As Queensland's goat industry goes from strength to strength, producers are now focused on boosting the genetics of their herds. The strong demand for genetics was clear when 113 performance recorded red and traditional buck goats sold to average $1375 at the Western Spring Sale at the Cunnamulla Racecourse last Friday.
In all, three vendors participated in the sale and included Jake Berghofer and Emma Patterson, Springvale, Eulo, who sold 44 bucks to average $1739. Jim Gillon, Macanda Stud, Kingaroy sold 19 for $1132 while Ben and Andrea McKenzie, Yaralla, Cunnamulla, sold 28 bucks for $1421.
The sale topped at $3600 for a standard buck offered by Jake Berghofer and Emma Patterson and sold to Pieter Jaarsveld, Sunset Boer Goats, Inglewood.
Mr Jaarsveld runs both the Sunset Boer Goat stud, along with a commercial goat breeding operation in the Traprock district. He said the sale topper has the overall structure he was looking for and his performance data was superior.
He is sired by Springvale N510 who was retained by Jake Berghofer and Emma Patterson, Springvale, Eulo as the lead buck of their 2017 drop.
"We will use him in our standard and Boer goat cross breeding operation where we breed goats for commercial breeders," Mr Jaarsveld said.
"We find these crossbred goats achieve a better meat quality and weight gain in a shorter time frame for goat breeders."
Top price Red buck was also offered by Jake Berghofer and Emma Patterson and bought by Dan and Louise Hoch of Quilpie for $3400. He was a Kalahari buck with Isis Reds genetics on both sides of his pedigree.
Volume buyers were Turmbull Brothers, Tambo who finished with 14 bucks to average $1471. The brothers paid an average of $1514 for the red goats $1429 for the standard bucks.
David and Carmel Meurant, Eulo, finished with 10 to average $1230. The selected six red for am average of $1533 and four standards bucks for $775.
"With over 120 attending the field day and with 100 per cent clearance at the sale it is exciting to see the enthusiasm and confidence in our industry," vendor Emma Patterson said.
Selling agent Anthony Hyland, GDL, St George, said overall the goats presented very well and were aged seven months and upwards.
"By investing in goats it can give you an all years production, and they clean up your country, and presently they are a strong commodity," Mr Hyland said.
Charleville's Nutrien livestock agent Gus Footte said there is a lot of confidence in the goats with local processors Western Exporters offering 9.70c/kg. Agents Nutrien, GDL, Auctionsplus
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
