WOONALLEE SIMMENTALS FOR THE COMMERCIAL EDGE APRIL 2012 IN THIS ISSUE

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1 WOONALLEE FOR THE COMMERCIAL EDGE APRIL 2012 IN THIS ISSUE It is with pride and humility that we extend a sincere thankyou to all who have supported us in our 40th year celebrations. The overwhelming success of our 5th Woonallee Annual Elite Production Sale on February 9th gave us a resounding vote of confidence in the breeding direction we have pursued since foundation, but especially in the last decade. Woonallee Calendar of Events MAY 5 th 2012 Beef Rockhampton Site 210, 211 & 212 Three elite sires for sale visit woonalleesimmentals. com for more details SEPTEMBER 7 th 2012 Royal Adelaide Show February 7 th th Elite Production Sale 60 bulls & 30 females To see such a big crowd, with representation from all Australian states, plus New Zealand was very pleasing. The subsequent demand saw our 46 Simmental and Composite bulls average $7822 and 30 females average $5125. This was also reinforced by the demand from repeat buyers for our commercial heifers on the Auctions Plus network preceding the stud sale. The 193 sold to a record high of $1080 and averaged $814.04/ head at just nine months of age. Soft easy doing cattle with moderate frame, rapid growth capabilities and repeatable and predictable genetics are clearly the most profitable option for most cattle producers. This was appreciated by the large number of registered buyers on the day. The full sale reports in this newsletter give a more detailed breakdown of results, but the pleasing aspect was despite this very strong top end, commercial breeders were still able to compete well and at good value. While we are very pleased with those successes, we are continuing to focus strongly on the future. Our 2012 calving is in full swing and planning for future joining is on-going. In response to industry demand, the introduction of the highest quality Black Simmentals to our program is a newer challenge that we are relishing (See separate article). The first progeny from this programme will be available in next year s sale. We are fully committed to continuing to produce cattle that have the genetic capabilities to make significant positive differences in your herds. Tom & Lizzy Baker Welcome PAGE 1 HUGE SALE CELEBRATION PAGE 2-4 HEIFER RECORD SMASHED PAGE 5 WOONALLEE BLACK PAGE 6-8 CONTACT DETAILS PAGE 8

2 WOONALLEE Huge celebration sale at Woonallee report by ian turner On the back of celebrating their 40th year of involvement with the Simmental breed, the Baker family, Woonallee Simmentals, Furner staged one of the most remarkable beef cattle sales ever seen in this state. 38 Simmental bulls, 7 composite bulls, 9 PTIC heifers, 21 unmated weaner heifers and 8 semen packages of the highest quality were catalogued and the response was exceptional. Prospective buyers from all Australian states and New Zealand were in attendance and registrations greatly exceeded any previous year. A crowd of around 400 gathered and despite plenty of seating, for many it was standing room only. The top priced bull rocketed to $29,000, which was just $1000 below the Woonallee and equal national auction record for a Simmental bull in this country. Heifers sold to $12,000, again just $1000 below last year s Woonallee record for an unmated weaner heifer. Woonallee Flamboyant F009, a 22 month old polled son of Woonallee Tornado C120 entered the ring to start the sale on the highest note. Rated by Tom Baker as the best bull ever offered by Woonallee, this free moving 1050kg bull looked every bit a potential champion sire, with balance, smoothness up front combined with great muscling, verified by an EMA measurement of 144 square cm. It was Audrey Weightman, Topweight Simmentals, Margaret River, WA who came up with the winning $29,000 bid. She said that while she was near her limit, the bull was a complete commercial package. Audrey also paid the Woonallee record of $30,000 in 2008 and it was on the back of experiencing the benefits from that investment that fuelled her unwavering commitment to secure such a high quality bull to follow on with the Topweight herd improvement. Woonallee Favourite F108 (P), sired by Corinda Downs Deliver followed. This impressive bull was the Junior and Grand Champion at the 2011 Adelaide Royal and also in the inter-breed junior champion pair. He displayed extreme docility and while he may have been too red for some purists, that was certainly not the