SELLING IN ORDER OF: Charbrays – 5 Red Brangus – 10 FITZROY CROSSING INVITATION Red Brahmans – 49 BOS INDICUS BULL SALE 2020 Grey Brahmans – 46 162 Specially Selected Bulls Droughtmasters – 52 Fitzroy Crossing Rodeo Grounds FRIDAY, 21ST AUGUST 2020 Queenslanders – 27 Commencing at 10am AGENT1 Welcome FITZROY BULL SALE COMMITTEE Welcome to the 14th year of the Fitzroy Bull sale. The committee is pleased to announce that we have engaged Northern Rural Supplies “NRS” to facilitate the sale for this year. The team has supported the sale for many years now & we look forward too many more. The team is local & have years of experience within the Kimberley’s. 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. The lean wet season – mixed cattle market – Covid 19 – This has caused numerous challenges for the Bull Vendors as well as travel arrangements for bulls & people alike etc. As things currently stand, we are still unsure that Bull vendors can even represent their Studs at the sale. On behalf of the sale committee we thank all vendors for staying the course in these challenging times & for ensuring the sale continues. The standard of bulls year in year out continues to improve & for us in the Kimberley & beyond it puts the industry in a strong position. On behalf of my committee & the vendors we wish all successful bidders all the best with their selections & we wish everyone all the best for the balance of 2020. Merv Wortley President Fitzroy Crossing Sale Committee “Ruby Plains” Station Halls Creek WA 6770 1 Outside Agents No rebate will be paid to outside agents. Disclaimer The information contained in this catalogue is believed to be correct at the time of going to print. All care has been taken in its preparation, however no responsibility is taken for any inadvertent error or omissions. Inspection Bulls will be penned by 7:00am on the day of the sale for inspection or by prior arrangement. Refreshments A complimentary Breakfast is provided commencing at 7:30 am on sale day. A luncheon and refreshments will be available for sale on the day. Auction All bulls will be sold under the NRS Conditions of Auction Sales. The Auction Price will be GST exclusive. 2 Sperm Morphology Morphology (anatomy) of the sperm has been shown to be one of the most important indicators of fertility in the bull and a very useful selection tool for improving herd fertility. Studies of Northern Australian herds, have demonstrated that in general bulls with >70% normal sperm (Fitzpatrick et al, Animal Reproduction Science 71 (39-49)) What is sperm morphology? Sperm morphology refers to the shape, size and structure of the sperm. Sperm qualities and its ability to move forward and reach the egg (motility) is assessed crush side by the vet at the time of a bull test. A sample of the semen is placed into a small vial of preservative which kills, preserves and dilutes the sperm and other cells. The sample is later examined for morphology using a much higher power specialised microscope in a laboratory. The sperm are counted and 100 sperm are classed as wither normal or abnormal sperm being categorised into differing abnormalities. Why is sperm morphology important? Morphology results can predict the sperm’s ability to get a calf and importantly can pick up defects which may initially start to fertilise the egg but then fail to result in an ongoing pregnancy. Normal morphology has been demonstrated to be heritable, relatively repeatable (doesn’t change much year to year), can be used to predict the number of calves the bull can produce and can even predict the fertility of his male and female offspring. The heifer’s age at puberty and her time between calving and cycling again, can also be influenced by the morphology of her sire. The selection of bulls with high normal sperm morphology counts results in increased calving rates, tighter calving periods, reduced empty cows, increased weaning weights and faster rates of genetic gain. The stocking rate of bulls to females may also be lowered. Bulls which do not qualify by morphology standards may still result in a large number of calves on the ground, but these calves may have come at a high cost. There may be an unacceptable high rate of empty or dry cows, and the cows may have lost one or two embryos during the mating season prior to maintaining pregnancy. The delays in achieving pregnancy result in smaller calves at weaning, and increased pressure on the cow to achieve pregnancy the following year as she has a short recovery time post calving. 