DUNGOG based Sugarloaf Angus recorded a new stud record high top price of $42,000 and a record average of $13,125 on Saturday during their fifth annual bull sale where buyers chased heavy made bulls with performance.
In the breakdown 50 Angus bulls sold to average the impressive $13,125 figure, but that average could have been higher if a last minute COVID-19 lockdown for the town of Dungog and the surrounding Hunter Valley region was not in place.
Vendor Jim Tickle said they were extremely happy under the circumstances, but commented that several buyers were not operating because they were unable to inspect the bull and were reluctant to buy sight-unseen which he understood.
"Before lockdown we were thinking we would have a record crowd through," Mr Tickle said.
"We had both new and repeat buyers. We seem to be getting more clients chasing the heavy-made type of bulls that we produce - the average of our Angus bulls was 871 kilograms as rising two-year-olds.
Return clients Betrola Pty Ltd at Coolah purchased the sale-topping bull in Sugarloaf Timeless Q139, a son of WMR Timeless 458 out of a Hoover Dam daughter, for the $42,000 high.
"Betrola manager Trevor Nash bought the bull via AuctionsPlus after seeing him during our open day," Mr Tickle said.
"Structurally he was near perfect - perfect feet and legs, and perfect temperament, with a tonne of depth, thickness and length."
The heaviest bull of the draft at 1008 kilograms as a two-year-old, he was a high-growth bull ranking in the top 15 per cent of the breed for 200-, 400- and 600-day weights, as well as mature cow weight.
Another WMR Timeless 458 son, Sugarloaf Timeless Q98, sold for $28,000 to the Mackenzie family of Mackas Angus, Salt Ash who recently bought the $225,000 record-breaking Angus bull from Texas Angus. Repeat buyers of many years, they took home two for a $23,000 average.
Long-term clients Victoria Park Investments, Durness Station, Tea Gardens through Bowe and Lidbury were the largest volume buyers picking up six Angus bulls, while Cenrim Ag, Wallarobba purchased three Angus bulls.
There was 48 registered bidders in attendance, while another 14 buyers bought bulls and females online via AuctionsPlus. Lots were sold throughout the local area, Upper Hunter, North Coast, Manning and Queensland.
The female draft saw 29 of 29 heifers sold, including 10 pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) heifers sold for a $4300 a head average.
Queensland based Steve Little, Brookstead, picked up most of the female offering including four two-year-old PTIC heifers for $4000/hd and 19 heifers, nine to 10 months, for a $3705/hd average.
Two bulls sold to Queensland buyers, including the $26,000 sire in Sugarloaf Fanklin Q135 purchased by repeat buyers Bee Lee Pastoral, Rockhampton.
Also making $26,000 was Sugarloaf Fail Safe Q93 purchased by Bowers Cattle and Ag, Singleton and Dungog.
Mr Tickle said each year they offer a small handful of black Simmental bulls for people to use to produce progeny for the vealer trade.
Five black Simmental bulls were sold for a $8600 average and $12,000 top for Sugarloaf Q013 purchased by an AuctionsPlus buyer.
The sale was conducted by Bowe and Lidbury Pty Ltd, Maitland and Gloucester, and Dillon and Sons, Dungog with Paul Dooley as auctioneer.
