WOONALLEE SIMMENTALS

WOONALLEE
SIMMENTALS
FOR THE
COMMERCIAL
EDGE
APRIL 2012
IN THIS ISSUE
It is with pride and
humility that we
extend a sincere
thankyou to all who
have supported
us in our 40th year
celebrations. The
overwhelming
success of our 5th
Woonallee Annual
Elite Production Sale
on February 9th gave
us a resounding vote
of confidence in the
breeding direction
we have pursued
since foundation, but
especially in the last
decade.
Woonallee
Calendar
of Events
MAY 5 th 2012
Beef 2012 - Rockhampton
Site 210, 211 & 212
Three elite sires for sale
visit woonalleesimmentals.
com for more details
SEPTEMBER 7 th 2012
Royal Adelaide Show
February 7 th 2013
6th Elite Production Sale
60 bulls & 30 females
To see such a big crowd, with representation from
all Australian states, plus New Zealand was very
pleasing. The subsequent demand saw our 46
Simmental and Composite bulls average $7822 and
30 females average $5125.
This was also reinforced by the demand from repeat
buyers for our commercial heifers on the Auctions
Plus network preceding the stud sale. The 193 sold
to a record high of $1080 and averaged $814.04/
head at just nine months of age.
Soft easy doing cattle with moderate frame, rapid
growth capabilities and repeatable and predictable
genetics are clearly the most profitable option for
most cattle producers. This was appreciated by the
large number of registered buyers on the day.
The full sale reports in this newsletter give a more
detailed breakdown of results, but the pleasing
aspect was despite this very strong top end,
commercial breeders were still able to compete well
and at good value.
While we are very pleased with those successes,
we are continuing to focus strongly on the future.
Our 2012 calving is in full swing and planning for
future joining is on-going. In response to industry
demand, the introduction of the highest quality Black
Simmentals to our program is a newer challenge
that we are relishing (See separate article). The first
progeny from this programme will be available in
next year’s sale.
We are fully committed to continuing to produce
cattle that have the genetic capabilities to make
significant positive differences in your herds.
Tom & Lizzy Baker
Welcome
PAGE 1
HUGE SALE
CELEBRATION
PAGE 2-4
HEIFER RECORD
SMASHED
PAGE 5
WOONALLEE BLACK
SIMMENTALS
PAGE 6-8
CONTACT DETAILS
PAGE 8

WOONALLEE
SIMMENTALS
Huge celebration sale
at Woonallee report by ian turner
On the back of celebrating their 40th year
of involvement with the Simmental breed,
the Baker family, Woonallee Simmentals,
Furner staged one of the most remarkable
beef cattle sales ever seen in this state.
38 Simmental bulls, 7 composite bulls, 9 PTIC heifers, 21 unmated
weaner heifers and 8 semen packages of the highest quality were
catalogued and the response was exceptional. Prospective buyers
from all Australian states and New Zealand were in attendance
and registrations greatly exceeded any previous year. A crowd of
around 400 gathered and despite plenty of seating, for many it was
standing room only.
The top priced bull rocketed to $29,000, which was just $1000
below the Woonallee and equal national auction record for a
Simmental bull in this country. Heifers sold to $12,000, again just
$1000 below last year’s Woonallee record for an unmated weaner
heifer.
Woonallee Flamboyant F009, a 22 month old polled son of
Woonallee Tornado C120 entered the ring to start the sale on the
highest note. Rated by Tom Baker as the best bull ever offered
by Woonallee, this free moving 1050kg bull looked every bit
a potential champion sire, with balance, smoothness up front
combined with great muscling, verified by an EMA measurement of
144 square cm.
It was Audrey Weightman, Topweight Simmentals, Margaret River,
WA who came up with the winning $29,000 bid. She said that
while she was near her limit, the bull was a complete commercial
package. Audrey also paid the Woonallee record of $30,000 in
2008 and it was on the back of experiencing the benefits from
that investment that fuelled her unwavering commitment to secure
such a high quality bull to follow on with the Topweight herd
improvement.
Woonallee Favourite F108 (P), sired by Corinda Downs Deliver
followed. This impressive bull was the Junior and Grand Champion
at the 2011 Adelaide Royal and also in the inter-breed junior
champion pair. He displayed extreme docility and while he may
have been too red for some purists, that was certainly not the case
for Damian Hingston and Haylee Bennett, Damelee Simmentals,
Gawler, Tasmania. Through their Roberts Ltd agent Tim Woodham,
they placed the winning $11,000 bid.