3 What about variations in sperm morphology results? Semen is sensitive to extreme temperatures, stress and diet, so morphology results can also reflect recent illnesses, transport stress, lameness and high grain diets, all of which may have temporary or permanent effect on fertility. As a result, repeat tests may be required on bulls with defects on the initial exam. Some bulls are more sensitive to these stressors than others and their morphology and fertility can be affected more easily than others in the same mob exposed to the same stressors. Overall, morphology in mature bulls is largely repeatable, so the majority of bulls will have similar results on repeat exam. What about young bulls? Young bulls may occasionally have defective sperm which reflect their sexual immaturity. In this case, the defective sperm count often progress to become normal as the bull matures sexually. Part of the testicle responsible for making important changes to the sperm necessary for fertilisation, may not mature to function effectively until some bulls are 15 months old. When it is not yet functionally normally, proximal droplets and other defects are seen on the sperm. Sperm with these droplets fail to bind to the egg. These defects should be diminished by 18 months of age or may reflect a slower maturing bull or another reason that their testicles aren’t functioning properly. How can producers benefit from morphology testing? Only purchase bulls that have passed a morphology test. Ask to see the actual morphology test results and select bulls with higher percentage normal. Bulls which fail to be sellable at the morphology stage are an expense to the breeder, but the benefits of this step to the purchaser are considerable for their production and herd fertility. Breeders selling morphology tested bulls should be proud of their high standards which will be reflected in the long term quality of their product and in their reputation. Breed sales requiring morphology <50% higher standards than other sales. Retesting of some non-qualifying bulls may indicate the bull later improves to a satisfactory standard. Due to bull age and time limitations of some sales this retesting may impractical and bull may be withdrawn on the basis of initial test. 4 Vendors Fitzroy Bull Sale 2020 Lot 46-64 Samari Plains – Keith & Annabelle Wilson CHARBRAYS – 5 BULLS “Samari Plains” Lot 1-2 Bar Boot Brahmans – D & J Castle Roma QLD 4455 “Eden” M/S 514 Red Tank Road Ph: 0746 265 418 BOYNESIDE QLD 4610 Mob: 0428 265 418 Ph: (07) 4164 4487 e: [email protected] Mob: 0419 832 094 e: [email protected] GREY BRAHMANS – 46 BULLS Lot 3-5 Rodlyn – RM & LA Sperling Lot 65-75 Raglan Brahman Stud – A & R Olive “Baroona” M/S 360 “Raglan Station” BELL QLD 4408 RAGLAN QLD 4697 Ph: (07) 4663 1136 Mob: 0409 346 542 Mob: 0427 549 160 Mob: 0429 172 020 e: [email protected] e: [email protected] Lot 76-90 Ahern Grey Brahmans – Paul & Melissa Ahern Po Box 162 RED BRANGUS – 10 BULLS GAYNDAH QLD 4625 Lot 6-15 Redline Brangus - PC & KM Dingle Ph: (07) 4161 3188 “Malley Plain” 1929 Wuruma Dam Rd Mob: 0427 613 188 EIDSVOLD QLD 4627 e: [email protected] Ph: (07) 4167 5140 Mob: 0427 849 390 Lot 91-99 Bar Boot Brahmans – D & J Castle e: [email protected] “Eden” M/S 514 Red Tank Road BOYNESIDE QLD 4610 Ph: (07) 4164 4487 RED BRAHMANS – 49 BULLS Mob: 0419 832 094 e: [email protected] Lot 16-30 Barlyne – Jim & Johnny Edwards “Barlyne” Po Box 190 GAYNDAH QLD 4625 DROUGHTMASTERS – 52 BULLS Mob: 0428 573 629 Lot 100-110 Valera Vale Droughtmasters – Michael Flynn Mob: 0428 353 886 “Valera Vale’ e: [email protected] CHARLEVILLE QLD 4470 Ph: (07) 4654 5223 Lot 31-36 Rodlyn – RM & LA Sperling Mob: 0427 705 760 “Baroona” M/S 360 e: [email protected] BELL QLD 4408 Ph: (07) 4663 1136 Lot 111-122 Sevenell & Lynsey Park Droughtmasters Mob: 0427 549 160 – LR & LI Philp e: [email protected] “Ascot” M/S 360 BELL QLD 4408 Lot 37-45 Muan - Len & Sandra Gibbs Ph: (07) 4663 1285 / (07) 4663 1275 “Muan” Po Box 64 e: [email protected] BIGGENDEN QLD 4621 Ph: (07) 4127 1427 Mob: 0427 271 188 e: [email protected] 5 Vendors Fitzroy Bull Sale 2020 Lot 123-135 Rodlyn Droughtmasters – RM & LA Sperling “Baroona” M/S 360 BELL QLD 4408 Ph: (07) 4663 1136 Mob: 0427 549 160 e: [email protected] Lot 136-143 SC Grazing – Steve & Claire Farmer “Mt Elsa” Yaamba Qld 4704 Steve Mob: 0428 347 555 Claire Mob: 0407 169 937 e: [email protected] QUEENSLANDERS – 27 BULLS Lot 144-145 Muan Queenslanders – Len & Sandra Gibbs “Muan” Po Box 64 BIGGENDEN QLD 4621 Ph: (07) 4127 1427 Mob: 0427 271 188 e: [email protected] Lot 146-147 Samari Plains Queenslanders – Keith & Annabelle Wilson “Samari Plains” Roma QLD 4455 Ph: 0746 265 418 Mob: 0428 265 418 e: [email protected] Lot 148-162 Barlyne & Kajabbi Queenslanders – Jim & Johnny Edwards “Barlyne” Po Box 190 GAYNDAH QLD 4625 Mob: 0428 573 629 Mob: 0428 353 886 e: [email protected] 6 Charbrays/Red Brangus LOT 1 Vendor: CHARBRAY NO LOT Calved: Age: Status: P.H.