case for Damian Hingston and Haylee Bennett, Damelee Simmentals, Gawler, Tasmania. Through their Roberts Ltd agent Tim Woodham, they placed the winning $11,000 bid. Underbidders on the lot one bull, Cam and Carol Emerson, Alva Downs, Coleraine, Vic then went to $17,000 to secure Woonallee Filter F025, another polled son of Woonallee Tornado that sired three of the top four bulls. Highly rated pre-sale, he lived up to expectation. Cam Emerson also paid the $21,500 top in 2006 so is no stranger to the predictability and breeding strength of Woonallee genetics. Regan Burrow, Yerwal, Lucindale kept the interstate buyers at bay on lot 4, Woonallee Fetish F018, by placing a winning $13,000 bid. He later added a second Tornado son, Woonallee Feast F010 for $6500 to secure an impressive genetic boost for the Yerwal herd. Other prominent interstate bull buyers included two Queensland accounts. Long time Woonallee supporter Peter Rauchle, Springside Simmentals, Pittsworth placed a successful $9000 bid for Woonallee Forefront F013, a polled son of BHR Draco. Linked into the sale via the Auctions Plus network, the Pitkin family, Wondoan bid $12,500 to purchase Woonallee Fairway F011, one of the highest performers in the drop and another son of Tornado. The strength of competition was matched by the depth of quality. Nine bulls sold for $10,000 or better before settling into the good value price levels that allowed any serious commercial beef producer to compete. In fact it is the Baker family s commitment to the success of their commercial herd that drives their stud breeding operation and genetic decision making, so it was no surprise to see strong commercial demand. These top commercial producers appreciate the value of these high growth and easy doing genetics and openly compete with stud breeders. Sim Flanders, Elders Casterton and operating for the Koch family Rosebank Pastoral, Casterton placed the winning $11,000 bid for Woonallee Federation at lot 5, an impressive addition to their commercial herd. Jim and Patty Doelle, Edenhope are Woonallee regulars and again competed strongly, picking up two top bulls for $9000 and $8000. Bill and Elaine Sleep paid $8000 and a great value $5000 for two bulls for their Woolsthorpe based herd. In one of the bargain buys of the day, Les McBain, Pakenham bid $10,000 to get Woonallee Focus, an August drop son of Woonallee Boulder B116 and out of one of Woonallee s very best cows. Howard Hann, buying through Landmark Esperence made another huge statement for commercial WA breeders when he bid over $10,000 for two outstanding bulls for his herd. These were for a Tornado son ($11,500) and the first ever black Simmental bull offered by Woonallee ($12,000). This bull was the progeny of a successful ET program and displayed exceptional muscling and softness.although no longer stud breeders, Mark, Julie and Rebecca Peucker, Mt Gambier, SA still appreciate quality for their commercial herd. They paid $7000 to get the full ET brother to the black bull bought by Howard Hann, and then paid $9000 for a son of Corinda Downs Deliver, the sire they bred and was purchased by Woonallee at the Corinda Downs stud dispersal. James McKay, Egremont Pastoral, Lucindale is no stranger to PAGE 2

3 FOR THE COMMERCIAL EDGE buying top end Woonallee genetics, having paid to $16,000 in the past for his highly productive commercial herd. This year, despite the top end strength of the sale, he was able to secure two bulls of choice for $9000 and $7000 in very astute buying. NSW commercial bidders also got into the action with long-time supporters John and Jenifer Turner, Mahonga Park, Rand picking up two for $5500 and $5000. Peter Morley, Molong also picked up two top bulls at $8000 and $6000, adding to the 102 commercial heifers he bought in the morning at record breaking Woonallee Simmental Feeders & Breeder heifer sale on Auctions Plus. Rounding out the NSW bull buying were Allen Anderson, Crookwell who bid $7000 to pick up Woonallee Fiesta F058 for his Maj stud herd, while Simpson & Simpson, Wagga Wagga paid $8000 for a polled son of Corinda Downs Deliver. The 38 Simmental bulls were followed by 7 composite bulls that attracted a lot of pre-sale interest and positive comment from commercial breeders. The Simmental draft averaged a wonderful $8145, while the composites sold to $8000 and averaged $6071. In all, the 45 bulls averaged $7822. With the headline sales, it would be easy to presume that many local commercial breeders were