SALE SUMMARY
2017 2016
Offered 25 25
Sold 21 13
Top $8000 $6500
Av $5079 $3538
A RESURGENCE in the Murray Grey breed was evident at the Green Triangle production sale at Western Flat on Wednesday last week, where the bull average lifted more than $1500.
In a healthy 84 per cent clearance, 21 of 25 bulls averaged $5079.
The 38 commercial females with calves also sold well, averaging $2235.
Vendors Geoff and Kate Buick, Arki stud, and Anthony and Denise Fabris, Beeamma stud, were rewarded for a great offering of well-muscled, easy-doing bulls with balanced Breedplan figures.
Sale hosts Arki received top price honours with two-year-old Arki Lucrative L35 making $8000.
The eye appealing 956-kilogram bull, a son of Jomal Glen Himalaya H3, was knocked down to Elders Naracoorte’s Alan Thomson.
Mr Thomson was bidding on behalf of BN&LK Luke, Rosehill, Frances, who also bought the Green Triangle sale-topper in 2015.
The silver coloured bull was the reserve junior champion bull at the 2016 Royal Melbourne Show.
It had impressive Breedplan figures, being in the top 15 per cent of all growth traits and top 5pc for milk.
The $7500 second-highest price went to Arki Lifesaver L42 – a long bull with great carcase dimensions.
It was bought by WB&AB Mune, Swedes Flat – one of two bulls they bought averaging $6500.
Beeamma stud sold their offering to $6000 twice.
Balnaves Pastoral snapped up Beeamma Kyle K35 – a 29-month-old sired by Monterey Film Star F71.
Kyle was a member of Beeamma’s reserve interbreed sire’s progeny team at the 2016 Royal Adelaide Show.
The other $6000 bull, Beeamma Lionel L10, sold to Geoff and Jill Gale, Monarto.
The sale kicked off with eight pens of commercial first-calvers, with day-old to five-week-old calves, displaying maternal attributes the breed is renowned for.
Platinum Livestock’s Ben Dohnt, Strathalbyn, bought the top females from both studs at $2500 each, on behalf of new client Jalacase Investments, Mylor.
One of the largest crowds in the sale’s history was in attendance, including 34 registered bidders from western Vic to the Mid North.
NJ Sealey, Casterton, Vic, was a volume buyer, with three bulls averaging $4500 and three commercial females at $2000 each.
Elders stud stock manager Tony Wetherall said the competition was strong on the top end, but there were still plenty of opportunities, with six bulls making $4000.
“The presentation and quality of the bulls was a credit to both studs,” he said.
“The female sale was very strong, indicating people were prepared to pay for quality and the bull sale flowed on from there.”
Mr Buick said the strong result reflected the “positive times” in the beef industry but also excellent returns being enjoyed by Murray Grey breeders.
“Breeders are benefitting from the premiums on offer in the pasturefed programs and European Union market and the ability of Murray Greys to meet Meat Standards Australia specs,” he said.
“In mid-February, steers from Kingston SE sold up to $4.14/kg.”
Arki has a bull and three females reserved for the Murray Grey National Show & Sale at Wodonga, Vic, on April 21.
