It was described as the best and heaviest draft of bulls Texas had put up for years and buyers and under bidders travelled as far as WA, SA, NT, QLD, VIC and NSW to see for themselves. Coincidentally it was the Mayne’s 50th bull sale and records tumbled with the highest bull hitting $56,000, well above the 2015 sale top price of $45,000 and achieving the highest price average for the stud of $12,535. Spirited bidding was strong from Lot 1 to the last bull in the ring that sold for $17,000.
Lot 27 Texas Earnan L612(AI)(ET) was the heaviest bull in the sale at 1012kgs and made the top price of $56,000. Chris Knox and Helen Alexander of DSK Angus (pictured below), Coonabarabran, NSW couldn’t resist L612’s power, bone, fleshing and phenotype. He was the highest scanning IMF bull in his contemporary, ranked 1% for 50K growth and CWT, had a daily weight of 1.47kgs since birth, scrotal size 45cm and estimated breeding values (EBVs) +63, +108, +146 for 200, 400, 600 day weight and +2.3 for marbling. His dam Texas Undine H638(AI)(ET), a daughter of Texas’s famous dam Texas Undine Z183, had 8 sons in the sale that averaged $16,000.
The second top priced bull was Lot 29 Texas Mt Kaputar M100(AI)(ET), a full ET brother to the previous record holder Texas Mount K2 making $44,000 selling to a syndicate of repeat buyers; Neville Duddy Glen Innes, NSW, Owen Pedlow Highland Court Angus, Glen Innes, NSW and Shane Adams and Vince Larkin of East West Angus, Bingara NSW (pictured below). M100 was described as one of the picks of the sale and with 1.42kgs/day since birth, super set of EBVs (Top 1% and Top 5% for calving ease, scrotal, growth, CWT and Indexes) combined with amazing temperament and phenotype he was popular amongst the bidders. East West Angus also purchased Lot 4 Texas Legacy L177(AI) and Lot 12 Texas Louis Vuitton L618(AI)(ET) for $24,000 and $23,000 respectively.
Equal third price bulls was Lot 40 and Lot 94 both selling to $31,000 to repeat commercial breeders. Lot 40 Texas Tour of Duty L282(AI) (pic below left) was an incredibly docile, heavy fleshing, huge growth sire tipping the scales at 962kgs. Cadelga Cattle Co, Inglewood QLD returned from last year’s sale to take him home to infuse back into their herd. Lot 94 Texas Hat Trick L240 sire by Texas Western Express H639 was snapped up late in the sale by Pete and Terry Hanigan of Coonamble NSW. The Texas Western Express H639 sons were popular averaging $15,000.
Lot 43 Texas Guaranteed L283(AI) wasn’t to be missed and was secured by Greg Watson of Bandaroo Angus, Kelvin NSW for $28,000. This stylish son of Ellingsdon Guaranteed out of a Dunoon Evident female created plenty of interest and Greg and his partner Gabby came up trumps (pictured below).
Western Australian stud breeder Gary Buller of Monteray Angus bought Lot 49 Texas Hat Trick L197 for $22,000. A magnificent cross of two of Texas’s best cow lines, weighing 872kgs by Texas Western Express H639, L197 had a lovely set of EBV’s +3.8 CED, +3.4 BW, +134 600, +5.0 EMA, positive fat and +2.0 IMF.
Volume buyers of the day were return clients Paul and Jo Smith, Tieyon Station, Alice Springs, NT purchasing 11 bulls for an average $13,000 topping at $24,000 for Lot 51 Texas Reality L227(AI). The Smith’s run a large scale pure Angus herd in Central Australia and have been buying Texas bulls since 2001.
Repeat buyers Mark and Belinda Wilson, Banana Station QLD took 9 heifer bulls home for an average of $12,000, paying up to $17,000 for the last bull in the ring Lot 134 Texas Vice Admiral, an 892kg son of Texas Admiral E379.
The Mayne family were completely taken by surprised with the end result and were very thankful to buyers, under bidders and agents that had travelled long distances to attend the sale and in the weeks leading up to the sale.
Principal Ben Mayne believed the huge genetic investment the stud outlaid in embryo transfer and artificial insemination has further strengthened the maternal lines and the progeny that have been hitting the ground in recent years are consistent standouts. This was the first year where actual performance data was matching it on paper. The growth rates of these bulls were exceptional particularly when they had calving ease, moderate birthweights, carried softness, excellent carcase values and known to strive and thrive in tough environments.
The Mayne’s wanted to acknowledge the dedicated Texas Team who once again did a fantastic job – BJA, GDL, GTSM and Falls Transport.
