NEW stud principal Roger Smith was willing to go hard on the Angus bull that topped the Stoney Point autumn sale near Naracoorte today.
It was the one bull he and father John attended the sale for, after seeing the Chiltern Park Moe son during Stock Journal's Beef Week, and paid the sale-topping price of $34,000.
The Smiths, including Roger's wife Narelle, recently founded Angus stud Orwell Rocks at Port Macdonnell, after a Granite Ridge bull purchase last year, and were after another quality bull to build the stud on.
"That bull really stood out on good growth rates, plenty of meat and the balance that we wanted," Roger said.
The sole purchase - 19.5-month-old, AI-bred Stoney Point Ratify R063 - weighed 832 kilograms, had a 40-centimetre scrotal circumference, +85 carcase weight and excelled in its growth rate figures of +58 for 200-day weight, +117 for 400-day and +152 for 600-day.
The catalogue notes said Ratify was considered for stud duties, due to its "exceptional birth to growth spread and stellar phenotype".
Stoney Point stud manager Peter Colliver said Lot 2 was also his pick of the sale as well, and was pleased to see the bull "go to a good home for good money".
"It was a very complete animal, very structurally sound," he said.
"Its sire Chiltern Park Moe has worked very well for us, adding frame and thickness all the way through."
Mr Colliver was very happy with the overall sale result - a total clearance of 73 bulls to the $34,000 top, averaging $13,876 - a massive $4376 increase on the 2021 sale.
The sale's second highest price of $23,000 was paid by Lake Ellen Pastoral, Tintinara, for lot 3 - 19.5mo AI-bred Stoney Point Rafter R033, which weighed 806kg, 42cm scrotal circumference, and measured well in 200-day (+59) and 400-day (+105) growth rates, and +78CWT.
The catalogue notes said "Rafter - a twin - had done extremely well to make it into the main draft - a testament to his productive dam. It has a superb phenotype and tremendous eye appeal".
RELATED READING: Granite Ridge Recruit puts in $36,000 top performance
RELATED READING: Woonallee Revolution turns heads to reach $55,000 high
Nutrien Ag Solutions Port Augusta branch manager Cameron Paul was the biggest bulk buyer on behalf of clients, with five to $15,000, averaging $11,800, while Amherst, Naracoorte, bought four bulls to $20,000, averaging $16,250.
Also buying four was Oakley Family Trust, Millicent to $17,000, averaging $13,500, and N&N Kelly, through Nutrien Mount Gambier, to $16,000, averaging $13,000.
There were plenty of commercial buyers willing to go to $20,000 regularly for their selections.
- JONO SPENCE
Nutrien Livestock and Spence Dix & Co conducted the sale, with Gordon Wood and Jono Spence the auctioneers.
Mr Wood said the gallery was made up mainly of repeat clients, with a few new, which showed Stoney Point genetics were working for those buyers.
"Stoney Point's offering presented well from start to finish, the data stacks up as far as calving ease with low birth and good EMAs with positive fats," he said.
There were 53 buyers registered for the sale.
Mr Spence noted the $10,000 price barrier for commercial clients had risen.
"There were plenty of commercial buyers willing to go to $20,000 regularly for their selections, which is very promising for the stud," he said.
"They're in a great position and I think it is the most ideal time to be exiting from the Angus stud industry - they will be well rewarded."
- Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.