Ravenswood flys to $12,000 high on debut

But there was plenty of great value for the final SA bull sale for the season, held at The Basin sale complex, Willalooka.

Of the 27 bulls sold, 22 were knocked down at the $4000 base price.

Stud principals Richard and Anna Crowley and John and Rebeka Gommers sold bulls to $15,000 during SA Beef Week in February, but set aside a well-bred run of spring 2016 drops for their joining time bull sale.

This gave buyers from across the state a chance to replenish their sire battery just prior to mating season.

Landmark Balaklava’s Kelly Evans led the buying with 18 bulls for repeat Ravenswood clients,Williams Cattle Co, via Oodnadatta.

Tooperang Pastoral, Mount Observation, snapped up three bulls at $4000 each.

The sale’s $12,000 top price was paid for Lot 3, Ravenswood Mac Daddy M80.

The 926 kilogram son of Stoney Point Jet Away J87 was knocked down to Greg Fisher, Clover Ridge, Marcollat.

Auctioneer and Elders South East livestock manager Laryn Gogel said the July 2016 drop was an absolute stand out in the catalogue with its weight for age and thickness.

It had gone on since he first saw the young sire in January.

“One thing about Fish is he shops for bulls with capacity and character and good figures and that is what this guy had about him,” he said

Mac Daddy also had exceptional Breedplan figures with all four indexes ranking in the top 10pc of the Angus breed.

Mr Gogel said the genetics on offer were “very sound” and breeders not at the sale had missed a “golden opportunity”.

“The genetics are following the trend we would like to see the Angus trend follow – putting extra capacity back into the cattle,” he said.

Mr Gommers was also pleased with the result.

“The big thing come this time of the year is clearance which we got, and guys got the bulls they wanted,” he said.

Ravenswood will hold its next sale during 2019 SA Angus Week, offering about 40 bulls.