Underbidders on the lot one bull, Cam and Carol Emerson, Alva
Downs, Coleraine, Vic then went to $17,000 to secure Woonallee
Filter F025, another polled son of Woonallee Tornado that sired
three of the top four bulls. Highly rated pre-sale, he lived up to
expectation. Cam Emerson also paid the $21,500 top in 2006
so is no stranger to the predictability and breeding strength of
Woonallee genetics.
Regan Burrow, Yerwal, Lucindale kept the interstate buyers at bay
on lot 4, Woonallee Fetish F018, by placing a winning $13,000 bid.
He later added a second Tornado son, Woonallee Feast F010 for
$6500 to secure an impressive genetic boost for the Yerwal herd.
Other prominent interstate bull buyers included two Queensland
accounts. Long time Woonallee supporter Peter Rauchle,
Springside Simmentals, Pittsworth placed a successful $9000 bid
for Woonallee Forefront F013, a polled son of BHR Draco. Linked
into the sale via the Auctions Plus network, the Pitkin family,
Wondoan bid $12,500 to purchase Woonallee Fairway F011, one
of the highest performers in the drop and another son of Tornado.
The strength of competition was matched by the depth of quality.
Nine bulls sold for $10,000 or better before settling into the good
value price levels that allowed any serious commercial beef
producer to compete.
In fact it is the Baker family’s commitment to the success of their
commercial herd that drives their stud breeding operation and
genetic decision making, so it was no surprise to see strong
commercial demand. These top commercial producers appreciate
the value of these high growth and easy doing genetics and openly
compete with stud breeders.
Sim Flanders, Elders Casterton and operating for the Koch family
Rosebank Pastoral, Casterton placed the winning $11,000 bid
for Woonallee Federation at lot 5, an impressive addition to their
commercial herd.
Jim and Patty Doelle, Edenhope are Woonallee regulars and again
competed strongly, picking up two top bulls for $9000 and $8000.
Bill and Elaine Sleep paid $8000 and a great value $5000 for two
bulls for their Woolsthorpe based herd. In one of the bargain buys
of the day, Les McBain, Pakenham bid $10,000 to get Woonallee
Focus, an August drop son of Woonallee Boulder B116 and out of
one of Woonallee’s very best cows.
Howard Hann, buying through Landmark Esperence made another
huge statement for commercial WA breeders when he bid over
$10,000 for two outstanding bulls for his herd. These were for a
Tornado son ($11,500) and the first ever black Simmental bull
offered by Woonallee ($12,000). This bull was the progeny of
a successful ET program and displayed exceptional muscling
and softness.Although no longer stud breeders, Mark, Julie and
Rebecca Peucker, Mt Gambier, SA still appreciate quality for their
commercial herd. They paid $7000 to get the full ET brother to the
black bull bought by Howard Hann, and then paid $9000 for a son
of Corinda Downs Deliver, the sire they bred and was purchased
by Woonallee at the Corinda Downs stud dispersal.
James McKay, Egremont Pastoral, Lucindale is no stranger to
PAGE 2

FOR THE
COMMERCIAL EDGE
buying top end Woonallee genetics, having paid to $16,000 in the
past for his highly productive commercial herd. This year, despite
the top end strength of the sale, he was able to secure two bulls of
choice for $9000 and $7000 in very astute buying.
NSW commercial bidders also got into the action with long-time
supporters John and Jenifer Turner, ‘Mahonga Park’, Rand picking
up two for $5500 and $5000. Peter Morley, Molong also picked up
two top bulls at $8000 and $6000, adding to the 102 commercial
heifers he bought in the morning at record breaking Woonallee
Simmental Feeders & Breeder heifer sale on Auctions Plus.
Rounding out the NSW bull buying were Allen Anderson, Crookwell
who bid $7000 to pick up Woonallee Fiesta F058 for his ‘Maj’ stud
herd, while Simpson & Simpson, Wagga Wagga paid $8000 for a
polled son of Corinda Downs Deliver.
The 38 Simmental bulls were followed by 7 composite bulls that
attracted a lot of pre-sale interest and positive comment from
commercial breeders. The Simmental draft averaged a wonderful
$8145, while the composites sold to $8000 and averaged $6071.
In all, the 45 bulls averaged $7822.
With the headline sales, it would be easy to presume that many
local commercial breeders were largely unsuccessful in their bull
buying endeavours. However this was certainly not the case as 14
commercial breeders, mainly from the Furner and Millicent areas
were successful in purchasing 16 bulls, from a fantastic value
$3000 (3 times) up to a still affordable $8000. These accounted for
36% of the bull offering and averaged a great value $5250. One of
these buyers, Steve Harris, Iluka Estate and buying through Elders
Millicent was the volume bull buyer, picking up three composites at
$8000, $7000 and $5500.
