Winter is upon us with the first good frosts happening this week. Luckily we have had a good run of warm days after the recent rain and pasture is now well progressed. The transformation from January to June is almost miraculous.
The big news from us is that in late April we purchased the top bull in the 2020 Elite Wagyu Sale. This was Lot 40, LTCFQ122, sired by the currently unavailable SMOFF0154. He is approximately double breed average for all growth traits, carcase weight and marble score. Q122 is in the top 1% for all BreedObject $Indexes and defect free. From a structural standpoint Q122 is sound, well made, free moving with excellent soft silky skin and hair. Hailing from one of the breeds most recognised and respected cow families, Aizakura’s, who have been the foundation stones for many successful herds.
The syndicate which has purchased these two bulls consists of Brian Angus from Woodview Wagyu South Africa, Peter Bishop from Bishop Wagyu Cowra, Joe Grose from 3D Genetics Inverell and myself. We have formed a new company, Quality Genetics International (QGI) to market straws from this bull and Mayura Pioneer described in our previous newsletter. We will have a website and more information available over the coming months.
Cattle For Sale
We have an updated catalogue of bulls for sale on our website koolangwagyu.com.au. This is a much more complete description of each animal with pictures taken by myself as you will notice.
The Q Bulls from 2019 are growing very well and will be added to the catalogue as soon as they get to maturity.
We also have a limited number of Full Blood Females still for sale.
Cows rotating to a new paddock
MARKET COMMENTS
Seedstock
The Elite Wagyu Sale went very well, although perhaps a little less exuberant on Zoom then a live Auction, normally held after the Wagyu Conference gala dinner. The first Lot was a Sumo Cattle Company heifer with the same sire as our bull, she went for $105,000 + gst. Another daughter of the same bull, Lot 7 went for $62,500 + gst.
F1s
The market remains difficult with restaurants around the world unable to open because of Covid-19. Grid prices are understandably conservative at $4.50 per kg liveweight. The current dispute with China over labelling is adding to uncertainty. This is not the first time this issue has caused an interruption to trade. Hopefully it can be resolved fairly quickly.
