Wow, what a selling season SA's stud breeders have had with many stud records falling and even a new national Limousin record of $42,000 set by the Gommers family, Mandayen stud, Keith.
And proving that females are half of the breeding equation, we have seen some sensational prices for stud cows and heifers, including the second stage dispersal of the Stoney Point Angus stud, which topped at $34,000 twice and grossed more than $3 million.
It has been great to see bigger crowds at bull sales as well as some very strong support from across Australia on AuctionsPlus.
To reflect back on this sensational season, which has seen commercial buyers really step up their bidding, we have decided to bring you Stock Journal's top 10 SA bull sale list.
There were so many criteria we could have chosen to compile the list on; highest sale gross, and even lift in average on 2021 sale but after much consideration we have decided to rank these auction results on their averages in ascending order.
The list is dominated by Angus studs but it is great to see four different breeds featured.
Honourable mention: Woonallee Simmentals, Furner: 112/112 bulls average $14,312
There was plenty of cause for celebration at Woonallee Simmental stud's bull and female sale as the breed celebrated its golden anniversary in Australia.
It was fitting the Baker family who had the first Simmental calf born in Australia should remain the leading light in the Simmental breed.
Their $55,000 sale topper, Woonallee Revolution was the highest price paid for a SA bred bull of any breed this season and they put up one of the biggest offerings of any breed for the season.
10. Mandayen Angus, Keith: 68/70 bulls average $14,382
Mandayen Angus stud, Keith, took the honours for selling the highest price bull in SA Angus Week with a Millah Murrah Paratrooper son making $42,000.
It was bought by McCarthy Livestock, Lucindale.
And while the Gommers family are synonymous with Limousins it was their Angus bulls that put them into the top 10 list.
READ MORE: Mandayen Limo sells at $42k
9. Bayview Shorthorns, Naracoorte: 42/42 bulls average $15,143
The Thompson family, Yorketown, made a stunning debut onto the on-property sales calendar at their new Stoney Point sale complex near Naracoorte.
After years breeding Shorthorns and 50 years as a vendor at the Naracoorte multi-vendor sale they took the plunge to hold their own sale.
To celebrate their inaugural sale they also offered 28 PTIC heifers, which topped at $16,000 and averaged $7250.
READ MORE: Bayview debut a dream come true
8. Naracoorte Shorthorns, Naracoorte: 36/36 bulls average $15,667
This multi-vendor sale has been held for a remarkable 69 years and not even the oldest people in the crowd could remember such a spectacular sale.
This year's catalogue attracted offerings from six vendors from three states. The Williamson family, Caskieben stud, Carisbrook, Vic, received the $35,000 top price, a new sale record.
7. Nampara Angus, Spence: 93/95 bulls average $16,193
Despite offering 20 more bulls than 2021, the Hann family, Nampara Angus stud, Coles, lifted their sale average by nearly $3400 as Vic and SA commercial buyers bid with confidence.
Twenty bulls made $20,000 or more with 13 of these in the first 14 bulls through the ring.
6. Pathfinder Angus, Naracoorte: 132/132 bulls average $16,220
The Moyle family, Pathfinder stud, again easily put up the biggest offering for SA Angus Week and enjoyed a $2.14 million pay day from a full clearance of 132 bulls.
Eighty-five registered bidders from King Island, Tas, to northern SA packed out the stands for the more than 2.5 hour marathon sale and many more logged on through AuctionsPlus to push the average up nearly $5000 on last year's result.
A week later the Moyle family posted a slightly higher average again at their Pathfinder Vic sale at their Penshurst property, with 118 bulls topping at $50,000 and averaging $16,246.
5. Glatz's Black Angus, Avenue Range: 74/74 bulls average $16,918
One of the first sons of United States bull, Varilek Geddes 7068, to be offered at auction in Australia was the headline maker at Glatz's Black Angus stud's 15th annual Cattleman's bull sale in February.
The lot 17 bull, which was elevated in the catalogue to lot 3, made $38,000 to the Tiller family, Goolagong stud, Warnertown.
The sale featured some of the strongest stud buying for SA Angus week with three other bulls destined for stud duties in NSW, Qld and WA.
4. Allendale-Days Whiteface Poll Herefords, Bordertown: 85/85 bulls average $17,353
Australia wide bidding saw the Allendale and Days Whiteface studs post one of the strongest averages for the season and a massive $6726 lift in average on 2021.
The $52,000 sale topper and the second highest price bull sold for the SA season was Days Godfather R092. The ET bred bull whose dam was one of the stud's most influential donors sold to Yarram Park stud, Willaura, Vic.
Online bidding was particularly strong with more than 100 users from across Australia logging onto AuctionsPlus, including Hazelmont Pastoral, Roma, Qld, who bought 12 bulls for a $22,667 average.
3. Keringa Angus sale, Culburra: 48/48 bulls average $18,500
One of the selling season's big improvers was Keringa Angus stud, Culburra, which more than doubled the average of its previous year's sale and "blitzed" its top price.
Sons of Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15 PV sold well in several Angus catalogues during SA Angus Week including at Keringa where one of Paratrooper's progeny topped the sale at $32,000,selling to Lake Ellen Pastoral, Tintinara.
There were 20 more registered bidders than the 2021 sale easily ensuring a total clearance.
READ MORE: Keringa to $32,000 in 'outstanding' auction
2. Sterita Park Angus, Lucindale: 106/106 bulls average $19,689
From the opening bid of $20,000 for lot 1 the big crowd at Sterita Park's Angus bull sale sensed they were about to witness something special, that was exactly what eventuated.
In quick fire bidding, the DiGiorgio family averaged an astonishing $19,689 for the 106 autumn and spring 2020 drop bulls in their Lucindale sale.
Also getting plenty of tongues wagging in the stands, long-time client Legh Winser, Benara Pastoral, Mount Gambier put together an astonishing 50 bulls for a $21,100 average.
1. Mayura Wagyu, Millicent: 13/13 bulls average $44,577
It may not have been the biggest bull sale catalogue but Mayura Wagyu's sale in early April proved their genetics are sought after around the world.
Their $122,500 sale topper set a new national full blood Wagyu bull record selling to Hewitt Pastoral Enterprises, Taroom, Qld.
The bull prices were upstaged by an unmated heifer, which made $245,000. The 45 lots (including bulls, heifers and semen packages) averaged a remarkable $55,011- believed to be a national all breeds record.
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