Ascot principals Jim and Jackie Wedge overcame several major hurdles enforced by the coronavirus outbreak to achieve arguably their best result at their annual autumn bull sale at Warwick last Wednesday.
Despite huge imposts such as buyer restrictions, enforced social distancing, sale logistics changes, hygiene requirements and general uncertainty around a physical auction potentially relying heavily on AuctionsPlus, the Wedges still managed to achieve a total clearance.
Mr Wedge thanked buyers for their support in such trying times and was very upbeat about the future prospects for the beef industry and his current breeding direction.
Guest auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth, NSW, sold the entire run in a little over an hour to clear 24 Charolais bulls for a $8250 average and 33 Angus bulls for a $7364 average.
AuctionsPlus NSW and Queensland manager Bob Jakins, Goondiwindi, played a key role after accounting for 12 Angus and 10 Charolais bulls, including the $28,000 top-priced Charolais and the $20,000 equal-top money Angus bull for an overall average of $7682.
Ascot Pure Blonde P44E, a 22-month-old homozygous polled son of Rosedale Lump Sum with excellent growth and performance, was bought by Lachlan and Kristy Dickson, Chelbrook Charolais stud, Goovigen, for the $28,000 top money.
Mr Dickson said he (Pure Blonde) was a genuine stud sire, well balanced, a good deep-flanked bull with extra softness and good structure and head.
"Ascot Pure Blonde has excellent EBVs, a strong pedigree on both sides - especially the consistency of his sire, Rosedale Lump Sum - and impressive raw data figures," Mr Dickson said.
Two Angus bulls attracted the $20,000 top price tag.
The first was Ascot President P359, a powerful hind quartered son of Ascot Hallmark, which sold to long-time Thoroughbred breeder Greg White, Robrick Lodge Thoroughbred, Parkville, NSW.
Mr White is building numbers for an elite quality commercial Angus herd with Ascot President to lead the project.
Ascot President was selected for his standout pedigree (Ascot Hallmark) and exceptional performance figures with the ideal phenotype according to Mr White, who is also in the process of putting together a line of elite Hereford cows to run alongside his Angus herd.
Atherton Tablelands-based commercial beef producers Ian and Sarah Beck, Big Valley, Malanda, also bid similar money for Ascot Panther P345, a lower birth weight, high growth figured son of Texas Global G563 with positive fat.
Mr Beck said he was looking for a bull with a very fine, slick skin which could handle the ticks and tropical heat.
"Ascot Panther has great depth in his hindquarter and excellent growth especially his 600 figure (plus 138) and his 6.8 intramuscular fat percentage made him our ideal choice," said Mr Beck.
Volume buyers Andrew and Hugh Fernie, Riverview Cattle Company, Clermont, purchased four quality Angus bulls for an average of $8250.
Their draft also included the Charolais bull, Ascot Pentagon P510E (P) - a long-bodied, high carcase indexing son of Ascot Galaxy G131 (P) - for $16,000.
- Selling agents: Elders, Colin Say & Co, Nutrien Livestock and Mike Wilson Stud Stock & Blood Stock.