A wonderful draft of 30 heifer lots followed the bull draft and these
also met very strong buying competition. To celebrate the 40 year
milestone the Baker family offered a unique package of the pick
from their entire drop of 2011 heifers.
Justin and Stacee Staley, Juraley Simmentals, Yarram, Victoria
paid the $21,000 top bull price last year after several years of
heifer purchases from Woonallee and were not going to let this
wonderful opportunity pass. They placed the winning $12,000 bid.
As this was below what they expected to have to pay, they then
invested in two more young heifers. These were arguably the pick
of the draft on offer, Woonallee Swazi G40, a Tornado daughter,
paying $8500 and then added an outcross heifer for $3500.
John Leek, Mt Ararat stud, Nar Nar Goon, Vic was determined to
get one of the best heifers to enhance his breeding program. He
went to $11,500 before winning the bidding for Woonallee Tara
G27, an impressive poll by Gibby’s Real Deal. He later added a
semen package of five straws in Woonallee Tornado (P) at $220/
straw and plans to combine these two in an ET program to give a
significant genetic boost to his Mt Ararat stud.
Other Victorian stud breeders who got into the buying action
on the heifers were Peter and Vanessa Wenn, ‘Pinnaroo Hills’,
Bunyip (one @ $5000), Jason Carpinteri ,‘Red Fox’, Thorpdale
(one @ $4000 plus a semen package of ten straws @ $100/straw
in Corinda Downs Deliver), Jack Hickey, Camperdown (one @
$4000), Gary & Kaye Gillett, ‘Lara-Leigh’ stud, Lara Lake (one
@ $3000) and Matt Baxter, Hill Top stud, The Sisters (two at
$2750 and $2500). Geoff & Laura Cockerell, ‘Gelora Park stud,
Portarlington paid $100/straw for ten straws of semen from last
year’s $21,000 sale topper, Woonallee Essendon.
Woonallee Flamboyant, the $29,000 top priced bull at the amazing Woonallee Simmental
sale are Woonallee principals Tom & Lizzy Baker, Furner, Elders auctioneer Ben Finch
and purchasers Sam & Audrey Weightman, Topweight Simmentals, Margaret River, WA.
John Leek (2nd left), Mt Ararat Simmental stud, Nar Nar Goon paid $11,500 for this
impressive weaner heifer at the Woonallee sale, the top price other than the special
anniversary pick of the drop lot. He will use her in an ET program for his stud. Also pictured
is Woonallee Simmentals Tom and Lizzy Baker and Elders auctioneer Ben Finch.
PAGE 3

WOONALLEE
SIMMENTALS
The volume buying in the heifers went further north. Lloyd & Lewis
Fairbairn, Kingaroy, Qld and buying via phone hook-up through
Elders Toowoomba, purchased five of the young heifers from
$4500 to $7000 in committed bidding to be the biggest volume
buyer. Doug Houston, Wombat stud, Forbes, NSW purchased four
from $3000 to $6000 through his agent Ben Mitchell, while Ben
added two at $2500 each on his own account.
Stuart Moeck, through Elders Goulburn was back again and after
missing out on a few of the higher priced lots was successful in
securing a polled Tornado daughter for $3500.
Tasmanian buyers also got into the action on the heifers. Nathan &
Leah Skirving, ‘Rosehill’ stud, East Sassafras were underbidders
on the Woonallee record $13,000 heifer last year. They were
more successful this year, picking up a bigger and more powerful
Barana Elderado daughter for $7500. The Goss family, Sheffield
went to $6500 for a polled Tornado daughter. Her full sister sold
for $5750 last year, demonstrating the consistent quality in this
breeding line.
Again it was international breeders in the Sanson family, Gold
Creek Simmentals, Tekaraka, via Gisborne, New Zealand who
made a significant buying impact in the heifer and semen section.
Last year they purchased the $13000 record priced heifer from
the Webb family’s High Five daughter stud. The heifer stayed at
Woonallee to be flushed with the embryos being imported into
their herd. This year they jumped in and purchased the first of the
nine mated heifers, a replacement from the Woonallee keepers
replacing a late withdrawal. Woonallee Polly Waffle F133, a
beautifully balanced and high performance heifer by Boulder
was in calf to Piper Cougar (P). After calving down she too will
be flushed with embryos being imported into New Zealand. Tom
Sanson then went to $250/straw for five straws of Woonallee
Tornado to top the semen sales.
