*77 bulls sold of 78 to a top of $52,000, av $8585
One of the "best balanced" Angus bulls in the world, has sired the sale topper, at Lawson's Yea annual spring sale.
Lawson's Miraculous Q44 was bought by Tim Roberts-Thomson, whose company has properties on King Island and Mansfield, for $52,000.
Stud principal Harry Lawson said Miraculous was a very stout, moderate type bull, with perfect structure.
"He has exceptional calving ease, ideal growth curve, high growth with moderate cow size, and exceptional carcase traits," Mr Lawson said.
"He is above average on every metric, in terms of feed efficiency - he eats less than what is expected, to do the job.
"A lot of high growth bulls are there, because they have a big appetite - it's harder to breed cattle that are high growth, but also feed efficient."
Mr Lawson said Miraculous was a bull that combined multi-trait excellence better than any other, tested to date under the GrowSafe research.
He said Miraculous was sired by Lawson Momentous M518, an animal he believed was one of the best balanced bulls in the world.
"He has been tested against the best bulls in the world, and outdone them," Mr Lawson said.
Miraculous Q44 had a birthweight of two kilograms, a 200-day weight of 53kg, a 400-day weight of 97kg and 600-day weight of 123kg.
He had a rib measurement of 0.1, rump of -1.0, eye muscle area of 17.1 square centimetres, the second highest in the breed, and an intramuscular fat was measured at 3.1 per cent.
Miraculous was in the top four per cent of the breed for Heavy Grain Index.
"Miraculous is bred to produce highly fertile, efficient and attractive daughters, with lower emissions intensity," Mr Lawson said.
A March, 2019-drop bull Miraculous was out of Lawsons Anticipation K914.
Mr Roberts-Thomson, TRT Pastoral Group, described Miraculous as "a ripper of a bull.
"Miraculous will be used in our heifer AI program in both our King Island and our Mansfield properties.
TRT would join 3000 heifers in November, this year.
"We were very impressed firstly with the structure of Miraculous and excellent feet, which is so important in soft soil environments like King Island," Mr Roberts-Thomson said.
"Then there is his unbelievable genetic profile EMA of +17, low birth weight for calving ease, good 400 day and 600 day growth, 3.1 IMF plus his high feed efficiency."
"We are always focused on improving the genetics within our herd and our AI program is a great way to achieve this."
Mr Lawson said Miraculous had the potential to be an even bigger game changer for the industry, than his sire.
"He has even got a little bit more muscle than the father, similar calving ease and he has a lot of potential to make a big difference to the industry," Mr Lawson said.
Momentous was bred in the Western Australian herd and was number three for registrations and Genetics Australia's most popular sire.
But Mr Lawson said while the stud was excited to produce an individual, such as Miraculous, it's core business was providing large numbers, of consistent, high-quality bulls, that were affordable..
"Our goals are not to produce elite stud sires."
Mr Lawson said the stud sought consistency across the bell curve and key traits.
"What these two bulls do is have this high growth, elite carcase, but also the high fertility, and moderate cow size is critical for on farm profitability."
TRT also selected several other top sires, including Lawson Momentous Q255 with an EMA of 12.7 and IMF of 4.0 at $13,000.
The second high seller at $16,000 was Lawson Momentum Q85, in the top three per cent of the breed for GRN index, and purchased by Weeran Angus,Byaduk.
Next top at $15,000 was Lawson Momentous Q77, with an IMF of 4.0.
He went to A McKinnon of Euroa, who also selected Lawson Montalto Q61 at $12,000.
Seven bulls sold at $12,000 each, including Lawson Momentous Q54 selling to GL & RC Hall of Tasmania, one of many buyers operating through Auctions Plus.
Selling agents DLS Rural report buyers were from all parts of Victoria, NSW, SA and Tasmania.
Auctioneer was Brian Leslie.
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