Jim Tickle was sporting a $500,000 smile after a total clearance of 53 bulls at his family’s first on-property Sugarloaf Angus sale near Dungog.
There was standing room only inside the new selling complex as guest auctioneer, Paul Dooley, Tamworth, picked up his gavel to sell the first lot.
A total 108 buyers registered for the sale on Saturday and many left empty handed with the line-up of bulls, including five black Simmentals, producing a $9433 sale average.
As expected, Sugarloaf Reality L154 – a strapping 962kg, 24-month-old son of infuential NZ Angus sire, Matauri Reality 839 from Sugarloaf Burnette F33 – topped the sale at $20,000.
The successful buyers, John and Pam Farragher, “Seaham Grange”, Seaham, had reached their bidding limit but were glad to pick up a bull they believe will push their herd of 210 breeders to a new level.
The Farraghers came to the sale seeking a son of Matauri Reality 839 because they had seen the influence he was now having in some of Australia’s biggest studs.
Sugarloaf Reality L154 had EBVs of +50, +93 and +121 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight and +4.4 for birthweight.
His full flush brother, Sugarloaf Reality L153, fetched the second top price of the sale, $16,000, and has headed to the Ford Cattle Company's large-scale beef operation at Tea Gardens.
Sugarloaf Reality L153, who is one day older than his brother and weighed in lighter at 882kg, had EBVs of +46, +85 and +109 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight.
The Ford Cattle Company also swooped later on Sugarloaf Reality L117, another 24-month son of Matauri Reality 839, for $14,000.
The Alison family, Dungog, paid $13,000 for 18-month-old Sugarloaf Prowler M29, a 688kg son of HF Prowler from Sugarloaf Burnette D16.
Peter Hudson, Dungog, paid the same money for Sugarloaf Harvestor L106, a 912kg, 24-month-old son of S A V Harvestor 0338.
Top price of $9000 in the small Simmental catalogue was paid three times.
Barry O’Neill, Dungog, and Jennifer Douglas, Bendolba, paid the top price to each secure one of a pair of 17-month-old brothers of TNT Tanker U263 and Sugarloaf Michele.
Alex and Anne Robson, Strathleigh stud, Attunga, paid $9000 for Sugarloaf Tanker M48, another son of TNT Tanker U263 from Sugarloaf Lucky D40.
The sale of Sugarloaf commercial cows and calves pushed the sales aggregate past $550,000.
Mr Tickle said the sale had exceeded all his expectations and he would be back “same day, same month” next year with around 70 bullls.
The sale was conducted by Bowe and Lidbury, Maitland and Gloucester, and Dillon and Sons, Dungog. The auctioneer was Paul Dooley, Tamworth.
Vernon Graham
Former editor of The Land, former Fairfax Media Agricultural Editor
Former editor of The Land, former Fairfax Media Agricultural Editor
