After setting state and national records at the 2008 Woonallee Elite Production sale, this year’s sale was always at risk of suffering a let down in comparison. However, that did not take into account the magnificent quality on offer, not only in appearance, but also in new genetic strength and the competition this attracted.

As a result Woonallee continued to set industry benchmarks and by sale’s end there was a total clearance of the 67 lots offered for a $311,200 gross. If anything this sale was more solid than last year as the top bull price was $13,000; a figure exceeded by 4 bulls last year including a record top of $30,000. Keeping this in mind, a $5,787 average for 38 Simmental bulls was a wonderful result when compared with last year’s $7,831 average, especially considering there was also an increase in sale numbers with seven more bulls being offered this year and no doubt the disastrous Victorian bushfires affected some potential top end stud demand. This in turn enabled more commercial producers to secure top bulls within their budget, unlike last year when several were blown away by the record breaking stud demand.

The depth of quality of the African and blended genetics on offer was exceptional and fully appreciated by the large crowd that contained 76 registered bidders, with every Australian state represented. While no commercial heifers were offered this year, 16 stud heifers and 2 cows were offered and snapped up by the appreciative buying gallery. These topped at a fantastic Woonallee on-property female record high of $10,000.

At lot 50, Woonallee Hedwig C130, a clean polled ET heifer carrying full South African genetics; sired by Blinkbou Modist and from Wisp-Will Hedwig 9, was arguably the individual highlight amongst the stud sales,. The successful purchaser was Stuart Moeck, Valley Creek Simmentals, Richmond, NSW, who secured this outstanding breeding prospect after a bidding duel with Mark Peucker, Mt Gambier. Stuart will use the heifer in an ET program to help upgrade his 30 strong cow herd.

Buyers of the $13,000 top priced bull were Tony and Helen Donohue, Ulmarra Simmentals at Singleton, NSW. This was for lot 3, Woonallee Class Act C119, a very impressive 900kg son of Latco Hager Junior; a new South African sire. At 20 months, Class Act also had an EMA reading of 136 square cms, great length, depth, balance and had that easy doing softness so much in demand these days.

Underbidders were Gary and Joy Allen, Tugulawa Simmentals, Mt Gambier, who later compensated by purchasing 2 top heifers at $6,500 and $2,500. John Hopkins, Wormbete Simmentals, Illabo, NSW jumped in one lot earlier than the Donohues to purchase Woonallee Clinical C71, a bull with faultless structure and a son of Woonallee Gladiator, the $21,000 son of BHR Three Sixes that sold to the Prospect stud in New Zealand at the 2006 sale.

Joe and Joanne Peel, Haliotis Fisheries, Bairnsdale, Vic have been regular purchasers of top Woonallee females in past sales, but this year they invested in stud bulls, picking up 2 top sires at lots 7 and 38 for $9,000 and $6,250 respectively. At lot 7, the 22 month old Woonallee Compass C52 offered real sire power, high performance and huge muscling capacity, with a huge 145 sq cm EMA reading. The other was W> Claim C115, a long 20 month old son of Barabas 7767/11 and from Woonallee’s elite donor cow W. Tara Wee P T 009 (P).
Frank and Joe Rizza, Pakenham were other Victorian stud Simmental breeders who secured leading bull genetics by purchasing lot 25, a full South African blood ET bull sired by Locheim Primal, for the bargain price of $4,000.

The second top priced bull at $10,500 was lot 16, Woonallee Choice C27, a younger bull with terrific strength of pedigree, supported by outstanding structure and top performance. Former fellow vendors, the Waterfront stud of RH Hodge & Partners were the successful purchasers of this impressive youngster. They also later purchased a top heifer for $4,500.

In the past few years, South Australian stud breeders have been pushed into the background somewhat as interstate and international bidders have grabbed the star lots on a regular basis. However, this year they were more prominent and competed with the top interstate buyers. Besides the Waterfront stud, Rob Ness, Seddon stud, KI outlaid $7,500 for lot 12 for W.Consider C61, the first son of BHR Draco 628N to sell in this country. He combined length and muscling to be an ideal type for today’s beef industry. Rob also purchased a top sire at last year’s sale, being a strong supporter of Woonallee genetics.

Another South Australian buyer was Shirley Barker, Bokara Simmental stud, buying through Elders Strathalbyn. She bid $7,000 to secure W.Clockwork C54, an impressive son of Barana Zorra Z144, a bull that has worked very successfully for Woonallee in its blending program.

WA buyers were huge contributors to the success of last year’s record breaking sale, picking up the 3 top priced bulls at $30,000, $23,000 and $18,000, plus another at $10,000. This year it was left to Brad and Sylvia Patterson, Bullock Hills Simmentals, Katanning to hold the WA banner high. They purchased lot 6, Woonallee Centurion C113 for only $5,500 in one of the bargain buys of the sale. His dam has been a consistent producer of top stud sires and this son would not be disgraced in the company of any of her past top sons.

In the stud bull buying area, Queensland was represented by Bruce and Sandra Jorgenson, Mummulgum, Meandarra. They purchased lot 33 for $4,000, a son of the 2007 Royal Adelaide Show champion cow and supreme exhibit. Queensland buyers were much stronger competitors in the female offering. Gary Rahley, through Elders Toowoomba, who purchased the $21,000 top priced bull here 2 years ago, purchased a BHR Three Sixes daughter for $3,000.

