Benelkay Santas 13th Annual Bull sale
Commercial support as usual underpinned the sale day at Benelkay this year. The stud offered sons from five new sires, it was the tried and tested old sires and proven Benelkay genetics that delivered the goods.
The top priced bull came in at Lot 10, Benelkay Tungsten T124 (PP), and was purchased by Ken and Alex Sorenson, Landsborough Santa Gertrudis stud, Teviot Station, Winton QLD, for $21,000.
Sired by Benelkay Newman N330 (PP), the 23-month-old homozygous polled sire was packed with performance. He recorded the largest (EMA) at 147cm, was one of the heaviest bulls in the draft weighing 900 kilograms, with a daily average weight gain of 1.26kg, a scrotal measurement of 41 centimetres and a 91% semen morphology result. His raw data matched his EBVs with his breeding value (EBV) of +3.3, placing him in the top 20pc and his 600-day weight and mature cow weight figures of +31 and +44, respectively, placing in the top 10%
The Queensland operation purchased another four bulls to average $10,800. Purchaser Alex Sorensen said their operation consisted of a 1400 head self-replacing commercial herd, alongside a line of 200 stud cows, selling herd sires out of the paddock. The steer portion was turned off into feedlots at around 400kgs. “These Benelkay Bulls, they were a nice even line of bulls, good conformation with a bit of frame about them,” she said. “Temperament is a really big thing for us, that’s our main thing we look for” when we inspected them, we were very impressed with how they presented.
The second-top-price bull was Lot 20, Benelkay Transformer T110 (PP), purchased by Ian Pine, Illalinga, Emerald Hill, for $17,000. The 23-month-old homozygous polled bull, weighed 732kg, and was sired by Burramurra Boss 152 (PP).
He recorded a daily average weight gain of 1.13kg, while scanning a fat measurement of 16 millimetres on his P8 and 11mm on the rib with an IMF of 6.4.
His mature cow weight and rib fat EBVs were in the top 25pc with +50 and +1.3, respectively, He also ranked in the top 10pc for rump fat with a figure of +1.4.
The third top-priced bull who drew a lot of attention from buyers was lot 6, Benelkay Turbo T270 (P). An outstanding Bullamakinka Remington son, who carried strong phonotype, exceptional length and depth. He was purchased by Hood Partnership for $16,000. Les has been purchasing Benelkay bulls for over twenty years, with great results and decided he was going home with Turbo. “One thing we like about the Benelkay Bulls is their fantastic temperaments and the doing ability, they under pin our commercial operation perfectly.”
Other volume buyers included Old Bundilla Pastoral Company, Warren, who purchased three bulls to average $6666, while Calonbah Santa Gertrudis stud, Tottenham, purchased two bulls to average $8500.
Overall, the 31 bulls averaged $9,450. With a further 4 being sold later in the paddock.
Benelkay stud principal Andrew Orman said “It was pleasing to see the stud’s local clients purchasing the top end of the bulls, without our local support we would struggle to operate, but they support us year after year, and we are so grateful for their loyalty. It’s also fantastic to get some good bulls up to Winton with Landsborough, we have sold bulls up into Northern QLD before with strong results on how they have performed, so feel Ken and Alex will do well with them.”
“We felt there was a stronger demand for clients chasing bulls with strong constitutions, the ability to lay down fat with high IMFs being a high priority to many buyers. This also in conjunction with, a dark coated, slick skinned, homozygous polled Bulls package. Sires like this are producing the ideal progeny that will grade MSA for these producers” he said.
The sale was conducted by Elders Gunnedah with Lincoln McKinlay as auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
