Minding the Ps and Qs at Guyra district Angus female opportunity sale

The opportunity to buy performance genetics highlighting fertility and growth was the motivation to buy the top-priced lot at the Bald Blair Angus female sale.

There were 30 cows catalogued, all of which were pregnancy-tested-in-calf, with 20 selling to average $7125 and reaching a $14,000 top. Three more cows sold after the sale.

The sale offering was P and Q cows, aged five and six years old, all having dropped bull or heifer calves, said Bald Blair co-principal Sam White.

"The P cows have had five bull or heifer calves that have been sold in the annual sale or retained within the herd, while the Q cows have produced four calves that have been sold or retained," he said.

The buyer of the top-priced cow, Bald Blair P106, was Funny Hill Pastoral Company, Binda, via Crookwell.

Sired by Rennylea L519, her dam was sired by Sitz New Design 458N.

Mr White described the cow as one of his favourites in the catalogue, "a long-bodied cow with heaps of capacity".

"She's an amazing cow with great balance of growth and carcase estimated breeding values," he said.

Its 200-day growth was +47, 400-day, +90 and 600-day, +122. It recorded +21 for milk, +6.8 for eye muscle area (EMA) and +4.9 for intramuscular fat (IMF).

Aidan Barton represented Funny Hill PC, who said the business ran a self-replacing herd of 2500 to 3000 breeding cows.

It was his first visit to Bald Blair, and the trip was made worthwhile after he purchased 10 cows averaging $5900.

He said the new cows would add extra firepower with their data to their in-house bull breeding battery.

Funny Hill has used Coffin Creek, Hobbs Livestock and Cluden Newry sires in the herd, and the Bald Blair genes would provide growth and fertility from cattle bred and raised in a similar climate to the Crookwell district.

Most of the property is native pasture with about 30pc improved winter perennials. The cattle are worked through a rotational grazing program, except during calving, where the larger herds are broken up.

"Rotational grazing is easier for us with the large numbers, and we get a lot more out of our native and improved pastures," Mr Barton said.

Another volume buyer was Redman Pastoral Co, Wattamolla, Mitchell, Queensland. Their five lots sold to a top of $9000 twice, averaging $7900.

Bald Blair P136, also sired by Rennylea L519, out of a Connealy Comrade 1385 female, had EBVs of +47 for 200-day, +84 for 400-day and +109 for 600-day. Her EMA was +9.1 and IMF, +5.6.

Their second $9000 cow was Bald Blair P35, a L519 daughter from a Renneylea F65 female. She had +44 for 200-day, +90 for 400-day and +112 for 600-day growth EBVs. Its EMA was +10. and IMF +1.7.

Justin and Amy Dickens, JAD Angus Stud, Greenvale, Yeoval, bought the second top-priced lot, Bald Blair P342, sired by Paringa Judd M118, out of a SAV Thunderbird 9061 female.

Its EMA was +4.8, IMF +2.5, with +59 for 200-day, +99 for 400-day and +134 for 600-day growth.

The Gaddes family, Nellie-Jay, North Macksville, bought three cows, including the second equal top-priced cow at $10,000.

Bald Blair Q312 is another M118 daughter from a Sydgen Black Pearl 2006 female.

Elders Guyra and Armidale were the selling agents, and Brian Kennedy was the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the interface.