The final Angus bull sale for Wattletop, after 35 years of breeding, was a bittersweet ending for stud principal Lock Rogers, after two female dispersals and a season like no other.
But the crowds that came to witness the historic event and to wish Mr Rogers well on the next phase of his breeding life – with the same door key brand into Wagyu cross – also bid fervently for the best bulls.
The top price of $18,000 occurred three times and averaged $8116 for the 112 bulls sold, out of the 120 offered, which is a 93.3 per cent clearance.
Of the two year old bulls 75 sold to average $8107 and of the yearlings, 37 sold, the average price came back at $8135 topping at $18,000 for lot 38 Wattletop General N31 by Ayrevale General from a Wattletop dam sired by the stud’s Regent J78.
Guy and Suz Lord, “Branga Plains Pastoral” south of Walcha will add him to their Angus herd, which produces grass fed progeny for Stapleton Family Meats at Gymea.
Wattletop General provided the Lords with a different pedigree, calving ease, growth and carcase figures including +94 for 400 day and +123 for 600 day growth, +20 for milk, +6.2 for Eye Muscle Area and +2.9 for Intra Muscular Fat.
The Lords also purchased another Ayrvale General son for $10,000.
Shane Adams, who has been purchasing outstanding Angus cattle for East West Angus at Murwillumbah and Bingara bought Wattletop Franklin M430 for $18,000 sired by a line of Franklins from a succession of Wattletop Anns with +5 for birthweight, +94 for 400 day and +128 for 600 day growth.
Foster and Sons, Abington via Uralla, also purchased an $18,000 bull – Wattletop E111 M205 by Wattletop Sitz going back to Sitz New Design, from a Wattletop Barunah which went back to Rennylea Edmund and Booroomooka Undertaken, with a birthweight of +3.4, milk at +22 and IMF at a top ten percent of +3.1. They also bought Wattletop J102 M346 for $14,000.
First time buyers Sam and David – a Rogers “relation” – Maconochie, from Hopkins River Pastoral at Dunkeld, Vic. were the volume buyers with 14 bulls bought topping at $7000 twice for Wattletop Trust K81 from a Wattletop Ann and Wattletop Franklin M431, also from a Wattletop Ann.
The brothers supply Coles and a line of Melbourne butchers with their own branded beef grass finished and also grain assisted.
“This was the last sale and we wanted to take advantage of Wattletop’s genetics,” said Sam.
Greg and Wendy Rafferty, Fernside Pastoral at Rylestone, have been buying bulls at Wattletop for the past 28 years and purchased eight bulls which suit their country paying to $10,000 for Wattletop General N30 from a Wattletop Usual.
The Collins family, Brooksby Angus, Bundarra, bought Wattletop N6 by Wattletop Franklin from a Wattletop Ann for $8,000 with birthweight of +2.4, 400 day figures at +102, 600 day growth at +131, and milk at +20.
Clunie Range Angus Stud purchased Wattletop General N28 by Ayrevale General from a Wattletop Usual for $15,000.
Ed and Tanya Moorehead, Ben Lomand, bought two bulls paying up to $12,000 for a low birthweight Wattletop Franklin M2 from a Wattletop Barunah with top one per cent rump of +3.4.
Return clients Richard and Ruth Puddicomb, Parraway Pastoral, Barraba, bought two bulls to $8000 for Wattletop Africa M516 by the sire of the same name from a Wattletop Ann going back to Te Mania Berkley.