Hazeldean Angus defies the season to record a full clearance at autumn sale

A 'very happy' day marked the annual Hazeldean autumn bull sale on Thursday, May 1, near Cooma, said Bea Litchfield, as the stud prepared to celebrate 160 years in operation.

Nearly 100 registered buyers attended the sale, with bidders online joining in the action to purchase bulls to Coonamble, Oberon, Binya, and south to Victoria.

The stud offered 80 bulls and achieved a total clearance, thanks to a last-minute bidder, achieving a top price of $26,000 to average $11,925.

The top-priced bull, Hazeldean U357, sold to Johnathon Duff, Yackerboon, Manildra, with agent KMWL Young.

The July-2023 drop, 805 kilograms, was by Baldridge Versatile and from Hazeldean S1216.

He measured above average for 16 of 25 traits, including ranking in the top three per cent for intramuscular fat.

The bull was also used in Hazeldean's 2024 joining program.

Mr Duff said the bull was a standout.

"The really good bulls made good money, and you could tell in the high-indexing and high EBV bulls, there were a few people who really wanted them," he said.

A regular client at Hazeldean for nearly a decade, Mr Duff said recent rains helped boost confidence in bringing the bull home to the Central Tablelands before joining began in winter.

"He'll have a bit of a rest, and go out with our select heifers in the middle of July," he said.

The second top price of $25,000 was achieved by Hazeldean U354, sold to Three Creeks, Braidwood, with acting agent Jim Hindmarsh and Son.

The July-2023 drop, also by Baldridge Versatile but from Hazeldean S1882, was used in the 2024 joining program at Hazeldean.

He ranked in the top 4pc for 200-day and 400-day growth.

Both bulls ranked in the top 5pc for calving ease.

The third highest bull, Hazeldean U1144, sold to SR and MC Beasley for $24,000, headed to Lindenow in Victoria.

By Baldridge Versatile and from Hazeldean Q1382, he ranked in the top 5pc for 200-day growth, and the top 10pc for 400 day growth.

The Beasley family also purchased Hazeldean U1062 for $16,000, Hazeldean U1069 for $14,000 and Hazeldean U455 for $20,000. The latter ranked in the top 3 and 4 PC for all indexes, described as 'one of the nucest bulls in his management group.'

John Tett, Homeville Angus, Cobargo, purchased Hazeldean U323, with sire Hazeldean Q1229 and dam Hazeldean S129, and Hazeldean U571, sired by Hazeldean S560 and dam Hazeldean S1734.

He told The Land he would hold the winning bid for the pair following an inspection, and secured them for $14,000 and $11,000, respectively.

JA and EJ Nalder, Cudgewa, Coonamble, successfully bid on Hazeldeal U1034, sold for $22,000 at auction. Acknowledged for his 'extra softness' and impressive birth to growth weight, the very long bull, born in August 2023, was used in the vendor's 2024 joining program, and considered to be suitable for heifers.

TP and JE Manning, Nowendoc, purchased five bulls. Hazeldean U2209 sold for $12,000, with 'stand out' rankings for IMG and calving ease, followed by Hazeldean U415 for $10,000, who was used in the 2024 joining program.

The Mannings also purchased Hazeldean U1669 for $11,000, in the top 30pc for EMA, IMF and 400 day growth, along with Hazeldean U1830 for $10,000 and Hazeldean U1301, sired by Hazeldean Ranger R1593, for $8000.

Six generations of the family-managed operation were acknowledged at the sale, providing Hazeldean Angus to the Monaro and beyond since 1865, and Bea Litchfield said the reputation boosted confidence in buyers.

"It's a very good breeding ground on the Monaro, we'll run the cows pretty tough through winter, and they'll have to rebreed before we get a break. That sort of inherently makes them very fertile."

Ms Litchfield said it was a balancing act to advance the Hazeldean program, matching data with on-the-ground doing ability and temperament, well rewarded at sale.

"To get the whole package is a challenge, but the consistency we're seeing in our program is coming through," she said.

Nutrien Cooma agent and auctioneer Peter Godbolt said the 'very strong sale' defied tougher seasonal conditions.

"There was a very good draft of bulls, including those which Hazeldean have used, it tells you what they think of them,' he said.

Mr Godbolt said about a third of bulls sold stayed within the region.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions, Cooma, with auctioneers Peter Godbolt and Hamish McGeoch, interfaced with AuctionsPlus.

Celebrations of the 160th anniversary of the stud will be held at the spring sale.