BELMORE Shorthorn stud hit new heights at its annual fourth annual sale on Thursday last week, with an outstanding soft roan bull making $42,000. It was the third highest price paid for a bull in SA for the season, reinforcing the Shorthorn breed’s resurgence with breeders, feedlotters and backgrounders. Vendors Andy and Sally Withers, and Ali and Anton Volker’s previous best price was  $27,000. The huge crowd at the Stoney Point sale complex, near Naracoorte, witnessed something special when Lot 9, Belmore Oregon L35, entered the ring. The heifer’s first calf was recognised as a top prospect by several high profile studs. Neilson, Sue and Nicholas Job, Royalla Shorthorns, Yeoval, NSW became the new owners , phone bidding through fellow Shorthorn breeder Scott McKay, Marschay stud, Creswick, Vic. Nicholas described the 24-month-old as “the best bull they had seen in a few years”, after inspecting him a few weeks earlier at Belmore. It weighed 884 kilograms and had an eye muscle area of 134 square centimetres. “It is extremely well balanced with beautiful hair and skin and such a soft muscle pattern,” he said. “For a bull with that much power it also has a really good birth weight at 35 kilograms.” Oregon L35 was among the first drop of calves from Windsor Northern Cedar. Nine of 11 Cedar sons sold for a $11,000 average. Mr Withers said it was a “terrific result”, with Oregon epitomising what they were aiming to breed. It had a double cross of The Grove Kookaburra, a bull which has had a huge impact on Belmore’s herd and was from a particularly strong maternal line. “It is such a beautifully balanced bull, so free moving and the right maturity pattern we are aiming for,” he said. Underbidders on the sale topper, the Brook family, Eloora stud, Cavendish bought Bayview Windsor L102 for $12,000 from guest vendors Chris, Anissa, Kevin and Pam Thompson, Yorketown. The 19 month-old was sired by Ronelle Park Hurricane. Belmore along with guest vendors Bayview stud, Yorketown and Carlton stud, Hahndorf sold 37 of 42 bulls for a $8432 average. This was up nearly $2500 on 2016. Bayview’s six bulls averaged $10,500 and included the sale’s $14,000 second highest price.  Bayview Travis L53, a Ronelle Park Hurricane son sold to Steve and Amanda Barlow, Toogimbie stud, Mathoura, NSW. The 943 kilogram bull was used in the Bayview stud last spring. The Barlows also paid the $13,000 top price at Belmore’s 2016 sale. John and Lyn Nitschke, Carlton stud, Hahndorf, received $6000 and $8000 for their two bulls. Phil Reid, Newenham Pty Ltd, Strathalbyn, was the volume buyer securing six bulls for a $5500 average. The Greenfield family, Billa Kalina Station via Woomera, bought four bulls for a $8250 average. Belmore also offered five buyers choice lots, comprising unmated heifers which were matched on phenotype and estimated breeding values. Terra and Terralea stud, Dubbo, NSW, paid $5500 for two impressive daughters of Belmore Quantur G193. Landmark stud stock auctioneer Gordon Wood said it was an “amazing result” and great for the Shorthorn breed to see such a strong turn out. “They (Buyers) recognised the quality in those top end bulls, ensuring they realised their value,” he said. Landmark and Elders were joint selling agents.
