Amaroo Blondes once again achieved a great result at the annual WA Supreme Bull Sale held in February 2011. With the Amaroo product being in highly sort after, all 12 bulls offered were cleared for an average of $5792.

The demand for Amaroo bloodlines by other Blonde stud breeders was also underlined with Wally and Debbie Valleri of Venice Blondes of Victoria securing Amaroo Explosion (pictured) for $6250. Explosion will be used to add extra muscling and early maturity to the calves produced by their Blonde females.

Amaroo stud principal Gerald Bergsma further pointed out that the demand for Blonde bulls was largely driven by the commercial beef producer, who recognizes the extra profits which can be obtained by crossing Blonde bulls with F1 or straight British females", " Blondes calve easily and produce large amounts of beef when used in a crossing breeding program", he said.

Blonde bulls have again topped the WA Supreme Bull Sale held at Brunswick Junction WA last week. The sale was held in scorching (42C) conditions on Thursday 25^th February 2010 at the Alan Evans selling centre on Brunswick Showgrounds.

Blondes were the first breed to be auctioned and their demand matched the weather, with the bidding being hot from the outset. With a 21 bulls offered and 20 sold an outstanding 95% clearance rate was achieved.

Blondes topped this multi-breed bull sale for the fourth consecutive year, a sale which had 163 bulls entered representing 9 breeds.  Blonde bulls sold to a very creditable average of $5950 over 20 bulls which is an outstanding result given that in the past there have never been more than 11 Blonde bulls offered at this sale.

Blonde cross beef continues to attract premium prices as witnessed at trade sale at WA's Midland saleyards on Monday. Blonde sired beef topped the sale in both the grainfed and the baby beef sections. In a time when the beef industry is somewhat subdued, the prices received by Blondes cross cattle entered into this sale was well into positive territory.

A pen of 12 months old grainfed Blonde cross steers received the highest pen average selling for $855 per head. They had a curfew weight of 475 kg and made 180 c/kg.

Shortly after a pen of Blonde cross baby beef steers nominated by Peter Beacham from Pinjarrah also topped the sale at $830 per head. With an average weight of 495kg they sold for 168 c/kg. One standout steer sold for $1015. He weighed 505kg and made 201c/kg. All steers were only taken off their mothers the day before the sale and were 10 - 12 months of age.

After incessant drizzly weather over the last few weeks the rain held off to give a perfect day for the Blonde Farm walk at Neil and Don Burton’s Durnbond property on Friday the 9th October. 

A large crowd took advantage of the fine weather to attend and hear presentations on the commercial advantages of the Blonde breed and the intensive grazing management practices used by the Burton family to improve their farm’s profitability.  There was also the opportunity to view the impressive cross bred calves produced by the Burtons which were sired by Blonde bulls and compare these to British breed crosses. 

Cross Breeding increases profits

Australian beef producers are currently experiencing increasing production costs on the back of price rises for both fertilizer and diesel. At the same farmers are receiving lower prices for their beef. Farm managers therefore need to make sound management decisions to ensure their enterprise remains profitable and may need to increase productivity.