A STRONG show of support from commercial buyers at the Hazeldean Northern Performance Bull sale at Jackson saw a top of $16,000 reached on Thursday.
Of the 100 bulls on offer, all but two sold, with the 2019 draft from the Litchfield family, Hazeldean, Cooma, NSW, selling for an average of $6034, with the last two bulls selling at the completion of the sale.
Hazeldean N822 (APR) (AI) topped the sale at $16,000 and was bought by Kevin Graham of Kevin Graham Consulting Pty Ltd, Brisbane on behalf of Alister and Joanne McClymont, Burleigh Station, Richmond, Queensland.
The 24-month-old Hazeldean N822 tipped the scales at 850kg and was a Stout Edmund grandson with great feet and carcase.
N822 was in the top five per cent for Angus Index with +147, Heavy Gain index of +165 and Heavy Grass index of +136 and a +9.9 EMA.
"Alister and Joanne were repeat buyers and have been purchasing bulls from Hazeldean for about 12 years, and they're extremely happy with the bulls they have purchased in the past," Mr Graham said.
The bulls will be joined to the McClymonts' large composite herd of Angus, Charolais and Brahmans.
Mr Graham said they focused on the data with the purchase of the bulls to improve their breeding bulls and cattle for the feeder steer and fat market.
Mr Graham also purchased Hazeldean N1047, who tipped the scales at 900kg and was in the top 10 per cent for the Angus index +134 and Heavy Grain index +150 and Heavy Grass index +126.
The McClymonts also purchased Hazeldean N813 (APR) (AI), a well balanced young sire, with a great spread of data across the board in the top 10 per cent across all indexes.
There was strong support from agent Brad Passfield, Hourn and Bishop, who bought ten bulls to average $4650 on behalf of Glen and Sheryl Connolly, Elwell Station, Prairie.
Mr Passfield said there were good buying conditions at the sale for top quality bulls to go to the northern downs country in North Queensland and the Connolly family wanted to source some good soft Angus bulls to go over their Bos indicus type cows.
Hourn and Bishop also secured seven bulls for the Kucks Family at MNK Pastoral Co at Malakoff, Theodore to average $5640.
Strong support was shown by AK Grazing, Harow, Injune, when they bought six bulls to average $5167 and their top price of $6500 for Hazeldean N364 who had the highest raw marbling score in the catalogue.
Cockatoo Cattle Co, Cockatoo Station at Wandoan bought four bulls to average $7250 with a top price of $8000 for Hazeldean N142, a Docklands grandson.
AR and RJ Beddows, Goomeri bought four bulls to average $5000.
Hazeldean principal Jim Litchfield said he was happy with the results of the sale, particularly the clearance, especially given the relentless grip of the drought.
"The Hazeldean brand is consistent, reliable and relevant to commercial breeders through to Processors," he said.
Agent Dane Pearce, Landmark Wandoan said it was a good sale because of the repeat buyers "who continually buy the bulls from Hazeldean as they are such an even line of bulls and are proven and backed up by data".
"The Litchfield stand behind their product and service their clients," he said.
Selling agents: Landmark and Hourn and Bishop.
