A delightful Monaro afternoon greeted attendees at the Litchfield family's Hazeldean Angus autumn bull sale last Thursday with a high price of $14,000 reached twice.
Of the 41 bulls offered, 35 were cleared to an average of $6444 proving that Hazeldean's constant focus on maternal traits such as fertility, calving ease, and short gestation length whilst maintaining above average growth, eye muscle area, and marbling is noticeably meeting genetic demand within the industry.
The top money was paid by Paul Rodgers, Holbrook, for Hazeldean N1126, a 20-month-old son of Hazeldean Jaipur J140, who sired five bulls that sold to an average of $8800.
He weighed 796 kilograms at time of sale and had estimated breeding values (EBVs) of +4.6 for birth weight and sat in the top 10 per cent for 600-day growth at +124 and milk at +20.
Mr Rodgers liked the bull's pedigree and said his conformation was exceptional.
"He was extremely well balanced, soft and a commercially orientated bull," he said.
"We select bulls that have good growth and structure to suit, using the Angus group Breedplan."
They also secured Hazeldean N405 for $12,000, a Mar Innovation 251 USA16983331 son with top five per cent scrotal size, days to calving, eye muscle area and retail beef yield.
Mr Rodgers led the volume buying purchasing a further three to average out his five purchases to $10,000.
Matched, but not beaten, Hazeldean N264 also reached $14,000 and was purchased by Damien Ventry, Gunningrah, Bombala.
The 22-month-old son of Hazeldean Katzen K416 sat in the top five pc for direct calving ease, gestational length, scrotal size, days to calving, fat depth in the rib as well as positive data throughout the Angus breeding index, domestic index, heavy grain and grass indexes.
Auctioneer Paul Dooley said Hazeldean N264 was an exceptional bull.
Gunningrah also purchased a further two bulls sired from Hazeldeans standout sire, Hazeldean J140 with Hazeldean N151 and Hazeldean N682 for $11,000 and $6000 respectively.
The action heated up as seven buyers snapped up four or more bulls, with Steve Phillips, Cunningham Plains, Harden, purchasing four sires to a top of $6000 averaging $5000 across the draft, while Guy Stephens, Fontenoy, Adaminaby, paid to $6000 for three, averaging $4666.
Continuing the volume buying with purchases of two bulls were Rob Nicholl, Jindabyne who paid a top of $9000 to average $7500 with Yackerboon Pty Ltd, Manildra and Ray Miller, Bega who both averaged $7000.
Also purchasing two bulls were Doug Cameron, Delegate and Jim Murray, Moonbah both averaging $5000.
Hazeldean N680 was sold to Jenni Watkins, Cooma, for $4000 with all proceeds donated to Monaro Commitee for Cancer Research.
Speaking after the sale, co-principal Bea Litchfield was pleased with the results particularly in a hard season.
"It was great to have strong support from repeat buyers that continue to report of the high fertility of the bulls and the strong sale prices of Hazeldean blood weaners from recent sales," she said.
The sale was settled by Elders Goulburn with the bulls were offered to spirited competition by Paul Dooley, Tamworth.
