Wrigley Cattle Co elated with triple top price at 'strongest sale ever'

Buyers sought low-birthweight bulls with all-round type at the annual Wrigley Cattle Co Angus bull sale, held on property at Waitohi, near Condobolin, on Friday.

The Wrigley family achieved a 100 per cent clearance, with all bulls sold to a top price of $16,000, three times, to average $10,651.

Return clients Peter and Allan Stuckey, Murtonga Pastoral, Homesworth, Condobolin, secured the first sale topper, Wrigley U11.

Son of Tehama Testament and out of Wrigley S34, the 21-month-old weighed 816 kilograms with an estimated breeding value (EBVs) in the top 10 per cent of the breed for a scrotal circumference of +4.3.

He also recorded a +3.5 birth weight, +7.2 eye muscle area, +2.5 intramuscular fat, and +54 carcase weight.

Peter Stuckey said he sought a low birthweight bull to join over his 600 head of Shorthorn breeders.

They are crossed with Angus bulls to target the feedlot and trade market.

"[Wrigley U11] had good muscle structure, and has the all round type that will fit in with what we are breeding for," he said.

The Stuckeys also secured Wrigley U201 for $14,000.

Queensland buyers JA and KJ Elder, Beltana, Yelarbon, Qld, purchased Wrigley U203 for $16,000.

Sired by Twynam Q22 and out of Wrigley N19, the 21-month-old weighed 824kg with EBVs in the top 10pc of the breed with +64 for 200-day weight, +111 400-day weight,-8 days to calving, +91 carcase weight and +1.7 retail beef yield.

He also ranked in the top 20pc with +140 for 600-day weight, +125 mature cow weight and +10 EMA.

The Elder family also purchased Wrigley U159 for $12,000.

Colin Hall, Coobong, Condobolin, bought the final $16,000 sale topper, Wrigley U119.

Son of Tehama Testament and out of Wrigley P18, the 21-month-old bull weighed 842kg with EBVs in the top 10pc with +0.9 retail beef yield and the top 20pc for -8.3 days to calving and +0.82 leg angle.

Mr Hall operates a cropping and cattle farm near the Wrigley family.

Traditionally a Shorthorn breeder, Mr Hall said market demand influenced his decision to transition to Angus.

He also noted the discontinuation of the JBS Thousand Guineas program.

Currently, he runs 400 Shorthorn breeder cows which are crossbred with Wrigley bulls to target the feeder market.

"He is an all-round and very sound heifer bull that has plenty of IMF, EMA, and low birth weight," he said.

Mr Hall also purchased three other bulls to average $13,000.

Wrigley Cattle Co stud co-principal Andrew Wrigley saidhe was extremely pleased with the results.

"It's the strongest sale we've ever had," he said.

Volume buyer Peter Moppett, Noan, Quambone, purchased six bulls to a top price of $11,000, three times, to average $10,500.

Simon Ballentine, Kenya Pastoral, Brockelsby, purchased two bulls to $15,000 to average $10,500.

The sale was conducted by Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon & Co, with Luke Whitty, Forbes, as auctioneer.