WA Sale highlights bull market strength

Australia’s longest running Holstein Bull Sale smashed expectations last week grossing $149,000, topping the sale at $13,500.

There were 26 bulls on offer along with 5 females which all were keenly sought after and the sale achieved a combined $7,500 average.

Elders Stock Agent Michael Carroll says “the prices received at this sale has instilled confidence in the dairy industry and the bull genetics in WA”.

The bull sale topper for $13,500 was paid for Carenda Jeronimo 862 from the Vanessa family who is in the top one percent of ABV bulls with a 451 BPI and 162 cell count purchased by BA and JA Armstrong. They also took home the Carenda Fedora 786 from the same vendor Carenda Holsteins.

The next highest price bull was Moonaralla Kingdoc 8820 sold to Kim Lie from Harvey, WA for $10,500. This is a massive achievement as this is the first bull sale for vendor Ravenhill Farms.

Keen buyers from the Furfaro family picked up a number of Carenda bulls including Carenda Zone 18 who sold for $10,000 and is in the top 1% of bulls for BPI and daughter fertility at 430 BPI / 113, top 5% for fat at 31, top 10% on cell count at 157 and top 25% for type at 104.

His dam, Carenda Main Event Vanda EX90-1E was also National Champion 5 year-old in the Semex-Holstein Australia Virtual Holstein Spectacular earlier this month, described by judge Brian Leslie as maybe the clearest winner of the competition. She is also dam to popular AI sires Tirano (P) and Sondalo.

They also selected Carenda Mighty 819 for $8,000, Carenda Powerball 812 for $6,500 along with Carenda Miss Megg for $4,500 from the female section of the sale.

In total, Carenda Holsteins sold 19 bulls with an average price of $7,842.

KJ and SM Gardiner got in on the action too, taking home Carenda Sandor 810 for $7,000 and Treeton Mirand Peter for $5,500.

Another prominent buyer was Kevin Smeathers from Northcliffe WA who snapped up bull from the Jenkins family Treeton Commander Delicious, and heifers Treeton Commander Sonia for $3,000 each and Treeton Drake Peggy for $2,500.

The Jenkins family sold 4 bulls with an average of $5,125.

Mr Carroll explains “The BPI and figures on the bulls were outstanding and there were some very good families behind them too”.

“Milk and sale prices and export in WA indicates that dairy farmers are reinvesting in the industry and are getting pretty good prices for store cattle, export heifers and cull cows…it looks promising” says Mr Carroll.

“There was a lot of interest including 26 nominations to buy which was all met with very good competition and there seems to be a lot of confidence around in the Holstein circle. It was a very good day all around” says Auctioneer Tiny Holly.