Angus sale reaches $19,000 in Gracemere

The sale got off to a great start with the second bull in the ring, Murdeduke Quantum L311, selling quickly for $19,000 with plenty of buyers in on the action. 

Quantum was sold to the Evans family, Bandana Station, Carnarvon. 

The 800kg bull boasted an EMA of 118sq cm and a scrotal circumference of 44cm.

The second top priced bull of the sale, Murdeduke Jangle, also sold to Bandana Station, for $8500. 

Jangle, a 738kg bull, had a scrotal circumference of 38cm, and an EMA of 110sq cm. 

The third top priced bull was the second last of the sale, Murdeduke Trust L265, a 720kg bull with an EMA of 115sq cm, and a scrotal circumference of 38cm.

Trust sold for $7500 to D and K Dahl, Brolga Gully, Baralaba.

The volume buyer of the sale was Malvern Developments, who left with 12 bulls grossing $49,500 to average $4125. 

Also buying big was Vander Have Grazing, Mundubbera, who purchased five bulls online to gross $20,000 for an average of $4000. 

Heading home with four bulls apiece was the Noakes family, Namgooyah Grazing, Dingo (gross $16,500, average $4125), and Redpark Grazing, Cloncurry (gross $15,000, average $3750). 

Murdeduke Angus stud principal Lachie Wilson, said the stud, based in Western Victoria, had been selling in Gracemere for three years. 

But he was under no illusions about the sale – and said it was definitely a tough sell. 

“It was probably our toughest sale, but the bulls have been doing really well and the feedback has been really positive,” he said. 

“We want to build our reputation up here.

“We're back on last year's, we're probably back at least $2000 in average and way back in clearance.

“We knew it was going to be tough, and I guess we try not to get the bulls too far forward fat, but maybe it's what the buyers want.”

Before the sale, the bulls were put on grain for six weeks.

He said Quantum was a clear favourite before the sale began. 

“He’s a New Zealand-sired bull, he's the complete package, great raw scan data, structurally he has lots of shape and muscle, a strong top line, and obviously he was many people's pick,” he said.

“He's been a good calf all the way through.”

Mr Wilson said the stud, which sells “a couple of hundred bulls a year”, will continue to sell in Gracemere. 

“It's solid enough, now we've just got to grow the market and get a few more bums on seats,” he said. 

Selling agents: Elders, and Savage, Barker and Backhouse.