Queenslander scores with top-priced Goalkeeper bull at Bridgewater Angus
A bull with a combination of phenotype and data set that was 'there in spades' topped the Bridgewater Performance Angus sale at Black Mountain, on July 18.
In weather reminiscent of a stereotype of the British moors -foggy, cold and wet - 37 of 43 bulls sold to $30,000 and averaged $8405.
Ben Hill, Bulliac Angus, Miles, Queensland, said his new bull, the 772-kilogram, August-2023 drop Bridgewater Goalkeeper U100 offered balance and power.
"We were looking for a bull with a really good dataset, this guy has that in spades," Mr Hill said.
"We also wanted a bull with the phenotype we were chasing, which was plenty of top, good length, body, feet and legs and moves well.
"(He) gets his head up and stands pretty right every time he pulls up. All in one package."
Goalkeeper U100 was by Baldridge SR Goalkeeper, out of an Esselmont General L115 female.
His estimated breeding values included +67 for 200-day growth, +123 for 400-day, and + 151 for 600-day, and ranked in the top 10 per cent for eye muscle area at +15.2, retail beef yield, and scrotal at +4.5.
It had a birthweight of +4, milk at +14, gestation length of -3.8 and intramuscular fat of +2.1.
The volume buyer of the sale was Warren Coventry, Lynoch Pty Ltd, Armidale, purchasing six bulls to the top price of $18,000.
Mr Coventry set the early pace of the sale with his top-priced choice, Bridgewater Lorenzo U015, a 754kg July-2023 drop son of Landfall Lorenzo R625 out of a Granite Ridge Kaiser K26 female.
The first three lots in the sale were bought by Lynoch P/L, averaging $13,000, while the remaining three averaged $7666.
Lorenzo U015 also had a strong data set, with gestation length at -8.6, direct calving ease of +9 and days to calving -7.2, all of which ranked in the top 10pc.
U015 also recorded +4.3 for rib fat and +4.1 for rump fat, in the top 10pc, with +5.7 EMA and +1.9 IMF.
Dalkeith Grazing, Dalkeith, Uralla, paid $14,000 for Bridgewater Quantum U078, a 746kg son of Chiltern Park Quantum Q135, and $9000 for another bull.
Tablelands Pastoral, bidding through Armitage and Buckley, paid $13,000 for Bridgewater Power U171, a 724kg son of Bowmont Q018 Power S045.
Wards Mistake Pastoral Company bought three bulls, averaging $6000; Matt Turner, Black Mountain, bought two, averaging $6000; and Denis Wright, Ascot Park, Black Mountain, bought two bulls at $7000 and $6000.
The selling agents were Armitage and Buckley, Armidale, with Tom Piddington the auctioneer. Auctions Plus provided the online interface.
