Sprys Shorthorns posted the highest national bull sale average for any British breed in 2020, when they sold a total clearance of 34 Shorthorn sires for an average of $10,736.
Top priced bull at $30,000 was Lot 4, Sprys Goldenrod P39 who sold to long-term clients Glenalbyn Props, Wilcannia.
The rising two year old was a homozygous polled, red Shorthorn, sired by JSF Goldenrod 57U and out of Sprys Miss Buddy M36.
The second-highest sale was Lot 1, Sprys Heritage P73 (pictured), the Shorthorn roan bull selling for $24,000 to studs Outback Shorthorns, Culcairn and Tarraganda Shorthorns, Young. North American semen rights had earlier sold to DTR Cattle Company.
Heritage P73 was sired by the ABS sire Sprys Heritage M213, who sold for $30,000 in 2018, while his dam Sprys Aces Primrose K45 sold for $25,000 at the same sale.
Lot 43, Outback Sprys Buddy P282, a roan son of Sprys Primrose’s Buddy J17, was purchased by Futurity Shorthorns for $18000.
Underpinning the tremendous sale result though was the excellent support from both new and existing commercial clients, looking for herd sires to help rebuild herds after the last 3 years of drought conditions across Australia.
Prior to the sale, Sprys had to meet the challenges that ongoing Covid-19 restrictions are causing. That meant Sprys and their agents had to develop new ways to safely market the annual Sprys sale drafts.
There are perhaps some unexpected benefits that have come from managing those conditions. Whilst social distancing rules needed to be enforced, Sprys ensured that every lot was videoed prior to the sale and posted to social media, tremendous advertising for a very high quality team of sires.
Prospective buyers and agents were also able to inspect the sale team by appointment in the leadup, which gave them a genuine one on one opportunity to spend with the Sprys stud principals. This allowed time to explore each buyers requirements more deeply.
-Shorthorn Beef