A SHINING era for Ron and Lorraine Rinaldi came to an end last week when they dispersed their Avondell Murray Grey stud.
The emotional decision to disperse their cherished and renowned Murray Grey herd was made after the couple decided to retire and enjoy travelling.
Since the stud was established in 1992, it has gone from strength to strength and has enjoyed regular success, highlighted by the sale of a $17,000 bull at the 2006 WA Supreme Bull sale which stamped Avondell among the elite studs in the State.
The event drew a large crowd to the Rinaldi's west Beverley property but the current state of the beef industry didn't prove the ideal environment to disperse a stud beef herd.
The superb line of 48 stud females and 10 commercial heifers failed to attract the bidding competition to reach values they rightfully deserved and the golden opportunity to secure genuine stud Murray Grey females possibly slipped by for some breeders.
Under the Landmark hammer 38 stud females of various ages and breeding status grossed $49,700, averaged $1308 and topped at $3100.
There was reluctant bidding pressure during the sale, but behind the scenes there was encouraging private sale activity that ensured numerous overlooked females were sold to continue breeding for the future.
Landmark senior stud stock auctioneer John Wirth said the quality of the cattle was exceptional and given the current industry climate the results met their expectations.
"There are plenty of stud Murray Grey females on offer at sales around the State at the moment, so with this also in mind we got out of it pretty well," he said.
It wasn't until lot 37 that the sale reached its peak of $3100 when West Brookton commercial producers Rex and Sue Smith, Surex Holdings, placed the bid on Avondell Showtime B16, a silver March 2006-drop daughter of Avondell Bonanza and Monterey Showtime R6 PTIC to Avondell Zorba A44 and with a magnificent silver bull calf at foot.
In total Rex Smith collected a line of nine stud females at the sale to average $1533 and six commercial heifers for $500 each.
The Smith family runs a pure line of 90 Murray Grey females based predominately on Monterey genetics.
Rex said the family lines were beginning to get a bit tight so the Avondell females would introduce a new genetic line to the herd.
The sale's $3000 second top price was paid by David Corker, Wundam Park Murray Grey stud, Boyup Brook.
David secured lot 32 containing the silver Avondell Miss Magnolia 3, a March 2006-drop daughter of homebred parents Bonanza and Miss Magnolia 1st that was PTIC to Zorba and also had a silver bull calf at foot.
Mr Corker said once the cow had calved down she would have an initial joining to proven excellent female producing sire Glenliam Farm Zues that he purchased from the Rinaldis for $8000 in 2006 and then a follow up mating to the Pandora stud's main herd sire Stardust, purchased at that stud's dispersal last year.
"She is a very functional, productive type of female," David said.
"Conformation and constitution were both sound coupled with good breeding and an excellent bull calf at foot."
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