Buyers check out black bulls
The top bull made $24,000 at the Rata Merchiston Angus sale and went to another breeder, Stern Angus stud near Timaru.
The 22-month-old, Merchiston Eclipse 635, was a bull born from an embryo transplant with its father’s bloodlines coming from Australia.
Merchiston owner, Richard Rowe said the bull weighing 940 kilograms attracted strong interest.
‘‘He was a big bull and had great figures [for growth and eye muscling]. There were two studs after him. It wasn’t a surprise, as we knew he was good.’’
Rowe said 36 bulls were sold in the 46 bull line-up.
‘‘There were not enough buyers on the benches, and we discussed why that was.’’
About 70 people filled the benches at the sale, but some were just curious and not buying.
Rowe said most of the bulls were sold to commercial farmers.
‘‘Commercial prices ranged from $5000 to $12,000. Cows are incalf now. So these bulls [people bought] will be put out to work next spring, when most of them are about two-years-old.’’
Rowe said the average price of $7300 was about $500 up on last year. However, last year all the bulls were sold.
‘‘This year, I was pleased with the sale. Apart from the 10 bulls which did not sell.’’
The bulls, though big, were used to being handled. They were weighed at birth, after 200 days, 400 days and 600 days.
PGG Wrightson genetics manager, Callum Stewart who auctioned the Merchiston Angus bulls, said there was normally a
It has been a good commercial market for beef, and cattle weaners have sold well at sales around the country. Callum Stewart
full clearance of all bulls sold at Merchiston.
‘‘But higher prices often mean bulls are too expensive for a farm budget and there is usually a bit of a bull price correction.’’
He said Merchiston had a great line-up of bulls which were top quality, had good depth and were full bodied.
‘‘They were very even, and had good phenotype and genotype. [good looking angus bulls and top statistics].’’
Stewart said 36 bulls were sold at auction.
‘‘In all fairness we don’t sell bulls out the back when they don’t sell at auction. It’s not fair to the people who are out the front putting bids on bulls.’’
He said there was a light bench of buyers and the bulls which did not sell were the later auctioned bulls.
‘‘Farmers don’t have to buy a bull each year. Perhaps they buy every three of four years. A good bull will last longer than three years working on a farm so people don’t come back to a sale every year.’’
Stewart said average prices for farm bulls had risen this year.
‘‘It has been a good commercial market for beef, and cattle weaners have sold well at sales around the country. So farmers have some money in their pocket and they’ll spend it on a quality bull.’’
Rowe said the 10 bulls which did not sell at auction would not be sold at the farm.
He said the bulls would go to the meat plant to be killed for beef.
‘‘It is sad, but there are another 170 coming up behind them. So we have to get rid of these ones.’’
Rowe said they would be worth about $2500 at the works depending on their weight.