Bulls topped at $38,000 at the Laurie family's Knowla Livestock annual sale at Gloucester

A large crowd, including 92 registered bidders, packed the selling complex and they didn’t have to wait long for the sale topper.

Knowla Lofty L127, an 836kg son of Dunoon Highpoint H744 from Knowla Kruger H110, was knocked down to the Vincent family’s Booragul Angus stud, Piallaway, near Gunnedah, after a spirited bidding duel.

Tim Vincent said he thought the bull was “cheap” and will be used over the stud’s Karoo Generator and Millah Murrah Emperor female bloodlines.

Mark and Lee Lathem, “Bellview”, Piallaway bought a share in Knowla Lofty L127 for use in their commercial herd.

Mr Vincent said he had seen Lofty L127 during the Knowla Livestock open day. He described the 24-month-old as a “natural doing, soft bull” who had a scrotal circumference of 41cm and estimated breeding values (EBVs) of 2.4pc for intramuscular fat and +47, +88 and +115 for 200-, 400-, and 600-day growth.

The yearling bull draft topped at $28,000 for an 18-month-old son of the influential NZ sire, Matauri Reality 839 (NZ), out of Knowla Panda J141.

The winning bidders for the young 698kg sire, Knowla McCaw M20, were the Sylvester family’s Five Star Angus stud at Wombramurra Station, Nundle, and Greg and Sally Chappell’s Dulverton stud, Shannon Vale Station, Glen Innes.

Mr Sylvester said the McCaw M20 had good shape and structure and the EBVs for calving ease, muscling and fat they were seeking.

Greg Chappell, Dulverton Angus, said current national herd rebuilding was increasing heifer joinings which meant  bulls with strong EBVs for calving ease were needed.

But the smaller calves of these bulls also had to have the potential to keep growing out to the desired carcase weights.

McCaw had EBVs of +1.7 and +1.9 for rib and rump fat, +2.1 for intramuscular fat and +44, +82 and +105 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight.

John and Chrissy Patrick, Huntingdon Park Angus stud at Wauchope, paid $23,000 for a 17-month-old son of Booragul Docklands K18 out of Knowla Dandaloo J54.

Knowla Major M40 weighed 734kg and had EBVs of +54, +100 and +130 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight.

Mr Patrick said the bull draft was the best he had seen at Knowla.

The Patricks have a stud herd of 60 females. 

The volume buyer was the McKenzie family’s Grafil Pty Ltd from Salt Ash near Port Stephens. Grafil picked up 12 bulls for a top of $10,000 at an average $7750.

Bruce McKenzie is the mayor of Port Stephens and Grafil trades as Macka’s Sand and Soil. 

James Laurie said four studs purchased bulls but around 37 of the draft of 70 were sold to local clients from the Gloucester and Stroud districts.

“That delighted us,” Mr Laurie said. The breeding focus was on achieving extra muscle and thickness while retaining calving ease.

The Laurie have a 600-head commercial herd as well as their stud herd.  

He said the family had made the decision after last year’s sale to increase the number of bulls on offer this year without compromising quality.

Mr Laurie confessed to the crowd after the sale finished that he was “a bit overwhelmed” by the result. 

Clearly that objective was achieved with only one bull passed in and the 70 bulls sold averaging $11,214.

The total sales aggregate reached $930,300 with the sale of 100 Angus composite heifers which topped at $2050 and averaged $1453.

James and Annie and Ted and Alison and their families run most of their cattle at Moppy at the headwaters of the Barrington river west of Gloucester.

Selling agents were Elders Walcha with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, the guest auctioneer.