A NEW stud record for Lancaster black Simmentals was reached at its on-property sale at Meningie on Friday last week, after a High Profile H338 son was knocked down at $19,000.
Interstate interest in the stud's genetics underpinned the sale, helping to clear 56 of 59 bulls offered, resulting in a $7741 average.
Qld-based buyers Steve and Robin White, Roma, secured top price bull, Quokka Q310, through MAA Roma, after buying from the stud for almost a decade.
The 900-kilogram bull had a 44-centimetre scrotal circumference and while Ms White said these figures were important for bull selection, it was docility and maternal traits of Quokka Q310 that were standouts.
The June 2019-drop bull was ranked in the top one per cent of the breed for docility and in the top 10pc on the All-purpose Index, maternal traits and back fat.
The White's run 600 Angus cows and Quokka Q310 will be put over select females in about October.
"We really love the temperament of the Lancaster bulls, as well as the softness. Their bulls also have high fertility and the genetics help us maintain that across the herd," Ms White said.
The second-highest price bull was bought by Brewer Beef, Tallangatta Valley, Vic, for $18,000 and they also secured another bull at $6000.
Another son of High Profile H338, Quarterback Q347 weighed 922kg with a scrotal circumference of 43cm.
It also ranked in the top 10pc for maternal milk and back fat, and top 1pc for docility.
Lancaster stud principal Henry Cartledge said it was the highest top price and sale average achieved by the stud.
"I hoped it would be stronger than last year and it reached close to expectations," he said.
Spence Dix & Co's Jono Spence said the sale's result reflected the beef business.
"It was a quality draft all the way through and prices reflected that," he said.
Connor Pastoral, Tintinara, was the sale's volume buyer after securing a strong line of seven bulls to $10,000, twice, averaging $7714.
Appleton Cattle Co, Yarmina Station, Charters Towers, Qld, secured four bulls to $11,000, averaging $9250.
Amherst Livestock Trust, Naracoorte, bought four bulls to $7000, averaging $6000, while Moonee Hills Pty Ltd, Meningie, bought three bulls to $7500, averaging $7166.
SA&HL Mumford, Kangaroo Island, bought two bulls to $10,000 and another for $8000.
The sale was conduced by Spence Dix & Co with Jono Spence as the auctioneer.
- VANESSA BINKS
- Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
