Maternal bloodlines lead to standout, record result at Hobbs Livestock
Strong maternal genetics have underpinned the success at the Hobbs Livestock sale, with the stud achieving a record result.
At the Molong sale, on Wednesday, August 13, prices reached a stud record result of $40,000 for an Angus bull.
All up, 15 of 23 Angus bulls sold to the $40,000 top and an average $11,600, while 13 of 16 Black Simmental bulls averaged $9077 with a top of $16,000. This was an increase on the 2024 results.
The sale also had nine of 10 Angus yearling heifers sell to $6000, for an average $5000, and four of five Black Simmental yearling heifers reach $10,000, averaging $6750.
The $40,000 top price bull was Hobbs Livestock True North P140 V2, a 17-month-old, 770-kilogram, March 2024-drop, sired by Square B True North 8052, out of Yamba Lawsoinia P140.
He had a 40-centimetre scrotal circumference, a 16-millimetre P8 fat, 13mm rib fat, 7.7-intramuscular fat and 117cm square eye muscle area.
Among his estimated breeding values were a carcaseweight in the top 5pc at +93, and an EMA and 400-day weight in the top 11pc at +10.8 and +110 respectively.
After plenty of bidding action from commercial and stud buyers, he was claimed by first-time buyers Brad Fazzari and Kristen Poulsen, Blackwater Angus, Trangie, who first saw the bull through the AuctionsPlus catalogue.
Mr Fazzari said their new acquisition was a great representation of the True North sire.
"He's an easy-doing bull, with a good frame," he said.
"He's what we really want to breed in our herd."
Blackwater Angus runs about 40 breeding females, alongside a commercial herd, with Mr Fazzari saying they have been heavily investing in females recently.
He said their new bull would be joined with some select cows to start with, as well as taking part in an AI program, and even go out with their commercial herd.
"We want to get that red meat and power into our calves," he said.
The second top price bull was Hobbs Livestock Stunner P140 V43, which sold for $20,000 via AuctionsPlus to AWN Squires, Inverell.
Stunner is a half brother to the top price True North, sharing the same dam - Yamba Lawsoinia P140 - and sired by Musgrave 316 Stunner.
He weighed 730kg, with a 41cm scrotal circumference, 17mm P8 fat, 10mm rib fat, 118cm2 EMA and 8.2IMF, and EBV figures of +107 for 400-day weight and +84 for carcaseweight.
The top price Black Simmental bull was the 745kg, April 2024-drop Hobbs Livestock Very Charged.
He was sired by RF Supercharged 915G, and out of stand-out dam Hobbs Livestock Honey Bee.
His Expected Progeny Difference figures of +92.6 for weaning weight was in the top 10pc, while yearling weight of +137.4 and carcaseweight of +43.2 were in the top 15pc.
He was bought, via AuctionsPlus, by Leitch Grazing, Springsure, Qld, alongside another Black Simmental bull at $10,000.
Another highlight of the sale was the offering of a flush of Hobbs Livestock Lawsoinia P140 U5 PV, with bidding reaching $19,000.
The August 2023-drop female is a maternal half-sister to the sales two, $20,000 and $40,000 top-price bulls, as well as a full sister to the $22,000 top price female in the 2024 sale, all out of the Yamba Lawsoinia P140 dam. She was sired by Baldridge Alternative E125.
Mr Hobbs said they had received a lot of interest in the female, as well as offers to buy U5.
"Our answer was always no," he said.
"She needs to stay here to replace her mum - you've got to keep the good ones coming through.
"Phenotype-wise, structure-wise and data-wise, she's something very hard to find."
The young cow ranked in the top 1pc for the Angus breed for the Angus Breeding Low Feed Cost Index of $487 and top 2pc for Angus Breeding Index at $279, as well as top 5pc for 200-day weight at +60 and maternal body condition of +0.52.
After strong bidding, both on-farm and online, the flush was bought by Stuart Geard, Premier Livestock, Mangoplah, via AuctionsPlus.
Among the active bidders was Strugln Enterprises Pty Ltd, which has properties in Central West NSW and near Julia Creek, Qld.
They bought for the first-time last year, returning this year to pick up four bulls to $10,000, averaging $8000, and nine females to $9000, averaging $5555 - a mix of Angus and Black Simmentals.
Catherine Campbell, who was bidding on behalf of partner Bill Darcy, said they were selecting animals on confirmation and temperament, using EBVs to fine-tune, with a particular focus on 200 and 400-day weights and docility.
She said they did not have a preference on breed, although wanted the black coat, but the Black Simmentals were bought to add some weight to the herd.
While not a stud, the decision to buy the females was from a desire to "chase better genetics" for their base herd.
The sales other volume buyer was Merricroft Pastoral Co, 'Leighwood', Glospie, which took home four Angus bulls to $12,000, averaging $9000, as well as two Angus females at $4000 each.
Mr Hobbs said he was pleased with the sale success, and to see a mix of return and new buyers.
He said the stud record was pleasing.
"We knew he was going to be up there - he's been a standout since he was a calf," he said.
He said the bull was a testament to his dam, a cow that had "done so much for our herd".
Mr Hobbs said they generally offered most of the bulls as yearlings - 19 bulls in the catalogue were 10 to 13 months old - due to the additional longevity and the ability to get the bulls out in the paddock earlier.
But he said increased client demand for older bulls had them make some changes to the program and offer a selection of 16 to 18-month-old bulls.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien with John Settree the auctioneer and the online interface provided by AuctionsPlus.
