STRONG YEARLING BULL SALE

The Raven Limousin stud at Field, South Australia completed the final stage of its dispersal with a strong yearling bull sale on AuctionsPlus in October.

With most bulls sold at 18 to 24 months old in February and March in SA, stud owners Jason and Penny Schulz were pleased with the $6468 average on the 31 bulls sold.

The seven passed in bulls were sold soon after the official online auction, marking the final process in the stud's dispersal. "Given we were selling yearling bulls in spring time, two concepts that aren't typical in SA, I think it was a good outcome," Mr Schulz said

"There was a little bit of resistance from some buyers, just in the fact they weren't in the bullbuying mindset at this time of year." Strong stud interest underpinned the sale, with nine bulls sold to seed stock buyers.

Two bulls made $9000, including Raven Side Shift S153, which was described as an eye-catching bull with length of body, smoothness of shoulders and width of top.

The heterozygous black June 2021-drop bull, who ranked in the top percent on estimated breeding values for 200-day growth, was sired by Summit Blueprint M20 and out of Raven Ultima N653. It was snapped up by the Kupsch family, Tara Limousin stud, Allanooka, WA.

The homozygous black and homozygous polled Raven Share Market S119 also made $9000 and was highly rated for its early growth, calving ease, positive fat and marbling genetics.

Sired by Mandayen Kung Fu N221 and from the high-marbling Raven Prue family, the bull was described as a perfect choice for those choosing to crossbreed in challenging environments due to climate or stocking rate It was also bought by a stud buyer - Calderwood Limousins, Sussex Inlet, NSW.

Mr Schulz said the legacy of the stud would live on in their commercial herd, with some cows kept "We've kept all of our Limflex (Limousin/Angus) cows, which were registered, because we feel like they are the ultimate commercial cow," he said.

The first of its kind in SA, Mr Schulz said the yearling bull sale concept could have benefits for both buyer and breeder if adopted.

"The benefits to the buyer are they can acclimatise their bulls before using them," he said "For producers that are joining heifers, they've then got bulls that are lighter to serve heifers.

"From a breeder point of view, to sell bulls as yearlings you don't have to hold on to them as long and you're not running big herds of mature bulls that might want to fight."

Quinton McCallum, Stock Journal

The Raven team would like to thank our long term repeat clients and seed stock breeders who chose to invest in Raven genetics!