However, it was Josh and Nigel Deveth, JD Simmentals, Murphy’s Creek, Qld who were the volume female purchasers, picking up 3 terrific heifers at $7,500 (for a daughter of W.Kaino A57, the $21,000 bull purchased by Gary Rahley), $4,000 and $2,250. The proceeds from the last one of these were donated to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal in a terrific gesture by the Baker family. Blue Dog Simmentals, Wandon, Qld were very prominent in the semen lots, purchasing 3 packages of 10 straws to the section top price of $260, plus $250 and $240 packages.

Tasmanian breeders were quite prominent this year in numbers, with 5 different purchasers from the Apple Isle purchasing through Roberts Ltd agent, Mark Lamprey, Moriarty, Tas. John and Dianne Elphinstone, Thurlstone, Tas were present this year after picking up a bull in proxy last year. This year they purchased lot 9 for $5,500. Oxberry Pastoral Trust, Launceston went to $4,000 in purchasing the lot 21 bull for use in their commercial herd, while Marthavale Investments paid $2,750 for the lot 30 bull.

Nathan and Leah Skirving, Sassafrass, purchased stud females at $4,000 and $5,500 to make a real impact in the female section of the sale. Haylee Bennett, accompanied by her mother, Sue Bennett, Gawler, Tasmania rounded out the buying from the Apple Isle, purchasing a Woonallee Satara Wee P Z 005 sired heifer for $3,000.

Other stud female purchasers were Jockwar Partnership, via Tailem Bend (1 cow at $3,500); Six Creeks Simmentals, Mt Gambier (2 heifers at $4,000 & $3,000); Justin Staley, Yarram, Vic (1 heifer at $3,000); Rebecca Peucker, Mt Gambier (1 heifer @ $2,500);G & J Huggins, Ballarat, Vic (1 heifer at $3,000); & JA & KL Head, Kerang, Vic (also 1 heifer at $3,000).

While stud sales tend to take the headlines in this sale where the Baker family offer new and exciting genetics ideally suited to Australian range grazing conditions, commercial breeders were also very prominent in the bull buying area.

Regular Woonallee supporter, James McKay, Egremont Pastoral Co, Lucindale was very strong in his bidding, purchasing Simmental bulls for $6,500 and $6,000 and then adding the 2 top young Simmental/Angus composite bulls at $5,000 each. He was the equal top volume bull buyer as a result. John Patterson Livestock, Ladysmith, NSW purchased 4 Simmental bulls from $3,000 to $6,000 for client Winderadeen Corporation, to be the other equal top volume buyer of bulls in the sale.

The Marriot family, Murroka P/L, Bairnsdale have been strong supporters of this sale for several years and were back again in force. They purchased 3 bulls @ $6,500, $6,000 and $3,500 this year.

Lance and Michael Skeer, operating through Chay & Merrett, Millicent also purchased 3 top bulls, paying from $4,500 to $7,000 to put real buying pressure on the stud buyers. Chris Bateman, through Elders Millicent paid $6,000 to $5,750 in picking up 2 top bulls including lot 1, a bull expected to attract strong stud interest. This is yet another example of lot 1 being a bargain buy, as many prospective buyers hang back for a while to judge the mood of the buying gallery.
Dale Bateman, through Landmark, Millicent also snapped up a powerful, top performance polled bull for $6,000.

Darren, Kylie and Mary Compton buying through Elders Heyward, Vic are regular commercial buyers at Woonallee and again showed they are prepared to mix it with stud bidders to get the genetics they want. They purchased a full African ET son of Kykso Haped at lot 14 for $8,500 which was not only the highest priced bull for commercial use, but also the 4th highest priced bull overall.

Other bull buyers included AP & MA Hickey, Camperdown, Vic; Yera Estate, Camperdown, Vic; Tony Bateman, Avonel Pastoral, Millicent, SA; Naremburn Investments, Strathalbyn, (all 1 bull & $4,000 each); Sheringa Pastoral, Millicent SA (1 at $3,000); Hancock Bros, Yorketown, SA, & Neutral Junction Props, Millicent, SA (1 each at $2,500)

Sale Summary

Pictured in front of the $13,000 top priced Simmental bull at the Woonallee Elite Genetics sale are buyers Helen & Tony Donohue, Ulmarra Simmentals, Singleton, NSW, Elders Millicent auctioneer Ben Finch and Woonallee principals Tom and Lizzy Baker, Woonallee, Furner with daughter Olivia.

John Hopkins, Wormbete Simmentals, Illabo, NSW kneels proudly in front of his $8,000 purchase from Woonallee, the massive lot 2 bull, Woonallee Clinical C71, a son of Woonallee Gladiator.

Stuart Moeck, Valley Creek Simmentals, Richmond, NSW is pictured with his grand father Hugo in front of Woonallee Hedwig C130 (P) (ET), the outstanding heifer he purchased for $10,000 at the Woonallee Elite Genetics sale at Furner, SA.

Tasmanian buyers were prominent at the 2009 Annual Woonallee Elite Genetics Simmental sale at Furner, SA, purchasing 6 lots in the bull and female sections of the sale. Pictured are Roberts Ltd agent Mark Lamprey, Moriarty, TAS with Nathan and Leah Skirving, Sassafrass TAS (purchasers of 2 females) and Dianne and John Elphinstone, Thurlstone, TAS (purchasers of 1 bull, plus another for Marthavale Investments).

Gary Rahley, (left) Toowoomba, Qld was back at Woonallee again this year after purchasing the $21,000 top priced bull two years ago. This year he purchased a top young heifer for $3,000. He is pictured with Justin Staley, Yarram, Vic, another repeat Woonallee client who also purchased a $3,000 heifer.