A fresh influx of genetics from many of the Droughtmaster breed’s leading studs will leave prospective buyers spoilt for choice with ways to enhance their breeding programs when the National Female Sale takes place at Gympie Saleyards on Saturday, March 10, from 9am.
A total of 25 returning and first-time vendors encompassing a large geographical spread stretching from Emerald to Boonah have chosen 149 of their very best females – including 126 unjoined heifers, 20 joined heifers, and three cows and calves for the 37th annual sale.
Sale coordinator Brian Heck said past results have shown that the sale provides solid value for money year-in and year-out for buyers.
“There will be plenty of options for buyers, with the impressive bloodlines flowing through the females selected, sure to help them bolster their commercial and/or stud breeding programs,” he said.
Benjamin studs’ Les Howard will offer three young heifers with calves to open the sale in Lots 1 to 3 and unjoined heifers in Lots 137 and 140. He said this line is straight out of the paddock, in good working condition and are JBAS-7 tested. Les said Lots 3 and 137 are “closely related” and “show the quality of this family”. “Lot 3’s calf, by the 1000kg Glenlands Lucas, is the best female in the draft; the first calf drop from Lucas is outstanding”.
Matt and Sally Bekker, Bos Park, have selected three females for the sale from their most reliable bloodlines. Bos Park has retained the majority of females from these lines for the last 13 years which breed true to type, as is evident in the sale draft. Their joined heifer in Lot 5, Bos Park Imogen, is a former Junior Champion at the Noosa Show, the unjoined female in Lot 68, Bos Park Juliette is one of studs’ highest ranked EBV females, and Lot 69, Bos Park Justice’s older brother is used as a herd sire on-property.
Brian and Yvonne Heck, Bryvonlea, will offer three joined females (Lots 21 to 23) by leading sire Skye Wilfred x Billabong Fergus, and five unjoined females (Lots 27 to 31), while Bryvonlea JBH’s Joshua Heck has drafted three unjoined females (Lots 45 to 47). Brian said these 14 to 19 month-old females represent the depth of 20 years of breeding, and are by sires Skye Wilfred, Vale View Ripper, Billabong Riley and Medway Urie, while their dam’s pedigrees go back to the stud’s foundation females, Fancy, Edith, Hannah and Trinity.
Lynn and Stan Tompkins, Cedar View, will offer seven unjoined females in Lots 111 to 117. Six of the draft are by Angle Zed Famagusta who has made his mark on the stud with consistency in softness, temperament, muscle pattern and weight for age. Stan said lead heifer CV Ozara is the standout in the draft with her femininity and softness, and goes back to their most consistent female, CV Abbie, who was crowned Supreme Exhibit at the Gatton Futurity Show and Res. Senior Champion at the RNA in 2004.
Andrew and Kerri McKenzie, Hamadra, will return for their second National sale with a draft of 10 unjoined heifers (Lots 58 to 67) from six proven sires. Kerri said their heifers have varied qualities to offer so they’ve picked different types to accommodate different breeding programs, “but we would’ve been happy to have kept any of these young ladies.”
Ray and Lorraine Aitken, Lorayne, will offer four unjoined heifers, with Lots 120 and 121 sired by Wolfang Morton, while Lots 124 and 125 are by Billabong Chambord. Ray said Mortons bloodlines go back to Minlacowie Moses while Chambord is out of Billbong Rockafellar. He said the heifers “are nicely grown and out of very fertile mothers with proven genetics, and are ready to go to your bull”.
Bronwyn Betts and Michael Hawkins, Nindethana, will offer seven quality heifers, including two joined heifers (Lots 12 and 13), and five unjoined heifers (Lots 83 to 87). Nindethana Halle (Bryvonlea Malachi) will lead the Nindethana team as Lot 12. Bronwyn said “it’s fitting that a Malachi daughter lead their first Female Sale draft, especially one that has inherited so many of his wonderful traits. Malachi has taken our stud to the next level”.
The Pickering Family, RSVP and Sylvan Springs, will tempt buyers with a 14 head offering, comprising seven joined (Lots 14 to 20) and seven unjoined females (Lots 88 to 91 and 103 to 105) Selected from a 250-plus strong breeding herd, the females offered are from leading genetics and are selected from replacement heifers. Sires represented include Billabong Armstrong, Sylvan Springs Escapade, Ianbrae Wanted, Talgai Chico, Wajatryn Fronteer, Sylvan Springs Hitchhiker, and Sylvan Springs Cowboy.
Sugerlands’ Will and Ingrid Haviland sale draft begins with a joined heifer in Lot 4, Sugerland Jedi, by Comanche 2576 and the dam’s lineage goes back to the Wingfield and Garthowen Stud’s. Her joining sire is the $26,000 Artesian Sale topper, Yaralla 33/5. Unjoined heifers in Lot 24, Sugerland Joshkeleigh, sired by Strathfield Cosmo; Lot 25, Sugerland Jingle, which the Havilands describe as the “complete package”; and Lot 26, Sugerland Jetset, the baby of the team, complete the Sugerland draft.
Truvalle stud principal Margaret Wilson, along with her late husband Peter, have been supporting the sale since its inception. This year, Truvalle are offering five unjoined heifers in Lots 32 to 36 (four by Talgai Apache, and one by Lorandale Halo). Apache has earned more than $300,000 in the sales of his progeny for Truvalle. Genetics from Billabong, Huntly, Wingfield, Minlacowie, and Garthowen feature in the female bloodlines.
Vale Views’ Dave, Colleen and Mac Smith have selected nine unjoined heifers aged 15 to 19 months (Lots 92 to 100) for the 2018 sale. Colleen said the draft features a “lovely line of very soft, feminine females backed by some of our best bloodlines”. She said the standout in the draft is Lot 92, Vale View Alice, a long maternal looking female who is exceptionally deep in the flank and has excess skin to grow into”.
- For enquiries call the Droughtmaster Society on (07) 3281 0056, Brian Heck on 0407 714 439 or sale agents Elders, Landmark and Sullivan Livestock.