Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cows, calves sold at dispersal

Avatar photo
After a false start last year, courtesy of covid-19 disrupting the selling season, Rangatira Angus were finally able to host their mixed-age cow and calf dispersal. On March 22, 244 lots achieved full clearance on Coventry Station.
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Rangatira Angus has been a stalwart of the New Zealand Angus scene for 61 years and has made significant contributions to the national herd in that time. With Charlie and Susie Dowding at the helm, the stud has consistently had strong average prices, sold a $100,000 bull – purchased by Cricklewood Angus in 2015, and regularly took out the Gisborne Wonder Cup when selling in the combined sale. After their two-year-old bull sale in June, the family will continue to farm Coventry and Rangatira Farm.

Selling in-calf breeding cows and R1 cattle presented the unique and special opportunity for attendees to secure quality genetics.

“It’s not very often you get your hands on East Coast genetics … these cows give new breeders a really solid foundation to their herds,” PGG Wrightson Livestock Genetics Representative Emma Pollitt said.

As such, the sale was well subscribed.

At commencement there were 38 registered buyers in the rostrum with more registering throughout, and 26 buyers registered with bidr – bidr users accounted for 21% of the bids throughout the sale. Locals and North Island buyers were well represented on the hay bales, while South Island punters tuned in from home. 

Nearing the six-hour mark at completion, the sale was a marathon effort for the Dowding family, auctioneer Neville Clark, bidspotters, bidders and helpers. However, there was no sense of a drag in the sale, due to spirited bidding throughout. 

Buyers had a spread of ages to choose from, out of the 111 cows offered. There were more experienced calvers from as early as 2008 available, as well as R3 cows later in the section. Buyers who had walked through the cows on Sunday and early Monday morning knew how excellent temperaments were, and Clark drew attention to the width and depth of their structure, indicating strong “doability”. Strong competition from seasoned and new breeders alike resulted in a $4756 average price, with the top-priced cow selling for $12,000 to Rolling Rock Angus.

The cows’ sons and daughters entered the ring next. 

Charlie and Susie Dowding have led a highly successful breeding career on the east coast.

.

The heifer section was well contested, as 68 R1 heifers averaged $4283. Weights of these cattle ranged from 255kg-326kg, and prices soared in the second half of the sale when the top-priced heifer calf shifted for $10,500, purchased by Shamrock Angus. Bidr user Leafield Farms purchased the next highest priced calf, Lot 177 for $9750.

R1 bull calves were the last to sell and while some buyers had abandoned their bales, these cattle still shifted easily. Weights ranged from 269kg-368kg and the 65 bulls offered averaged $3896. Despite the lower average, some of the most exciting moments of the sale were consigned to the bull section. Bidr buyers chased the rostrum up to $17,500 for Lot 207, which was eventually knocked down to Mt Mable Angus as a potential stud bull for 2022. This heated exchange earned a round of applause from the rostrum, but was shortly outdone by a bidr war over Lot 238. This bull sold to bidr user Black Ridge Angus for $20,500.

With a five o’clock finish time, buyers and the selling team were ready to kick into the festivities with dinner, drinks, and dancing to celebrate Rangatira Angus’s service to the breed.

Total
0
Shares
People are also reading