Junior champion bull, Summit Prototype M148, topped the sale at $20,000 for Hayden and Jasmine Green.
Buyers overcame seasonal jitters to vote with their wallets at the 2018 National Limousin Sale, paying to a top of $20,000.
Held at the Wodonga Stud Stock Exhibition Centre on May 4, the multi-vendor sale drew 98 registered bidders from NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
A total of 63 live lots sold from the 103 offered for a 61 per cent clearance, gross of $395,000 and average of $6270.
In the break down, 15 junior bulls topped at $20,000 and averaged $6066 while 20 senior bulls topped at $13,000 and averaged $7050.
In the female catalogue, 19 junior lots topped at $15,000 (twice) and averaged $5816, and eight senior females sold to a top of $8,000 and average of $5312.
Junior champion bull, Summit Prototype M148, topped the sale at $20,000 in a phone bid by Matt Vogt, Maryvale Limousins, Kapunda, SA.
The 20-month-old black and homozygous polled bull weighed 854kg and scanned at 14mm on the rump, 7mm on the rib, had an eye muscle area of 146sqcm and scrotal circumference of 40cm.
The Wulfs Zane son was offered by Hayden and Jasmine Green, Summit Livestock, Uranquinty, NSW.
Mr Green said the Summit team achieved the highest National bull average ever at $12,750.
“Buyers were wanting moderation, fleshing and softness – we put a lot of emphasis on the science of breeding the cattle,’’ he said.
“Buyers are getting to know how maternally strong the Summit cattle are, and how much emphasis we put on the cow families.
“People paid well for the good cattle today but moving the volume of bulls was difficult and we are going to see that across most breeds this year.’’
Summit Livestock also sold a pick of the spring calf crop for $10,000 to Michael and Mary Parsons, Kia Ora Limousins, Roslyn, NSW, and the 836kg Summit Captivate M35 for $11,500 to J & A Maben, Merriwa, NSW.
Scott Myers and Sam Beresford, Moss Vale, sold Myers Master Court, a black polled son of Wulfs Zane, for the top senior bull price of $13,000 to Eyrie Limousins, Elmshurst, Vic.
The 26-month-old bull weighed 1044kg, and scanned at 14mm on the rump, 8mm on the rib and had a raw eye muscle of 147sqcm.
The grand champion bull, Garren Park Marcello M33, was sold by Garry and Karen Hedger, Garren Park Genetics, Culcairn, for $10,000 to Jeff Etheridge, Yarrowitch, NSW.
Mr Etheridge was fresh from dispersing his Red Rock Limousin stud.
Marcello M33 also drew semen interest from the US.
Marcello’s stablemate and reserve senior champion, Garren Park Memphis M30, was bought by Eyrie Limousins for $12,000.
National sale chairman Garry Hedger said the sale was steady despite deteriorating seasonal conditions and a softer cattle market.
“The cattle market runs on feed and seasonal conditions, plus female numbers are back and people are not looking for bulls,’’ Mr Hedger said.
“Commercial producers were after carcass and softness – interestingly some of the larger framed bulls sold well compared to the more moderate framed bulls.’’
Mr Hedger said the heifer calves and younger joined females had sold to solid demand.
Supreme exhibit, Progress Midnight Dreams M14, was sold for the equal female top of $15,000 by Peter Kylstra, Progress Limousins, Yanco, to twelve-year-old Olivia Gill, Hardwick Limousins, Merriwa, NSW.
Olivia’s grandfather, Rob Gill, Alexander Downs, Merriwa, selected the heifer on her feminity, structural soundness, length and depth of body.
“Limousin Youth has been kind to our grand daughters with parading and judging, and we use Limousin in our business, so it’s an all round partnership,’’ Mr Gill said.
“Good cattle sold well today – there were a lot of Limousin bulls which would not do the industry any harm but the seasonal conditions were a factor.’’
Vendor Peter Kylstra said the breeders with modern Limousin cattle benefitted on sale day.
“The breeders who have taken the risk and made the decisions early are the ones being rewarded,’’ he said.
“The cattle are becoming more commercially focused and the breeders on the ball early are seeing the results.’’
David and Cheryl Jones, Badger View Limousins, Sheffield, Tasmania, outlaid $15,000 for Birubi Miss Milly M193 from the Birubi stud, Borambala, NSW.
The polled and homozygous black, September 2016 drop heifer was sired by Southwest Nobel Prize K9 and was PTIC to LFLC Bank Account.
Mr and Mrs Jones, who run 30 breeders, admired the heifer’s depth and softness, and will add her to their donor program.
Three-and-a-half-year-old red polled cow Progress Keep the Magic K8 and her spring drop heifer calf topped the senior females on $8000 for Progress Limousins.
The Summit Noble Magic daughter was PTIC to Myers Master Court and bought by Tony Starr, Starrs Limousin, Young, NSW.
Mr Starr also invested in another five lots for an average of $4400.
Also among the volume buyers was Coomooloo Pastoral Company, Walcha, NSW, with three lots to a top of $10,000.
Northern Territory buyer, Ulster 1, Larapinta, paid $6000 for Longreach Maestro while Nathan Everingham & Co picked up three bulls to $4000 for the Finley area.
CCJ’s Limousins, Wulkaraka, Qld, were active in the females, taking home three to a top of $6500.
-Kim Woods