A total clearance of 32 Simmental, Composite and Red Angus bulls and 7 Simmental females was achieved at the inaugural stand alone Waterfront Premier Genetic Sale at Naracoorte last Friday, giving a very solid sale result. This was no doubt achieved on the back of the high reputation the Hodge and Parker families had built up over the 20 year history of their stud (including the last 3 as co-vendor with Woonallee at the 3 previous Premier Genetic Simmental sales at the Woonallee property) and supported by the depth of quality in this year’s sale offering.

Their new ‘Naringa Park’ property just north of Naracoorte has undergone a large transformation in a very short time enabling their inaugural sale to be held with top facilities, with the whole presentation being a credit to the Waterfront principals and staff.

While the sale lacked the top end stud buying support that was achieved at Woonallee in the morning, it did receive very good commercial buying support. The bulls were presented in good order and they displayed tremendous growth, muscling, structure and breed type right through the offering. The Waterfront reputation for high quality was further enhanced the previous day when a pen of their commercial heifers topped the Naracoorte weaner sale at $720/head.

The top price in this year’s bull offering was $7,000 for Waterfront Barclay, the junior and grand champion from last year’s Adelaide Simmental feature breed showing; being purchased by the Hahn family, Nampara Pastoral, Penola. The Hahn family will cross the bull with their Angus to produce breeding females for the commercial arm of their beef operation.

The 26 Simmental bulls averaged $3,962; a very good average considering a top of only $7,000 was achieved, but it was also a reflection on the evenness of the offering.

New Zealand breeder, Peter McWilliam, Maungaraki Cattle Co, Masterton, was present to see the first Waterfront progeny of his sire Wai-iti Lord Mayor, plus further progeny of Wai-iti Notorious being sold. These were among the highlights of the sale offering; being soft, easy doing bulls with great breed type and performance.

The 4 bulls of these bloodlines averaged $5,000, which while a satisfactory result was probably a little under the odds considering their quality.

Gary and Joy Allen, Tugulawa Simmentals, Mt Gambier secured the first of them; a Notorious son, Waterfront Baker B233 for $5,500, while the Creek family, Six Creeks Simmentals, Mt Gambier picked up Waterfront Bradburn B296, a Lord Mayor son for $6,500, which was the sale’s equal 2nd top price. These were the only 2 stud purchases in the sale.

A full flush brother to Bradburn sold to Matt Nicolle, Jockwar, Strathalbyn for $5,000, being one of 4 bulls he bought on the day, to be a major contributor to the overall result.

Artimore Partners, Keith were prominent bidders, securing 2 bulls in the end; one of these also at the sale’s equal second top price of $6,500. This was for Waterfront Baxter B124, a son of Waterfront Xenos, just one of the very successful homebred sires doing a top job in the Waterfront herd.

Malcolm Wilson and Bruce Creek, purchasing for Hugh & Clare Bainger’s Hillcrest Pastoral Co, Lucindale and through SAL Naracoorte, were the biggest volume buyers on the day, selecting 5 bulls in total from $2,750 to $4,250 in great value buying. Hillcrest has been a long time supporter of Waterfront genetics, with the top breeding results they achieve reflected in their annual weaner sale offerings at Naracoorte.

LS Johnson & Sons were also strong and repeat buyers of Waterfront genetics; successfully bidding on 4 bulls from $2,500 to $4,750.

Of the 3 Composite bulls offered, Waterhole Pastoral, Millicent, buying through Chay & Merritt, went to the top of $4,500 for one of two they bought. The 3 Red Angus bulls all sold for a bargain basement $2,500 each.

In the offering of 7 Simmental females, the standout lot was Waterfront Blaise, a daughter of Wai-iti Notorious. Woonallee principals Tom & Lizzy Baker eventually secured her with a $5,000 bid, outbidding Corey Ireland, Okaparinga Simmentals, Wagga Wagga, NSW. Corey purchased Waterfront’s equal top priced bull at last year’s sale for $7,000.
The 7 females averaged a credible $2,143.

Sale summary
Bulls
26 Simmentals sold to $7,000, grossed $103,000 & averaged $3,962.
3 Composites sold to $4,500, grossed $10,500 & averaged $3,500.
3 Red Angus sold @ $2,500 each.
Overall 32 bulls sold to $7,000, grossed $121,000 & averaged $3,781.

Heifers
7 Simmental heifers sold to $5,000, grossed $15,000 & averaged $2,143.

Sale Gross     $136,000
Agents           Elders Naracoorte

Pictured with the $7,000 top priced bull at the Waterfront Premier Genetic Simmental sale at Naracoorte on Friday were Waterfront’s Matthew Parker and the purchaser, Stuart Hann, Nampara Pastoral, Penola. The bull, Waterfront Barclay B87, was Junior and Grand Champion at last year’s Adelaide Royal Simmental feature breed showing.

Heidi Sutherland, Elders Ltd, Naracoorte is pictured with Malcolm Wilson, representing Hillcrest Pastoral Co, Lucindale, who was the volume purchaser at the Waterfront Simmental sale last Friday, purchasing 5 bulls in total to $4,250..

Waterfront’s Matthew Parker (centre) is with Brian Johnson, LS Johnson & Sons, Naracoorte, and Matt Nicolle, ‘Jockwar’, Strathalbyn. They both purchased 4 bulls at the Waterfront Premier Genetic sale last Friday.

Robert Norton, ANZ Bank, Naracoorte (centre) represented one of Waterfront’s sponsors, ANZ Bank, in presenting prizes to Scott Creek, Six Creek Simmentals, Mt Gambier and Michael Kemp, Artimore Partners, Keith, for being the equal 2nd top priced bull buyers (@ $6,500) at last Friday’s Waterfront sale.

Nick Sutherland, Coopers Animal Health representative (right) presents Coopers product to Stuart Hann (centre), Nampara Pastoral, Penola for purchasing the $7,000 top priced bull at last Friday’s Waterfront sale. They are with Waterfront’s Matthew Parker.