FEMALES sold to a top of $32,000 and bulls to $25,000 at the Spring Elite Wagyu Sale on November 4.
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In what proved relatively tough going, eight of the 18 females sold for an average $13,250 and four of the 11 bulls offered sold to average $13,250.
Genetic material resulted in slightly more competition with 38 of the 58 embryos offered averaging $1450 for a top of $2100, while 80 of the 130 semen lots put up averaged $718 with a top price of $3200.
The top priced female at $32,000 was Irongate Michiko R1755 (ET), offered by Irongate Wagyu, Albany, WA. The fullblood 10 month old was bought by Frank Prainito, The Gurdies, Vic - a regular buyer of top quality livestock.
Peter and Shari Knudsen, Coondarra, Chinchilla, bought the top priced bull, paying $25,000 for Sumo Cattle Co Monjiro Q195, offered by Sumo Wagyu, Grafton, NSW. Sired by Coates Itoshigenami G113, the fullblood 16 month old had top EBVs for carcase weight, eye muscle area, and marble score.
Australian buyers were in the market for embryos.
Amberoo Wagyu, Toowoomba, sold the top price embryo package for $2100/embryo to Mayura Wagyu, Millicent, SA. The fullblood embryos from Mayura P0084 are descended from the Aino/Aizakura family, which are noted for their size and milk production.
Mayura Wagyu also paid the top price for the semen lots - $3200/straw for 10 straws from Q0921, offered by Macquarie Wagyu, Leyburn. Q0921 is ranked in the top 1pc for marbling EBVs.
Marketing agent Harvey Weyman-Jones, Grant Daniel & Long, said the economic uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic and the US election had dampened demand at the sale.
"It was certainly a buyer`s market due to the disruptions in the world today," Mr Weyman-Jones said.
Several lots were sold after the sale, as sellers worked to meet the market.
Agent: Grant Daniel & Long, interfaced with Elite Livestock Auctions.
