Allendale Angus stud held its inaugural bull sale at Bordertown on Tuesday last week, achieving a total clearance of 21 bulls and reaching $17,000 for lot 1, Allendale L508 Q223.
The sale-topper Q223 had been used in the Allendale stud and was sired by Rennylea L508, which was the sire of many bulls throughout the catalogue, with 11 sons averaging $11,909.
Q223 had figures of +4.4 for birthweight, +50, +91 and +129 for 200, 400, and 600 day weights, respectively, +19 for milk, +9.5 eye muscle area, +1 rump fat and +2.6 for intramuscular fat. It was well above the breed average for the Angus Breeding index at +145, the Domestic index at +120, Heavy Grain index at +161 and Heavy Grass index at +137.
Buyer Harry Kelly, Mooramook, Caramut, Vic, will use Q223 to breed his own bulls for his large Angus operation.
"After many years of buying rams from the Day family and forming a strong relationship with the Day family, I was more than confident to buy a bull from Allendale, being so highly regarded in the seedstock industry," Mr Kelly said.
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While the offering was small in numbers, the quality was maintained throughout the catalogue, as indicated with a very respectable first sale average of $10,881.
First-time client Michael Kempe, Artimore & Partners, Culburra, secured three bulls to $13,000, averaging $11,666.
Mr Kempe plans to use the bulls over Simmental-Shorthorn cows for the vealer and feedlot market.
"I was selecting for high growth firstly with good phenotype, correct structure and quiet temperament," he said.
Treetop Estate, Ballarat, Vic, also bought three bulls, paying to $12,000 twice to average $10,666.
With 32 registered buyers and strong numbers in the gallery, stud principal Alastair Day was thrilled with the "amazing result".
"Although we are only offering a smaller number of bulls, we are proud of the quality of the bulls offered and will build numbers in coming years," Mr Day said.
Spence Dix & Co's Jono Spence said the first Allendale Angus bull sale had "probably come a bit earlier than first planned after the foundation female purchases from the Booroomooka stud".
"It was a very pleasing result with good support from previous buyers," he said.
Spence Dix & Co Keith conducted the sale.
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