largely unsuccessful in their bull buying endeavours. However this was certainly not the case as 14 commercial breeders, mainly from the Furner and Millicent areas were successful in purchasing 16 bulls, from a fantastic value $3000 (3 times) up to a still affordable $8000. These accounted for 36% of the bull offering and averaged a great value $5250. One of these buyers, Steve Harris, Iluka Estate and buying through Elders Millicent was the volume bull buyer, picking up three composites at $8000, $7000 and $5500. A wonderful draft of 30 heifer lots followed the bull draft and these also met very strong buying competition. To celebrate the 40 year milestone the Baker family offered a unique package of the pick from their entire drop of 2011 heifers. Justin and Stacee Staley, Juraley Simmentals, Yarram, Victoria paid the $21,000 top bull price last year after several years of heifer purchases from Woonallee and were not going to let this wonderful opportunity pass. They placed the winning $12,000 bid. As this was below what they expected to have to pay, they then invested in two more young heifers. These were arguably the pick of the draft on offer, Woonallee Swazi G40, a Tornado daughter, paying $8500 and then added an outcross heifer for $3500. John Leek, Mt Ararat stud, Nar Nar Goon, Vic was determined to get one of the best heifers to enhance his breeding program. He went to $11,500 before winning the bidding for Woonallee Tara G27, an impressive poll by Gibby s Real Deal. He later added a semen package of five straws in Woonallee Tornado (P) at $220/ straw and plans to combine these two in an ET program to give a significant genetic boost to his Mt Ararat stud. Other Victorian stud breeders who got into the buying action on the heifers were Peter and Vanessa Wenn, Pinnaroo Hills, Bunyip $5000), Jason Carpinteri, Red Fox, Thorpdale $4000 plus a semen package of ten $100/straw in Corinda Downs Deliver), Jack Hickey, Camperdown $4000), Gary & Kaye Gillett, Lara-Leigh stud, Lara Lake $3000) and Matt Baxter, Hill Top stud, The Sisters (two at $2750 and $2500). Geoff & Laura Cockerell, Gelora Park stud, Portarlington paid $100/straw for ten straws of semen from last year s $21,000 sale topper, Woonallee Essendon. Woonallee Flamboyant, the $29,000 top priced bull at the amazing Woonallee Simmental sale are Woonallee principals Tom & Lizzy Baker, Furner, Elders auctioneer Ben Finch and purchasers Sam & Audrey Weightman, Topweight Simmentals, Margaret River, WA. John Leek (2nd left), Mt Ararat Simmental stud, Nar Nar Goon paid $11,500 for this impressive weaner heifer at the Woonallee sale, the top price other than the special anniversary pick of the drop lot. He will use her in an ET program for his stud. Also pictured is Woonallee Simmentals Tom and Lizzy Baker and Elders auctioneer Ben Finch. PAGE 3

4 WOONALLEE The volume buying in the heifers went further north. Lloyd & Lewis Fairbairn, Kingaroy, Qld and buying via phone hook-up through Elders Toowoomba, purchased five of the young heifers from $4500 to $7000 in committed bidding to be the biggest volume buyer. Doug Houston, Wombat stud, Forbes, NSW purchased four from $3000 to $6000 through his agent Ben Mitchell, while Ben added two at $2500 each on his own account. Stuart Moeck, through Elders Goulburn was back again and after missing out on a few of the higher priced lots was successful in securing a polled Tornado daughter for $3500. Tasmanian buyers also got into the action on the heifers. Nathan & Leah Skirving, Rosehill stud, East Sassafras were underbidders on the Woonallee record $13,000 heifer last year. They were more successful this year, picking up a bigger and more powerful Barana Elderado daughter for $7500. The Goss family, Sheffield went to $6500 for a polled Tornado daughter. Her full sister sold for $5750 last year, demonstrating the consistent quality in this breeding line. Again it was international breeders in the Sanson family, Gold Creek Simmentals, Tekaraka, via Gisborne, New Zealand who made a significant buying impact in the heifer and semen section. Last year they purchased the $13000 record priced heifer from the Webb family s High Five daughter stud. The heifer stayed at Woonallee to be flushed with the embryos being imported into their herd. This year they jumped in and purchased the first of the nine mated heifers, a replacement from the Woonallee keepers replacing a late withdrawal. Woonallee Polly Waffle F133, a beautifully balanced and high performance