IT'S a simple million-dollar message, no bull.
But it has worked for the cross-border Moyle Pathfinder Angus operation for several years.
While other breeders have struggled to clear their catalogues this year, the Moyle Pathfinder team for the third consecutive year has sold more than $1 million worth of bulls with the simple message of growth, muscle and calving ease.
In a feat that Pathfinder principals Nick and Sara Moyle believed was not being achieved by any other Australian stud during autumn bulls sales, the stud again this year sold more than $1 million worth of bulls at auction in a one-week period.
"I think we are the only ones in Australia that do it in autumn. I don't know of anybody else," said Nick.
Last week they sold 88 bulls of 91 offered at Pathfinder's Victorian sale at Gazette for an average of $5210 and a gross of $458,500.
With 122 bulls selling for an average of $4684 at the South Australian sale the previous week, the stud's 2013 bull auction grossed more than $1.02 million.
In 2011 the stud sold 195 bulls at auction in South Australia and Victoria worth $1.18 million and followed that with a $1.31 million result for 220 bulls last year.
"We're focusing on calving ease with as much growth and muscle as we can get into them," he said.
Eddington Pastoral Co manager Michael Spencer, with Hamilton agent John Ellis, paid $12,000 for the 874kg Pathfinder Ultimate, after he bought two other bulls for $5500 each.
"He just stood out his size, his type and he had very good figures," said Michael.
He said the company was trying to lift the size of its cows and was looking for upstanding bulls with growth, size and muscle.
Nick Moyle said the bull's 2004-drop dam had produced three other bulls that had sold for $10,000 each, and Pathfinder had kept two sires out of her.
"They have massive growth and muscle."
