Full report: Elite Angus Female Sale hits six-figure top with full clearance

There was a packed stadium and a buzz in the air at the Elite Angus Female Sale at Tamworth on May 4, with several interstate buyers providing hot competition as studs put forward some of their best genetics.

The multivendor sale, held as part of the World Angus Expo, had a full clearance and reached a top of $134,000 to average $22455 across the 22 lots.

Banquet Angus, Mortlake, Vic, offered the top-priced heifer in the unjoined Banquet Dream V005, who sold to Ballawinna Angus stud, Albany, WA.

The January-2024 drop was by Banquet Nuttella N462 and from Premier Y301 Dream G13.

Prior to the sale, Banquet had offered to buy back a 50 per cent share in the heifer and keep her at the stud, which Ballawinna accepted.

Ballawinna is owned by the Johnston and Pratt families and has partnered with Banquet previously, having bought a share in the stud's $230,000 bull, Tom Cruise T220.

Mick Pratt favoured the heifer for her structure and said she would complement what the operation was trying to achieve with Tom Cruise T220.

"She's a total outcross to anything we've got," he said.

"It will become a bigger picture now, being able to cross back to Tom Cruise and tie in some of the other stuff as well."

He said the price "wasn't what my wife was expecting" but noted a good animal was always cheap.

"She's well worth it," he said.

"Moving forward, she'll be probably flushed and then go into natural calf.

"There's nothing set in stone - we're very much guided by how they do their breeding, and that's the big attraction.

"It's not just about buying an animal, it's about buying a part of the journey."

Hamish Branson, Banquet Angus, Mortlake, Vic, said the heifer was a standout.

"Phenotype was sensational - she's very correct," he said.

Mr Branson said her sire, Banquet Nuttella N462, was the best bull the stud has used.

"His progeny are very consistent, even in their type and structurally correct and very docile," he said.

"The dam has been a great cow we purchased - her sons have topped at $40,000, which was a flush brother to this heifer.

"We wanted to put an elite female in this sale."

Other notable purchases included Booroomooka Teora U836, who sold for $34,000 to Tepa Pty Ltd, Kentucky.

Offered by Booroomooka Angus, Bingara, the September-2023 drop was by Booroomooka Paragon P96 and from Booroomooka Teora S661, a Lawsons Momentous M518 descendant.

She was sold pregnancy-tested-in-calf to Landfall T653 - a high marbling bull - and she also ranked in the top one per cent for $index, top 6pc, 3pc, and 2pc for 200-, 400- and 600-day growth, respectively, along with top 7pc for intramuscular fat.

Tepa Pty Ltd also paid $20,000 for Gilmandyke Emillesque V115, by Sterling Pacific 904.

She was offered by Gilmandyke Angus, Orange.

Pathfinder Angus, Gazette, Vic, sold Pathfinder Comstock V439 to Heath Tiller, Goolagong Angus, Warnertown, SA.

The March-2024 drop, by Woodhill Comstock and from Pathfinder Lotto T860, was in the top 1pc for eye muscle area, top 8pc for IMF, and the top 3pc for 400-day growth.

Mr Tiller said it was her figures, feet and structure, and outcross pedigree that made her a standout.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I suppose," he said.

"To be able to put it into our stud and go forward in the next few years - it'll be awesome."

His operation runs 600 stud cows and holds two bull sales a year.

He was also given the option to purchase additional Pathfinder females after the sale, and he selected SMP24V525, also for $30,000.

Mr Tiller said she also showcased both phenotype, pedigree, and data.

Nick Moyle, Pathfinder Angus, said Comstock V439 was ranked 15th in Australia for her drop and was in the top 1pc for all her indexes.

"A heifer like this normally doesn't go on the market, but because it's the Angus World Forum, we thought we'd put something special up," he said.

Selling for $28,000 was Hobbs Livestock Jesstress H66 R1 V5.

She was offered by Hobbs Livestock, Molong, and sold to a partnership between Gumnut Downs, Kirup, WA, and Ballawinna Angus.

By Hobbs Livestock Real Stunner R1 and from Premier Jestress H66, she ranked in the top 13pc for retail beef yield and top 11pc for carcase weight.

Spencer and Penny Knight, Gumnut Downs, favoured her genetics in particular.

"She's got an outstanding cow family," Mr Knight said.

"The Premier H66 cow - they're still flushing her now, so there's a lot of longevity in the family.

"And just her docility in general, her leg structure was outstanding.

"She's a very wide heifer with a good girth and a lot of depth about her."

Gumnut Downs is a new stud, having sold its first lot of bulls this year, and were looking to build up their maternal line.

The Knights also purchased a 50pc share in the $26,000 3RLS Undine V009, by Sitz Stellar 726D.

JSR Livestock, Adelong, sold JSRL Mittagong V34, by Texas Earnan L612 and from DSK DHP Mittagong L109, for $25,000 to Wallangra Angus, Wandoan, Qld.

It was the top pick for the northern operation, which took home a draft of six females averaging $14,333.

Summit Livestock, Roslyn, sold Summit Ester V17 for $20,000 to Moorunga Pastoral Company, Dromana.

Many lots were offered as pick of the pen, or pair, including Booroomooka Wilhelmina U392, by Lawsons Rocky R4010, who sold after the sale for $30,000.

She was PTIC to a Booroomooka yearling bull.

The sale was conducted by Elders with Scott Cooper as auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the interface.