LOSING a most valued donor cow within the Woonallee herd, Furner, South Australia-based Tom and Lizzy Baker, determined to regain her genetics bid up to the $40,000 top price to purchase a son at the Third annual Dubbo Simmental National Sale last Wednesday.
Of the 17 bulls offered at auction 11 sold to $40,000 and averaged $12,090 in a 65 per cent clearance while eight of 14 stud females sold to $8000 and averaged $4875.
The Bakers had their eyes on Mt Ararat Phoenix, the reserve junior champion of the presale showing from John Leek's, Mt Ararat stud, Nar Nar Goon, Victoria, with the judge, Robert Hutchinson, Rutherglen, Vic saying the bull was similar in style to the junior champion, but didn't have quite the "punch", but a deep bull that carried himself around well.
Phoenix, sired by Glen Anthony Y-Arta, is from Woonallee Kathie B111, a female which had played a big role within the Woonallee donor female breeding program but had died.
"We need to reintroduce Kathie's genetics to within our stud herd and Phoenix will do this," Mr Baker said.
"He's an embryo son and carries the Homozygous polled gene which will also fit well within our poll herd.
"Phoenix had a beautiful skin and hair type , just the correct bull for our purposes."
John Leek sold two bulls, gaining $16,000 for Mt Ararat Prince, a son of Woonallee Jetstream, purchased by Feldkirchen Pty Ltd, Crookwell.
Major buyer on the day was Matt Kirk and family's Mt Saul Grazing, Tycoba Simmental stud, Ticoba Station, Mundubbera, Queensland, who paid a $9667 average for three bulls and $5000 for a stud heifer.
The Kirk's first purchase at $16,000 was the senior and grand champion Settler Nelson, by Woonallee Harry, a full brother to the 2018 Dubbo National junior and grand champion, Settler Noteable which sold for $11,000. Nelson was bred and offered by Richard Wilkinson, Settler stud, Bringelly, and weighed 1034 kilograms at 25 months.
A second purchase for the Mt Saul Simmental and Red Angus crossbreeding herd was the $8000 classwinner and 2018 Brisbane Royal reserve junior champion, Ellendale Stylish Addiction, a polled son of Ellendale Stylish Influence, bred and offered by the Pocock and Iseppi families, Ellendale stud, Lowood, Qld, who also gained $10,000 from the Turell family, Corryong, Vic, for another class winner, Ellendale Jimmy Choo.
Included in the Mt Saul's draft was the $5000 junior champion bull, Savannah Power Surge, by Wheatland Kill Switch, bred and offered by Vaughan and Sarah Campagnolo, Myponga, SA., and $5000 for Savanna Miss Zoe, by TNT Bootlegger, placed second in her junior class.
The Campagnolos gained $5000 for Savannah Zoe, also by Wheatland Kill Switch, bought by Stephen and Robyn Vivian, Knockando Simmentals, Cowirra, SA.
Peter and Odette Morley, Boomey Park, Molong, paid $12,000 for reserve senior champion bull, Springside Nano Man for their 1000 breeder Simmental commercial herd which has a small Hereford influence that run with a large Merino self-replacing flock on the 4050 hectare property.
Mr Morley said the 25-month-old Nano Man, by Aussie Park Jamie, weighing 896kg was polled and would work well within the Boomey Park herd.
"He has a dark coat which I like, good eye coverage, good feet and is Homozygous polled," Mr Morley said.
Nano Man was bred by Peter and Toni Rauchle, Springside stud, Pittsworth, Qld.
Stuart and Kylie Hobbs, Molong, gained $11,000 Hobbs Livestock News Flash, by LFE The Riddler, when purchased by Waugoola Pastoral Company, Canowindra.
The Hobbs also sold their reserve junior champion female, Hobbs Livestock Red Keepsake Summit, by Harvie Red Summit, for $5000 to the Baker family, Woonallee stud.
Top-priced female at $8000 was junior and grand champion Loaderry Poppy, shown by Luke Adams, Londonderry, and purchased by an undisclosed Wagga Wagga buyer.
Adam Sciberras, Country Style Simmentals, Londonderry, sold two bulls with top money at $7000 for third placegetter Country Style Nacho's, by Country Style Lockey, a second purchase for Waugoola Pastoral Company. Another at $4000 was Country Style Nixon, by LFE The Riddler, bought by the Walker family, Ben Eden stud, Delungra.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Stud Stock, Dubbo, and Elders Stud Stock, Dubbo, with Joel Fleming, Tamworth, the auctioneer for Landmark, and Paul Dooley, Tamworth, selling for Elders.