Scott and Emily Davidson, Morton stud, Marcollat successfully
bid $150/straw for ten straws in Woonallee Dimension, the
$20,000 sale topper from the 2010 sale. Phil Webb, High Five
daughter stud bid $100/straw for ten straw packages in Woonallee
Essendon and Corinda Downs Deliver, while Ashley Ness, Seddon
stud, Parndana bought the other ten straw package in Dimension
for $100/straw. Ashley also paid $5000 for a daughter of Corinda
Downs Deliver, PTIC to Piper Cougar.
It was Craig Wooding, Magpie Park, Coonawarra who went highest
of the South Australian female buyers with a $7000 winning bid
on a Boulder heifer, also PTIC to Piper Cougar. This was also the
top price for the 9 mated heifers. Tony Head, Cummins made a
successful trip to Woonallee to pick up a PTIC heifer for $4000 and
a weaner heifer for $2500, while Lewis Bruggeman, Mallala paid
$4500 for an unmateted Corinda Downs Deliver daughter.
$17,000 second top priced bull at the Woonallee 40th year celebration sale are Elders
auctioneer Ben Finch, purchasers Cam & Carol Emerson, Alva Downs, Merino, Vic and
Woonallee principals Tom & Lizzy Baker, Furner, SA.
Woonallee principal Tom Baker is with Elders auctioneer Ben Finch and Justin &
Stacee Staley, Juraley Simmentals, Yarram, Vic. Justin & Stacee purchased the special
anniversary lot of the pick of all the 2011 drop Woonallee heifers for $12,000.
THANK
YOU!
We would like to thank everyone
who helped celebrate our
40th anniversary and made our
annual sale such a success.
PAGE 4

FOR THE
COMMERCIAL EDGE
Woonallee again
smashes heifer record
report by ian turner
Prior to their fantastic 5th annual
Woonallee Elite Simmental production
sale, the Baker family offered their
annual draft of 193 commercial composite
weaner heifers in the Woonallee Feeders
& Breeder Heifer Sale on the Auctions
Plus network.
In another extraordinary sale result, these were grabbed in a very
short period of rapid bidding by repeat buyers from three states, all
who have come to appreciate the outstanding breeding quality and
productivity of these weaner females.
Last year they reached what was believed to be a new Australian
record for unmated commercial heifers under 12 months of age
when Kelvin Fitzgerald, Elders Mildura and operating on behalf of
local Mildura client Mark Collett went to $1000/head.
This year Kelvin & Mark went even higher in placing the winning
bid of $1080 for the top priced line. These comprised 27 grey
Angus x Simmental composites, weighing 364kg average and
equating to $2.97/kg liveweight.
Daryl Cameron, Cann River, Victoria has been purchasing these
Woonallee Angus x Simmental heifers for the best part of a
decade. This year he got the first pen of 40 that was offered. They
averaged 355kg and sold for $940/head, equating to $2.65/kg
liveweight.
Four pens of Simmental x Poll Hereford heifers followed and
Stewart Hann, Nampara Pastoral, Penola made sure not all went
interstate like last year and at the same time got the buy of the
sale. He successfully bid $750/head, equating to $1.94/kg for
the heaviest pen of 24 heifers, these averaging 386kg. This was
$1.08/kg cheaper than the sale toppers.
Peter Morley, buying through the Ray White agency at Molong,
NSW then bought the other three pens of Simmental x Poll
Herefords, totalling 102 heifers. He paid from $650 to $750/head
and an average of $709.31. The three pens ranged from 276kg
to 352kg and averaged 324 kg, equating the price out at $2.19/
kg liveweight. Later in the day Mr Morley bid successfully on two
Simmental bulls at $8000 and $6000 in a vote of confidence in the
genetics. In a fitting component of the Baker family’s celebrations
for their 40th year of Simmental involvement, this sale saw the 193
commercial heifers average $814.04/head or $2.37/kg and gross
$157,110.
Mark Collett and Kelvin Fitgerald, Elders Mildura
These are the impressive Woonallee Simmental x Angus grey commercial 9 month old weaner heifers that
sold for $1080/head to Elders Mildura, or $2.97/kg liveweight on the Auctions Plus network last Thursday (9th
February).
PAGE 5

WOONALLEE
SIMMENTALS
Woonallee BLACK
SIMMENTAL PROGRAMME
It is with great excitement that we
introduce a new section to the Woonallee
programme. We have been quietly
working on our black Simmental
programme for a while now and
with 50 ET calves hitting the ground
in 2012 and another 120 embryos to
be implanted this year, we thought
it was the right time to introduce you
to these new outcross genetics.
