THE Tucker family was proud to offer what they believed to be their heaviest and most even line-up of bulls last Thursday afternoon in Tasmania at The Gardens via St Helens.
A steady stream of buyers made their way to inspect the 17-20-month-old Antu Angus bulls, which had the best view on the day overlooking kilometres of ocean frontage.
Under the Helmsman system, Antu bulls achieved a total clearance of 34 bulls and sold to a top of $7250 to average $4213.
Rod Williams bought the top price bull on behalf of Dave Harvey, King Island, Tasmania.
Lot 5, Antu 338/BND-Hope F29, weighed 712 kilograms and had low birthweight figures of +2.9, excellent milk at +17, an EMA of +4.2 and above average 400 and 600-day weights.
Mr Williams said he was looking for low birthweight bulls to use over heifers at the King Island property where Mr Harvey runs 1000 breeders and turns off yearlings at 16-18 months which mostly go to Greenhams.
Lot 9 was also selected for the Harveys at $5750.
Mr Williams bought lot 12, Antu 458/Z3-M8 F49 for his own operation at Currie, King Island.
The bull was by sire Sitz New Design and had a low birthweight of +3.9 and good 400 and 600-day weight figures of +84 and +101.
"We've been buying here for years and have had great success," Mr Williams said.
DA&PM Conn, Tiree, Memana, Flinders Island, Tasmania, selected three bulls at $4500, $3500 and $5250 for lot 4, a Hyline Right Time son with positive rib and rump figures and an EMA of +5.2.
Other Flinders Island buyers included DL&PJ Bellinger, Whitemark, who bought two bulls to $3500 and CJ&JA Bowman, Whitemark, who took one at $3500.
Repeat buyer Julian von Bibra, who supplies Swift's MSA program, selected four bulls for his commercial operation at Gladstone, Tasmania.
Mr von Bibra and his Gladstone manager Robert Gough said the Antu bulls suited their operation as the cattle were run on similar country and under commercial conditions.
"They are good no nonsense bulls," Mr von Bibra said.
ST&LE Pilkington, Pilkington Pastoral Co, Killara, Redpa, Tasmania, bought lot 19 at $5000.
Steve Pilkington, who runs 1100 breeders in the far North West of the State said they were looking for lower than average birthweight, better than average growth and good carcase figures.
Other volume buyers included AW Singline&Sons, Weldbor-ough, Tasmania, who took three bulls paying to $3500 twice.
One of three pens of commercial heifers sold for $1500 to M&M Partridge, Scottsdale.
John Tucker Jnr was pleased with the result of the sale, particularly with the clearance.
"We sold more bulls this year after a terrific season. We could not ask for more," he said.
