New record for Mordallup

Looking back, Mordallup Angus stud co-principal Graham Muir said he made the right decision when he bought his first Angus cow as a young lad with a pocket full of hard-earned cash.

“Trade back then was in shillings, now Angus bulls are worth thousands in Australian dollars,” the third generation cattleman said.

And so it was at the Muir family’s 40th annual bull sale, held last week on-property at Manjimup, where 57 bulls averaged $6390 (new stud record), up $1265/head on last year.

Mr Muir, 77, said it has been a challenge to remain steadfast with Angus cattle production over the last 60 years, but this was made easier with the breed’s continual carcase quality improvements.

The celebratory anniversary sale brought more than 60 registered buyers who were all looking to improve their herds with the Mordallup quality that has been proven through the years.

Landmark auctioneer Tiny Holly said the buyers were from as far north as Eneabba to as far as Albany in the south.

“Good bulls sold for expected values and it was good to sell the bulls in the ring this year to enthusiastic bidding support,” he said.

The $14,500 top-priced bull, Mordalup Ecko K36, sold to repeat buyer Mark Harris, of Fairlane Holdings, Busselton, who consulted with Landmark agent Chris Waddingham.

The 942kg bull was described by Mordallup co-principal Mark Muir as a volume sire with good Estimated Breeding Value credentials and out of a strong and outstanding dam, M Unice G22.

Sired by Mordallup Dateline C147, the bull recorded EBVs of +45, +81 and +114 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights.

Repeat buyers and working in an equal partnership, Matt Dela Gola, of Tonebridge Grazing, Northcliffe, and Kevin Owen, of Frank Tomasi, Margaret River, paid the $11,500 second top-price for Mordallup Tanjil K330.

They were the loosing bidders on the top-priced bull, but their second pick was a 914kg bull, sired by Mordallup Net Worth C187 and out of Mordallup Lottie D137.

Mr Owen said the bull had fullness and would go to work over pure Angus cows (second and third calvers), while Mr Dela Gola observed the bull’s docility.

“It’s a deep thick and soft bull which would be used in our nucleus Angus herd to breed replacement females,” he said.

“We are selecting for maternal strength and dual-purpose calf performance, whether it is grass or grainfed.”

Volume buyer Vern Mouritz, of Hyden, bought four bulls to a top of $11,000 and average price of $8625.

Mr Mouritz runs 1200 Angus breeders and has a good working relationship with Borello Beef processors.

“I was selecting for good bulls for heifer replacement and a focus on 200 and 400-day weight,” he said.

Repeat buyer, Chumpot Pastoral, of Victoria, bought two bulls for $10,500 and $8000.

WA College of Agriculture, at Narrogin, paid $9000 for Mordallup Thunder K135.

Another $9000 bull sold to J & G Gilbert, of Busselton.

New buyers Rob and Sharron Griffiths, of Cranbrook, paid $7500 for Mordallup Drover K14.

“He has plenty of depth and a good temperament,” Mrs Griffiths said.