Bongongo Angus' spring sale for 2019 cleared all 63 bulls to average $6300 and top at $12,000 last Wednesday.
Stud principal of the Coolac-based stud, Bill Graham said despite the average being down from last year, it was an outstanding result, considering the conditions and lack of feed through the whole area.
The top bull came right at the end of the sale, with Chris and Tracey Longley of Longaroo Pastoral Company, Yass purchasing lot 63 for $12,000.
Mr Graham said the 18-month-old bull, Bongongo P181, was by US sire, Baldridge Command CO36, whose grandfather was the sire of the recent $150,000 bull sold by Millah Murrah Angus.
"His sons are very thick, very well muscled, very docile and have good structure, they also tick all the boxes for Breedplan and indexes," Mr Graham said.
The bull was out of a cow by Rennylea Edmund E11.
The top bull's purchaser, Chris Longley, said he was impressed by the bull's estimated breeding value, with a birth-weight of +2.0, 400-day-growth of +101, 600-day-growth of +127, a huge eye muscle area of +9.9 and an Angus breeding dollar index of +152.
Mr Longley said he planned to join the bull with his heifers this year.
"I've been buying from Bongongo for at least 20 years, they have great temperaments," Mr Longley said.
The second-highest priced bull was Bongongo P26 who sold for $11,500 to repeat buyer, Renato Gaspari of Coots Creek Angus, Hall, ACT.
Mr Graham said he believed the bull had the most even set of EBVs in the draft with a birth-weight of +2.5, 400-day-growth of +97, 600-day-growth of +132, carcase weight of +73, EMA of +7.8 and an intramuscular fat score of +3.0. The bull was sired by Lawsons Prosperity H382.
His purchaser Mr Gaspari said they had previously had success with bulls from the same bloodline.
He said they chase milk-weight, 600-day-growth and marbling when selecting.
"We sell to Coles and Rangers Valley so marbling is important, we were able to produce above average marbling for Rangers Valley last year which was great," Mr Gaspari said.
Volume buyers included first-time clients, the Bull family from Ladysmith who took home six bulls.
Zoe Bull said they would use the bulls purchased to start up a breeding herd of Angus cows.
Longtime client David Graham of Redhill, Adjungbilly also returned to purchase five bulls. Bill Graham said the amount of regular clients along with a couple of new ones made it a remarkable day.
Elders conducted the sale.
