and his progeny will be for sale next year," said John and Leon Stickland who have also bought Monterey semen in the past.

Monterey Dunkirk appealed to them for his overall size, topline and good balance and he will be used over 40 to 50 females.

"He will give a good lift to some of our cows," they said.

The $10,000 third top-priced Monterey bull of the sale was bought by Richard and Kathy Corall, of Glenbold Murray Grey stud, South Australia.

In the Monterey Angus offering, Monterey Detective D36 fetched the $7000 top price with G & RM Telini of Dardanup the buyers, represented at the sale by brothers Mick and Brad.

The Telinis run 420 Limousin/Murray Grey/Angus-cross breeders, with their market being trade and export steers.

"The bull will put an outcross bloodline into the herd and breed more maternal mothers," Mick and Brad said.

At 46cm, Detective's scrotal measurement was the biggest in the sale.

Tasmanian buyer Charles Wallace, of Woodbourn Murray Grey and Angus studs, bought the March 2008-drop Angus bull, Monterey Day Tripper D20, for $5500.

Back in the Monterey Murray Grey junior bulls, the $10,500 Monterey Impecccable D278 was bought by return buyer Rob Walker, of Breelong Murray Grey stud, Woodenbong, NSW.

This sale was understandably on a three-quarter share and possession basis - the June 2008-drop and frame score 7 bull weighed 810kg on January 12 this year, had an EMA of 120 and scrotal measurement of 45cm. Not bad for a young bull aged not even two years.

When it came to the females, Ray Palmer, of Raymond Park Murray Grey stud, Chittering, was the star player. He bought the three top-priced cow-calf units at $9000, $8750 and $7500, with the $9000 pair, Monterey Melissa A305 and her M Steamroller B140 heifer calf at foot, being described by Gary as one of the sale's two star lots.

She had been depastured with B140 from June last year and was PTIC.

"I was chasing the best," said Ray who did let other buyers in, including Gerald and Jeanette Koopman, of Tungkillo, SA, who bought a cow-heifer calf unit at $6750.

Glenbold Murray Grey stud bought a cow-heifer calf unit (the other star lot) at $4500, while RA and SF Randell, of Kenton Murray Grey stud, SA, bought a cow-heifer calf unit at $4000.

Raymond Park's Ray Palmer bought the two $125 top-priced semen lots (from Monterey Gotcha Z36) to end a very successful sale.

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