VOLUME buyers set the platform for strong results at the Burton Taylor family's Kenny's Creek Angus bull and female sales in Boorowa last week.
Thursday's female sale sparked interest from several States with 52 of 53 cow and calf units selling to a top of $9000 and averaging $3004, while 115 of 153 pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) cows sold to a $5500 high and averaged $2037.
The top cow and calf unit, Kenny's Creek Finks Miss D18, was a low birth-weight Leachman Boomtime daughter, with a bull calf at side by Connealy Mentor 7374.
She was snapped up through AuctionsPlus system by Glenmore Partnership, Glen Innes, at $9000.
The cow had top estimated breeding values (EBVs) for growth, mature cow weight, milk and carcase, with highs of +5.4 for eye muscle area (EMA) and +2.0 for intramuscular fat (IMF) percentage.
The top PTIC cow was purchased by Wirrabilla Angus stud, Taralga, for $5500, who took a second PTIC cow at $2750 and a cow and calf unit for $3750, to join their stud herd ranks.
Wirrabilla stud manager Guy Martin said he was happy with the top end females they had secured and they would suit his production system.
The big spender on the day was Steve Blair, Esperance Cattle Company, Young River Station, Esperance, Western Australia, who secured 30 females in total, including 10 cow and calf units to a top of $4250, averaging $3500, and 20 PTIC cows to a top of $3500, averaging $1950.
MRM Fan Pty Ltd, "Rosemount", Jugiong, purchased four cow and calf units at a $3000 average, and also took 21 PTIC cows to a top of $2250, averaging $1714.
The Rock Angus, "Elouera", The Rock, bought two cow and calf units at $3750 and $2750, before bidding on seven PTIC cows, to average $2464.
Redbank Angus stud, Bega, lead the charge at the top end, securing four cow and calf units to a top of $4500, averaging $3000, and four PTIC females to a top of $4500, averaging $2938.
Elders studstock agent Jim Bruce, Albury, bought 15 cow and calf units on behalf of Paringa Livestock, Yea, Vic- toria, to a $3000 top, averaging $2300.
In the bulls on Wednesday, 36 of 39 sold to average $4236 as three volume buyers kicked the sale along and put a major floor in the market, buying 24 of the 36 sold.
The top-priced bull went to Lucy Godlee, "Urawilke", Boggabilla, at $8000.
Ms Godlee phoned in to secure the two-year-old son of Tuwharetoa Regent D145, with a low birthweight EBV of 3.2, growth to 133 for 600-day, moderate carcase and a CAAB $Index of $123.
Stephen Blore, "Tolly Plains", Balranald, led the charge on the volume buyers, snapping up nine bulls at a $4111 average, to join to his commercial herd.
Well-known cattle breeders Stan and Ray Henwood, "Grove Meadow", Wagga Wagga, and long-time supporters of the Kenny's Creek program for their 60,000-head herd, were set on securing nine functional commercial bulls.
Trevor Wright, Mt Fyans Black Angus, Mortlake, Vic, was the losing bidder on the top bull, but made up for it by securing five bulls to a top of $7500, averaging $4500, chasing bulls with good figures, structure and strong pedigrees.
His top bull purchase was a Te Mania Berkley B1 son, with a low birthweight, +5.1 EMA and CAAB $Index of $129, with good carcase data.
Terry Ireland, "Beltana", Tullibigeal, paid $5500 for Te Mania Africa son, along with a three-year-old Regent son that had been used in the Kenny's Creek herd with moderate birth, growth and carcase for $6500.
The sales were conducted by Elders with Andy McGeoch, Steve Ridley, and Aaron Seaman as the auctioneers.