Knutsford ends on Monterey high

Murray Grey and Angus bulls and females sold exceptionally well at the Monterey production sale last week at Kojonup.

It was a fitting finale for the Knutsford sale complex which after many years of hosting bull sales has closed due to the property being put on the market.

The Walsh family who own the historical venue were highly praised at the start of the sale for their years of dedication to the beef industry.

The Murray Greys got off to a grand start with lot 3, Tullibardine Formula One F54, selling for the $15,500 top price.

The 938kg bull, offered by guest vendors Alastair and Jenny Murray, of Tullibardine stud, Albany, found a following last September when the bull was judged supreme champion exhibit at the Perth Royal Show.

As the bull was paraded in the sale ring, the appreciation of the quality was echoed by Elders auctioneer Dennis Roberts as he received a volley of bids.

When the hammer fell, the bull was earmarked for a new home at Raymond Park Murray Grey stud, Chittering.

After the sale, Raymond Park stud co-principal Wylie Woolcock said the moderate birth weight bull with high growth EBV figures would represent an outcross bloodline for his stud.

"It is our first purchase of a Tullibardine bull," Mr Woolcock said.

The Murray family almost doubled their success this year, selling 14 bulls for an average price of $6303 compared to last year's average of $3477 for 11 bulls sold.

The sale brought many eastern states buyers and the Murrays' line-up of bulls also attracted stud interest from RW & RC Gegorke, of Tarlina stud, South Australia, who paid $9000 for lot 26 - Tullibardine Fringe Benefits.

Although absent from the sale, Mr Gegorke's successful bid came from Darren Koopman, of SA, who was acting on behalf of the Port Lincoln stud breeder.

Fringe Benefits is a half brother to Formula One, also sired by Tullibardine Civil C90.

Tullibardine also sold a $10,000 and a $7500 bull through Greg Neeves, of Landmark, who was bidding on behalf of local commercial producer Larussa Holdings, of Gingin.

Mr Neeves also secured Monterey bulls for Larussa for $6750 and $6250.

Gary and Julie Buller, of Monterey, also had increased averages this year after selling 67 bulls and 67 females, which included a $142 per head increase on the Grey bulls from last year.

Topping the Monterey catalogue, it was again Mr Gegorke who paid $10,000 for Monterey Frame Up F47.

The 972kg bull with growth data well above the top one per cent for the breed was sired by Monterey Saratoga B13.

Nannup commercial producer Bill Avery, who trades as WC & BE & DC Avery, paid the $9750 second top-price for Monterey Flight Path by new sire Monterey Cleveland.

The Avery family bought two other Monterey Grey bulls for $6500 and $6250.

The Forrester family, of Kanandah station, Kalgoorlie, were volume buyers of Monterey Greys, buying nine bulls for an average price of $4750.

Mark Forrester said they ran 6000 head of cattle and about 40 per cent of the breeding herd was pure Murray Grey.

In the Angus catalogue, the $7250 top-priced bull, Monterey Frame Up, was bought by RJ & JD Reid, of Albany.

The 848kg bull was sired by Carenda Stockman D34 and scanned an intramuscular fat (IMF) score of 6.5 per cent, highest of all the Angus sale bulls.

In the female portion of the sale, Glenburn station, of Victoria, paid the $6750 top-price for a Murray Grey PTIC cow/calf unit - Monterey Dutchess A102 with a bull calf.

Station manager Darryl Bjork went on to buy Grey cow units for $6250 and $4000 and also a PTIC cow for $4000 and a PTIC heifer for $4250.

Mr Bjork also bought eight Angus PTIC cow/calf units for an average price of $2875.

The $5250 top-priced Grey heifer was sold to Darren Koopman, of SA, while the $5500 top-priced Angus cow/calf unit went to JM & H Della Gola, of Northcliffe.

Also, part of the sale was in semen sales with four studs buying 50 straws each to a top-price of $100/straw from one of the two sires, Monterey Fortress and Monterey Fastrack.

Mr Buller said both bulls scanned excellent figures for EMA and IMF and were very promising growthy and stylish sires with exceptional outlook.

Monterey production sale * <table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left">TYPE </td> <td>OFFERED </td> <td>SOLD </td> <td>TOP PRICE </td> <td>AVERAGE </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Murray Grey bulls </td> <td>51 </td> <td>47 </td> <td>$10,000 </td> <td>$5316 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Angus bulls </td> <td>29 </td> <td>20 </td> <td>$7250 </td> <td>$4487 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>MG cow/calf </td> <td>19 </td> <td>16 </td> <td>$6750 </td> <td>$4250 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>MG cow </td> <td>26 </td> <td>17 </td> <td>$5250 </td> <td>$3720 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>MG heifer </td> <td>21 </td> <td>9 </td> <td>$5250 </td> <td>$3805 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Angus cow/calf </td> <td>25 </td> <td>20 </td> <td>$5500 </td> <td>$3150 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Angus female </td> <td>5 </td> <td>5 </td> <td>$1800 </td> <td>$1800 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>TULLIBARDINE </td> <td/> <td/> <td/> <td/> </tr> <tr> <td>Murray Grey bulls </td> <td>14 </td> <td>14 </td> <td>$15,500 </td> <td>$6303 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>