A lovely sunny winter’s day brought one of Texas Angus’s largest crowd to witness the stud’s record breaking sale. The stud and commercial demand at this year’s sale hadn’t been seen for a number of years and is a definite reflection of the strong cattle market and demand for quality bulls with weight for age, fleshing, softness and calving ease. The exceptional line up of 107 bulls with an average weight of 820kgs were fiercely contested on July 30th that saw a top price record of $45,000 and a total clearance with a very healthy average of $7,229.
In the lead up to the sale, the interest in Lot 4 Texas Mount K2 had never been experienced by the stud before. Mount K2’s near perfect data set with his impeccable structure, desirable phenotype and outstanding temperament created an explosion of attention from all over Australia and internationally and when he stepped into the ring there was no disappointment. A hotly contested bidding war ended with Mount K2 being knocked down for $45,000 to a syndicate of studs including Welcome Swallow and Sandon Glenoch Angus with Texas retaining a 1/4 share.
Michael Glasser GTSM suggested that Glenoch and Welcome Swallow form a syndicate in readiness for the sale. Jim and Suzy Martin of Welcome Swallows Angus VIC surprised many in the Angus world when they purchased K2 with Sandon Glenoch as it was only two weeks ago that they dispersed their herd following the surprise sale of their property.
Jim Martin explained “The farm sale came out of the blue – we still have the passion and have been following GPS so when we found out Roger was impressed and we inspected K2 ourselves we totally concurred.”
“Actually Suzy and I believe after looking at bulls in the US, NZ and Australia for many years that K2 could be the best Bull we have seen.”
Roger Boshammer stated “Glenoch and Welcome Swallow both agree the eighteen month old’s outcross pedigree, weight for age of 824kgs, ‘dazzling EBV’s’ and superb temperament were just too good to ignore.”
“When you add to this the fact that K2 a natural calf of Z183 – was born two weeks early weighing only 27 kg and then grew so fast that at 16 months he weighed more than 100 kg heavier than any other bull in his large contemporary group – we both became determined to go all the way to get this bull”
Immediately after Mount K2 had been knocked down a number of semen packages were sold to New Zealand and Australian stud breeders. For enquiries for packages please contact Suzy Martin mountk2@iinet.net.au
The dam of Mount K2, Texas Undine Z183 has bred exceptionally well at Texas and is rated as the number 1 donor of the stud which is little wonder when all her 22 sons are averaging at $11,363 and grossing over $250,000. A number of these bulls have been purchased by renowned studs including Granite Ridge Angus, Alpine Angus, Woodbourn Angus.
Granite Ridge Angus of South Australia returned after purchasing last year’s top priced bull to secure the second top priced bull of the day Lot 18 Texas All Black J600 (AI)(ET) for $30,000. Granite Ridge Angus were so impressed with the 2 stud bulls they purchased in 2014 (Texas Western Express H639 (AI)(ET) and Texas Western Force H606 (AI)(ET) maternal brothers to Mount K2) they wanted to see the 2015 draft and weren’t disappointed. Owner Colin Flanagan of Granite Ridge Angus stated Lot 18, son of Te Mania 09 450 (NZ) he couldn’t resist taking the 982kg bull home because of his phenotype, weight for age, pedigree and structure.
Lot 18’s dam Texas Omnia D035 also had another 11 flush brothers that were heavily chased during the sale and averaged $12,500. Her two GPS sons Lot 5 Texas GPS J632(AI)(ET) and 6 Texas B-Line J603(AI)(ET) were snapped up by two Angus studs including Waters Family of Armidale for $12,000 and Corey Ireland of Irelands Angus for $14,000 respectively. While Murdeduke Angus secured her only Bangadang Western Express E10 son Lot 10 Texas Western Express J606 for $10,000.
There was a very strong commercial demand with 50% of bulls heading north across the border into QLD and the rest being staying in NSW. The heaviest bull of the draft Lot 13 Texas Berkley J601(AI)(ET) weighed in at 1040kg with a 1.6kg/day weight gain with birth +5.1 to +136 600Day, +74 CWT, +2.1 IMF and $167 Heavy Grain index was secured by a commercial producer, Jandara Pty Ltd through Newberry Te Velde Agencies of Glen Innes.
It was worth noting buyer’s heavily contested Mount K2 sire KC HAAS GPS progeny with 15 sons selling for a healthy average of $11,000. Matauri Reality sons were in high demand particularly for their calving ease and softness topping at $11,000 to a commercial QLD buyer.
Principal Ben Mayne was overwhelmed with the result and gave special thanks to buyers, underbidders, his family and the Texas team including BJA, GTSM and GDL for their hard work.
“It’s pleasing to be rewarded for all our hard work and knowing our breeding program is so highly recognised” he said.
“It was a big thrill when we took out the export fed performance trial of the Sydney Royal Beef Challenge this year however today sale result is even bigger!”
“The current cattle market and outlook remains strong so it’s great for the cow calf producer to be rewarded for their product and the demand for quality beef will only get stronger and that was evident at our sale” Ben stated.
“It was pleasing to see the return of a number of QLD bulk buyers competing at the sale and their positive comments of the performance of the Texas genetics in Central QLD” he said.
“Another dozen paddock bulls were sold shortly after the sale with more buyers coming in the next week.”