BOONAROO Angus’ annual bull sale saw around 100 beef producers from two states vying for the Corndale stud’s leading genetics, paying a top of $30,000.

Friday’s event saw 123 bulls clear to an average of $14.040, shared among 73 successful bidders.

South Australian buyers featured in the sale, with Peter Coote, PJ & JM Coote, biding his time until lot 97, to pay the top price for Boonaroo Lincoln S132.

Sired by Rennylea 519, this bull has excellent body depth and muscling throughout and plenty of fat cover, with top EBVs for calving ease (+6.1 CEDir, +7.2 CEDtrs), EMA +1.3 and IMF +3.2.

Also the buyer of the top priced bull in 2022 – his only purchase of the sale – Mr Coote headed to Friday’s sale, again with the sole purpose of buying a single bull.

Agent Jamie Gray, TDC Livestock and Property said the bull “fits the bill” for Mr Coote’s business targets.

“This bull, he was one of the best bulls here, Peter wanted a bull firstly that could go over heifers go and be used in cow herd later on, he fits the bill perfectly,” Mr Gray said.

“He’s got growth he’s got calf ease, he’s got plenty of fat in him, he’s deep, he’s long … everything you want in a bull.”

Attending his fourth Boonaroo sale, Mr Coote said his now exclusive use of the stud’s genetics in his operation was key to his production.

“We’re trying to target the weaner sale in Naracoorte, where the black cattle are selling exceptionally well, as everyone knows (and) we’re having success with the Boonaroo bulls,” he said.

“We get plenty of weight in the (Boonaroo progeny), we got up to 477 kilos this year for 11-month-old weaner steers … very happy.”

South Australian family owned and operated, top volume buyer, Princess Royal Station, returned to Boonaroo for the second time, this year purchasing 14 bulls, three times to a top of $24,000 (second-top price of the day), average $17,174.

The Burra-based company supplies large quantities of high-quality grain and grass-finished beef to processors including Teys Australia – the partnership regularly featuring as a medallist in the World Steak Challenge, held annually in the UK.

The third generation of his family to operate Princess Royal, Jack Rowe said the Boonaroo bulls’ hardiness made them ideal for the business’ operation.

“The main thing is that the Boonaroo bulls don’t break down … and they have all the things we’re looking for,” Mr Rowe said.

Other volume buyers included KG Feast and Sons, Greenpoint, SA, taking home six bulls to a top of $11,000, average $8666, the Faroes’ Carapook Pastoral, five bulls to a top of $21,000, average $16,600, CP and LM Iredell, four bulls to a top of $16,000, average $14,000 and Sam and Susie Whitehead, SR & S Whitehead, four bulls to a top $18,000, average $16,500.

Principal Jodie Foster said her family was pleased to be able to cater to so many return clients, year after year, with the introduction of quality, new outcross genetics to their operation, including the “legendary” Rennylea L519.

“There are more than a dozen local farms that have used our bulls and they’ve come back again this year … there are clients from other areas that have also been with us a long time,” Mrs Foster said.

“It makes you very proud, you must be doing something right to have that loyalty and we keep trying to look after our long-term clients.

“We’ve introduced five new sires, which has enabled people who have been coming here for 10 or 15 years to dig straight into the new gene pool and still get that Boonaroo quality.”