THE state's Angus stud breeders have pocketed $8.77 million in an extraordinary run of bull sales.
Of the 853 bulls offered in 14 on-property sales plus one online auction, 810 sold for a $10,821 average, with a more than 50 per cent rise in gross on 2020.
Last year, 768 of 814 bulls averaged $7341.
Every stud posted their best average, but it was Glatz's Black Angus stud, Avenue Range, that achieved the top result. In a total clearance, their 59 bulls topped at $20,000 and averaged a magical $13,661.
The $85,000 record price for a SA Angus bull - set by Nampara stud, Lucindale, back in 2016 - remained unbroken, but the stud's sale-topper did made the most money for the week.
Tas stud Quarterway Angus outlaid $40,000 for Nampara Junior Q148.
Angus Australia SA branch president Brad Lucas said the expectation was for buyers to spend a bit more on their bulls in 2021, but no one expected jumps in the order of 40-50pc.
"It is a brilliant time to be in beef," he said.
"With the good season people have still got a lot of feed in front of them and won't need to do a lot of supplementary feeding and people are also increasing their female numbers.
"Why Angus? They are easy-doing cattle and there is a great market for them."
Mr Lucas said it was pleasing to see stud breeders gain a share of the stellar beef prices and said they would be able to reinvest in top genetics to take the industry further forward.
"Previously there wasn't a lot in it (producing bulls at $4000 to $6000) but now we are getting the averages up to $11,000 and $12,000, it is probably what they deserve to get," he said.
"Is it sustainable? I'm not sure."
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