Monterey 2004 Annual Production Sale Report

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2004 Sale Bulls

$22,500 Murray Grey bull sets new WA sale record

Courtesy Farm Weekly   

  HISTORY was made at the 12th annual Monterey Murray Grey and Angus sale held at Knutsford, Kojonup, last week, when a Tullibardine Murray Grey bull sold for $22,500, a state auction record for the breed.

With a gross of more than $650,000 and a near total clearance on all animals offered, the sale further cemented its position as one of Australia's premier Murray Grey fixtures and one of WA's premier stud sales.

The sale received buying support from all over Australia, with Monterey genetics going to every state, truly identifying the Monterey stud as one of the nation's leading producers of quality Murray Grey stud cattle. More than 170 buyers registered for the joint Elders-Landmark sale, ensuring the offering attracted solid support and prices were pushed above last year’s levels.

After three and half hours of selling, the final result delivered to vendors was a tremendous sale gross of $653,160, up 45pc on last year, making it the biggest grossing stud sale in the state, with the 60 Murray Grey bulls averaging $5858 (which comprised of 19 yearling bulls, born June onwards, averaging $4957), 24 Angus bulls averaging $4442 and the 18 stud Murray Grey females averaging $3917.

Monterey stud, Karridale, sold 42 Murray Grey bulls at a healthy average of $5800, up $281 on last year. The stud also sold 24 Angus bulls to a top of $10,000 and 18 stud Murray Grey females to a top of $8600.

Guest vendors in the bull section of the sale, Tullibardine and Bundaleer, also experienced burster sales. Tullibardine sold 13 bulls at an impressive average of $6608, which was top for the day and up $1635 on 2003, while Bundaleer sold five bulls at an average of $4400, up $320 on last year.

Prices for the lines of commercial heifers followed the trend of other mated heifer sales this season, peaking at $1580 and averaging $1166.

Elders auctioneer Kim McDougall and Landmark auctioneer John Wirth agreed the presentation of the cattle was excellent and the sale result was fantastic. Mr McDougall said it was an absolutely fantastic sale, with bidding at times being explosive.
"Buyers were prepared to pay and compete vigorously on bulls that met their requirements and the sale is a credit to the vendors who keep providing the product, venue and after sales service year in year out," Mr McDougall said.
"Congratulations must go to Alastair Murray on his $22,500 top price, which was a highlight in a day of spirited competition."

Mr Wirth said the sale once again lived up to its reputation, with genetics going all over WA and interstate.
"It was pleasing to see buyers from the eastern states being competitive and WA genetics heading east," Mr Wirth said.

Monterey stud principal Gary Buller was equally as happy with the result, saying it went very well considering the size of the catalogue.
"It was a very consistent sale across the board, but there was a spread of prices ensuring that there were bulls which everyone could afford," Mr Buller said. "We were particularly pleased with how the yearling bulls sold, they made up nearly a quarter of the catalogue, showing the underlying strength in the breed."

With a line-up of bulls that would stand up anywhere in Australia, it was always going to be a hard task to take centre stage and steal the show. But there was one tremendous standout , a classy grey Tullibardine Murray Grey bull in lot four, who did just that when he sold for the $22,500 record top price. The bull, Tullibardine Xman, created a bidding melee as soon as he entered the ring. Bidding started quickly at $7000 and in a few second had past last year's $13,000 top price, 2002's $17,000 top price and the sale's previous best price of $17,500 set in 2000.

As the figure climbed only two parties remained in the struggle as the price surpassed $20,000, but in the end it was last year's second top price buyer, Tasmanian stud breeder John Young, Cam Grove stud, Burnie, who had the final bid when Elders auctioneer Kim McDougall knocked the bull down for $22,500.

At 906kg, Xman was the heaviest Murray Grey bull in the sale and oozed the potential of a top stud sire. Sired by the impressive Monterey Millenniun T79, who had held the previous state record at $17,500, and out of top stud cow Tullibardine Palathine R24, Xman showed off his best virtues of superior muscling and length, volume, softness and good temperament as he paraded around the ring. He showed an excellent blend of figures, well above the breed average EBVs for 200, 400 and 600 day growth, carcase weight and eye muscle area measuring +33, +50, +81, +44 and +1.9 respectively. Xman's long fed and supermarket index values were also well above the breed average measuring +$44 and +$45 respectively.

Buyer John Young who established his stud around seven years ago, said he liked the bull for his physical attributes and excellent EBVs.
"He is a very growthy bull and he was standout pick for me today," Mr Young said. "I hadn't seen any of the bulls in the sale before today, but I came back again this year because of the quality of bulls that have been here in the past."

Last week's sale marked the third trip to the sale for Mr Young who runs one of the largest Murray Grey studs in Tasmania and will calve down 75 cows and 28 heifers this year. The losing bidder was Victorian Murray Grey stud breeder Gordon Gill, Lerwick Park Murray Grey stud, who was also present at the sale.

Monterey stud principals Gary and Julie Buller, Karridale, again experienced a buoyant sale, with buyers from across the state operating on their bulls, pushing the average to $5800 for the 42 sold under the hammer. Topping their Murray Grey bull line-up at $9600, the second top price sold under the hammer for the day, was a medium framed son of Monterey Shiloh, Monterey Executive.

