Banquet top gun bull sets new Vic record

The Mortlake stud sold a bull for $230,000, beating the previous record set by Te Mania Angus, Mortlake, of $130,000 in 2022.

Banquet achieved a total clearance of the 94 bulls it offered and averaged a stunning $19,127.

The top-price 19-month-old bull Banquet Tom Cruise T220 in lot 11, was described by the stud as being a "very-muscular, big-loined, wide-topped, rugged, extremely-thick and exceptionally-quiet bull".

It was sired by Ben Navis Rambo R230 and out of Banquet Quiet R329.

The stud said its dam was a "powerful and robust, young female" and its maternal great granddam - Banquet Quiet Y091 - was "one of Banquet's most-successful cows".

"Whenever a Banquet Quiet Y091 son has been offered, they have featured as standouts of the sale," the stud said in its catalgoue.

But this is the largest amount a Banquet bull has ever sold for.

The stud's previous-highest price was another Banquet Quiet Y091 son that made $65,000 in 2022.

Banquet Tom Cruise T220 recorded 2024 TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation estimated breeding values of +2.9 kilograms birth weight, +50kg 200-day weight, +107kg 400-day weight, +144kg 600-day weight, an eye muscle area of +7 square centimetres and intramuscular fat of +4.3 per cent.

As the bull passed $100,000, the only bidding competition was from online buyers, before it was purchased by Bannaby Angus, Taralga, NSW.

Bannaby stud principal Keith Kerridge said he had been buying a few new bulls for the stud's sire battery, also including the $190,000 Milwillah Sergeant S791 at last September's Milwillah Angus, Berthong, NSW, sale.

Mr Kerridge said the stud's program had for the past 10 years been strongly focused on structure, so was now also buying high-indexing bulls to enhance its numbers, building on the gains made through the past decade.

He said the Banquet bull was purchased to use as a walking sire in the Bannaby herd, but would also offer opportunities for other herds to buy semen.

He bought with confidence, having already had experience with the $230,000 bull's bloodlines through existing breeding programs at Bannaby. This included having purchased Ben Nevis Jean H215 in partnership with Banquet in 2020.

Banquet Tom Cruise T220's sire was a grandson of the $82,000 Jean H215, who is a top donor for the Bannaby and Banquet studs.

"And we've bought a number of Banquet females over the years and have also done embryo programs together," Mr Kerridge said.

"We like their cattle... [and this was] a high-indexing bull with good structure and will enhance our program."

Hamish Branson, Banquet, was "over the moon" with the result of the sale.

"[We had] a lot of support from existing clients [who have] had good results at the weaner sales," he said.

"There were a lot of new clients as well that have come to try a Banquet bull, who were really strong and competing well with our existing clients."

Mr Branson said Banquet Tom Cruise T220 had a lot going for him phenotypically, but also had a great dataset, a lot of muscle, and was quiet and good-footed.

"When you look at his pedigree by the Ben Nevis Rambo bull that we bought a couple of years ago in partnership, we've really liked what he's offered," he said.

The second and third-highest-price bulls of the day were also heading interstate, with lot 67, Banquet Transfer T219, selling for $42,000 to an undisclosed AuctionsPlus buyer from Bunbury, WA; while lot 38, Banquet Transferabuill T324, sold for $40,000 to Brad Comisky, Lunar Brangus and Ultra Blacks, Emerald, Qld.

The sale began with 97 commercial pregnancy-tested in-calf heifers, which also achieved a total clearance to $3500, averaging $3125.

That top price went to the first two lots of the sale - nine and 11 PTIC heifers respectively, with an average weight of 620-633kg, and were both bought by Ryan Pastoral, Hawkesdale.

Elders auctioneer Ross Milne said the overall sale result was incredible.

"The $230,000 is certainly the highlight of the day, but in saying that, I think the attendance needs credit, with over 100 registered buyers," he said.