Coolana Well Considered and Receives Significant Lift
Coolana’s SA Autumn bull sale at The Basin sale complex, Willalooka last Wednesday, 17th February and under the control of selling agents Spence Dix & Co, was a great success.
The increased gallery included a vast majority of repeat clients plus a smattering of new buyers all actively competing for the top quality line-up of 58 Angus bulls. Auctioneers, Jono Spence and Luke Schreiber had little trouble attracting bids from the 39 registered bidders who saw real value in these paddock reared bulls, renowned for their productivity, fertility and longevity of service.
There was a total clearance, with bulls topping at $10,000 and averaging $5896. This was $3000 up on last year’s top, but more importantly $1229 up on last year’s average; a significant lift in values on what was still regarded as a good solid sale last year.
There was no runaway top price to grab individual headlines and to prop up the average, but rather the evenness of quality was the standout point and the prices reflected this, with 73% of the offering selling in the tight $5000 to $8000 price range. Buyers were prepared to bid to value as a result of the greater confidence in the beef industry at present, but with the number of Angus bulls still available, they were not prepared to pay to inflated values.
The $10,000 top price was paid by longer term repeat clients Simon and Jack Rowe, Princess Royal Station, Burra. This was for the lot 2 bull, Coolana Equator F10-K615, sired by Cluden Newry Equator F10. This bull had a great balance of performance figures, highlighted by +116 for 600 day weight and +5.8 for eye muscle area. Despite still waiting for a decent rain in their station country, the Rowe family purchased four bulls at a $7000 average.
%
Pass Rate
Spence Dix & Co’s Meningie based agent, Mark O’Leary was very busy as a buying agent, operating with the two biggest volume buyers on the day.
Deb McDonald, Moonee Hills was the biggest volume buyer with 13 bulls. These ranged from $5000 to the sale’s second top price of $9000. She paid this for Coolana Fireball K602, an impressive and well balanced son of Dunoon Fireball F186. Her 13 bulls averaged $6923.
Shaune Standley, Manager for Yalanda Pastoral was Mark O’Leary’s other volume buyer, picking up seven bulls from an outstanding value $4000, up to $6500 and averaging $5214. Both Yalanda and Moonee Hills produce young cattle for the domestic market, growing them out after weaning to the 400 to 500 kg and upwards weight range, depending on seasonal conditions, thus 400 and 600 day weight EBVs play a bigger role in their selection criteria.
Last year’s most prominent buyer with 20 bulls was Legh Winser, Benara Pastoral P/L, Mt Gambier. Although not needing those numbers again, as they were purchased specifically for large numbers of bought-in heifers, they were back to top up their sire needs. Albert & Leonie Lang from their Lake Wallace property, Edenhope, and buying through Ray White Keatley Livestock, Mt Gambier, purchased five bulls from $4500 to $6000 and at a $5400 average.
Operating through Elders Lucindale’s Ronnie Dix, McCarthy Livestock were also active bidders in that price range, averaging $5250. Simon Mulraney, PPH&S and operating for Iredell, Pigeon Ponds was also a significant bidder, purchasing three at a $6000 average.
Other multiple bull buyers with two each were Dick Whale for Kilkenny Pastoral, Hawkesdale, Vic, who purchased the Coolana $16,000 record priced bull at their Victorian spring sale last year (average $6750), Gilbrae Pastoral, Coonalpyn (average $7000), Johnson Livestock, Naracoorte (average $6000), Lines Family Trust, Keith (average $4750) and P & K Bryson, Padthaway (average $4000).
Coolana co-principal Mark Gubbins said, “That was a very pleasing result. I made a statement here two years ago that we were on the cusp of a cattle boom as prices were high elsewhere all around the world. Due to the drought effects that boom took a little longer to kick in than we hoped, but despite some continuing seasonal constraints at present, the reality is that the beef industry is in the best place we have ever seen it.”
Commenting post sale, the next generation at Gubbins of Coolana, Max Gubbins thanked everyone for their support and reminded buyers their bulls were fully guaranteed, had been rigorously tested pre-sale, and as a result they were able to present them confidently and with pride.
Agents: Spence Dix & Co
Auctioneers: Jono Spence and Luke Schreiber
Pictured with the $10,000 top priced bull at the Coolana SA Autumn bull sale at Willalooka are Coolana’s Max Gubbins, purchaser Jack Rowe, Princess Royal Station, Burra and Rodney Dix, representing sale agents Spence Dix & Co. Princess Royal purchased four bulls at a $7000 average.
Pictured in front of a group of the Coolana Angus sale bulls are Mark O’Leary, Spence Dix & Co, Meningie and buying agent for the two biggest volume buyers who collectively purchased 20 bulls; Deb McDonald, Moonee Hills (13 bulls) and Shaune Standley, manager for Yalanda Pastoral (7 bulls).
