Mordallup bulls hit $20,000 top
The 2017 bull-selling season claimed a new benchmark with a $20,000 top-price Angus at the Mordallup Angus Bull Sale last week in Manjimup.
The outstanding value represented confidence in the industry and was buoyed by the stud’s new record average price of $7187 for 56 bulls sold, up $797 on last year.
Stud co-principal Mark Muir said he was pleased with how the bulls were showing the profitable thickness and type to meet the current market.
“This year, we introduced probably the most outstanding AI sire (SAV Harvestor 0338) we have used for some time,” he said.
“The progeny of Harvestor here at Mordallup are truly amazing.”
And amazing were the results at the sale when 13 of the sire’s sons sold to the sale top price and an outstanding average price of $9919, quite possibly the best average of any previous sire at the stud.
Showing the most confidence on the Harvestor genetics, Bev and Don Strang, of Donnybrook, were not going to be outbid to take Mordallup Moorook L111, lot 6, home. The $20,000 bull had all the right stuff, weighing in at 1020kg and recording growths of +55, +95 and +120 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights.
“This bull has massive muscle profile with a huge actual eye muscle area,” Mr Muir said.
The Strangs also picked up the $18,000 second top-price bull, Mordallup Nullagine L170, sired by Mordallup Thunder H131, at 1110.
This bull’s sire, Thunder H131, was described as never losing condition and used at the stud over heifers.
Mrs Strang said both bulls represented outcross genetics and would go over commercial cows to produce replacement heifers.
“These bulls have moderate frame scores and good milk figures,” she said.
The underbidder on both bulls was Joe Davies, of Manypeaks, who also had them as top picks, but he was pleased to find success on Mordallup Binar L314, sired by Mordallup Camaro H120.
“This bull presented well visually according to his figures for 200 and 400-day weights ( +54 and +92 respectively),” he said.
The Davies family also paid $10,000 on a Harvestor son to go to work in their 300 pure Angus breeding herd to produce nine to 12-month calves off grass.
Long-time return buyer Vern Mouritz, of Hyden, also was anxious to own a Harvestor son with his $11,000 bid of confidence.
Mordallup co-principal Graham Muir said the stud’s top matron cows were also behind the exceptional results this year.
“The combination of our home-bred bulls and quality cows is producing some exceptional thickness, which is never easy to achieve without good depth in the herd,” he said.
Account GK Beauah found that breeding combination with their bid of $10,500 for Mordallup Drover L210, sired by Mordallup Stockman and out of Mordallup Tupuna.
New buyer Frank Dewar, of Gilberton, and his son Joseph, took home four bulls to a top price of $8500 and average price of $6750.
“We were selecting on thickness and good growth,” Mr Dewar said.
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