3D BLK Full Throttle
We have sourced some of the very best donors available from
the Lewis Farms herd in Canada. Lewis farms have been
one of the elite herds in Canada for many years and now run
over 900 registered cows. We were extremely impressed
when we toured their herd in December 2011 and the power
of the cow herd was quite phenomenal; moderate, structurally
correct cows with softness and style, it was a remarkable
herd with strong efficiency traits. These cattle clearly have the
ability to adapt and excel in the Australian conditions and we
are excited with adding this new side to our programme.
During our trip we inspected many elite herd sires and found one
truly outstanding young sire, 3D BLK Full Throttle. A powerful
young sire with tremendous depth and capacity and an impeccable
structure, he was truly amazing. Incredibly docile with a true
sire’s presence it was not surprising he was purchased for
CAN$64,000 in the spring bull selling season by Lewis Farms and
Bouchard Livestock. We acquired the Australian rights on Full
Throttle and have started flushing with him here at Woonallee.
LFE Black Lakota 385W
“Our breeding programme is
centred around moderate framed,
easy fleshing, strong footed, good
uddered, efficient cattle that can
calve easy.” ~ Ken Lewis
TNT Tanker
PAGE 6

FOR THE
COMMERCIAL EDGE
DONORS
BISS Simply the Best 124S
Homozygous Polled and Homozygous Black
n Sired by the legendary Dynamite Black bull
n Dam of LFE Redemption who was purchased by Semex
n Another member of the Charo family
SSP Keepsake 23K
Outstanding donor with incredible phenotype.
n Dam of LFE Tangle Ridge who is known as the “cow maker”
n Tremendous structure and an outcross pedigree
n Still in production at 14 years of age
Pert Dream On D10
Top priced cow at Pert dispersal at $9000
n Rated by many as the best Black cow at the Pert dispersal
n Beautiful wedge shape female.
n Tremendous length and softness
LFE Charo 604G
Homozygous Polled and Heterozygous Black
n Super sound with tremendous depth, thickness and capacity
n The most productive black cow family at LFE
n The best cow we saw on our visit in December 2011
Pert Luck One B13
Purchased for $8000 at the Pert dispersal
n Tremendous volume and power
n Impeccable structure and disposition
n Outstanding bull calf at foot by Triple C Bettis
LFE Fortune 96M
Homozygous Polled and Homozygous Black
n The cornerstone of the Homo black program at LFE
n Perfect wedge shaped female
n Top 15% for Birth weight
LFE Katarina 58K
Dam of LFE Bring Down the House,
n A beautifully refined cow with a perfect udder
n Top 2% for milk
n Moderate, easy doing and extremely efficient
LFE BS Charo 98W
Homozygous Polled and Homozygous Black
n A Mr NLC Superior daughter out of BISS Simply the Best 124S
n A powerful young donor with extra depth and capacity
n Top 10% for Weaning and Yearling weight
PAGE 7

Woonallee BLACK SIMMENTAL PROGRAMME CONTINUED
SIRES
LFE Bring Down the House
Homozygous Black and Homozygous Polled
n Extremely long bodied, with softness and style
n Top 3% for calving ease and top 10% for birth weight
n Has stood the test of time and still being used at Lewis Farms
TNT Tanker
Homozygous Black and Homozygous Polled
n An outcross sire with natural muscle and fleshing ability
n Tremendous performance sire and top 1% for Yearling weight.
n First progeny look outstanding
Remington On Target
Heterozygous Black and Polled
n A proven herd sire
n Siring tremendous capacity and muscle shape
n Top 4% for yearling weight
Wheatland Bull 680S
Homozygous Black and Homozygous Polled
n Sire of 3D BLK Full Throttle
n Amazing power with strong carcase traits
n One of the most potent bulls in the industry
LFE Lakota
Homozygous Black and Homozygous Polled
n $21,000 top priced bull from the 2010 Lewis Farms bull sale
n Extremely long with tremendous depth and softness
n Top 5% for weaning weight and top 1% for yearling weight
BISS Black Advance
Heterozygous Black and Polled
n A true power bull with huge capacity
n Sire of the $35,000 top price heifer at the 2010 Checkers sale
n Extremely sound and easy moving
For regular updates and to see how our black programme
developsvisit www.woonalleesimmentals.com
WOONALLEE SIMMENTALS
PMB 52, Millicent, SA, 5280 Tom Baker AH (08) 8766 0030
Phone Office (08) 8734 3031 Mobile 0428 475 066
Email tbaker@bakergroup.com.au
Website www.woonalleesimmentals.com
Design & Print by helloFriday.com.au