Angus the order of the sale day

Angus were in top demand at the Elders Annual Great Southern Breeders Sale at Mt Barker last week.

The sale gave buyers the chance to purchase quality heifers and cows, mated and unmated, ahead of the bull buying calendar.

On sale were Angus, Angus-Friesian crosses, Murray Grey, Simmentals and Red Angus.

Top price across the sale was seven Angus cow-and-calf units from vendor E Stone, purchased by Laurie Andrews for $1560 a head.

But the focus at the sale was on mated heifers and cows.

For the Toovey family from Cranbrook, the sale will be one for the history books - their pen of 10 20-month-old mated Angus heifers reached the top of $1500/head in the heifer catalogue.

George Toovey, who farms with sons Andrew and Rohan, said it was the first time the family had topped the heifer catalogue.

This year, they mated 900 breeders between their commercial herd and the family's Boyacup stud females.

"Across the sale, the cattle sold well for their quality," George said.

The cattle were in magnificent condition, after being agisited, looked after and presented by Elleker farmer Larry Martin.

Rohan Toovey thanked Mr Martin, saying the heifers - which were PTIC mated to Boyacup bulls - were surplus to what they were able to carry through at home during the drought last year.

Buying the pen of heifers was Roy and Jackie Reid, of King River.

The Reids have been running cattle for six years, since moving from a broadacre farm in Pingrup.

They also purchased the second top pen of heifers offered by Baboo Pastoral Company at Green Range.

Ryan Smith, of Baboo, said they had 400 Angus breeders and used Coonamble bloodlines. The Smiths sell their calves to feedlotters.

In the cows, two pens of 10 Angus - ranging from third to fifth calvers - from Candyup Farms made the top of $1320/head.

The cows were part of the second last dispersal for Kevin Armstrong, of The Beef Shop in Maddington.

The sale also included cattle from RA Bentink in Denmark.

Auctioneer Ray Norman said the sale was very good.

"The quality of the cattle reflected the good season we are experiencing and the price reflected the confidence that's in the beef market," he said.