Ultra keen Queensland beef producer pays top price at Knowla Angus sale

The progeny of a new semen sire, Baldridge Versatile, has topped Knowla Livestock's annual bull sale at Gloucester on July 25, where the first 10 bulls through the sale ring averaged $33,200.

All 79 bulls sold to average $17,177, with 46 two-year-olds selling to $90,000, averaging $20,674. In the yearling bulls, three did not meet reserve in the ring but sold before the final hammer.

The 33 yearling bulls sold to $28,0000, averaging $12,303.

Knowla Livestock also sold six pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers that topped at $18,000, averaging $13,666, while 99 commercial autumn and spring drop heifers sold to $3400, averaging $2501.

The sale topper was Knowla Ultra U141, a 23-month-old, that weighed 848 kilograms, with an average daily gain of 1.14kg. It sold for $90,000 to Brad Cameron's Roma, Queensland property, Kilima.

Ultra's price eclipsed last year's result by $46,000 as bids, at one stage, bounded up in $10,000 increments.

Ultra had a great mix of length, walking ability and general structure combined with significant data figures and eye muscle area, Mr Cameron said.

The bull's estimated breeding values contained 12 traits placed within the top 20 per cent of the Angus breed.

This included growth EBVs of 200-day at +71, 400-day +117 and 600-day at +155.

Its birthweight (BW) was +6.3, and its mature cow weight (MCW) was +169. The bull had an Angus breeding index ($A) of $245 and an Angus breeding low feed cost index ($A-L) of $439. This placed it in the top 15 per cent and the top five per cent of the breed EBVs for these indexes.

Other high-ranking traits included its carcase weight (CWT) of +93 and eye muscle area (EMA) of +10.7.

Mr Cameron said his new sire would charge up his planned sire battery, which, in turn, would produce bulls for his herd of about 2600 breeders.

He said he'd begun to focus his program along Angus lines after developing a composite female herd and joining them to Ultra Blacks.

He aims to take his steers and heifers to around 480kgs liveweight, with the steers going into JBS Beef City feedlot about 40km west of Toowoomba, Qld, and the heifers to Killara feedlot near Quirindi.

Mr Cameron also bought a pen of 16 unjoined heifers at $2500 each.

The second top-priced bull was Knowla Uprising U229, bought by DW and AM Cameron, Walcha, for $54,000.

Sired by Knowla Revolution R190, out of a Farrer Maxwell M99 female, it was a two tick heifer bull (a safe heifer bull under most circumstances) with milk of +30, a 600-day growth +137 in the top 20pc of the breed, and an EMA of +11.7.

Ben Hill, Bulliac Angus, Miles, Queensland, paid the third top price of $40,000 for Knowla Understudy U121, a 836kg son of Knowla Superior S44.

It was a three tick "sleep easy at night" heifer bull, with +1.4 for BW, +13 milk, +88 CWT and +11.6 EMA. U121 had an impressive 400-day +107 and 600-day +149 and MCW of +140.

Bootoowaa Pastoral Company, Tiwonee, near Taree, paid $34,000 for Knowla Revolution R190 son and $10,000 for Knowla Victor V06, sired by Rennylea S861, while Matt and Penny O'Meara, Yamba Woota, Lostock paid $24,000 for a Knowla Rockefeller R108

A repeat buyer over a long period at Knowla, Ellerston bought four bulls to $14,000, averaging $11,000.

The top-priced stud Angus female was the $18,000 Knowla Panda U186, a daughter of Knowla So Right S48, which has sold for $190,000 to Sprys Angus and Cottage Creek Angus at the Knowla sale in 2022.

It was bought by RP and JA O'Neil, Wherrol Flat, via Wingham. Panda U186 was out of a Booragul Docklands K18 female and had a retail beef yield EBV of +0.9, which is in the top 20pc of the breed.

Simon Tregoning, Quorroblong, paid $14,000 for a yearling son of Ben Nevis Strikeforce S008, out of a Bowmont King K306 female. He also paid $12,000 for Knowla Rosebud, sired by Knowla So Right S48 out of a Booragul Docklands K18 female and $10,000 for Knowla Dandaloo U179, sired by Knowla Payout P175 out of a LD Capitalist 316 female.

James Laurie, one of Knowla Livestock's co-principals, said the cattle had experienced tough conditions during the preparation time, with wet conditions impacting pasture palatability and making the job of moving around in the mud difficult.

However, he said the bulls had "taken off' in recent weeks with the weather clearing.

Mr Laurie was enthused about the direction of the beef markets and noted earlier on Friday morning, Angus steers sold for $1820 at the Tamworth fortnightly store sale, while prices at Dubbo and Forbes were also strong.

The sale was conducted by Elders Walcha with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, as the auctioneer. Auctions Plus provided the online interface.