SALE SUMMARY
2017 2016 (Vic) 2016 (SA)
Offered 130 78 58
Sold 130 72 58
Top $17,000 $14,000 $10,000
Av $7588 $5645 $5896
FOR Coolana stud principals Mark, Anna and Max Gubbins, the decision to combine their annual SA and Vic autumn Angus bull sales into one at Chatsworth, Vic, was an excellent move, strongly supported by both local and interstate buyers.
In a total clearance last week, 130 Angus bulls sold to $17,000 and averaged $7588 – both new record highs for Coolana.
The 18-month-old record-breaking $17,000 top price bull Coolana NZ465-L238 was bought by the Kelly family, Mooramook Pastoral, Caramut, Vic – long-time supporters of Coolana genetics.
Sired by the New Zealand background bull Te Mania 11 465, this magnificently structured and balanced youngster was supported by equally impressive and balanced Breedplan figures – up to +112 for 600-day weight, +17 for milk, +2.8 for scrotal, +6.3 for eye muscle area and +2.7 for intramuscular fat.
This topped the previous Coolana record of $16,000 set in their 2015 spring sale and equalled at last year’s spring sale.
Prominent SA buyer Legh Winser, Benara, Mount Gambier, had a big buying order through Independent Beef Consultant Dick Whale.
Mr Whale bought five bulls for Benara, averaging $10,800, including the $15,000 second-highest price Coolana New Day H36-L122, plus the equal third-highest price of $14,000 for Coolana Black Pearl L157.
Sired by Coolana New Day H36 and Sydgen Black Pearl 2006 respectively, these two bulls had a similar balance of Breedplan figures to the sale-topping bull.
Mr Whale had a busy day, buying 18 bulls for five accounts. These included Burnfoot Pastoral, SA, with seven bulls to $7000, averaging $6214, and Allhill, Corowa, NSW, with four bulls to $10,000, averaging $9125.
H&VJ McLean, through TDC Penola, bought one bull at $10,000.
Vic buyers with four bulls each were Abbey Hills Partnership, Hawkesdale, to $9500, averaging $8000; Hopkins River Pastoral, Dunkeld, to $9000, averaging $8250; and CP&LM Iredell, Pigeon Ponds, to $7000, averaging $6500.
In an emotional aftermath to the sale, Coolana senior principal Mark Gubbins paid special tribute to his strongest mentor and family friend Malcolm Macdonald, who was ill and unable to attend.
Mark made a presentation to Malcolm’s three daughters – Andrea, Deb and Helen – who were present at the sale, bidding against each other and buying 33 bulls in total.
Elders and Spence, Dix & Co conducted the sale, with Ross Milne and Jono Spence the auctioneers.
Big order bound for SA station
THE dominant buying at the Coolana bull sale once again came from Princess Royal Station, represented by Simon, Andrea and Jack Rowe.
Through Elders Burra, they bought 28 bulls to $14,000, averaging $6911.
Their first purchase was lot 1 at $10,000, while they also bought the last lot at $5500, giving strong competition throughout.
Princess Royal produces heavyweight steers for the European Union market and the Rowe family swear by the quality and performance of the Coolana bulls.
Eighteen other SA producers made it onto the buyers’ list and accounted for 58 per cent of the 130 bulls, while 27 buyers from Vic bought 34pc.
McCarthy Livestock, buying through Elders Lucindale, bought six bulls to $8500, averaging $7000.
Swan Brothers, Meningie, were also strong with five to $9000, averaging $8400, while Deb McDonald, Moonee Hills, bought four bulls averaging $9750, and Delta Produce bought four to $6500, averaging $5750 – all through sale agents Spence Dix & Co.