North Canterbury bull breeders did very well with top prices and considerably higher averages during a week of sales highlighted by $65,000 paid for a Woodbank Angus at Clarence Valley.
Ben and Caroline Murray’s Woodbank 20021 was sold to Stern Angus at Pleasant Point
Woodbank put up 62 bulls in two runs and sold 57 with an average of $12,104, a whopping $2800 better than last year.
Co-vendor Matariki Herefords, Jim and Becky Murray, improved their annual sale average by the same $2800 a head, selling 62 for $11,274.
Their top price was $47,000 paid by Limehills Herefords, Millers Flat for Matariki Nautical, by Matariki Kruise. Nautical has very impressive indexes and a great back end, said the vendors.
A good clearance of 74 bulls and an average $1000 more than last year marked the Kakahu Angus two-year bull sale near Geraldine, South Canterbury.
This year’s average was $11,140 and the top price was $38,000 for Kakahu 20056, out of Syngen Enhance.
Kakahu also sold a bull at $30,000 and two at $22,000.
For their 50th annual bull sale Koanui Polled Herefords, Maraetotara, sold 41 of 54 bulls offered and averaged $9585, right up with last year’s average.
Top price was $23,000 for Koanui Marvel R049, sired by Koanui Major P469, purchased by Glenlapa Station, Gore.
Marvel has high dollar indexes across the board and is out of Koanui Cynthia 1112, in the top four females in the herd and a donor cow.
The Chesterman family at Koanui also sold 10 in-calf heifers for part of the 50th celebration and got a $12,500 top price from Stewart and Julia Eden, establishing Fermoy Herefords, also near Gore. The heifers averaged $6100 and were all sold.
Jennifer Chesterman said commercial farmers competed strongly for the bulls, although there were some gaps among the usual clients because hill country farms have gone into forestry.
Another vendor to improve on last year’s average price was Kaiwara Angus at Culverden, North Canterbury, which sold 21 out of 26 and averaged $7750, with a top price of $13,000 paid twice.
One the same day in the same district Hemingford Charolais had a excellent sale with a top price of $37,000 paid by Kia Toa Charolais for Hemingford Regency R12, by Ned Kelly N2 out of Hemingford 0152.
The Holland family said sale day saw a record crowd, record top price and record average of $9160 for 53 sold out of 56 offered, an increase of $1300 a head on the 2021 sale.
Nearby Grampians Angus, Amuri, is a model of consistency, selling all 45 bulls offered for the second year of full clearance, despite offering 10 more.
The top price this year was $19,000, followed by one each at $18,000 and $17,000 and seven at $16,000.
The average was $11,911, well in advance of last year’s average.
Another North Canterbury Angus stud, Red Oak at Amberley, had a very consistent sale with an average of $10,004 over 35 sold which was $2640 more than last year.
Top price was $16,000 paid by Turihaua Angus for Red Oak 20095, sired by High Country, now a 10-year bull with unbeatable soundness and longevity.
Two were sold at $15,500 and one at $15,000, all in the first six lots.
Waiterenui Angus, Hastings, sold 39 out of 43 and averaged $7282 with a top price of $13,000.
Fossil Creek Angus had a full clearance of 66 bulls, averaged $11,878 and had a top price of $21,000 paid by a commercial farmer.
