Healthy top price among elite Shorthorn genetics in National Sale

Genetics went to four states, with even some international interest, at the National Shorthorn Sale at Dubbo today (June 18).

All up, from the 103 bulls offered, 72 sold under the hammer, to a top of $40,000 and an average $8708, with another two sold shortly after.

In the females, nine were offered with seven sold to a top of $16,000 and an average $7928.

The top price bull was offered by Ken and Anne Tippetts, Glengyron P/L, Newlyn, Vic, and bought by Jason and Kylie Catts, Futurity Pastoral, Baradine.

Bull Glengyron Ugo, an early August 2023-drop, weighed 898 kilograms with 19 millimetre rump fat, 12mm rib fat, 130 square centimetre eye muscle area, 8.2 per cent intramuscular fat and 42 square centimetre scrotal circumference.

He also had estimated progeny difference figures in the top 10pc for calving ease at 13.7, fat at -0.061, marbling at 0.18 and an All-Purpose Index of 134.2 - in the top 5pc.

Ugo came second in his class the day before, standing behind the eventual reserve junior champion.

The bull had been picked out by Mr Tippetts, alongside their daughter Hannah Macartney, and was their sole entry in the show and sale.

"(Ugo) is right up there among the better bulls we've bred," Mr Tippetts said.

"We're so happy to see it going to a well-known stud."

The bull was sired by Bayview Valentino Q15, out of Glengyron Harriet Kate N9.

Ms Tippetts said the Tippetts had a history with the Shorthorn breed, going back to the 1800s, while their history with the National Show and Sale goes back the 1960s.

Mr Catts said Ugo was a "good bull with good data".

"We really liked his phenotype, and he's really balanced with low EDPs," he said.

He said they would be doing some carcase evaluations on the bull's progeny to see how well he performed.

There were some other standout results in the bull offering, with the next highest price Trojan Use N Abuse, offered by Trojan Shorthorns, Lyndhurst.

He was bought at $18,000 by Blackjack Shorthorns, Tumut.

The September-drop bull, which came third in his class, weighed 824kg with 17mm rump, 8mm rib, 124sqcm EMA, 8.1pc IMF and 37cm scrotal circumference as well as a marbling EPD of 0.13 - in the top 10pc, and API of 136.23 - in the top 5pc - and a stayability of 21 and docility of 19.9 - in the top 1pc.

He was sired by JSF Manhattan 194J - one of the first Manhattan sons to be offered in Australia - while the dam, Trojan Natalie, had sons at the sale for the past four years.

The senior champion bull from the show on Tuesday (June 17), Roly Park Up the Ante, had bidding reach $17,000, paid by BRF Southern, St George, Queensland, among its three bulls selected via AuctionsPlus.

Up the Ante, offered by Scott Bruton, Roly Park, Lake Boga, Victoria, had EDP figures of 77.4 for weaning weight, 117.3 for yearling weight and rib eye area of 0.77 - all in the top 1pc, while carcase weight of 25.8, in the top 2pc.

Also selling at $17,000 was Leeds Micky Mouse U59, a June-drop bull, account Broome Pty Ltd, Jerilderie.

The 910kg bull, with a API of 139.82 - in the top 3pc - and marbling of 0.19, the top 5pc, was bought by SG and AM Barlow, Mathoura.

He was sired by Outback Sprys Balance G266, out of Leeds Eden Wayward L8.

In the female offering, the top price of $16,000 was set by the reserve champion heifer, Ronelle Park FW Nandi V79, offered by Janelle Johnstone, Garland.

The September 2024-drop heifer was sired by Bayview Fleetwood S2, out of Ronelle Park Nandi Q22 and had EDP figures of 0.22 for marbling - the top 4pc - and an API of 131.05, in the top 10pc.

She was bought by Malton Shorthorns, Finley.

Ms Johnstone said Nandi was "probably the best heifer I've ever bred" in more than 40 years of breeding Shorthorns.

She said she saw the potential a few years ago after buying Bayview Fleetwood.

"We put him with a cow I thought matched up well, and here is the culmination of that," she said.

Ms Johnstone said she still had the cow back in her embryo-transfer program, so decided to part with this heifer.

"When you come to Dubbo, you should put up your best and she struck us as something special," she said.

Malton Shorthorns' Peter Falls said the heifer had the "femininity and grace we like", while the genetics of the Fleetwood sire and the cow family also appealed.

"It's a way for us to introduce genetics in another way - through a female rather than the bull," he said.

"The good ones are never dear."

He said the heifer would likely compete in some heifer shows with his grandchildren, while they waited for her to grow out more.

Mr Falls said there had already been some interest in her embryos if she lived up to her promise.

The champion female, Spencer Family's Augusta Fool U426, from Spencer Family Shorthorns, Rutherglen, Vic, sold at $12,000 to Wakefield Shorthorns, Groomsville, Qld.

There were also genetic packages on offer, with a PTIC recipient, offered by Ronelle Park, sold for $7500, bought by McKenzie Ranch, Maryland, United States.

The sale's volume buyer was Matthew Passmore, Forbes, with 12 bulls to $10,000, for an average $7250.

Merriwee Pastoral Co, Condobolin, bidding through AuctionsPlus, picked up 10 bulls to $9000, averaging $6800, while MR Anger and J Hochman, Monogorilby, Qld, also bidding through AuctionsPlus, bought seven bulls to $11,000, averaging $7857.

The sale was conducted by Elders with Ross Milne and Scott Cooper sharing the gavel.