Black cattle bonanza

Yearling Angus bull prices have surpassed two-year-old bull prices for the first time at premier stud Landfall at Dilston.

The turnaround comes as producers seek to introduce top-tier genetics into their herds earlier and the ability of young bulls to perform and achieve additional joinings becomes accepted.

Nutrien livestock agent Warren Johnston said there is a changed mentality around using yearlings, despite not having the size and presence of an older bull.

“You can potentially get an extra two joinings out of a bull in their lifetime and when used younger they don’t mature as much and get so fat and heavy as bulls that are just fed for the first 18 months of their life,” he said.

“In fact it’s important not to overfeed a bull in the year leading up to a joining period so that they’re at their peak.”

Mr Johnston said it had been “an incredible week” for selling bulls with the clearance rate and prices being outstanding.

“The genetics of Tasmanian bulls are liked across the country - we’re really on the map now.

“Even the smaller studs, some in their infancy, are getting good traction and breeding good cattle.”

“We’ve only passed in eight Angus bulls this spring.”

The bulk of Tasmanian Angus bull sales wrapped up on Friday with Cluden Newry at Longford in the morning and a combined sale at Powranna in the afternoon.

Cluden Newry experienced its best ever result with full clearance of 34 bulls sold in front of a good crowd of buyers at Jessiefield.

Average price was $10,470 with four bulls achieving the top price of $16,000.

Sam and Amanda Bond from Cressy purchased two bulls, following through on their intention to improve their herd’s genetics, paying about $13,000 for each.

“They’re good heavy bulls to go over our heifers and Jock had done a good job as usual preparing them,” Sam said.

Patrick Taylor from Greenhill, near Campbelltown enjoyed the day out with daughter Alice, 4, and despite being keen to purchase a bull for their trade cattle operation, went home empty handed due to the price point.

“We know they’re great animals - this is one of the best studs in Tasmania and having their bulls named on progeny means we fetch a premium on the sale of preg-tested cows in calf that we sell.”

Cluden Newry owner Jock Hughes said he was pleasantly surprised with the sale results considering the dry season put pressure on feed supply.

“We sold to a combination of new and repeat buyers and a lot of the popularity is due to our bulls holding up well at ground level - their feet are considered a selling point,” Jock said.

“We haven’t had a full clearance in the seven years we’ve been having spring bull sales until now.”

Earlier in the week Landfall at Dilston set a high bar selling all 111 two-year-old bulls in the catalogue at an average price of $13,850 and all 134 yearlings offered at an average price of $13,850.

The top price paid was for lot 4 which went to Sheron Farm in Western Australia for $44,000.

Sheron last bought bulls from Landfall in 2022/23, and its buyer said that because the genetics produced good results they had been keen to come back for more.

Bulls ended up going to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and King Island with the major buyer of around a third of the offering going to Markarna Grazing on Flinders Island which is owned by Melbourne’s Adams family, along with some being bought by the Stackhouse and Conn family businesses.

Landfall co-principal Ed Archer said the family was happy with the result, acknowledging that the yearling bulls in particular take some extra work to prepare for sale.

“They really need to have a good run all the way through from weaning to be at their peak but they presented well and the price reflected that,” he said.

“A total clearance is always a welcome result and the average price made us happy as the seller and was also fair for the commercial producers who bought bulls.”

At Quarterway Angus at Waterhouse, 37 of 40 bulls sold through Elders for an average price of $8351 with lot 13 selling to Holloway Agri for $16,000.

The joint Nutrien auction at Powranna saw New River Angus sell 20 out of 20 bulls with an average price of $11,100, Toliver Angus sold 20 out of 25 bulls with an average price of $6500, Londavra Angus sold seven out of nine bulls at an average price of $6142 and Island Angus sold four out of five bulls at an average price of $7000.

Barnett Angus, the first sale of the season with Elders, saw 12 out of 17 bulls sold with lot 6 the top priced bull at $8000 and the sale averaging $6125.

The sale was well supported statewide, including King Island and lot 5 is making its way over the water to Riddellvue Angus Stud in Markwood, Victoria.

The final sale, by Nutrien, is at Rotherwood, Ouse, today, September 25 at 1pm.