INTERSTATE buyers bid with confidence to secure top-quality females from the heart of Australia's largest Limousin cow herd on February 19.
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At the inaugural Matrons of Mandayen sale at the Eight Mile sale complex near Keith, 16 females remained in South Australia while 63 were dispersed to different states.
Damian and Len Gommers and families put up some of their best female lines which comprised cows with calves, mated and unjoined females.
They sold 63 of 72 offered for a $3496 average, a great result given the seasonal conditions across much of Australia.
About 40 registered bidders represented four states – SA, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland – and were largely new breeders taking the opportunity to enhance their herds.
In recent times, Mandayen has only sold a handful of females at the Limousin National Show & Sale at Wodonga but young heifers sold to $11,000 last year.
The biggest demand came for the three-in-one units, with 25 of the 2005 to 2009-drop rejoined cows with calves averaging $4180.
There were good opportunities for those with modest budgets, especially in the PTIC heifer offering where 12 were knocked down at the $2000 base price.
Victorian breeders Andrew and Lyn Ralph, Tooroonga stud, Bendigo paid the $7000 sale top for a rising two-year-old female, Mandayen Krystal G1829. The AI-bred female was sired by Wulf Realtor 1503R out of a Ramornie female.
The powerful but feminine female was artificially inseminated to ROMN Tow Truck and backed up with Mandayen Guardian G1848 to calve in April-May.
She was also in the top 10 per cent of the breed for eight production traits
The Ralphs, who have been breeding Limousins for four years, bought three females including the $6500 top-price unjoined female.
The nine-month-old, ET-bred apricot heifer, Mandayen Krystal H2063, showed great length of body.
"It is our first time buying here but they are really lovely stock," Lyn said.
Andrew Harries and his fiancee Jennifer Lees, Harlees Limousins, Loomberah near Tamworth bought the $6750 top-price three-in-one unit.
The rising seven-year-old, aptly named Mandayen Special B625, had bred four daughters which were all retained in the stud. She sold with an impressive four-month-old bull calf by Mandayen Ionseco C927.
Harlees Limousins were also volume buyers with eight females for a $3219 average.
"Mandayen is the biggest producer in Australia so it is great to be able to follow those who know what they are doing and do it well," Andrew said.
Harlees Limousins has had success with Mandayen bloodlines, topping the Hunter Limousin Invitation sale with a bull they bought as a calf on its mother privately.
Mark Lidbury, Lidco Limousins, Wallalong, NSW was also active with six females to a $5500 high. This included the mother of the $10,500 top-price bull at Mandayen's bull sale the following day.
*Full report in Stock Journal, February 28 issue, 2013.
