With the sale’s $10,000 top-priced Simmental bull, Bullock Hills Max M50, were Pieter Hattingh (left) and Brad Patterson, Bullock Hills stud, Woodanilling, buyer Norm Trigwell, Nu-Plains Simmental stud, Boyanup and Elders Katanning agent Russell McKay. Photo by Farm Weekly
By Farm Weekly
A good line-up of 19 traditional and Black Simmental bulls from three vendors were next to be offered and 16 (or 84pc) of them sold under the hammer for an average of $5563.
Compared to last year the average lifted $111 and the clearance was up 16pc.
The Patterson family’s Bullock Hills stud, Woodanilling, offered 17 traditional and Black Simmental bulls to be the sale’s second biggest individual vendor.
At the completion of its run, Bullock Hills had sold 14 at auction to average $5607 to be among the sale’s strong averages for the bigger vendors.
In the breakdown eight out of nine Black Simmentals sold for a $5313 average and six from seven traditionals sold for a $6000 average.
Bullock Hills topped the Simmental values again this year but unlike last year when it was a Black Simmental which took top price honours this time it was a stylish traditional bull from the stud which rose to the top.
Taking top price honours for Bullock Hills at $10,000 was Bullock Hills Max M50 (P) when it was knocked down to Norm Trigwell, Nu-Plains stud, Boyanup, who was buying with the assistance of Elders Boyanup agent Mal Barrett.
The 958kg bull, which is by Bonnydale Lethal Weapon (P), is in the top 1pc of the breed for 600-day weight (+66), top 5pc for 400-day weight (+45) and CWT (+34) plus top 10pc for three of the four Simmental indexes.
Mr Trigwell said while he had purchased sires from Bullock Hills in the past, the new Bullock Hills bull provides a total genetic outcross for the Nu-Plains herd.
“First and foremost the bull has to have a good temperament,” Mr Trigwell said.
“It is early maturing and has a quality body all the way through with pretty good EBVs.
“He has a low birthweight and good growth rates and the fact that he is polled is a bonus.”
Another traditional bull Bullock Hills Mario M65 (P), which was also by Bonnydale Lethal, made good money selling for $7500 to PL & AM Bell, Munglinup, while return buyer to the stud CA Vinci, Beelerup, picked up two polled Willandra Jerry sons for $6000 (Bullock Hills Maverick M18) and $4000 (Bullock Hills Monza M95).
In the Bullock Hills Black Simmental offering prices hit a high of $7500 for Bullock Hills Marley M69 (P) when it sold to RH Norman & Son, Busselton.
The 844kg Marley was sired by Bullock Hills Hamish (P) and is in the top 1pc for three of the four Simmental indexes and top 5pc for EMA, rib fat and rump fat.
The Busselton operation also paid $5000 for the 870kg Bullock Hills Magnum M39 (P) which is also a son of Hamish.
The stud’s two lead bulls Bullock Hills Cowboy M5 (P) and Bullock Hills Marco M44 (P) both sold at $6000 to RH & SJ Manning, Busselton and GA & WM Abbott, Wagin, respectively.
Brighton Farms stud principals Mark and Rose King, Donnybrook, had one bull in the Simmental line-up this year, Brighton Maynard (P) and it sold for $4000 to GE Payne, Karridale.
The 800kg Maynard is by Bonnydale Kojak G082 and has growth EBVs of +22, +33 and +46 for 200, 400 and 600-day weight.
The Tuckey family, Mubarn stud, Pinjarra, also only had one bull in the sale this year – Mubarn Mississippi.
Mississippi sold for $6000 to Landmark Waroona agent Richard Pollock who was bidding on behalf of MI & S Vuletic, Coolup.
The long-bodied, well-balanced Mississippi is a son of Woonallee Howzat (P) and has growth EBVs of +25, +44 and +61 for 200, 400 and 600-day weights.