THIS year, the Litchfield family of Hazeldean Pty Ltd are celebrating 150 years of seedstock Angus and Merino production.
The pastoral enterprise, which began in 1865, now holds production sales in its home state of NSW as well as Queensland and South Australia.
In SA, a joint venture between Jim and Libby Litchfield and Guy and Sarah Cunningham, Gumbowie, Willalooka, allows Hazeldean Angus to meet the requirements of its SA and West Victorian clients.
A strong endorsement of the program by way of a solid bull sale last Tuesday was a fitting way to kick off celebrations for Hazeldean.
In an extremely consistent sale which rarely lapsed, 34 of 37 bulls sold to a modest $7500 while averaging a rewarding $4970 – up $714 on last year.
Bidding reached a peak for lot three, Hazeldean Jaffar J1590, a 706 kilogram son of GAR Prophet from a Te Mania Berkley B1 daughter.
Stephen and Glenda Smith, Lucindale, SA, selected the bull for its thickness and length, structural soundness and good feet.
"He just stood up very well and will carry his weight well as an older bull," Mr Smith said.
The bull had the numbers to match, including Angus, domestic and heavy grass indexes all in the top one per cent of the breed.
It was in the top 5pc for the heavy grain index, as well as for birthweight, milk, 200- and 400-day weight and days to calving, and the top 10pc for calving ease daughters and intramuscular fat.
An eye muscle area figure of 6.6 also put it in the top 15pc for that trait, along with 600-day weight, carcase weight and calving ease direct.
The Smiths also purchased one other bull at $6000.
Two bulls made $7000, the first of these being Hazeldean Jehu J1585, another GAR Prophet son from a Berkley daughter.
Max and Briony Schleuniger, Akeringa Pastoral Company, Bray – buyers of last year's top bull – secured the bull and one other at $6500.
Hazeldean's Guy Cunningham said he was pleased with the sale.
Carla Wiese-Smith
Editor of SmartFarmer magazine.
Editor of SmartFarmer magazine.
