Commercial SA and Vic buyers raised their bidding limits for an outstanding draft at Nampara Angus stud's 14th annual bull sale on Tuesday, pushing the average up nearly $3400 on 2021's sale result.
Despite offering 20 more bulls than last year, the Hann family sold 93 of 95 lots for an impressive $16,193 average at their Coles property.
Twenty bulls made $20,000 or more with thirteen of these in the first 14 bulls through the ring.
This kicked the sale off with a bang.
The heaviest bull in the draft, lot 2, Nampara Freightliner R11, was the first to reach the $32,000 sale high.
The rising two-year-old tipped the scales at 1000 kilograms and had the largest eye muscle area of 139 square centimetres.
This was backed by an EMA figure of 12.2- ranking in the top three per cent of the Angus breed, as well as a well-below average birth weight.
The eye-catching, AI-bred son of Banquet Nixon N099 sold to brothers, Greg and Michael Holcombe, Camp Creek, Branxholme, Vic, who have enjoyed great results with their calves in the Hamilton weaner sales.
Greg said they were impressed by the "depth and softness" of Freightliner, which had 21mm rump fat and 11mm rib fat.
"We are trying to put more coverage on our weaners and make them finish earlier and he should do it."
Camp Creek were one of three buyers to secure four bulls in the catalogue.
At lot 35, Nampara Liberty R185, a son of breaking bull Nampara Liberty L21- equalled the sale high of $32,000.
The April 2020 drop received plenty of ticks in pre-sale inspection but it was Geoff and Petrina Smith, Shady Grove Partners, Lucindale, who were the successful buyers of the 904kg bull.
The Smiths had been ringside in 2017 when Liberty L21 made the $85,000 state record and had followed L21's progeny in subsequent sales.
"When we first saw his sire (L21)we were interested him but we didn't have the money that he made, " he said.
"He (R185) is a close to him as we have seen, I like his shape, his structure and his bone," he said.
Last month at the final Naracoorte weaner sale for the season Shady Grove's Nampara blood calves were among the best prices in the huge yarding, with their steers making $2580 and heifers $2380.
The Hann family's strong effort to put their cattle in front of potential buyers at Stock and Land's Beef Week at Mortlake and Casterton, Vic, paid off with close to half the catalogue heading into western Vic.
Paul O'Brien, Sunnyside, Casterton, bought four bulls for a $21,250 average, including lot 52 the first of the spring drops which made $27,000.
However showing the geographical diversity of Nampara's client base the other volume buyer with four bulls was the Lillecrapp family, Todmorden Cattle Company, via Oodnadatta. These bulls averaged $13,500.
Mrs Hann said it was tremendous to have such a strong lift in average despite putting up 20 more bulls in the catalogue.
She was also rapt to see so many cattle breeders "following their program" with 86 registed bidders- easily their largest number.
"It was pleasing commercial buyers could see good value in spending a bit more money on their purchases in the top end of the catalogue," she said.
"The other great thing was there was bulls for different budgets and markets; if you had $10,000 you could get a bull but if you had $20,000 you could get an even better one."
Mrs Hann said they would consolidate their numbers for the 2023 sale at about 100 bulls.
"It is a great time to be in the beef industry," she said.
Elders conducted the sale with Ross Milne taking the bids.
He described it as a "fantastic, even sale".
"There was good money but people could still buy bulls at $15,000-$20,000, I think most commercial guys came here with that expectation and the bulls were fantastic all the way to the end," he said.
Mr Milne said Nampara had always bred Angus cattle with great phenotypes with the draft having plenty of muscle, depth of body and capacity. Their Breedplan figures were now matching the cattle which was drawing in a broader client base.
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