SUPPORT from volume buyers, many of them repeat clients, led to a top of $20,000 at the Te Mania Angus northern spring bull sale at Walgett on Tuesday.
The McFarlane and Gubbins families offered 105 bulls in their 11th annual sale, with all selling for an average of $10,993.
Most of the bulls went to repeat clients, with buyers coming from Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
Among the longtime clients were David Reid, Dennis Power and Glenn Frazer from Minnamurra Pastoral Company, who bought the top bull, Te Mania Lamaro L134.
The 24-month-old son of Te Mania Garth G67 and Te Mania Mittagong J521 was one of 18 purchased by the Minnamurra team, with the bulls averaging $13,722.
Lamaro weighed 780 kilograms and had estimated breeding values (EBVs) of +1.2 for birthweight, +43, +85 and +104 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight, +37 for milk, +10.5 for eye muscle area (EMA) and +3.7 for intramuscular fat (IMF).
Mr Power said Minnamurra had been buying Te Mania bulls for about 20 years and he liked the consistency of the bulls and their progeny.
All 18 bulls will be used in the pure Angus herd at "Cortina", Wollar, near Mudgee.
"This bull had good carcase figures with EMA and IMF, good calving ease and milk, great growth and he was in the top 10 per cent for all four indexes, so he's an all-round good bull,” Mr Power said.
Three bulls reached $18,000, with Te Mania Leggings L678, a 24-month-old bull by Ayrvale Bartel E7 from Te Mania Wargoona F833, and Te Mania Lenno L747, a 24-month-old son of Te Mania Galaxy G49 and Te Mania Dandloo F883 going to Minnamurra.
Walgett producers and repeat clients Mark, Sue and Sam Evans, "Martindale", purchased Te Mania Lookout L1316, a 23-month-old by Te Mania Jock from Te Mania Mittagong F987, for $18,000.
Two bulls – Te Mania Lemur L731 and Te Mania Lee L656 – made $18,000, selling to return buyers Michael and Annie O'Brien, "The Brigalows", Carinda, and Minnamurra respectively.
Doug Marshall, Oaklands Pastoral, Tibooburra, and Duddy Management, "Callandoon", Goondiwindi; each purchased seven bulls, for averages of $11,285 and $8875.
The O'Briens bought six bulls averaging $13,500 and Ben and Prue Coulton, "Getta Getta", North Star, and Paraway Pastoral each took home five bulls, averaging $11,000 and $8400 respectively.
The sale was conducted by Clemson Hiscox and Company, Walgett, with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, taking the bids.
Ruth Schwager
Ruth Schwager is a journalist with the national agricultural features team.
Ruth Schwager is a journalist with the national agricultural features team.
