Te Mania Angus av $6535

Brian Leslie of DLS celebrated his 21st year auctioneering for the Gubbins and McFarlane families' autumn bull sale with an active gallery of buyers who helped clear 141 of 145 bulls for a spectacular $6535 average – a jump of nearly $2000 on last year's av.

Impressive consistency of the entire offering was evident with Lot 40, Te Mania Jaal, who sold for $21,000 being pipped at the post for top-priced bull title by Lot 105, Te Mania Jarmyn J575, who sold for $22,000 despite being at opposite ends of the catalogue.

Out of Te Mania Wargoona, Jarmyn was an 18 month-old Tuwharetoa Regent D145 son and weighed 646 kilograms.

He was purchased by Grant Davis of Pee Dee Creek at Bellbrook, NSW – along with two other lots to av $13,167 – for his balance of calving ease and growth traits.

Jarmyn recorded estimated breeding values (EBVs) of +2.7 for birth weight, +42 200-day weight, +79 400-day weight, +104 600-day weight, +8 eye muscle area and +3.1 intramuscular fat.

"I couldn't fault him conformation wise and he has good calving ease figures which will suit our herd," Mr Davis said.

"We don't generally chase the top bull but in the past we have got the second, third or fourth (priced bull) in the sale because we are committed in getting the best herd we can without being ridiculous."

Mr Davis said the recent northern break had kick-started recovery on the Bellbrook property after it suffered its toughest year on record. Prolonged drought conditions across NSW required Mr Davis to buy in feed for one year and water for eight months.

"We have just come through a very, very tough 12 months, and I am amazed at how well (the cattle) have managed the dry conditions," he said.

The improved conditions had stimulated a new direction for the property, which he said included the injection of new Regent genetics to join the predominantly Te Mania Africa and Te Mania Berkley bloodlines.

The Coulton family from Morella Agriculture, Goondiwindi, NSW, returned to back up last year's top sale price, bidding enthusiastically on Jaal, a GR Twinhearts son.

Auctioneer Mr Leslie praised the 756kg bull for his volume and capacity and said "he is a whole package – if you look at him in the yard, or if you look at his pedigree or look at his data, he has got it all".

Te Mania Jaal J2 boasted EBVs in the top one per cent of the Angus breed for calving ease, gestation length, 200-day weight, 400-day weight, 600-day weight, as well as four of the $Indexes, including an Angus Breeding $Index of $153.

He recorded +4.1 BW, +58 200-day weight, +110 400-day weight, +145 600-day weight, +6 EMA and +2.3 IMF.

The Coulton family purchased 11 bulls in total, av $9000 per head.

On the back of last year's sale peak of $13,000 for Te Mania Harwood H365, a Regent son, paid by the Coultons, they purchased four more of the dominant sire's sons this year.

"The progeny of these bulls have been outstanding in a tough season – with weaning weights of 280-320kgs at seven-eight months," Sam Coulton said.

"Added to this, they have been selling direct to Rangers Valley at 16-18 months, at 420-500kgs, with some exceeding these targets and being sold straight over the hooks."

Constant bidding from 52 registered AuctionsPlus buyers helped maintain the action with seven successful buyers from Euro, Albury, Tasmania, Tamworth and Gyra, NSW securing 10 bulls through the online channel.

Bulls were sold locally, through Gippsland and central Victoria, with interstate purchases to NSW, Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and King Island.

Three sons of the record-breaking Te Mania Emperor E343, which sold for $91,000 in 2011, av $11,000, while the 29 Regent sons av $7879.

Te Mania Angus co-principal Tom Gubbins said the stud was pleased with the newly introduced sire, GAR Twin Hearts, whose seven sons sold to $21,000, av $8428.

Long term clients, the Prowse family of Violet Town, purchased seven bulls, av $7429.