EMU Springs’ target is to turn off large lines to feedlots, aiming for 450 to 500 kilograms at 12-14 months of age.
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The last consignment was sold to JBS Australia’s Prime City feedlot near Griffith, NSW, but manager Jacob Schilling says their agent, Spence Dix & Co director Jonathan Spence, looks for the best market at the time.
Mr Schilling has had a long association with Stoney Point Angus stud, Meningie, since his days at Lake Ellen Pastoral and has been impressed with the progeny of their bulls for their weight for age and carcase shape.
“They are easy-doing bulls with good feet which we need – if they aren’t, they can blow out in the sand,” he said.
Mr Schilling has high praise for stud manager John Gommers as an astute cattleman who is always looking for the latest genetics, in Australia and the United States.
“It makes life easier buying bulls there because you know they have some of the best bulls you can buy,” he said. “You can ask questions about any bull and John knows what it is, and he is fussy about what they will offer.”
Emu Springs Pastoral was the volume buyer at the 2015 sale, with six bulls between $4500-$5500.
Last year Emu Springs also bought bulls from Coolana stud, Meningie. Higher cattle prices have been a long time coming, but Mr Schilling hopes they can be sustained.
“When we started, cattle were making $1.80/kg liveweight, but today we are getting $3.40/kg so we can’t complain. But it is where they need to be,” he said.
Mr Sherrah praised the great support from Suncorp Bank through state agribusiness manager Ben Gierish, whose intimate knowledge of the poultry and cattle business has been invaluable.
