Sale Date: 22nd August 2018
Bulls:
Number Offered: 56
Number Sold: 40 (71%)
Top Price: $10,500 x3 (lot 4, lot 7 and lot 48)
Average Price: $6063
Name of Top Priced Animals:
Wirruna Melrose M256 (Lot 4)
Wirruna Maximum M345 (Lot 7)
Wirruna Melville M243 (Lot 48)
Sires of Top Priced Animals:
Otapawa Spark 3060 (IMP NZL) (lot 4)
Allendale Anzac E114 (lot 7)
Wirruna Fletcher F214 (lot 48)
Purchasers of Top Priced Animals:
M & D Kelly, Warragundi PHS, Currabubula, NSW
Hancock Pastoral P/L, Cambooya, Qld
Allan Morgan, Morganvale PHS, Keith, SA
Females (individual lots):
Number Offered: 9
Number Sold: 9 (100%)
Top Price: $4400
Average Price: $2339
Name of Top Priced Animal: Wirruna Victoria M397 (Lot 74)
Sire of Top Priced Animal: Allendale Anzac E114
Purchaser of Top Priced Animal: Hancock Pastoral P/L, Cambooya, Qld
Sale Comments:
Tough Season translates in Wirruna Sale results
The Locke family at Wirruna Poll Herefords Holbrook held their Spring Bull & female sale on Wednesday 22nd August 2018 selling 71% (40 of the 56 offered) for an average of $6,063.
“It was always going to be tough to shift all the bulls when many of your clients are in survival mode!” Ian said. “Although there are many clients concerned about the season, it was heartening to see the support from many repeat clients, and a few new ones, showing faith in Wirruna’s genetic program and an understanding that investments in genetics are long term in nature and the positive outcomes will be felt beyond the current season difficulties being experienced”.
Repeat stud buyers saw 3 bulls making the top price of $10,500. Matt Kelly of Warragundi Poll Herefords secured a Spark son in Lot 4. Allan Morgan of Morganvale Poll Herefords in South Australia purchased a Fletcher son in Lot 48. Garth Hancock of Hancock Pastoral in Queensland purchased both the equal highest price bull, Lot 7, and the highest price female, Lot 74. Both of these were progeny of Allendale Anzac E114, and represented high-end growth and carcase genetics.
The surprise of the sale was the strength in the female lots. Matt Kelly from Warragundi PHS took home a couple, also studs such as Millarah PHS, Jawilo PHS and Enderley Pastoral Stud. The two group lots of heifers sold to repeat Wirruna commercial clients.
There were a few clients taking home more than 2 bulls including Yarran Agriculture at Young, Jigsaw Farms at Hensley Park, Ryder Pastoral Co at Mount Beauty and Okeview Pastoral Co at Wagga.
This seasonally challenged sale was certainly in contrast to Spring 2017, where 59 bulls sold for a $7,610 average. Nevertheless, there were some familiar themes, High Index bull lots and particularly those with high marbling showed very good support. Also the bulls tested homozygous Poll achieved an average of $850 beyond those that carried the horn gene.
The Locke family extend our thanks to all of the successful purchases and underbidders at the sale and appreciate their ongoing support.
