Roseleigh Angus celebrates big milestone at annual bull sale
Roseleigh Angus stud, Pinnaroo, chalked up a significant milestone at their annual bull sale last week.
The sale marked the 70th anniversary of Charles Cowley, the late founder of the stud, registering his first Angus cow.
The bull sale, held at the Gommers family's Mandayen Eight Mile Selling Complex near Keith, had members from the second, third and fourth generations of the Cowley family present.
Although the average of $8904 were slightly lower than last year, the sale was still a solid result, considering the challenges of the preceding twelve months.
Bulls sold to a top of $13,000 twice, with 21 of 26 offered finding new homes.
Lot 2 was the first bull to hit the top money, selling to long time Qld buyer Don Cossart, Dilbong Pastoral.
A son of ARRR11 Alkira Renegade R11, the May 2023-drop Roseleigh Upbeat U3 weighed 852kg and registered an EMA of 117 square centimetres and a scrotal circumference of 40cm.
The bull had estimated breeding values in the top 2 per cent of the breed for rump at +5 and top 6pc for rib fat with +2.8.
It also had rankings in the top 10pc for gestation length, 400-day and 600-day weight.
Dilbong Pastoral also gained the mantle of volume buyer with a total of six Roseleigh bulls, paying from $6000 to $13,000 for an average of $9500.
Mr Cossart runs a 1200-head cow operation at Moonie in the Western Downs region of south eastern Qld and said he was satisfied with Roseleigh bulls' ability to handle tough Qld conditions.
The bulls arrive in February and spend a few months acclimatizing before being put to work with the cows in November.
Paying the equal top price of $13,000, Boonderoo Pastoral Co, Conmurra, pushed the bidding along for Lot 14, Roseleigh U45.
The June 2023-drop son of NBHP511 Clunie Range Palm Tree P511 weighed 954kg and recorded an EMA of 118sqcm and scrotal circumference of 47cm.
It was ranked in the top 11pc of the breed for 200-day weight, and was in the top 13 and 14pc respectively for 400 and 600-day weight.
Acquiring a total of three sires, Boonderoo paid from $11,000-$13,000 for an average of $12,000, through Southern Australian Livestock.
Speaking post-sale, Roseleigh's Ron Cowley reflected on the stud's history.
He highlighted the evolution of the Angus breed, returning to a more moderate frame while maintaining key characteristics like length, muscling and rump shape.
Mr Cowley expressed his pride in the stud's achievements over three generations and the continuing involvement of the fourth generation.
"I was four years old when Dad started the stud in 1954 and it's been an interesting ride," he said.
He also acknowledged the past year had been one of the toughest in terms of preparing the bulls, due to limited feed and having to rely on frosted cereal hay from failed crops.
Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber wrapped up the sale, noting the strong participation of repeat buyers who returned year in, year out to buy Roseleigh genetics.
"These producers certainly know that they're going to get muscle, punch and power with good balance and do-ability in these bulls," he said.
"This stud produces a very consistent product and their clientele stick with them because their bulls perform well and they know the quality they're buying."
