THE 13th annual Watasanta Bull Sale held in Tamworth, NSW today hit a record high of $100,000.
Neil and Rosalie Watson, offered and sold 30 two-year old Santa Gertrudis bulls to average $20,483, 3 black Santa bulls to average $8666 and 51 PTIC heifers to average $2567.
Watasanta PT 2688M was the highly sort after bull selling for $100,000 to Yarrawonga Stud, Wallumbilla QLD and Diamond H Santa Gertrudis Stud, Chinchilla QLD.
"Our studs are at the same stage, it's time to put frame and breed character back into our herds and we only live an hour apart so it made sense to band together to secure top genetics and improve our herds faster" explained Yarrawonga stud principal, Andrew Bassingthwaighte.
Described as a "true stud sire" the 23-month old son of Watasanta Monkey 2244 is out of Watasanta 1769, a highly regarded female in the Watasanta herd.
"She (1769) is sired by Grandboy (P) a successful sire and show bull. The cow has great constitution always holding her condition" stated Neil Watson in the catalogue comments.
"It wasn't just his strong pedigree that drew us in but more so his character, frame, excellent sheath and reproductive figures" added Mr Bassingthwaighte.
Watasanta PT weighed 936 kilograms (kg), had a scrotal circumference of 44 centimetres (cm) and scanned a P8 of 16 millimetres (mm), Rib of 11mm, and Eye Muscle Area (EMA) of 138 sqcm and an Intramuscular Fat (IMF) of 61.
The "powerful" Santa Gertrudis bull described by Mr Watson as "boasting a dark slick coat, ultra tidy sheath, large testis, very sound feet, legs with a little added muscle and carcass shape" will have semen collected once arriving in Queensland before residing at "Waco" and mating with 25 cows from each stud.
When asked what draws them back to the Watasanta year on year Mr Bassingthwaighte said "Neil is one of the better breeders in the Santa Gertrudis breed"
"The structure and breed character in the herd is impeccable and we are starting to see great advancement and want to be apart of that movement." explained Mr Bassingthwaighte.
After missing out on the top bull last year, Dennis Moxey, Denngal Stud, Forbes returned and secured Watasanta Prime Mover (P) 2654 for $72.250.
The 24-month old bull was by Watasanta Landrover 2160 (P) and out of a Waco Chancellor H896 (PS) daughter, Watasanta 2057 (P).
Another "true stud sire prospect", 2554 weighed 972kg, measured a scrotal circumference of 40cm, scanned 12mm on the P8, 10mm on the Rib, an EMA of 145 and an IMF of 5.1.
Mr Moxey, who runs 500 cows including 150 stud Santa Gertrudis females, said Prime Mover will be a huge influence on their stud and commercial operations.
"We wanted something to lift us to the next level."
"He has size, volume and even though a poll he didn't lose strength of bone or muscle." said Mr Moxey.
The sale draft attracted buyer competition from stud and commercial producers across the New England, North and Central West NSW and up into Queensland.
Local Santa Gertrudis stud producer, Hardigreen Park, secured Watasanta Policeman, a 922kg Watasanta Monkey 2244 son for $34,000.
David Bassingthwaighte, Waco Stud, Mungallala QLD purchased a Watasanta Landrover 2160 son for $30,000.
Volume buyer was Inglewood Pastoral Company, Wallabadah, who selected three bulls for $10,000, $14,000 and $16,000.
Sale conducted by Davidson Cameron and Co, Tamworth with Paul Dooley as the auctioneer.