Knee-deep snow on Sunday, bull sale on Monday, all in a day's work at Guyra

Guyra Angus producers, Richard and Prue Post, had a challenge unlike most on the day before their bull sale; 30 to 50 centimetres of snow on the ground on Sunday, and then offering 126 bulls and selling 119 on Monday.

Glenavon Angus sold 91 two-year-old bulls for a top of $46,000, averaging $12,670 and 28 one-year-old bulls, averaging $9035. The combined total was 119 of 126 bulls, averaging $11,815. Three passed-in bulls were sold after the auction. It was a marked increase on the sale average compared with the 2024 result.

The top-priced bull, Glenavon Upward U313, weighing 894 kilograms, was sired by Glenavon Enhance Q164, from a Rennylea N479 female.

It was bought by James Harris, Foster and Sons, Abington, Uralla, who is a repeat buyer at Glenavon. Mr Harris, whose weaners and older heifers feature at Armidale weaner sales, also bought Glenavon CR Plantation U071, sired by Clunie Range Plantation P329, for $26,000.

Upward U313 exhibited good estimated breeding value (EBV) figures for 400-day and 600-day growth at +104 and +138, which are within the top 10 per cent of the breed.

Its fertility figures were boosted by a huge scrotal circumference of 50.5 centimetres, a birthweight (BW) EBV of +3.9 and eye muscle area (EMA) of +6.9.

The bull had an Angus breeding index ($A) of $268 and an Angus breeding low feed cost index ($A-L) of $452. This placed it in the top 5pc of the breed for both indexes.

The second top-priced bull was Glenavon Partriarch U126, weighing 826kg, a son of Tehama Partriarch F028 from Lawsons Momentous M518 female. It was bought by Maryburn Partnership, Maryburn, Wollomombi.

U126 is another good performer for growth EBVs. Its 200-day, +61, and 400-day, +118, placed it within the top 10pc of the breed. Its EMA EBV of +6.9 is within the top 20pc of the breed.

Glenavon Angus bull sale

Volume repeat buyers proved to be the strength of the sale.

David Grills Partnership, Carndhu, Armidale, bought seven bulls to a top of $32,000, averaging $18,285.

James Knight and Bruce Allen, The Sisters, Dornoch via Mortlake, Victoria, are repeat buyers of yearling bulls and this year bought seven to a top of $12,500, averaging $9214.

Mr Knight said the impact of the drought in western Victoria had been cruel. He is running 500 breeding cows on agistment at Grafton, which he took the opportunity to inspect while visiting the New England.

The wet and difficult season had affected his cows, and he had lost at least 10. Mr Knight said he was also facing the prospect of having to re-sow about 600 hectares of perennial pasture, which was showing no signs of life after reasonable rainfalls in recent weeks.

Boyd and Leisa Holden, Roseview, Bean Creek, were first-time visitors to Glenavon and bought four bulls averaging $6500.

Rockvale Farms, Armidale, sellers of weaners in the front row during autumn weaner sales, bought nine bulls to a top of $15,000 twice, averaging $11,888, while HM Grazing, Glen Barra, Watson Creek, bought seven bulls to a top of $11,000, averaging $8428

Queensland buyers had good orders to fill. JBR Grazing, Roma, Qld, bought nine bulls to $12,000, averaging $8900, while Geddes Ag, Telemon, Springsure, bought two bulls at $14,000 and $11,00.

Hindle Cattle Company, Dalveen, Qld, bought three bulls to a top of $26,000, averaging $21,666, while The Ridge, The Summit, bought one bull for $11,000.

Allied Beef Cattle Pty Ltd, Toowoomba, Qld, bought three bulls averaging $11,000, while Sylvester Pastoral Company, Arcadia Station, Injune, Qld, with regarded beef consultant, Kevin Graham, acting for them, bought two bulls at $13,000 and $10,000.

Glanavon co-principal, Richard Post, said the difficulties of heavy snowfalls in the 24 hours before sale day were overcome by the efforts of his staff and family.

However, he said the prospects of an outstanding spring proved the 'planets aligned' for Glenavon and other beef producers in the New England and Northern Tablelands.

Glenavon will have record numbers of calving cows in the next two years, and it plans to have a major mature female sale in the autumn of 2026.

The selling agents were Elders Guyra, with Lincoln McKinlay the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online connection.