THE fifth annual Red Angus and Simmental National Show & Sale was held online last week.
Internationally renowned cattleman PJ Budler, Global Livestock Solutions, US, judged both breeds virtually, with the results posted on Facebook.
He said it was evident Australians were producing functionally efficient and environmentally adapted cattle and labelled some of his big winners as "world class".
In the Simmental judging, 1090-kilogram GHS Quaker Q9 from Grant High School, Mount Gambier, was named senior and grand champion bull.
The 24-month-old was a son of GHS Mr Money and out of 2016 Royal Adelaide Show winning female Woonallee Lady G34.
Mr Budler said Australian cattleman were renowned worldwide for their ability to produce cattle that work and survive in different environments.
RELATED READING: Red Angus and Simmental national sale grows with shift online
GHS Quaker Q9 could literally go anywhere in the world, he said.
It was the second biggest show win for the school, who run four Simmental cows.
The bull later sold for $11,000 to Luke Scicluna, Tamworth, NSW.
Reserve senior champion Mt Ararat Quantum, from John Leek, Nar Nar Goon, Vic, was the eventual sale-topper.
The 25-month-old, 1070kg bull, described as "the real deal", and had already won two supreme exhibits from two shows.
It sold for $19,000 to Ivan Price, Moongool, Yuleba, Qld, through Nutrien Roma.
In the junior bull classes, Coolibah Bounty Hunter, from Madison Morgan, Dorrigo, NSW, was champion ahead of Loaderry Red Affair from Luke Adams at Clarendon, NSW, in reserve.
The senior and grand champion Simangus bull was Coolibah Question also from Madison Morgan.
When it came to the females, Mr Budler couldn't overlook Bandeeka Roulette R14 from Tony and Loreen Kitchen, WA. Reserve was Bandeeka Remedy R6.
"She is female that I think could be an incredible bull producer...but I'd also just love a herd of 100 or 1000 cows just like this; easy fleshing, easy keeping, high quality females," he said.
IMPACT BULL
In the Red Angus judging, grand champion bull went to Schipps Quade from Doodle Cooma Pastoral Company, Wagga Wagga, NSW.
The son of Red Lazy MC Eye Spy 64Y made an impact for its "completeness".
Just behind in reserve was Barregowa Power Mode P08 from Gary and Shelley Turnham, Gisborne, Vic.
Doodle Cooma Pastoral also exhibited the junior bull, Schipps Red Quarry Q64, while reserve was Round-Em-Up Indeed Q038.
Mr Budler commended the females on offer and with all entries evenly matched in quality and uniformity.
Junior and grand female was the Powe family's Goondoola Retrograde R03 with reserve to Goondoola Roxie R11.
SALE RESULTS
Due to injury, grand champion Red Angus, Schipps Quade, was withdrawn the day of the sale, but the breed still performed strongly.
In the online sale, 15 Red Angus bulls were offered with 10 sold to $11,000, averaging $7700.
That was compared with a 63 per cent clearance, $8000 top and $6000 average last year.
The $11,000 top price Red Angus bull, Round-Em-Up Rascal, was secured by Womblebank Cattle Company, Mitchell, Qld.
The 15-month-old son of Round-Em-Up Nugget N045 from the Hobbs family, Molong, weighed 570kg at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in April, with an eye muscle area of 100 square centimetres
He was suitable for heifers.
All four Red Angus females offered sold to $6000, averaging $5500, well up on the 38pc clearance and $3200 average in 2020, while semen sold to $140 and embryos reached $500.
The $6000 Red Angus top price was paid for grand champion female, Goondoola Retrograde R03, and her stablemate Goondoola Roxie R15, who were both bound for Kantara Farms, Tatura East, Vic.
Simmental bulls sold to a strong average of $10,800, but only 13 of 35 sold, compared with 16 of 25 last year which averaged $8125.
No Simmental females were cleared at auction, but semen made $270 a straw and embryos rose to $1500.
Nutrien stud stock agent John Settree said while it was a mixed sale, it wasn't reflective of the quality of the cattle.
"I think the fact it was online only may have missed some people, but if anyone wants more information regarding the available lots then please get in touch," he said.
The sale was held on AuctionsPlus through Nutrien Studstock.
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