Curracabark Angus and Herefords' achieve 100pc clearance for second year in a row
Overcoming the challenges of devastating floods and a far wetter than normal autumn, the Curracabark Angus and Hereford sale enjoyed a 100 per cent clearance for a second year in a row.
In the Angus catalogue, 36 of 36 bulls sold to $26,000 twice, also equalling last year's top price, averaging $13,500, while 15 of 15 Herefords sold to $16,000, averaging $10,200.
At the end of the sale, 29 Angus heifers sold to $3200, and averaged $2268.
Curracabark co-principal James Higgins said in his pre-sale comments that progeny from Rennylea Shogun S34 and Baldridge SR Goalkeeper would be offered for the first time.
The two top-priced Angus bulls were sired by the two new sires.
He said prospects for the industry were looking good for the industry with weaners selling up to $1400 in the Gloucester store sale a few days earlier, while JBS Scone was offering $8.40 a kilogram for September killed stock.
The buyer of one of the top-priced Angus bulls was Brangus Park, Nevertire, with Christine Rasmussen and her husband Dean Rasmussen, representing her father, stud principal Peter Swatridge and doing the bidding.
The bull bound for Brangus Park was the 838-kilogram, October 2023-drop, Curracabark Upsurge U118, sired by Baldridge SR Goalkeeper, out of a Pathfinder Genesis P332 female.
Ms Rasmussen said U118 was a standout across the whole catalogue.
"He had the data to back him up with growth, meat and birthweight," she said.
U118 had seven estimated breeding value (EBV) traits within the top 10 per cent of the Angus breed and a further five in the top 20pc. These included birthweight (BW) at +2.4, eye muscle area (EMA) at +9.4, calving ease direct (CEDir) at +7.0, Net Feed Intake (NFI-F) at -0.19 and foot angle at +0.78.
The bull's growth EBVs in the top 20pc included the 200-day at +63, 400-day at +121 and 600-day at +151. It had a mature cow weight (MCW) of +140, milk EBV of +24, carcase weight (CWT) of +86 and leg EBV of +0.72.
It also had a mature body condition (MBC) EBV of +0.39, a trait James Higgins noted before the sale; the entire Curracabark Angus female herd fitted within the top 45pc of the breed.
The bull had an Angus breeding index ($A) of $210 and Angus breeding low feed cost index ($A-L) of $391.
Brangus Park also bought the top-priced Hereford bull, Curracabark Vermillon V601, a February 2024-drop son of Koanui Techno 3062 out of a Warwick Courty Mao M008 female.
A repeat buyer across a long period, Brangus Park bought five Angus bulls to $26,000, averaging $17,600, and three Hereford bulls averaging $14,000.
The other bull to sell for the equal top price of $26,000 was Curracabark Umpire U77, a October 15, 2023-drop, 802kg son of Rennylea Shogun S34. It was bought by online bidders, DT Menzies and HM Hine, Castlebrook, Uralla.
U77 is another top performer with a data set to please any breeding situation. It had five EBVs in the top 10pc of the breed. These included Angus breed selection indexes of $A $259 and $A-L of $441.
It also had strong figures within the top 25pc of the breed of +109 for 400-day and +138 for 600-day growth, +3.3 for scrotal size (SS), +0.41 MBC, +6.5 CEDir, +84 CWR and +2.3 rump fat.
Ellerston Pty Ltd, Ellerston, was a volume buyer at previous sales at Curracabark, and this year will be taking home four bulls, one Angus at $6000 and three Herefords to a top of $12,000, averaging $8666.
Richard and Archie Bell, Belford Pastoral Company, Scone, bought two bulls for $12,000 and $10,000, while Bell Private Equity, Sydney, bought three bulls to a top of $14,000, averaging $12,000.
Nick West, Weegoona, Nowendoc, was another volume buyer. He bought all 24 of the spring 2023-drop, unjoined Angus heifers. He also paid $8000 for a son of Curracabark Stronghold S49.
Five spring 2022 pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers made $3200, bought by J and M Latimore, Bulliac, via Gloucester.
The selling Agents were Nutrien Ag Solutions, Scone and Paul Dooley was the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