heifer by Boulder was in calf to Piper Cougar (P). After calving down she too will be flushed with embryos being imported into New Zealand. Tom Sanson then went to $250/straw for five straws of Woonallee Tornado to top the semen sales. Scott and Emily Davidson, Morton stud, Marcollat successfully bid $150/straw for ten straws in Woonallee Dimension, the $20,000 sale topper from the 2010 sale. Phil Webb, High Five daughter stud bid $100/straw for ten straw packages in Woonallee Essendon and Corinda Downs Deliver, while Ashley Ness, Seddon stud, Parndana bought the other ten straw package in Dimension for $100/straw. Ashley also paid $5000 for a daughter of Corinda Downs Deliver, PTIC to Piper Cougar. It was Craig Wooding, Magpie Park, Coonawarra who went highest of the South Australian female buyers with a $7000 winning bid on a Boulder heifer, also PTIC to Piper Cougar. This was also the top price for the 9 mated heifers. Tony Head, Cummins made a successful trip to Woonallee to pick up a PTIC heifer for $4000 and a weaner heifer for $2500, while Lewis Bruggeman, Mallala paid $4500 for an unmateted Corinda Downs Deliver daughter. $17,000 second top priced bull at the Woonallee 40th year celebration sale are Elders auctioneer Ben Finch, purchasers Cam & Carol Emerson, Alva Downs, Merino, Vic and Woonallee principals Tom & Lizzy Baker, Furner, SA. Woonallee principal Tom Baker is with Elders auctioneer Ben Finch and Justin & Stacee Staley, Juraley Simmentals, Yarram, Vic. Justin & Stacee purchased the special anniversary lot of the pick of all the 2011 drop Woonallee heifers for $12,000. THANK YOU! We would like to thank everyone who helped celebrate our 40th anniversary and made our annual sale such a success. PAGE 4

5 FOR THE COMMERCIAL EDGE Woonallee again smashes heifer record report by ian turner Prior to their fantastic 5th annual Woonallee Elite Simmental production sale, the Baker family offered their annual draft of 193 commercial composite weaner heifers in the Woonallee Feeders & Breeder Heifer Sale on the Auctions Plus network. In another extraordinary sale result, these were grabbed in a very short period of rapid bidding by repeat buyers from three states, all who have come to appreciate the outstanding breeding quality and productivity of these weaner females. Last year they reached what was believed to be a new Australian record for unmated commercial heifers under 12 months of age when Kelvin Fitzgerald, Elders Mildura and operating on behalf of local Mildura client Mark Collett went to $1000/head. This year Kelvin & Mark went even higher in placing the winning bid of $1080 for the top priced line. These comprised 27 grey Angus x Simmental composites, weighing 364kg average and equating to $2.97/kg liveweight. Daryl Cameron, Cann River, Victoria has been purchasing these Woonallee Angus x Simmental heifers for the best part of a decade. This year he got the first pen of 40 that was offered. They averaged 355kg and sold for $940/head, equating to $2.65/kg liveweight. Four pens of Simmental x Poll Hereford heifers followed and Stewart Hann, Nampara Pastoral, Penola made sure not all went interstate like last year and at the same time got the buy of the sale. He successfully bid $750/head, equating to $1.94/kg for the heaviest pen of 24 heifers, these averaging 386kg. This was $1.08/kg cheaper than the sale toppers. Peter Morley, buying through the Ray White agency at Molong, NSW then bought the other three pens of Simmental x Poll Herefords, totalling 102 heifers. He paid from $650 to $750/head and an average of $ The three pens ranged from 276kg to 352kg and averaged 324 kg, equating the price out at $2.19/ kg liveweight. Later in the day Mr Morley bid successfully on two Simmental bulls at $8000 and $6000 in a vote of confidence in the genetics. In a fitting component of the Baker family s celebrations for their 40th year of Simmental involvement, this sale saw the 193 commercial heifers average $814.04/head or $2.37/kg and gross $157,110. Mark Collett and Kelvin Fitgerald, Elders Mildura These are the impressive Woonallee Simmental x Angus grey commercial 9 month old weaner heifers that sold for $1080/head to Elders Mildura, or $2.97/kg liveweight on the Auctions Plus network last Thursday (9th February). PAGE 5

