Bids were free-flowing, with a $20,000 top reached three times.
Sterita Park Angus stud’s commercial focus has paid off with their 18th annual bull sale at Lucindale defying the fallout from one of the worst South East seasons on record.
The DiGiorgio family sold 78 of 88 bulls for a $10,141 average – the highest averaging sale for SA Angus Week so far.
This average was up more than $1000 on last year, when 97 of 100 bulls averaged $9113.
Sterita Park stud principal Nanni DiGiorgio, Nutrien stud stock’s Gordon Wood, buyers Elders southern SA livestock manager Laryn Gogel, Greg Fisher, CR Pastoral, Marcollat and Nutrien stud stock’s Richard Miller with lot 4 which made $20,000. Picture by Catherine Miller
The largely rising two-year-old bulls presented in remarkable order given the stud prepared them only on dryland lucerne.
They were only 13 kilograms lighter on average than the 2024 draft.
Bidding at the video sale was free-flowing and reached a $20,000 high three times.
The first of these sale toppers, lot 4, was bought by first-time Sterita Park buyer Greg Fisher, Clover Ridge Pastoral, Marcollat, and his agent Elders southern area livestock manager Laryn Gogel, who had been impressed by the draft of bulls at Stock Journal Beef Week.
Mr Gogel said the strength of the maternal genetics drew them to 920kg Sterita Park U97 with the dam, Sterita Park H148 breeding a sale-topping bull twice in the past.
A couple of lots later, Frank Pye, Macarthur, Vic, secured lot 8, Sterita Park U186 – a bull in the top few per cent for all growth traits and carcase weight.
The 940kg bull was among the first sons by United States sire, LT Revered, to be offered by the stud.
Matt and Trish Wooding, Wooding Farms, Penola, also snapped up some new genetics in their lot 33 bull, Sterita Park U7, which they paid $20,000 for.
The Karoo K12 Realist N278 son was ranked in the top 3pc for intramuscular fat and calving ease figures.
“He is structurally perfect, well balanced and should be able to breed cows that have stay-ability in our herd,” Mr Wooding said.
Although 39 bulls made $10,000 or more, there were still plenty of lots available in the $6000-$7000 price bracket.
Nutrien’s Gordon Wood and Nick Heffernan (back right), buyers of the $20,000 equal top priced bull Trish and Matt Wooding, Wooding Farms, Penola and their children Bree, Amy and Skye and Sterita Park stud principal Nanni DiGiorgio. Picture by Catherine Miller
Stud principal Nanni DiGiorgio said they were “very happy” with the result and grateful to their repeat clients, as well as a few new buyers in the 43 registered bidders.
He said the result was validation their breeding program was on the right track.
“We have faith in the genetics, so it is refreshing to see the bulls fulfill their potential on grass,” he said.
“Our stud stock don’t get any preferential treatment – they have to fit into our commercial feeding regime.
“Our stud females do not get any preference in the paddocks they are grazed and while the bulls are on lucerne, through the winter it can be short so they have to learn to scrounge.”
Three repeat volume buyers underpinned the sale’s success.
Lot 8, Sterita Park U186, made the $20,000 equal top price selling to Frank and Casey Pye, Macarthur, Vic. Also pictured are Nanni DiGiorgio and Nutrien stud stock’s Gordon Wood and Richard Miller. Picture by Catherine Miller
Benara Pastoral Company, Mount Gambier, was the sale’s biggest buyer.
They secured 15 bulls for a $13,733 average, paying up to $19,000 for lot 20, Sterita Park U155.
Kangaringa Station, Keith, secured 12 bulls for a $9083 average with most of these selected for low birth weight and high calving ease figures.
The Bainger family, Hillcrest Pastoral Company, Avenue Range, put together seven bulls averaging $6714.
There was some great buying in the spring 2023-drops late in the catalogue, which were at least six months younger than the main draft.
Four of these seven lots sold to a $11,000 high and averaged $7250.
Nutrien SA stud stock manager Gordon Wood and fellow auctioneer Richard Miller said Sterita Park was one of the few SA studs that presented bulls entirely off grass and had done an outstanding job.
Mr Wood said the DiGiorgios were searching globally for new genetics to enhance their stud herd, but a lot of their sire groups were also proven performers.
“One of the catalysts behind the performance in these Sterita Park cattle is the females. The depth of the female herd is amazing,” he said.
Mr Miller also noted that there was a large number of bulls in the catalogue that displayed a great balance of figures with high calving ease, low birth weight, explosive growth as well as high positive rib and rump fat.
“If someone punched that estimated breeding value criteria into a search engine they would have been able to bring up 20 bulls from Sterita Park whereas some places two or three would have cut it out,” he said.
Nutrien Naracoorte was the sole selling agent.