Coolana Angus 2017 Autumn Bull Sale Report
Coolana sets record highs in autumn bull sale
Logistical management decisions into new territory are often exercises of venturing into the unknown and can really only be judged in hindsight. For Mark, Anna and Max Gubbins the decision to combine their annual South Australian and Victorian Autumn Angus bull sales into one only sale at Chatsworth was one such decision, made well before their other huge decision to disperse their cattle studs.
On the evidence of last Wednesday’s bull sale, it was an excellent move, very strongly supported by both local Victorian and interstate buyers.
In a total clearance, 130 Angus bulls sold to $17,000 and averaged $7588, both being new record highs for Coolana, While exiting at the top is seen as a wise decision, as is the case with their female dispersals, the big advantage the buyers of Coolana bulls have is that there are three more bull sales still to go before all the 2015 and 2016 drop bulls pass through their sale ring between September 2017 & March and September 2018.
The 18 month old record breaking $17,000 top priced bull, Coolana NZ465-L238 was purchased by the Kelly family, Mooramook Pastoral, Caramut, Vic, long-time supporters of Coolana genetics. Sired by the New Zealand background bull, Te Mania 11 465, this magnificently structured and balanced youngster was supported by equally impressive and balanced Breedplan figures, up to +112 for 600 day weight, +17 for Milk, +2.8 for Scrotal, +6.3 for EMA and +2.7 for IMF%. This topped the previous Coolana record of $16,000 set in their 2015 spring sale and equalled at last year’s spring sale.
Very prominent SA purchaser over several years, Legh Winser, Benara, Mt Gambier sent a strong buying order through Independent Beef Consultant Dick Whale. He purchased five bulls for Benara, averaging $10,800, including the $15,000 second top priced Coolana New Day H36-L122, plus the equal third top of $14,000 for Coolana Black Pearl L157. Sired by Coolana New Day H36 and Sydgen Black Pearl 2006 respectively, these two bulls had a very similar level and balance of Breedplan figures to the sale topping bull.
Dick Whale had a busy day, purchasing 18 bulls for five different buying accounts. These included Burnfoot Pastoral, SA (seven bulls to $7000 and averaging $6214) and Allhill Pty Ltd, Corowa, NSW (four bulls to $10,000 and averaging $9125).
The dominant buying account was once again Princess Royal Station, represented by Simon, Andrea and Jack Rowe, buying through Elders Burra. They purchased 28 bulls in total at a $6911 average, paying from $10,000 to the sale’s other equal third top price of $14,000 seven times. Their first purchase was lot 1 at $10,000 while they also purchased the very last lot at $5500, giving strong competition throughout.
Princess Royal produces heavyweight steers for the EU market and the Rowe family swear by the quality and predictable performance of the Coolana bulls that really match their Breedplan figures.
Eighteen other South Australian producers made it onto the buyers’ list and through the very strong contribution from Princess Royal Station they accounted for 58% of the 130 bulls, while 27 buyers from Victoria purchased 34% of the offering.
McCarthy Livestock, buying through Elders Lucindale purchased six bulls to $8500 and at an average of $7000. Swan Brothers, Meningie were also strong with five to $9000 and at an $8400 average, while Deb McDonald, Moonee Hills Pty Ltd (four bulls averaging $9750 including two for $10,000 and one at $11,000), and Delta Produce (four bulls to $6500 and average $5750) all purchased through joint sale agents, Spence Dix & Co, Keith & Meningie.
H & VJ McLean through TDC Penola, SA purchased one bull but made it a very good one, paying $10,000.
Victorian buyers with four bulls each were Abbey Hills Partnership, Hawkesdale (to $9500 and averaging $8000), Hopkins River Pastoral, Dunkeld (to $9000 and averaging $8250) and CP & LM Iredell, Pigeon Ponds, Vic through PPH & S Naracoorte (four to $7000 and averaging $6500).
Five other Victorian buyers also paid to $10,000 or better for bulls, to make a significant contribution to Coolana’s record average. These were Boortkoi Pastoral Co, Hexham (one at $12,500), the Roach family, Kilkenny Pastoral Co, Hawkesdale (one at $12,000), BF & CS Evans, Tatong (one at $10,500), Denholm Green Pastoral Co, Hexham (two at $10,000 each) and Glendale Pastoral Co, Pakenham (one at $10,000). 21 bulls sold for $10,000 or better throughout the sale.
Ross Milne, Elders and Jono Spence, Spence Dix & Co moved the sale along very rapidly, yet still professionally and respectfully for all bidders, clearing the catalogue in just under two hours. Jono Spence said in kicking the sale off, “There are none better than Coolana in backing their product and program.”
The volume of repeat buyers, many of whom travelled significant distance would give strong support to this statement.
In an emotional aftermath to the sale, senior principal Mark Gubbins paid special tribute to his strongest mentor and family friend Malcolm Macdonald who is currently very ill and of course not able to be present. Mark called up and made a presentation to Malcolm’s three daughters who were present at this sale bidding against each other and all other bidders; Andrea (Princess Royal , 28 bulls), Deb (Moonee Hills, four bulls) and Helen (Boundy and Macdonald, one bull). Wayne Croft representing sale sponsors provided the Eclipse cattle product for this presentation.
Agents: Elders and Spence, Dix & Co
Auctioneers: Ross Milne (Elders) and Jono Spence (Spence, Dix & Co)
Photo Captions:
- Pictured with the $17,000 top and Coolana record priced bull at the Coolana autumn bull sale are vendors Mark and Anna Gubbins, Chatsworth and Alix and Harry Kelly, Mooromook Pastoral, Caramut.
- Pictured in a jubilant mood after the record breaking Coolana autumn Angus bull sale independent beef industry consultant, Dick Whale who purchased 18 bulls for 5 different buying accounts; Spence Dix & Co’s co-principal and auctioneer, Jono Spence; Coolana principal Mark Gubbins; Elders auctioneer, Ross Milne; and Simon and Jack Rowe, Princess Royal Station, Burra who were the most prominent buyers in the sale with 28 bulls.
- Coolana principal Mark Gubbins (2nd right) made an emotional presentation of Eclipse cattle product from sponsor Wayne Croft (left) to mentor Malcolm Macdonald’s three daughters, Andrea, Helen and Deb. Collectively they purchased 33 bulls in the sale.