*69 of 72 bulls sold to $32,000, av $7971
*Total clearance of 20 females sold to $10,500, av $3579
QUALITY cattle would still make good money despite the dip in the market, according to Kelly Angus, manager Patrick Joyce, Yea.
The top-priced bull, Kelly Angus Blue Bagger S425PV, by VLYN149 Lawsons Blue Bagger N149PV out of GXNP10 Kelly Angus Kodak P10SV, sold for $32,000.
Mr Joyce said the stud put up more bulls than it had ever offered, with most going within 100 kilometres of the property.
"The support is pretty exciting, the product is getting out there and people are recognising it - we are very grateful for that," he said.
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The buyer of the top-priced bull Brad Brooks, Tarra Valley, near Yarram said he had a few bulls in mind when he came to the sale "and he [Blue Bagger] was definitely one of them.
"He is a very consistent bull, he is very even and has some very good traits behind him," he said.
"He has low birthweight, easy calving, he has a huge carcase weight and his eye muscle area and intramuscular fat are very good.
"He is a very good, consistent bull and is going to be an asset for our herd."
Blue Bagger, a July 2021-drop bull, had TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation estimated breeding values of a direct calving ease of +11.9 and a Dtrs figure of +6.2
His birthweight was +1.6 kilograms and he had a 200-day weight of +56kg, 400-day weight of +105kg and 600-day weight of +147kg.
His scrotal circumference was 43 centimetres and he weighed 692kg.
Blue Bagger had an eye muscle area of +11.9 square centimetres, a rib measurement of +0.1 millimetres, rump of -0.4mm and retail beef yield of +0.5.
His intramuscular fat was measured at +4.9 per cent and he had a $A selection index of $267 and $A-L of $459.
The stud described the bull as "one of the favourites - this bull has it all, out of one of the leading cows in the herd," Kelly said on social media.
"[He has] calving ease to birth with very positive growth then backed up with one unbelievable carcase."
The top-priced female, Lot 93, Kelly Angus Hometown T13SV sold for $10,500.
Hometown was by USA 19266718 GAR Hometown PV out of VLYL Lawsons Incredible LL1146#.
Mr Brooks said the property was running a small herd, with a lot of Kelly Angus infused bloodlines.
"We have a little stud down there and we are just breaking into the market down there," he said.
"We like what Kelly are doing, we like the people, and we get a lot of support from them - they back their products."
The main focus was on breeding.
"We think there is a market, down there, for bulls," he said.
Mr Joyce said the stud had offered an even line of bulls, which represented what Kelly was seeking to produce.
"At the end of the day, we want to get live calves on the ground, we don't want people having issues, and we back it up with good growth and high carcase weights," he said.
"People are still paying on weight - when times are tough, the market shines through.
"As the market is dipping, we are still seeing those quality cattle make good money."
The bulls fared well through a very tough winter, he said.
"You wouldn't know, now, that it was pretty tough - but these genetics shine through, you don't need to see much feed to be able to keep carrying on."
Auctioneer Nutrien Ag Solutions Peter Godbolt, Albury, said it was a "fantastic result.
"They [Kelly] put in more bulls, they have sold more and the average has held up very well," he said.
A lot of the bulls went to Gippsland and western Victoria.
"I reckon this is the best line of bulls that Kelly has put up, so far," he said.
"This is their fourth sale and they are starting to get progeny coming out of their own female line - they are getting runs on the board.
"The bulls had lots of shape, lots of fleshing, good skins and their data was fantastic."
One of the volume buyers was Hazelwynd Farms, Beveridge, who bought six bulls.
Callandoon, Springsure, Queensland (six) and Strath Rural, Strath Creek (seven) were volume buyers of females.
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Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
