South Australian bull sales have soared to spectacular highs in the past week.
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![FREEDOM FIGHTER: Nampara's Stuart Hann, Jim Wedge and Jackie Chard, Ascot Cattle Co, Warwick, Qld, Elders' Jamie Bellinger and (front) Elders' Ross Milne, Nampara's Natalie Hann and Trent Walker, Keringa, Culburra. FREEDOM FIGHTER: Nampara's Stuart Hann, Jim Wedge and Jackie Chard, Ascot Cattle Co, Warwick, Qld, Elders' Jamie Bellinger and (front) Elders' Ross Milne, Nampara's Natalie Hann and Trent Walker, Keringa, Culburra.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/38Deqn27HisdktPPRtKmxju/549e5fca-1d01-45d4-870e-bb6641a2b66e.jpg/r0_0_4059_2725_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
On Thursday last week, Tom and Lizzy Baker’s Woonallee stud, Furner, hit the headlines with a Bos Taurus national record of $160,000 for an outstanding polled Simmental.
And on Tuesday, Stuart and Natalie Hann, Nampara stud, Penola, achieved a SA on-property Angus record of $85,000.
Woonallee stud principal Tom Baker said it was an “unbelievable” moment for their family but also great for the SA beef industry and Simmental breed.
“In SA we tend to get left behind the eastern states studs with high prices so it is really nice to do it,” he said.
Buyer Brett Nobbs, Nobbs Cattle Company, Duaringa, Qld, described Woonallee Los Angeles L124 as a “breed-changer” for his Simmental stud, established in 2015.
“With that weight for age, its softness, skin, fat cover, performance levels and pedigree, it’s got it all, and also with such an amazing temperament,” he said.
Nampara Freedom L21 also set plenty of hearts aflutter.
The AI-bred son of Atahua Freedom 609-10 was the heaviest in the draft at 958 kilograms and had the largest eye muscle area.
Bidding for the March 2015-drop opened at $15,000 and quickly rose in $5000 increments.
It was knocked down for $85,000 to Jim Wedge and Jackie Chard, Ascot Cattle Co, Warwick, Qld, in partnership with Trent Walker, Keringa Angus, Culburra.
The price tag smashed the previous SA high of $52,000 paid for Granite Ridge Kaiser last year.
Mr Wedge and Mr Walker said they were chasing the outcross pedigree and bull’s great phenotype including “near perfect structure”, volume and capacity and docility.
It was more than they expected to pay but they said Freedom would be a great fit for both studs.
“When you find these exceptional bulls – you only get one chance at them,” Mr Wedge said. “If you go looking for one later on you won’t find them so you have to buy them when they come up.”
Commercial buyers have also raised their sights in SA Angus Week, ensuring many sale averages have lifted more than $1000.
Nampara enjoyed a total clearance of 67 bulls for a $9521 average.
Angus Australia president Libby Creek said the sales so far had been fantastic.
“The confidence and enthusiasm in the beef industry and particularly for the Angus breed continues to be very evident throughout the sales, with seedstock producers being rewarded for their effort in breeding and presenting outstanding quality Angus bulls,” she said.
- Bull sale coverage P30-36