A BULL described as a “model bull in every way” hit the top price of $14,000 at Barwidgee Angus stud’s autumn bull sale at Caramut.
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The stud offered 56 bulls, and sold 48, to an average price of $5385. The top price of $14,000 was $4000 up on last year’s best price.
The top price bull was Lot 1, Barwidgee 16501, and was bought by Independent Breeding and Marketing Services agent Dick Whale, on behalf of Rennylea Angus stud principals Bryan and Lucinda Corrigan, Bowna, NSW.
The September 2016-drop bull recorded +4.0 kilograms birth weight, +45kg 200-day weight, +92kg 400-day weight, and +115kg 600-day weight.
Mr Whale said Rennylea and Barwidgee both have similar breeding objectives.
“Wendy and David [Kelly] have been buying a lot of semen from Rennylea over the years, in fact this bull that Rennylea purchased was a grandson of Rennylea C511,” he said.
“The Barwidgee herd is run at high stocking rates, the cow herd has to perform on pastures, with minimal supplementary feeding, and that is similar at Rennylea.”
John Buhlmann, Millicent, SA, was the underbidder on the top-priced bull and said if anyone new to the industry wanted to see what a model bull looked like, they should look at Lot 1. A return client of more than 20 years, he instead purchased two other bulls.
Another buyer of multiple bulls was Neville and Flo Young, Caramut, who purchased three to a top of $5000 (twice), av $4833.
“We’ve been buying for more than 20 years, and they’ve been doing a good job for us,” Mr Young said.
“We try and get low birth weight, so we can use them over heifers.”
Barwidgee stud co-principal Wendy Kelly said it was difficult to sell the top-priced bull, who was “structurally beautifully put together”.
“He’s got great figures, and outstanding temperament,” Ms Kelly said.
“We hoped to offer a consistent lineup of bulls, with fairly moderate birth weights, positive fats, and not extreme in any way.”