RETURNING clients sticking to successful performance made up the bulk of buyers at the 12th annual Waitara Angus bull sale at Trangie on Friday, August 10.
Twelve buyers purchased 18 of 36 bulls at auction to a top of $10,000 to average $6778 for Steve and Amity Chase and family, Trangie.
The top lot was an 975 kilogram rising two-year-old son of homebred sire Waitara TB Knockout K61 which posted one of the top 400-day weights despite being one of the youngest bulls in the group, was bought by Joe and Felicity Streeter, Fairy Springs Brahmans, “Woodbine”, Taroom, Queensland, through AuctionsPlus and run a large stud and commercial breeder operation.
The Streeters also purchased three other bulls post-sale.
Two bulls sold at $9000 each and included the 865kg two-year-old Waitara Emperor M117 (AI) by Te Mania Emperor E343, bought by an old client of 15 years standing, The Dunford family, “Lynton”, Gunningbland.
After the sale, Phil Dunford said the bull was bought for its structure.
“We chase good rib figures and this bull has that,” he said.
Emperor M117 will join the Angus sire battery within the “Narran Plains” herd at Brewarrina and will be joined to Santa Gertrudis females in the family’s crossbreeding beef program involving 1000 breeders,
Mr Dunford said steers are produced “in normal years” aimed for the feeder market and go mainly to either Gundamain feedlot, Eugowra, or Teys feedlot, Condamine, Queensland, at 350kg to 380kg when 13 to 15 months of age.
The other at $9000 was the 879kg Waitara Traction M136, by JMB Traction, with estimated breeding values (EBV) in the top one per cent for 400-day weight, top 5pc for 200- and 600-day weight, carcase weight, retail beef yield and other traits.
This bull was purchased by the Hewitt family, “Hillview”, Tottenham.
Returning for his fourth year was Steve Thomas, “Gowang”, Coonabarabran, who is now running 130 Angus cows and 30 heifers on this property purchased in 2009 after moving from Mungindi where he bred Droughtmasters and Shorthorns and their crosses.
Mr Thomas purchased three bulls saying he wanted to improve some of the indexes within his breeding herd.
His three purchases averaged $7333, while he paid to a top of $8000 for a son of JMB Traction.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Wilson Russ, Warren, with John Settree, Dubbo, the auctioneer.