Even though Executive was catalogued late in the sale, he caught the eye of many interested parties, but in the end it was fellow Murray Grey stud breeders and return Monterey clients Charlie and Alison Wroth, JC & EM Wroth, Warrangenny stud, Toodyay, who had the final bid. The 762kg silver showed a desirable combination of muscle and marbling with EMA and IMF scans of 112 sqcm and 5.2pc respectively. After being overlooked while in the ring Monterey Exceptional sold later during the sale for $12,000 to Richard Metcalfe, Melaleuca stud, Manypeaks, on a three quarter share and full possession basis. The outstanding silver grey bull sired by Monterey Avenger U103, was in the top 1-5pc across the breed for all traits, including the top 1pc for the Supermarket $Index, which measured $34. The March-drop calf, had EBVs of +26, +45 and +66 for 200, 400 and 600 day growth, +34 for carcase weight, +1.7 for EMA and +0.8 for retail beef yield.

With such a quality line-up of bulls that are respected across Australia, it was easy to understand why the $9000 mark was passed on two more occasions. Fellow Murray Grey stud breeder Melvin Hettner, JD & JP Hettner, Merrybon, Kojonup, paid the next best price in the Monterey catalogue when he had the final bid on the silver grey Monterey Excalibar at $9400. The March-drop calf, sired by Monterey Sundowner and out of Koojan Hills Joyce N12, was a well structured bull, with plenty of stretch and muscle.

After losing out on the top price Monterey bull last year John Curry, Tombango stud, Wagga Wagga, NSW, again bid over the telephone with the assistance of Fred Baindridge, Elders Midland. However, this year he was more successful securing an April-drop calf, Monterey Master Chief, who was sired by Martindale Tallwood T63, at $8600. Master Chief, a big growthy bull with excellent structure, had $Indexes of +$34 and +$28 which were both in the top 10pc of the breed.

The Owen family's Bundaleer stud bull also performed well in the sale ring averaging $4400 and topping at $5400. Their $5400 top price bull, Bundaleer Pharaoh X7, was bought by Kalgan River farmers BP & LD James. A May-drop calf, Pharoah had impressive growth EBVs of +24, +32 and +44 for 200, 400 and 600 day growth. Pharoah, who had plenty of spring of rib, was sired by Willalooka Pharoah P47 and out of Bundaleer Melissa R137, looked like he would make an impact in any herd as moved around the ring.

The Monterey cows also attracted interstate interest, selling to South Australia and Queensland. Monterey Annabelle Q58 and Monterey Miss Magnolia 3rd attracted the final bid of South Australian buyer Nigel Eylward, Elywarra Murray Grey stud, Ungarra. Mr Eylward paid $5000 for Annabelle a 1995-drop cow who had a silver bull calf at foot sired by Monterey Whisky Lad and PTIC to Springwell Top Gun, while he paid $3200 for Magnolia, who had a grey bull calf at foot sired by Monterey Vegemite Kid, which was being retained by the stud. Magnolia, a 1996-drop cow, was PTIC to Monterey Sundowner. Both cows were sired by Monterey Momentum 2nd.

A daughter of Monterey Star Chief, Monterey Showgirl S54, with silver bull calf at foot sired by Koojan Hills Silver Crest, is also headed east to Queensland, when Fred Bainbridge, Elders Midland, on the phone secured the cow for Sivyer Pastoral Co, Woodlands Park Murray Grey stud, Gatton, at $4600. The well structured, very feminine cow, who is in the top 1pc of breed for milk and fertility, was PTIC to Monterey Sundowner.

Semen lots also created interest among buyers, with a number of lots heading east. Prices hit a high of $140 per straw, when the Hill family’s Uruga Murray Grey stud, Wannamal, purchased 10 straws of Monterey Vegemite Kid semen.

The second lot of Vegemite Kid semen, containing 20 straws, sold for $100 to Nigel Eylward, Ungarra, SA. Two lots of Monterey Unit Holder semen also created interest selling at $130. The first lot of 10 straws was bought by Christopher Davis, Harvey, while the second lot of 20 was purchased by Richard Hall, Dardanup.

The only other semen to crack the $100 mark, was that of Monterey Millennium, who was the sire of the $22,500 top price Tullibardine bull earlier in the day. The commercial Murray Grey heifers on offer sold in line with current market, when cow and calf units sold to a top of $1720 and heifers peaked at $1580.

With only two extra heifers offered over last year’s numbers, the results were well above those achieved in 2003. The $107,160 gross, was an outstanding increase of $48,910 on last year’s $58,250, a $220 increase on the average and the top price also rose by $500, while attaining a 100pc clearance. It was a line of four Monterey cow and calf units, offered by Gary and Julie Buller, which took the top price honours. The pen of two silver and two grey cows, all with silver calves, were rising 3yo and had been re-mated. They were due again from June onwards.

Monterey 2004 Production Sale Summary (under the hammer results)

Offered Sold Top Gross Average $
Bulls          
Monterey Bulls 43 42 $9,600 $243,600 $5,800
Tullibardine 16 13 $22,500 $85,900 $6,608
Bundaleer 6 5 $5,400 $22,000 $4,400
Monterey (Angus) 24 24 $10,000 $106,000 $4,442
TOTAL 89 84 $22,500 $458,100 $5,453
Females          
Monterey stud cows (w/ calf) 10 9 $6,000 $39,400 $4,378
PTIC cows 5 4 $8,600 $16,700 $4,175
Unmated stud cows 1 1 $3,600 $3,600 $3,600
PTIC heifers 4 4 $3,200 $10,800 $2,700
PTIC commercial heifers 86 86 $1,580 $100,280 $1,166
PTIC comm. heifers (w/ calf) 4 4 $1,720 $6,880 $1,720
Semen 285 190 $140 $17,400 $92