The Santa Gertrudis breed has celebrated record-breaking bulls four times in three weeks.
On Wednesday, Yarrawonga S316 (P) sold for $250,000 to NIOA Pastoral Company, in conjunction with RL Pastoral Company, at the Yarrawonga Cattle Company sale to reset the breed’s benchmark.
Soon after, Hardigreen Park stud bought Yarrawonga S156 (IVF) (P) for what would have been an Australian record price of $180,000.
Previously, at the inaugural Nioa RL Pastoral Production sale at Allora on 1 September, Riverina Roland Sanchez R88 (ET) (PP), offered by Rob and Lorraine Sinnamon, Riverina stud, Kyogle, claimed the then record at $160,000, selling to the Wheatley and Nioa families.
Then, at the Santa Central sale near Clifton on 13 September, 21-month-old Glenn Oaks Sterling S314 (PP) again raised the benchmark to $175,000.
Bred and offered by Scott and Wendy Ferguson and family, Glenn Oaks stud, Nobby, the 856-kilogram son of Yarrawonga N138 (P) boasts an EMA of 146 square centimetres and rib and rump fat measurements of 12 millimetres and 8mm respectively.
After spirited bidding, a partnership between Neil and Rosalie Watson, Watasanta stud, Tamworth and Luke and Carly Baker, Annabranch stud, Taroom was successful.
The Bakers also secured the second top-priced bull Glenn Oaks Somesby S64 (P) for $90,000.
The 21-month-old, 856kg son of Goolagong Leopard L26 (AI) (P) sold in a three quarter share, full possession arrangement to Annabranch stud.
Mr Baker said both bulls caught his eye on-farm in April.
“I just thought, ‘they are going to be game-changers for the breed’,” he said.
Why?
“Where do I start? Both sires were standouts in the line of bulls presented on sale day and attracted a lot of attention from buyers.
“They fulfill the goals we’re trying to achieve in our breeding program as we are anticipating they will give their progeny plenty of bone, muscling and increase overall weight-for-age.
“We have been chasing sires with more grunt and power and we think these two bulls meet the criteria perfectly.
“Basically, they are the complete package backed up with raw breedplan figures.”
Mr Baker said he was grateful his partnership with the Watsons had allowed access to top Santa Gertrudis genetics, which would be financially challenging without their support.
“We have similar tastes in bulls to Neil and Rosalie,” Mr Baker said. “We are just a small stud and they have been very, very good to us.”
At Santa Central, all 89 classified bulls sold to average $15,488 to record a 93 per cent clearance of the catalogue for the 12 vendors resulting in a $1.378 million gross.
A crowd of more than 120 attended the on-property sale.
Jason and Kylie Bruggemann and family, Triple S stud, Wandoan paid $65,000 to buy the 22-month-old Bullamakinka Sonic S44 (P) offered and sold by Craig Hindle, Bullamakinka stud, Toobeah.
Weighing 892kg with an EMA of 145sq cm, and rib and rump fat measurements of 12mm and 9mm respectively, Sonic was from a granddaughter of the ever-consistent, Canowindra Gold Edition.
Asked why the demand for Santa Gertrudis genetics continued to grow, breeders association general manager Chris Todd said: “Under our grid system, processors pay mainly on weight-for-age and Santas are one of the heaviest beef breeds in the world”.
Mr Todd said while more than 25 new studs had been registered over the past 3.5 years, “the bulls realising more than $100,000 are being purchased by mature studs who are looking for new genetics for their studs”.
Buyers came from Deniliquin in southern NSW to Greenvale in North Queensland to attend the Santa Central sale.
