Sale summary
2018 2017
Offered 42 32
Sold 9 25
Top $7000 $10,500
Av $4500 $4640
INTERSTATE buyers were the ones to watch at the Walmona Santa Gertrudis Invitational Sale at Truro on Saturday, after the top price bull was snapped up by a Qld-based stud.
Forty two bulls from three studs – Walmona, Truro, Seymour Vale, Tungkillo, and Nangaringa, Loxton – were on offer.
The $7000 top price bull, Walmona Xylon, offered by the Doering family, sold to Qld stud Moongana Santa Gertrudis, Drillham.
The 936-kilogram bull was sired by Yarrawonga Coach and had an eye muscle area of 129 square centimetres.
The two-year-old also had good fat cover with 14 millimetres on rump and 10mm rib fat.
Moongana stud principal Cyril Gauld said its scrotal circumference of 43cm and 1.18kg average daily weight gain were the standout figures.
Running 200 breeders, the first-time buyer at Walmona said he had followed the stud's genetics gains before deciding to make the trip to SA.
"I liked the bull's thickness, coat type and breed character. It’s an overall package when I looked at its figures," he said.
Xylon will be joined with about 40 heifers in September.
Walmona Xavon was the second-highest price bull at $5000, and was sold to another Qld stud, Yarrawonga, Wallumbilla, Qld, through Elders Roma.
The 27-month-old bull was sired by Walmona United and weighed 970kg, with a 1.13kg DWG.
It had a 40cm scrotal circumference and a 132sqcm EMA, 14mm rump and 13mm rib fat.
Yarrawonga also bought another bull for $4000.
Walmona sold six of its 26 bulls during the auction to $7000, including Walmona Xtrail for $4000 to John and June Pilcher, Neelai Santa Gertrudis, Bothwell, Tas, through Santa Gertrudis Association field director Nigel Ferguson, Toowoomba, Qld.
Walmona stud principal Michael Doering said "it was a real tough one".
"It so is dry up north and a lot of producers are destocking but if it rains we might be able to sell a few later on hopefully," he said.
“I believe it (Xylon) will go out and do a good job for Cyril, and if word gets out that it was sold for a bit of a bargain, then that might get more guys from the north to come down here and buy bulls in a tough season.”
The Lintern family’s $4500 highest price bull, Seymour Vale Onslow, was sold to Newenham Pty Ltd, Woodside, through Elders Strathalbyn.
The 21-month-old was sired by Benelkay Hillbillie and weighed 756kg. It had a 43cm scrotal circumference with 11mm rib fat.
Seymour Vale sold two bulls to $4500.
Stud principal Mandy Lintern said the dry season impacted the sale and producers were waiting for rain to restock or invest in a bull this season.
Kevin Lintern said the stud’s top price bull caught the bidder’s eye because of its moderate frame and easy-doing traits.
The other guest vendor, the Fogden family, Nangaringa, sold a bull for $4000 to Riverslea Groups, through Elders Inverell, NSW.
Nangaringa Major was sired by Nangaringa Kennedy and weighed 818kgs, with a 42cm scrotal circumference and a 1.16kg DWG.
Landmark SA stud stock manager Gordon Wood said the sale’s result was not a reflection of the cattle quality, with the standout bulls still attracting a bid.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Beaton Agencies, Kapunda, with Gordon Wood and Tom Penna, Elders, Strathalbyn, sharing the auctioneer duties.
