Eastern Plains Angus, Guyra, sold to a top of $9000 at their on-property sale on Wednesday with 51 of 74 bulls making an average of $4431.
Guyra is among the worst affected by drought in the northern New England and these EU accredited and J-BAS 8 certified bulls were kept on a lean diet until three months ago when the two year olds weighed an average 550 kilograms. Since then the sires have been allowed feed on tap and presented on sale day at an average of 800kg.
Top priced bull, Eastern Plains Narroy N49 by Booroomooka Bartel K274, was waved down by long-time repeat clients David and Norma Jones, Hawthorne Partnership, Binnaway, with Mr Jones pleased with the way the Eastern Plains bulls stood-up on the day.
Narroy N49, with a scrotal circumference of 42.5cm (+3.0 on Breedplan), ranked as high for growth (+56 for 200 days), carcase weight (+78), retail beef yield (+2.1) and net feed intake in a feedlot setting (-0.16).
The top bid's under-bidder to $8000 was Michael Campbell, Wirribilla Farms, Walcha, who ended up with Eastern Plains Nova N73 by Ayrevale Bartel E7 for $5000 with top 10pc of the breed for calving ease daughters (+2.4), milk (+22), days to calving (-7.5) and carcase weight (+76).
Volume buyer was Michael Gallagher, Plumthorpe Pastoral, Barraba, who bought seven bulls, including Eastern Plains Naden N63 by US sire EF Complement 8088 with 41.5cm scrotal (+1.9) and top 6pc of the breed for Eye Muscle Area (+8.7), retail beef yield (+1.8) and carcase weight (+77).
Repeat client Stuart Grills, Alderberry Pastoral, Guyra, bought five bulls including Eastern Plains Noona N33 by Booroomooka Bartel K274, with scrotal circumference of 40 centimetres and breed values in the top 2pc for 200 day growth (+59), 400 and 600 days and in the top 15pc for fertility traits including days to calving at -6.4 and scrotal (+2.7).
Mr Grills will put his Angus bulls over Shorthorn/Angus cows with progeny sold to the feedlots at 12-18 months.
"This year we reached weights of 350 kilograms, just. Normally we turn them off at 500kg," he said.
Repeat buyer John Wood, Swanvale via Inverell, bought three bulls including Eastern Plain Newington N103 by Prime Juggernaut expressing top 20 per cent breed figures for days to calving (-6.6), eye muscle area (+8.8) and retail beef yield (+1.6).
One of the better balanced bulls with strong fertility traits, Eastern Plains Nightcap N150 by Eastern Plains Lignum L44, sold for $5000 to Tollua Cattle Company, Gerrys Plains, showing top 200 day growth figures (+56), scrotal (+3.3), days to calving (-6.5) and carcase weight (+75).
AuctionsPlus contributed seven successful bids over the land-line including Eastern Plains Neeta N124 by Prime Juggernaut J15 for $5000 going to Helen Terry at Nelson.
The Eastern Plains bull sale was conducted by Elders Armidale with auctioneer Paul Dooley.
