MORE than $3 million worth of Angus females went through the ring at a sensational stage two of Stoney Point Performance Angus's dispersal at Naracoorte on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The in-person and online buying gallery was a who's who of both up-and-coming and established Angus breeders, eager to invest in top-quality genetics.
Across the two days of selling, 372 females found new homes and averaged an impressive $8103.
177 females - made up of 13 PTIC recipients, four donor cows, 34 PTIC mature cows and 126 PTIC 2019-drop cows - were sold on the first day to a $8814 average.
On the second day, 195 females consisting of 136 2020-drop PTIC heifers and 59 selected weaner heifers sold to an average of $7459.
While the top price of $34,000 - achieved twice - didn't reach the heights of last year, the averages were well up on 2021 when 312 PTIC females aged from three to 10 years averaged $5982 and 70 weaner heifers averaged $3986.
Stoney Point stud manager Peter Colliver said it was satisfying to see consistently strong bidding competition across the catalogue and said it was good reward for years of effort.
"It was definitely sad to see the girls go, but at the same time it was great to see them go to a lot of top quality established studs around the country and quite a few young people starting off as well," he said.
"There was some still good buying for top end commercial producers at the bottom end and those top end cows went to good homes and I'm sure they're going to perform for their new owners."
Among those new owners was the sale's volume buyer Heath Tiller, Goolagong Angus and Santa Gertrudis, Warnertown.
Looking to set themselves up for long-term success by buying top-end females, Goolagong purchased 53 in total to a high of $34,000, averaging $10,377.
"It's not every day that you get to buy from the heart of a herd," Mr Tiller said.
"We bought a few last year and it went very well for us, so we thought we'd come back and buy at the top end again to go back into our herd to be there for the years to come."
The $34,000 was outlaid for two-and-a-half-year-old cow Stoney Point Mona Q069, a Wattletop Franklin and Stoney Point Mona daughter, which was AI'd in September last year and PTIC to Texas Iceman R725.
Mr Tiller said the cow's general phenotype and sheer power, combined with good structure and data, were well worth the investment.
The final cow through the ring on day one, Stoney Point Dream Q947, also reached $34,000 and made its way to Mandayen, Keith.
Co-purchasers of the $46,000 Yankee Queen female from Stoney Point last year, Mandayen bid up for the July 2019-drop cow which was PTIC to Stoney Point Prevalent P048 and ranked in the top percentile of the breed for 200, 400 and 600-day weight.
AuctionsPlus was very across the two days and much of the bidding came from Yulong Investments, Mangalore, Vic.
The thoroughbred racehorse breeders who have diversified into Wagyu and Angus breeding, bought 50 females in total.
Also operating online were Locksley, Coonabarabran, NSW, who bought 24, Jason Little Pty Ltd, Robertson, NSW, buying 19, Williams River Angus Stud, through Dillon & Sons Livestock, buying 12, and Geneflow, Tocumwal, NSW, buying eight.
Bayview stud, Yorketown, bought eleven females in total to $15,000, averaging $8682, while Fig Tree Park Angus, Wandsworth, NSW, made the trip over to buy 11 to $16,000, averaging $9364.
Cairnbrae Angus, Irrewillipe East, Vic, bought ten to $17,000, averaging $9550, while Tiarna Angus bought eight to $5000 five times, averaging $4688.
TA&LM Hatch, Athlone, Vic, bought eight to $7500 twice, averaging $5875, with Tivole Angus, Merriwa, NSW, buying seven to $19,000, averaging $10,286.
Long View Ag, Barrabool, Vic, bought six to $10,000, averaging $7417, with Allendale, Bordertown, buying six to $32,000, averaging $12,917.
Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Jono Spence said the large number of females on offer from Stoney Point were even in type and the bloodlines had proven longevity, presenting a good opportunity for buyers.
"The result, when compared to last year, reflected the upwards shift in the market, " he said.
"The average price increased across the whole lot.
"We didn't get overrun with enquiry before the sale which showed that buyers were willing to do online research and others had seen a fair sample of the cattle last year so they knew what to expect."
Stoney Point's dispersal is still in progress, with a ready to work sale in May offering about 40 bulls, a Spring sale in Hamilton, Vic, offering 45 and the final bull sale in February next year offering about 60.
A decision will also be made in time on the remainder of un-joined heifers that weren't offered this week.
Spence Dix & Co and Nutrien conducted the sale, with Jono Spence, Luke Schreiber, Gordon Wood and Richard Miller taking turns on the selling rostrum.
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