An impressive AI-bred son of United States sire, LD Capitalist 316, was the top earner at Glatz's Black Angus stud's 14th annual Cattleman's Bull Sale on Wednesday last week, making $20,000.
But it was the consistent high quality of the 59 bulls on offer that ensured Ben and Samantha Glatz and their sons Dylan and Jack notched up a total clearance and $13,661 average- the highest average for SA Angus Week sales.
The result was up a whopping $5920 on 2020.
Remarkably it came just five weeks after a bushfire ravaged their Avenue Range property causing big losses, including 250 stud cattle.
Luckily nearly all of this year's sale bulls survived the blaze and presented well considering their ordeal, but it did force a change of location to the Woonallee sale complex, Furner.
First-time buyers Barry and Damien Pitt, Coonawarra, outlaid the $20,000 top price for lot 3, Black Angus Capitalist Q50.
They spotted the 22.5 month old, which was very docile, at the Glatz family's recent Beef Week open day.
"It is a bull with a lot of depth and good shape," Damien said.
Capitalist Q50 also had an impressive set of figures being in the top 5-15 per cent of the breed for 200 day growth, 400 day growth, 600 day growth, carcase weight and eye muscle area.
The Pitts were also successful on lot 22 at $18,000.
Lot 6, Black Angus Kiwi Jack Q1, was knocked down for the second highest price of the sale at $19,000.
The bull was sired by Storth Oaks Jack J7, which excelled in cohort 7 of the Angus Sire Benchmarking Project, and also sired last year's $15,500 sale topper at Glatz's sale.
Q1, which was in the top 10pc of the Angus breed for calving ease and birth weight and scrotal size, was bought by Fordvale Pastoral, Strathalbyn.
The first sons of Glenloch JK Makahu M602 also received plenty of interest with their great muscle content and softness.
Thirteen of these averaged $13,923.
The first through the ring-lot 10- was knocked down to Christine Comley, Ardno, Mount Gambier for $18,000.
The Glatzs bought Makahu in 2018 from JK stud, Chincilla, Qld, with semen in the bull being marketed by Agri-Gene.
Many of the buyers were long-time supporters including Chesrex, Kingston, who have bought at every sale. They secured six bulls to $16,000, averaging $13,000.
Also maintaining his record of buying from every sale Hamish Robertson, Kingston, bought two bulls- lot 4 and 8, both at $16,000.
Six bidders were active on AuctionsPlus with three of these from western Vic buying six bulls.
Wheal Farms, Beachport, secured five bulls to a $14,000 high, averaging $11,800 and Hill & Waters, Lake Mundi, Vic, took home four bulls to $10,000 twice for a $9250 average.
Mr Glatz said the family were "extremely pleased" with the sale result and said it was "humbling" to receive such strong support.
"The overall result was most pleasing. We once again thank our widespread and loyal client base for their continual support," he said.
"We were particularly happy with the level of interest we have received in our program following our 2020 sale which contributed to some additional strength this year."
Mr Glatz also extended his sincere gratitude to Woonallee stud's Tom and Lizzy Baker for generously offering them the use of their tremendous sale facilities, particularly at short notice.
Nutrien stud stock manager Gordon Wood - who auctioneered the sale with Richard Miller - said there was "really solid pricing" throughout the sale.
"A lot of bulls started at $15,000, plenty at $10,000 and $12,000, really not a lot of bulls started below $8000," he said.
"People have obviously appreciated the cattle here at Glatz's but they have also seen what has been happening (at bull sales) as the week has gone on.
"We all know where the beef job is at the moment and people have been well rewarded with the prices for their weaners so they are pumping it back into the right genetics to push forward."
Mr Wood said the positivity of the Glatz family to "overcome a big hurdle" had been incredible.
Nutrien and Elders were joint selling agents.
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