Our 28th annual on-property sale will kick off at 1:00pm on Wednesday August 14th, where 90 rising two-year-old bulls will be auctioned.

All but a couple of bulls have been DNA sire verified and all but a couple of Angus have had genomic data incorporated into their EBVs. From observation, the changes we see by adding genomic data generally reflects what we see in the variance of their raw data. This increased accuracy gives greater confidence to use the EBVs when making broad, pre-auction selections before visually assessing their type. Raw data can be useful, but doesn’t take into account bulls that may have had a better time environmentally.

We have also seen big pre- and post-progeny data EBV changes in certain A.I. sires we’ve used, that only had DNA and one growth trait submitted to Breedplan. The bulls with the least changes have been those with DNA, and with as many raw data  measurements submitted into Breedplan as possible. In the past where we had used yearling bulls as sires, the changes in their EBVs before and after progeny data had shown changes that were big enough not to ignore the raw data on their sons.

Now with the addition of genomics incorporated into Breedplan to calculate higher accuracy EBVs, raw data is becoming less important. This means growing and presenting bulls to their maximum potential is less of a requirement. That said, purchasing bulls is a big investment, so by sale day we aim to present them in good condition and ready to adapt to their new environments. All bulls will be sire verified by sale day.

Each year we are continually offering more bulls that are balanced across all traits, particularly for calving ease, fertility and growth. Last year was the first offering of the Texas Mount K2 sons and again they are a main feature, with 30 in total. K2 now has over 1000 progeny Breedplan analysed, which has enabled proven status towards his strengths for calving ease, growth, moderate milk, scrotal size, feed efficiency, carcase weight and marbling.

Another sire that is well balanced across traits, but more moderate framed in his type is Ayrvale General G18. In 2016 we offered sons by General and one bull topped the sale for $20,000, selling to Wattletop Angus. This year there are five sons that are as equally impressive in their phenotype as they are in their EBVs. In particular, lot 19 is a standout, and his maternal grandsire is Glenoch Galaxy G55 (the “James Bond bull”) that topped the 2014 sale for $18,000. Another General son of note is lot 22, who offers a lot of shape and is a maternal brother to M602 that sold for $25,000 last year.

Glenoch Hinman H221 sons continue to feature as he has been such a fail-safe bull to breed on. This year there are seven sons and six grandsons. Hinman offers an awesome skin type, he’s quiet, and is well in the top 1% for carcase weight and marbling. With moderate birth and fast growth, Hinman has almost 200 progeny Breedplan analysed and we eagerly await his progeny carcase data results from Cohort 7 of the Angus Sire Benchmarking Program.

There are four full Gardiner Angus Ranch sons available, offering different genetics to what we have offered in the past. All four bulls offer calving ease, fast growth, big eye muscle, carcase weight and marbling.

Two new sires are Baldridge Compass and 4M Element. Both of these bulls are similar in type, moderate framed, and have high calving ease, fast growth, big eye muscle and positive fat EBVs. The mother of Compass is proving to be a brilliant cow at breeding on, with a number of sons popular throughout the world. Compass himself has very correct structure, is quiet and is well on the way to being a top A.I. sire.

H P C A Intensity has four sons and eight grandsons. This bull is slick coated, with a big eye muscle, high marbling, carcase weight and growth. Intensity has been a popular A.I. sire, with over 1000 progeny analysed.

We are really happy with the four Brangus bulls on offer. Their type, EBVs and temperament are exceptional and we will be offering more bulls like these into the future. All four bulls have been DNA sire verified. Lots 33, 34 and 36 are homozygous polled, double black coat gene with a tenderness rating of 7/10. Lot 35 is heterozygous polled, double black coat gene with a tenderness rating of 3/10. To incorporate genomics into Breedplan, the Brangus breed has to go ‘single step’ and to go single step there needs to be more data from Brangus breeders submitted into Breedplan. Angus, Brahman and Wagyu are the only breeds that have gone single step.

The cattle industry as a whole could be summed up in three words – just add water. Nonetheless, like any other tough experience throughout life, one foot in front of the other, a mindset to look for the opportunities, and like the former AFL player and coach Neale Daniher puts it: “the courage to take responsibility and execute a better way forward”. If you haven’t seen the video online of Neale Daniher, who was diagnosed with MND in 2013, it is well worth your time to watch it.

A tech company called Moovement is developing an ear tag product and in particular they have a “Bull Performance Package”. In the long term they hope to not only to locate your bulls, but also monitor their body temperature (semen quality) and use an accelerometer to calculate if the bull is working and doing the job. In a lot of ways this device is no different to water monitors where there are real time warnings if the bulls are not working. Allflex are developing similar products and no doubt many others will be too.

If you were to draw a timeline of the Australian beef processors, wholesalers and retailers, measuring the number of beef brands and categorising them, it would broadly show the increasing trends around eating quality and safety in an aim to value-add. On a recent tour to a well-known Angus brand and feedlot operator, their average Ausmeat marble score is 2.75, but they would like to lift it further. Recently, Kilcoy Global Foods have talked to their suppliers wanting to raise the MSA index scores for their 100-day grain fed cattle.

Thank you for your interest in our program, and taking the time to read our material. Should you require further information or would like to inspect our bulls prior to the sale, please feel free to contact us.