Monterey to $18,000 high

Monterey stud’s top prices for bulls soared — Murray Grey $18,000 and Angus $16,500 — at the Buller family’s annual production sale last week at Karridale.

Overall, with more than 80 registered bidders, the solid sale conducted by Landmark and Elders boosted average prices, with 42 Murray Grey bulls averaging $6250, up $550/head on last year and 30 Angus bulls selling for an average of $6700, up $1825/head.

Landmark auctioneer John Wirth said the Murray Greys sold extremely well at the top end and Elders auctioneer Gary Preston said competition was very strong on the Angus.

In the Murray Grey catalogue, lot 2, Monterey Kosciuszko K101, was the overall sale top-priced bull, selling for $18,000 to Queensland buyers Dean Rasmussen and Marilyn Hansen, of Shell-Dee Murray Grey stud, at Kingaroy.

Mr Rasmussen said he was keen on the bull, which had some Shell-Dee genetics on the dam side, with the bloodline producing strong females in the past for the stud.

“We basically bought the bull sight unseen knowing the pedigree from having bought previous Monterey bulls,” he said.

“From a photo, the bull looked like a stud sire and his weight for age was also a factor.”

Monterey co-principal Gary Buller said the 21-month-old bull weighed 900kg at 18 months.

“He is in the top 1 per cent for all growth EBVs and is a very special bull out of a highly productive dam,” he said.

The underbidder on the bull, Rodney Gregurke, of Tarlina Murray Grey stud, Port Lincoln, South Australia, later bought the $12,000 second top-priced Murray Grey bull, Monterey Jukebox J132.

Mr Gregurke said the 1184kg bull was an upstanding rising three-year-old with proven bloodlines.

“He has shape, good feet and temperament and his eye muscle area is 134sqcm,” he said.

Mr Buller said the bull was very well grown, with fantastic volume and muscling.

Repeat volume buyer Mark Forrester, of Kanandah station, Kalgoorlie.

Mr Forrester runs 8000 head of cattle on two certified organic pastoral properties on the Nullarbor.

He bought five Murray Grey bulls to a top of $13,500 and an average price of $6350.

“Organic beef is very strong and it is a growing market, we can’t supply enough,” he said.

“These bulls will assist in increasing our capacity as we push for higher turnoff.”

Another stud purchase that took place was from Joan Monley, of Jomal Glen Murray Grey stud, who paid $6750 for Monterey Kuwait K22.

Last year’s sale top-price buyer, Maxine Greville, of Gingin Pastoral, paid $9500 for Monterey Kick Start K10, a Murray Grey bull, and later bought the $16,500 top-priced Angus bull, Monterey Kodak.

“The Murray Grey bull will be put over Angus females while the Angus bull will go over pure Angus top-quality cows to breed replacement females,” she said.

“I run 300 Angus breeders and have been buying Monterey bull since 1999.”

Mr Buller said Kodak K10 was a record price for his stud.

“He is a very smart bull who has impressed all who have seen him,” he said.

“The bull has great length, strong topline, terrific muscling and a slick coat.”

The 946kg bull was sired by Monterey Diplomat D184 and out of dam Monterey Elegant A69.

Also breaking the previous Angus stud top-priced record, Monterey Katapult K71 sold for $14,500 to Jordan Swainston, of Albany and another bull sold just under the previous record, selling for $12,000 to an undisclosed buyer.