Tandara Angus Stud at North Dorrigo held its third annual bull sale on Friday and reached a top of $8500 for Tandara Nelson N18, the son of US sire Deer Valley All In, from a cow family that goes back to Conneally Mentor.
Purchased by Hernani grazier Rob Perkins, the 848kg August born rising two year old - the heaviest in the draft of 31 bulls - presented with an eye muscle area of 111 square centimetres, and intra muscular fat of 6.6 or +1.9 per cent above breed average.
The highly heritable trait of scrotum diameter was also a consideration with this bull presenting with a circumference of 46cm, equal greatest measurement of the draft.
Rump and rib fat measured 10mm and 8mm.
Mr Perkins chose the bull to back up his own artificial insemination program and was also interested in Tandara Nelson's short gestation figures of -6.4.
"He had a good spread of numbers but phenotypically I thought he was the stand out bull of the sale," Mr Perkins said.
It is well known that Dorrigo Plateau is an island of green with the country to its west in a deplorable state and as such it was difficult to attract buyers, with just five bulls sold. The remaining quality animals, rising two year olds, were sired by the likes of SAV Ten Speed, Plattemere Weight Up, SAV Thunderbird and a top-priced Farrer bull, NFSK60, a mirror image of his own sire, Carabar Docklands, according to Elders auctioneer Brian Kennedy.
The Hillier family of Ebor bought two bulls, including Tandara Nurseryman N35 for $5000, also sired by Deer Valley All In from a Tandara cow family going back to Connealy Comrade, which presented at 772kg with 9mm and 6mm for rump and rib with a 106 sq cm EMA and scrotal circumference of 42.5cm.
Nurseryman also scanned for IMF at 6.6.
All bulls presented were exceptionally quiet, which was a trait desired by repeat buyers Alan and Bronwyn Martin, Taurus Park at Lower Creek on the upper Macleay, who purchased Tandara Nicholas N38 for $4000.
This bull, by Plattemere Weigh Up from a Tandara cow family going back to Ayrvale Bartel, presented at 810kg with 10mm/7mm rump and rib with 112sq cm EMA and 39cm scrotal with -3.6 gestation and 6.1 for IMF, 1.6pc above breed average.
Victorian grazier Greg Joslyn, Doreen, came to Tandara looking for low birthweight and high growth bulls for an operation that demanded minimal calving issues and came away with Tandara Nugent N28 for $4000. After the sale he also purchased Lot 2, Tandara Noble N1 by SAV Ten Speed for $4000.
The son of Plattemere Weigh Up from a Tandara cow line going back to SAV Thunderbird, presented at 852kg with 9mm/7mm rump and rib, IMF at 6.5 and a gestation figure of -5.2.
Greg Tyler of Tyler Angus at Tyringham bought three female lots including Tandara Laurel L14 by Ayrvale Noah, with calf on the ground and rejoined to Ayrvale Noah, for $1900. Her breeding value figures included -6.7 for gestation, +1.9 for birthweight and +6.2 for EMA.
The sale was conducted by Elders through Colin Paix at Dorrigo.