SALE SUMMARY
Females Genetic Pkgs
Offered 36 3
Sold 36 3
Top $19,000 $3750
Av $7208 $2833
THE weather was not the only thing that was hot at Furner on Wednesday last week.
In a perfect start for the Baker family’s three Woonallee cattle sales over two days, they offered 36 females and three genetic packages in their third Elite Simmental Female Sale, achieving a total clearance to $19,000 and a terrific $7208 average for the heifers, plus a $2833 average for the genetic packages.
There were 54 registered bidders at the sale, plus a further 29 online through Elite Livestock Auctions, with all states and New Zealand represented.
Ultimately 23 of these bidders were successful in purchasing from one to five lots.
The $19,000 top price was just $1000 shy of the Woonallee female record set at their 2015 female sale, thus setting the scene for the strength in bidding throughout the sale.
Eight lots sold for $10,000 or better, but there were still value buys with 16 females selling from $4000 to $5000.
The top price heifer was 18-month-old traditional coloured Woonallee Vasti L130 (P) (ET) (AI), sired by Starwest Total Value and out of Vasti B117, the dam of Woonallee Goldrush G61, the breed’s $46,000 record price bull at the time, before that price was shattered the next day.
Pregnancy-tested in-calf to Glen Anthony Y-Arta – the New Zealand dual Auckland Royal Show Meat and Wool Cup winning champion, Woonallee Vasti L130 attracted strong bidding before Paul and Natalie Tuckey, Mubarn Simmental stud, Pinjarra, WA, placed the winning $19,000 bid.
As with the 2015 Woonallee female sale when the Tuckeys purchased five heifers at a $7100 average, they came “just looking for good ones!”
They backed up the top purchase with the 22-month-old Tornado daughter, Woonallee Ella L58 at $10,000, also PTIC to Glen Anthony Y-Arta.
Underbidder on the top heifer was Pat Curran, Cawleyvale Simmentals, Keerrong, NSW, who successfully bid on Woonallee Regal three lots later for $10,500.
This Waterfront Jethro J71-sired 18-month-old red heifer was also PTIC to the champion NZ sire.
At the November 2015 Elite Female Sale, Brett Nobbs, Nobbs Cattle Co, Duaringa, Qld, paid $16,000 for the “pick of the total 2015-drop heifers” and chose a fantastic heifer that went on to be a dual junior broad ribbon winner at Melbourne and Adelaide Royal Shows.
He was back again this year and snapped up the same special lot from the 2016-drop heifers, kicking the sale off on a top note, this time for $17,000.
Kevin and Janice Hard, Naracoopa Simmentals, Denmark, WA, purchased the Australian record price Black Simmental bull at last year’s Woonallee bull sale for $27,500.
They were back this year to pick up two top black heifers for $10,000 and $8000.
But the top price black heifer was Woonallee Hayley L153 (P) and AI’d to LFE The Riddler, going for $12,000 to Peter Howarth, Wombramurra Black Simmentals, Nundle, NSW.
Brodhi Carracher, Grangeburn stud, Wannon, Vic, and in conjunction with Mason Galpin Warra-M Livestock, Penola, bid to $15,000 to purchase Woonallee Daisy L121 (P) – an impressive Willandra Gomez daughter, also AI’d to Glen Anthony Y-Arta.
Rounding out the top end prices was Elaine Sleep, who paid $12,000 for Woonallee Jeannie L279 (P), sired by Waterfront Jethro and PTIC to Glen Anthony Y-Arta.
Originally from Colac in Vic, Elaine is now based at Coonawarra in SA.
Underbidders were Nathan and Leah Skirving, Rosehill stud, East Sassafras, Tas; one of three buyers from that state, successful in purchasing two black heifers at $5000 each.
DG&DJ Martin, through Elders Devonport, also bought two heifers, both red, at $6000 and $5000.
22 of the registered bidders purchased heifers with two sharing the volume buying honours.
Jarrad Bonanno, Norman Park stud, Windsor, NSW, paid to $6000 and averaged $5125 for four heifers, while Tony Head, Cummins, also bought four heifers at $4000 each.
Apart from the special lot purchased by Nobbs Cattle Co, eight other heifers went to Qld buyers, with Peter and Toni Rauchle, Springside Simmentals, Pittsworth (two at $9000 and $4500) and the Fairbairn family, Fairhaven stud, Kingaroy (two at $7000 each) being the most prominent.
The three genetic packages sold to $3750 for 10 straws in Woonallee Las Vegas, this being purchased by John Hopkins, Wormbete Simmentals, through Landmark Wagga, NSW; while Paul Tuckey and Tony Head purchased packages in Woonallee Ladykiller, the dual Adelaide and Melbourne champion ($2500), and MRL Capone ($2250) respectively.
Elders Naracoorte conducted the sale with Ben Finch as auctioneer.
