A full buying gallery saw the 14th annual Cascade Poll Hereford and Angus bull sale hit a $16,000 high three times.
Thirty five Poll Hereford bulls from 36 offered sold to a top of $16,000 twice and average $8057 whilst 40 of the 41 Angus bulls offered topped at $16,000 and averaged $6600.
Cascade Llewellyn L076 reached $16,000 quickly with Neil and Beth Higgins, “Old Crockford” Nowendoc securing the Kanimbla Jackpot E91 son.
At 24-months and tipping the scales at 916kg, the “carcase bull” measured in the top 20% for 200, 400 and 600-day growth and was above average for scrotal, EMA, fats and all indexes.
In raw data L076 measured 1.22 average daily weight gain, 127 sqcm for EMA, 11mm for P8, 7mm for rib and 5.5% for IMF.
Mr Higgins, a traditional Hereford breeder moving towards a Poll Hereford herd, is looking forward to using his third Cascade bull to help achieve this transition.
Agent, Chris Paterson, Tamworth assisted in the purchase and said they were looking for a Homozygous Poll bull and felt this sire’s “good muscle and depth of body” would suit well to Mr Higgins operation.
Victorian stud breeders, Bill and Kathy Lambert, Taronga Poll Herefords traveled two days north to secured Cascade Master M008 for $16,000.
The 16-month old bull by Days Destiny H151 weighed 686kg with an ADG of 1.39, and EMA of 104sqcm, 10mm P8, 7mm rib and an IMF of 6.1%.
The first time buyers were in search of new genetics in a yearling bull.
“Our joining season in nearly over so by buying a yearling we get an extra year out of them” explained Mr Lambert.
“We liked his general presence, he is a well balanced bull and has a good temperament and skin type for our needs” continued Mr Lambert who not only runs a stud operation but also supply's the southern weaner calf sales each year.
Topping the Angus draft was Cascade Lingo L77, a Karoo Regent H135 son out of a Booroomooka Ultravox daughter selling to Philip Tongue, “Llanillo” Nundle for $16,000.
Weighing 900kg, the 23-month old measured 1.22 ADG, an EMA of 125 sqcm, 14mm P8, 9mm for rib 45cm for scrotal and 5.5% for IMF.
Mr Tongue, who normally buys Poll Herefords out of the Cascade sale transitioned to buy two Angus bulls this year to put growth and fertility back into his herd.
“We are going to put these Angus bulls over our hereford cows to produce a better, well framed, more fertile female line” explained Mr Tongue who joins around 700 cows and 200 heifers annually to background and supply their own feedlot operation.
“We were after Angus bulls with good frame, size and fat cover so we didn’t compromise those aspects when breeding for better growth and fertility”
The sale was settled by Davidson Cameron and Co with Paul Dooley, Tamworth as auctioneer.
“There was big support from repeat clients which means the cattle are working well for those existing clients” said Mr Dooley.