Best-selling Quarterway bull goes from the top to the bottom of Tasmania

The highest-priced Angus bull from a stud at the top of Tasmania has gone to a buyer in the southernmost part of the state.

Quarterway Angus, Scottsdale North, achieved a near-total clearance of its bulls despite experiencing two years of dry seasonal conditions.

Quarterway sold 49 of the 54 bulls it offered at auction, clearing the remainder after the sale finished.

It received the top price for Lot 9, Quarterway Ubabylon U366, described in the catalogue as a "meat machine, just like his sire, Princeton".

UBabylon sold for $15,000 to Surveyors Bay Pastoral, Surveyors Bay, Tas, with two other bulls going for $14,000 each.

Quarterway stud co-principal Trevor Hall said the sale was supported by repeat clients, with one or two new buyers.

Bulls went throughout Tasmania to King and Flinders Island and the Drysdale family at The Lily, Yarck.

Although slightly down on last year's top price, the sale continued a strong run for the stud after solid results in the previous few years.

Mr Hall attributed the good sale to the stud's strength in genetics.

'We've got quite a strong New Zealand influence and they are big meaty cattle, we know what they can do," Mr Hall said.

"They are good solid cattle and will 'do' in the paddock."

Quarterway Ubabylon U366 was described as a "meat machine," just like his sire, Princeton.

A September 2023-drop bull, he was by Quarterway Princeton P124, out of Quarterway Numbat N 137.

He had Trans Tasman Angus Carcase Evaluation (TACE) estimated breeding values (EBV) of a birthweight of +6.9 kilograms, 200-day growth of +52kg, 400-day weight of +91kg and 600-day weight of +117kg.

Babylon's eye muscle area (EMA) was 1.9 square centimetres, his rib fat depth was -0.3 millimetres, and his rump fat depth was -0.8mm.

The sire had a retail beef yield of 0.5 per cent and an intramuscular fat (IMF) of 0.6pc.

"The last two years, these cattle have been bred in the worst conditions I have ever seen in 46 years - they are two of the driest seasons we have had," he said.

Pivot irrigation had helped, he said, but "we have just bumbled through, chasing feed."

"We are lucky enough to have nearly 200 hectares of pivot irrigation, which makes a huge difference, but it comes at a cost as well."

Surveyor's Bay Pastoral, Surveyors Bay, Tas, bought the top-priced bull through Auctions Plus.

Manager Jamie Woolley said the property ran 900-1000 cows, turning off weaners for the annual sales at Powranna, Tas.

"Lot 9 was a nice, easy-going meaty type of bull, with plenty of depth - he was extremely quiet, and that's what we were really aiming for," Mr Woolley said.

"We are at the very bottom of the state; he is from the very top."

Ubablyon would be used over mature aged cows, hoping to breed some "keeper heifers out of him".

Surveyors Bay would turn off about 520 Angus and 50 Wagyu calves this year.

The property bought a bull from Quarterway two years ago and was "very impressed with how he has turned out, so we thought we would get another couple."

Surveyors also bought Lot 7, Quarterway Uncle Bill U95, for $14,000.

Nutrien livestock manager Cooper Lamprey, Devonport, Tas, said most bulls stayed in the areas.

"I think everybody wants to invest in good genetics and want to keep building their herds," Mr Lamprey said.

The top-priced bull had "depth and softness."

"He had a real sire appeal."

The bulls presented very well, considering the dry seasonal conditions.

"That just proves good genetics can shine in tough conditions," he said.