NICHOLAS Morgan of Glenmorgan Angus, Guyra, had great success at Northern Beef Week last month, offloading 42 of his 61 yearling bulls on offer.
Mr Morgan said he was glad to see a number of buyers return for the second and third year running.
"I had one go for $6,000, seven go for $3500, a couple that went for $2750. After that, the balance went for $2250 plus goods and services tax (GST)," he said.
Mr Morgan said in previous years he had sold a number of heifers at Beef Week sales, but this year he didn't have that luxury, having sold them in April due to the dry season.
He said he usually sells more than 100 bulls over the course of the year, but didn't expect to make the same sales this year.
"I've got a long way to go this year, as things are a bit tougher compared to last year," he said.
Mr Morgan said the volume buyer of the day was a family from Emerald, who bought fifteen bulls to take back to Queensland to on-sell.
David and Louise Carolan and son Mark, of "Lyndhurst" Armidale, were the second biggest buyers of the day, taking home 12 bulls with them.
Mr Carolan said he had bought 12 bulls from Glenmorgan Angus last year as well, and was happy to return to buy replacements.
"I went and looked at some other bulls but I decided to buy Nick's in the end," he said.
"It seems to be a progressive stud, and Nick's getting in new genetics all the time which I like."
"We always try and source a line of bulls we haven't had through in previous years.
"I was also very happy with structure of the bulls."
Mr Carolan said the thing he liked most about his Angus bulls last year was they had a small birthweight, and a large 600-day weight.
Mr Carolan paid $2250 for the bulls, which he intends to join with his Angus heifers in October.
"I usually buy about 18 or 20 bulls each year to keep restocking. This year I've actually bought 27, and that's because I've got a few old ones that need to go," he said.
"We seem to find that we need to have about three bulls per 100 cows - that's just the way it works out. Having two per 100 never really works."
He said his operation focuses on selling weaner steers through the saleyards at Inverell.
"There are generally a fair few buyers there seeking weaner steers in Autumn. They mostly all go to backgrounders," he said.
Mr Carolan keeps 70 per cent of his 2500 strong herd pure bred Angus, with some Charolais and Santa Gertrudis crosses, and some Charbrays.
He said he mostly keeps them on pasture, but will turn to a supplement feeding regime this winter so as to maintain their condition.
"We will certainly be feeding some sorghum hay and cotton seed this winter. We will start soon, next week or the week after and that will probably go through to mid-october," he said.
"We've already got 1000 head on agistment out west which we sent out about eight weeks ago. I expect we will bring them back in October too," he said.
He said he and his family were content growing Angus cattle for moment, but isn't afraid to change in the future.
"Right now, the market dictates that we have Angus, I can see this changing in the future but not for the next little while," he said.
"Right now there are premiums for Angus meat and when that disappears we will be free to cross to something else."