6 WOONALLEE Woonallee BLACK SIMMENTAL PROGRAMME It is with great excitement that we introduce a new section to the Woonallee programme. We have been quietly working on our black Simmental programme for a while now and with 50 ET calves hitting the ground in 2012 and another 120 embryos to be implanted this year, we thought it was the right time to introduce you to these new outcross genetics. 3D BLK Full Throttle We have sourced some of the very best donors available from the Lewis Farms herd in Canada. Lewis farms have been one of the elite herds in Canada for many years and now run over 900 registered cows. We were extremely impressed when we toured their herd in December 2011 and the power of the cow herd was quite phenomenal; moderate, structurally correct cows with softness and style, it was a remarkable herd with strong efficiency traits. These cattle clearly have the ability to adapt and excel in the Australian conditions and we are excited with adding this new side to our programme. During our trip we inspected many elite herd sires and found one truly outstanding young sire, 3D BLK Full Throttle. A powerful young sire with tremendous depth and capacity and an impeccable structure, he was truly amazing. Incredibly docile with a true sire s presence it was not surprising he was purchased for CAN$64,000 in the spring bull selling season by Lewis Farms and Bouchard Livestock. We acquired the Australian rights on Full Throttle and have started flushing with him here at Woonallee. LFE Black Lakota 385W Our breeding programme is centred around moderate framed, easy fleshing, strong footed, good uddered, efficient cattle that can calve easy. ~ Ken Lewis TNT Tanker PAGE 6

7 FOR THE COMMERCIAL EDGE DONORS BISS Simply the Best 124S Homozygous Polled and Homozygous Black n Sired by the legendary Dynamite Black bull n Dam of LFE Redemption who was purchased by Semex n Another member of the Charo family SSP Keepsake 23K Outstanding donor with incredible phenotype. n Dam of LFE Tangle Ridge who is known as the cow maker n Tremendous structure and an outcross pedigree n Still in production at 14 years of age Pert Dream On D10 Top priced cow at Pert dispersal at $9000 n Rated by many as the best Black cow at the Pert dispersal n Beautiful wedge shape female. n Tremendous length and softness LFE Charo 604G Homozygous Polled and Heterozygous Black n Super sound with tremendous depth, thickness and capacity n The most productive black cow family at LFE n The best cow we saw on our visit in December 2011 Pert Luck One B13 Purchased for $8000 at the Pert dispersal n Tremendous volume and power n Impeccable structure and disposition n Outstanding bull calf at foot by Triple C Bettis LFE Fortune 96M Homozygous Polled and Homozygous Black n The cornerstone of the Homo black program at LFE n Perfect wedge shaped female n Top 15% for Birth weight LFE Katarina 58K Dam of LFE Bring Down the House, n A beautifully refined cow with a perfect udder n Top 2% for milk n Moderate, easy doing and extremely efficient LFE BS Charo 98W Homozygous Polled and Homozygous Black n A Mr NLC Superior daughter out of BISS Simply the Best 124S n A powerful young donor with extra depth and capacity n Top 10% for Weaning and Yearling weight PAGE 7

8 Woonallee BLACK SIMMENTAL PROGRAMME CONTINUED SIRES LFE Bring Down the House Homozygous Black and Homozygous Polled n Extremely long bodied, with softness and style n Top 3% for calving ease and top 10% for birth weight n Has stood the test of time and still being used at Lewis Farms TNT Tanker Homozygous Black and Homozygous Polled n An outcross sire with natural muscle and fleshing ability n Tremendous performance sire and top 1% for Yearling weight. n First progeny look outstanding Remington On Target Heterozygous Black and Polled n A proven herd sire n Siring tremendous capacity and muscle shape n Top 4% for yearling weight Wheatland Bull 680S Homozygous Black and Homozygous Polled n Sire of 3D BLK Full Throttle n Amazing power with strong carcase traits n One of the most potent bulls in the industry LFE Lakota Homozygous Black and Homozygous Polled n $21,000 top priced bull from the 2010 Lewis Farms bull sale n Extremely long with tremendous depth and softness n Top 5% for weaning weight and top 1% for yearling weight BISS Black Advance Heterozygous Black and Polled n A true power bull with huge capacity n Sire of the $35,000 top price heifer at the 2010 Checkers sale n Extremely sound and easy moving For regular updates and to see how our black programme developsvisit WOONALLEE PMB 52, Millicent, SA, 5280 Tom Baker AH (08) Phone Office (08) Mobile tbaker@bakergroup.com.au Website Design & Print by hellofriday.com.au