A HIGHLANDS cattle stud broke an Australian sale record on Friday - no bull.
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Kangaloon’s KO Angus stud made $110,000 at auction, selling 18-month-old KO Godfather G31 (AI) to Orange’s Gilmandyke Angus stud.
The figure smashed the previous national record of $91,000, set by Victorian Te Mania Emperor VTME343 in March last year.
The record also comes about a week after Booramooka Angus, in Bingara, set a NSW sale record of $65,000.
KO Angus stud principal Theo Onisforou said the record sale was flattering for the Highlands, a region he said was an important part of the cattle industry about 20 years ago.
Mr Onisforou said he was aware of mounting interest in the Angus bull during the week leading up to the auction and was told there was more interest than anyone had experienced before.
“It was all very surreal. It’s still sinking in,” he said.
Mr Onisforou said genome testing showed the bull was “genetically fantastic”.
“Everything is in the right place and the computer generated statistics say he’s an extraordinary animal,” he said.
“He was everything anyone could ever want in a bull. He was the real deal.”
Mr Onisforou said there was already international interest overseas in the bull’s semen.
Australia’s four major semen companies also attended the auction.
“There were many studs registered to bid and over half of them bid on KO Godfather until he reached the $60,000 mark,” he said. “He has exceptional estimated breeding values and looks even better than his numbers.”
Footage of the auction passed 1200 views on video website YouTube, which Mr Onisforou said was surprising.
Angus Australia CEO Peter Parnell said Angus seed-stock producers placed a huge emphasis on continued genetic improvement and sale prices had reflected this.
“This year has been extremely successful for Angus producers, with good average prices and sale clearance rates,” he said.
Before Friday, average Angus sale prices increased by 16 per cent on 2011.