Goalkeeper scores another sale topper, this time at Sugarloaf Angus sale

US semen sire, Baldridge SR Goalkeeper, has scored another sale-topping son, this time at the Tickle family's Sugarloaf Angus sale at Dungog on Saturday, July 25.

It was the third time in less than two weeks that Goalkeeper's progeny had made sale tops: Bridgewater Angus' $30,000, 772-kilogram, August 2023 drop, Bridgewater Goalkeeper U100 and the $26,000 equal top at Curracabark sale, the 838-kilogram, October 2023 drop, Curracabark Upsurge U118.

Sugarloaf principal Jim Tickle said he was pleased with the result, considering the difficult conditions during one of the wettest autumns and early winters in decades.

This year, Sugarloaf's clearance improved on the 2024 result, with 37 of 40 two-year-old bulls selling to $22,000, averaging $10,212, while eight of eight yearling bulls sold to $14,000, averaging $10,000. Four of five black Simmental bulls sold to $10,000 and averaged $7000.

Guest vendors, Justin and Jane Sanderson, Alpine Charolais, Dubbo, sold all five bulls to $10,000, averaging $7000.

In the female section, four of four stud heifers sold to $10,000, averaging $7000. Eight of eight pregnancy-tested-in-calf, three-year-old heifers sold to $2900, averaging $2775.

In the cow and calf section, 11/11sold to $4500 twice, averaging $3854, while 19/19 yearling heifers sold to $4200, averaging $2789.

Grant Ford, Ford Cattle Company, Tea Gardens, is a repeat buyer at Sugarloaf and bought the top-priced bull, Sugarloaf Goalkeeper U108, which was out of a Matarui Reality female.

The family operation runs 3600 breeders, mostly based around Sugarloaf bloodlines, after about two decades of repeat buying.

Weighing 930 kilograms, with a 43.5 scrotal circumference, U108, an August 2023 calf, had impressive data with a long and easy-moving frame.

Its estimated breeding values included +3.5 birthweight, milk at +21, mature cow weight (MCW) of +180, eye muscle area (EMA) of +9.9, intramuscular fat (IMF) +1.7, and its growth figures were +60 for 200-day, +116 for 400-day and +151 for 600-day.

Mr Ford bought seven bulls, averaging $13,428. One of them was the $14,000 top-priced yearling, Sugarloaf Powerplay V9, a 788kg, March 23, 2024, drop calf sired by Texas Powerplay, out of a Matauri Reality 839 female. It had an EMA of +6.1, an IMF of +1.9 and a BW of +1.4.

"I was looking for good sound cattle, plenty of meat, good conformation, for my cow herd that is based on Sugarloaf bulls," Mr Ford said.

Mr Tickle said his sale was also the first of the sons of Poss Tenderloin to hit the Australian market.

Under the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation, Tenderloin's data is strong, with an Angus breeding index ($A) of $243 and an Angus breeding low feed cost index ($A-L) of $414. These are, respectively, the top 15 per cent and the top five pc in the TACE reference tables.

Rugland Pty Ltd, through Bowe and Lidbury, paid $20,000, the second top price of the sale, for Sugarloaf Tenderloin U95, a 905kg, August-2023 drop.

U95 had a BW of +1.3, milk +27, MCW +131 and an EMA of +8.0. Its 200-day growth was +57, 400-day +105 and 600-day +151.

Sugarloaf Tenderloin U209 sold for $12,000, going to Sansom Pastoral, Salt Ash, while Cenrim Ag, Raymond Terrace, bought Tenderloin U110, also for $12,000.

Another volume buyer was Gary Johnson, Moonan Flat, with five bulls to a top price of $8000 and two more at $7000 and $6000. The three $8000 bulls were all sired by Goalkeeper.

In the female catalogue, Melbury Park, Sugarloaf, paid $10,000 for a daughter of the US sire EG Eyes Onyou, out of a Hoover Dam female. It had a BW of +5.3, milk +17, MCW +117 and EMA of +10.5. Its growth EBVs were +56 for 200-day, 400-day +102 and 600-day +137.

Melbury Park also paid $6000 for Sugarloaf Henrietta, another Eyes Onyou daughter.

Ben Muddry, Clarence Town, bought three PTIC heifers for $2700 and another three for $2900.

Springhill Grazing, Wyndella, bought three cows with calves for $4500, as did Peter Cossato, The Hill. Mr Cossato also bought eight yearling heifers for $2200.

Darren MacBeth, Quorrobolong, paid the top price of $4200 for five unjoined heifers and bought another six for $2400.

The selling agents were Bowe and Lidbury, and Dillon and Sons. Paul Dooley was the auctioneer, and Auctions Plus provided the online interface.