Gippsland’s Absolute Angus expects its second annual sale to top its successful 2019 debut, with a strong offer unfazed by the wettest conditions in decades and COVID-19.
The Thorpdale farmer said the region had experienced one of its wettest seasons in memory but that hadn’t impacted on quality.
“Someone said to me that it hasn’t been wet like this for 30 or 40 years but the good thing about Thorpdale is that it has rich volcanic soils that dry up quickly,” Mr Pisa said. “I haven’t fed my cows hay this year and they’ve maintained really well and I can still drive around the farm in my ute.
“Last year was good but this year I feel the bulls have done even better.”
The sale will offer 50 bulls and 20 heifers, including two daughters from Te Mania Emperor’s full sister, one sired by Generation and one by Thomas Upriver, the first progeny of Gdar Regulator 364, yearling bulls by LD Capitalist 316, and excellent examples of Landfall genetics.
“Capitalist and Gdar Regulator are bred for this country,” Mr Pisa said. “They are good doing bulls; they’re tough and powerful and their contribution to the herd is showing through.”
The sale offering reflects Mr Pisa’s passion for enhancing the Angus breed. “I focus on durable, tough cattle that can adapt to all conditions,” he said. What I’m trying to put together are perfect animals for commercial breeders.”
Genetics play a big part in this success, with Absolute Angus using a blended program of world class AI and leading Australian stud sires. Recent bull additions rank in the top one per cent of the breed for milking ability and rib and rump fat, and there is continuing focus on fertility evidenced by the stud’s record of achieving 80 to 90 per cent conception in the first round.
Mr Pisa said feedback to last year’s sale was overwhelmingly positive and he expects even better results this year in a buoyant market that has defied COVID-19.
“I had a good clearance last year, especially considering it was at the end of October,” he said. “We had really good feedback. People were happy with how the bulls turned out, particularly with the fertility and durability, but I think they will go better this year, even though it has been a hard season. They might be a bit muddier this year but you can see they are good bulls; people will see the quality is there from the genetics I invest in.”
Mr Pisa said there would be some changes to the auction because of the pandemic, including use of online photos and videos for the first time, but he didn’t expect the restrictions to dampen enthusiasm.
“I just bought a bull online for $19,000 so I don’t think there will be any negative impact. Farmers are achieving record highs in their sales at the moment. COVID hasn’t affected bull sales and in fact we’re moving ahead very positively.”
The stud’s 2020 Spring Bull Sale will be held on-property and online from 1pm on Tuesday September 22 at 292 Trafalgar South Road, Trafalgar South.