Lancaster's $16,000 top bite

It was a fitting result for the 10th annual sale for vendors Tim and Lise and Henry and Prue Cartledge.

In the breakdown, 34 purebred bulls averaged $5221, 14 three-quarter Simmental bulls (Lancaster 75s) averaged $5107, and seven half-Simmental, half-Angus bulls (Lancaster 50s) averaged $4929.

While the top price was nearly doubled on last year’s result, the average was up by a staggering $1708.

LCS Jackal J161, the 910-kilogram sale topper, was early in the piece at lot two and attracted spirited bidding from the get-go.

By TNT Tanker U263 and from a GW Lucky Charm 665K daughter, the bidding duel was ultimately won by NSW breeders Tony and Helen Donohue, Ulmarra Simentals, Singleton.

Jackal J161 ranked highly in a number of American Simmental estimated progeny difference traits, including the top one per cent for maternal calving ease, the top 3pc for maternal weaning weight, the top 10pc for yearling weight and milk, and the top 15pc for weaning weight, back fat and rib eye area.

Mr Donohue said they had selected the bull for a number of reasons, but that its eye appeal was hard to match.

“He’s the kind of bull that stands out all the time,” he said.

“We liked his softness, volume, muscle, overall doing ability and type, as well as his weight for age.

“He ticks all the boxes for what we are looking for these days in cattle in generally, but certainly in black Simmentals.”

The underbidders on the top bull, the Baker family’s Woonallee Simmentals, Furner, didn’t miss out completely, picking up the next lot and full flush brother LCS Juggler J155 for $11,000.

Juggler J155, weighing 904kg, had EPDs in the top 1pc for maternal calving ease, top 10pc for milk and maternal weaning weight and top 15pc for back fat.

Woonallee also secured the second-top priced female at $5500, LCS Poppy K201, by Nichols Legacy G151 and from a GW Lucky One 686K daughter.

Five females from six offered were sold, averaging $4150.

The $5750 top price female was proven eight-year-old donor cow Lancaster Libby C311, secured by Lewis Bruggemann, Glental Simmentals, Mallala.

By SRS J914 Preferred Beef, Libby C311 had bred sons which sold to $8000 and had been flushed four times for 25 embryos.

Eight daughters had been retained by Lancaster.

Volume buyer on the day was Moonee Hills, Meningie, which took eight bulls averaging $5125.

SA&HL Mumford, Parndana, Kangaroo Island, took five bulls averaging $5200, and Yalanda Pastoral Co, Meningie, also took five averaging $4300.

Deepwater Pastoral, Tintinara, took three bulls averaging $6500 and Wongamine Farms, Hawkesdale, Vic, took three averaging $5667.

Lancaster co-principal Tim Cartledge said they were very pleased with the lift in both the top price and average, and the confidence shown in their program.

“The best of it was the (bidding) strength right through, and the number of repeat buyers which was great to see,” he said.

“It was good to see strong competition on the 50s and 75s – it didn’t drop off when the Simmental percentage dropped off – if the bulls were right, they had good competition.”

He said he felt buyers were chasing bulls with lots of meat and depth, and was pleased the quality of the bulls carried right through the catalogue.

The sale was conducted by Spence, Dix & Co, with Jono Spence the auctioneer.