IT WAS a sale in two divisions at the NCC Annual Brahman Sale at Inverrio, Duaringa last week when prices skyrocketed at the Stud Sire end of the market as Studmasters backed their faith in the NCC genetics with rapid fire, high priced bidding, however auctioneers toiled hard at the commercial end of the market where values and demand were in contrast, and very much in buyers’ favour.
At the end of the day, 90 bulls were sold to a top price of $75,000, for an average of $9,055 and a clearance of 93pc. The sale average was a 25pc increase on the 2013 NCC result, an indicator of a surge in industry confidence among Brahman seedstock producers. The fact that 30pc of the offering sold at the $3,000 upset price is also an indicator of the extraordinary value buying achieved by commercial cattle producers on the day.
The outstanding offering was backed by a combination of attractive pedigree lines and a sheet of weights, carcass scans, and scrotal and semen measurements of exceptional appeal to breed enthusiasts and beef producers. 32 bulls scanned EMA’s of 140sqcm and over, with three of 150 sqcm and over.
It was the progeny of iconic sire JDH Mr Elmo Manso that again took top honours with seven out of the top 10 bulls sold sired by this giant of the breed. The $75,000 sale topper, NCC Bohemian, came in the red section, and it could have been Elmo himself as a youngster walking into the ring, according to Brett Nobbs of NCC Stud. “Bohemian is the image of Elmo at a young age,” Brett said, “so obviously we think very highly of him.” Bohemian featured in a protracted bidding struggle with eventual buyers Gavin and Dillon Scott, Rosetta Pastoral Co, Collinsville and underbidders John Brownson and Family of Charters Towers, who were seated adjacent to one another, determined to secure the young prospect. At 20 months the light red colour bull shows exceptional development and sire quality. 864kgs, 146 sqcm EMA, 10 and seven in the fat cover, 39cm scrotal and 90pc semen motility; there was no better figures on the sale sheet, and they reflected the physical expression of the young sire’s exciting genetic values.
Bill and Lawson Camm, Cambil Brahmans, Proserpine were at the sale and set their sights on another young Elmo prospect, NCC Jaguar. A well balanced, 22 month old bull with lovely breed style and softness, he too showed himself off well, while an ‘across the ring’ bidding battle took place. At $67,500 the Camms won the battle from underbidders Andrew and Anna McCamley of 2AM Stud, Dingo. It was Jaguar’s younger brother, NCC Justice who returned the sale’s third top price of $45,000. John Kirk, Carinya Brahman Stud, Gayndah selected the grey bull, impressed with his natural carcass performance, eye catching breed and sire style, and obvious potential for Stud success.
The first red bull through the ring on sale day, NCC Swire, also by Elmo and out of a highly successful proven damline, was purchased by Andrew and Anna McCamley of 2AM Stud, Barwon Park, Dingo for $35,000. He’s a strong and proud sire type of heavy bone, width across the topline and softness of finish. His marbling IMF score of 5.2pc was one of the best of the offering.
Brian and Cindy Hughes, Lanes Creek Stud, Georgetown invested in four bulls at the sale. Their lead grey purchase at $30,000 was the 848 kg, 2yo NCC Sugarwood son NCC El Toro. He is a bull of great substance in both breed quality and beef performance and his pedigree strength is enhanced through his damline, a young daughter of JDH Elmo. Lanes Creek also outlaid $27,000 for NCC Colorado, a strong pigmented red sire of length, correctness and sire appeal.
Rodger and Lorena Jefferis of Elrose Stud, Cloncurry and Charles McKinlay of Chasmac Stud, Comet were delighted when NCC Buchanan, the Junior Champion Bull of this year’s Royal Sydney Show was knocked down to their partnership for $24,000. At 23 months, Buchanan, by JDH Elmo scaled 868kg, scanned an EMA of 145 sqcm, fat depth of 12 and 10cm, an IMF of 5.0pc and looked every part a sire of the future. “He has everything we want in a sire,” Rodger said, “I can’t fault him in any way and he’s fit and ready to begin his breeding career.”
$24,000 was also needed in the Red section for Bill and Kelvin Jochheim, Hillrise Pastoral Company, Proserpine to buy NCC Drake, a well credentialed, excellent red colour bull of the proven Elmo/Dienka 238 pedigree cross. The Jochheims like the 22 month old sire’s weight for age (884kg), carcass qualities (148sqcm EMA) and strong breed type.
Brett McCamley, Fern Hills Brahman Stud, Bajool selected NCC Lawson, a young red son of NCC Casablanca for $20,000, the same price paid by AJ and Pam Davison of Viva Brahmans, Middlemount for the 31 month old NCC Judah, a grey sire bred on the successful Elmo/Boswick cross.
Troy, Hayden and Joelle Lindsay of Toy Boy Brahmans of Caboolture shopped well in the younger grey bulls outlaying $18,000 for NCC Lancelot. $18,000 was also paid by Jason Waugh and Arlie Becker, Crown JA Partnership of Meandarra for the impressive JDH Datapack Manso, blue grey son, NCC Cincinnati. This bull is out of an imported JDH cow Miss Cindy Manso, that is an ultra successful producer of high quality progeny. Robert White of Wilangi Brahman Stud, Marlborough put a line of three high quality grey sires together, all showing outstanding breed character, optimum beef performance and strong sire style. His purchases averaged $12,330 and includes at $17,000 NCC Badger and at $14,000 NCC El Monte, both strong pigment, masculine bulls of tremendous natural muscling.
$16,000 quality red sires by Elmo were purchased late in the sale by the Dunn Family, Somerton Red Brahmans, St Lawrence and by the Fourstar Stud, Euthella, Richmond.
Topping the draft of Invited Vendor, FBC Brahmans, was FBC Mason Manso, a stylish, white grey son of FBC Webke Manso that exhibits a lot of thickness and eye catching breed quality. He was purchased for $13,000 by Ray Vella, G and J Vella Family Trust, Bald Hills, Marlborough.
Studmaster Brett Nobbs’ satisfaction with buyer response to the leading edge of his sale team was tempered by a ‘soft’ demand from commercial beef producers to the herd bull priced end of the market. “I’m not sure whether cattle producers read past the sale headlines,” Brett said, “we sold 62pc of the bulls in the $3,000 to $5,000 price range, exactly the same as last year, but some people have the perception you need five figures to buy a good bull here.” “It is great to see the astute buyers like the Everinghams, Murphys, the Wilsons of Banana Station, Gunthorpes, Connollys and McGraths of Mareeba among others, coming and purchasing really excellent lines of bulls at very attractive prices,” he added.
