Commercial buyers reap rewards with growth, carcase traits at Karoo Angus
Commercial producers who braved the rain to seek growth and carcase traits were rewarded at the annual Karoo Angus on-property sale at Meadow Flat on August 21.
The sale reached a $34,000 top with 78 of 79 bulls averaging $9461.
The top-priced bull was a Baldridge SR Goalkeeper son, Karoo Goalkeeper U107, and sold to long-term return clients and father and son duo, John and Rohan McKay, Cowra.
The July-2023 drop weighed 904 kilograms with an average daily gain of 1.16kg.
He ranked in the top 20 per cent or better for 11 traits, including 200-, 400- and 600-day growths in the top 19, 10, and 8pc, respectively, carcase weight in the top 6pc and eye muscle area, top 7pc.
Rohan McKay said they favoured the bull's growth and carcase figures, along with his low birthweight of +2.5.
The family runs a 1700-hectare mixed farming enterprise, with about 485ha dedicated to the self-replacing Angus herd to produce feeder steers, he said.
The McKays also purchased Karoo 38 Special V60, by Baldridge 38 Special and from Karoo Wilcoola T12, for $14,000.
The March-2024 drop was in the top 3pc, 6pc, and 4pc for 200-, 400- and 600-day growth, along with the top 1pc and 2pc for its $indexes.
Mr McKay said the top-priced bull was slightly more expensive than they planned, but the second bull was good value.
Underbidder on the top-priced bull was another long-term buyer, Mark Evans, Walgett.
Mr Evans selected a draft of six to average $13,000. He paid an equal top of $16,000 for Karoo R646 Intensity U276, by Landfall Lorenzo R646, and Karoo Q11 Quarterback U112, by Murdeduke Quarterback Q011.
The Evans run about 700 breeders at their Tambar Springs property, with their Walgett block used for fattening when the season is right.
"We always chase high-growth rate bulls, and obviously with milk and scrotal and all those features," he said.
"Most of our steers go to the feedlot industry.
"I think we've bought out of just about every Karoo sale since it started."
He praised the stud for its lineup of bulls.
Evans Luelf Pastoral, Tambar Springs, secured the second top-priced bull in Karoo Q11 Quarterback U128, another Quarterback son, for $28,000.
The bull ranked in the top 3pc, 2pc and 1pc for growth, to 1pc for mature cow weight, and top 3pc for carcase weight.
The Williams family at Alectown paid $16,000 for Karoo 38 Special V17, by Baldridge 38 Special.
The March-2023 drop, 806kg, also had growth traits in the top 1pc and 2pc and carcase weight in the top 3pc.
Forbes Livestock Agency, bidding online, selected four bulls, all for $8000, while Crosshills Global, Blayney, averaged $7750 for a draft of four, paying to a $10,000 top for another Quarterback son, Karoo Q11 Quarterback U104.
J and R Demanuele, Camden, bought four bulls averaging $12000. The operation's top pick was the $16,000 Karoo P191 Intensity U179, by Booroomooka Puissance P191.
The bull was in the top 6pc for gestation length and the top 12pc for birthweight.
Karoo also offered 100 European-Union accredited commercial females. The August and September 2023 drops were sold in four lots of 25 head.
The first two pens sold for $2350 and $2250 to Calvary Pastoral Company, while the remaining two pens sold for $2100 and $2000 to an online bidder from Victoria.
Annie Scott, Karoo Angus, said the sale offered good value across a very even line of bulls, with the heifers selling particularly well.
She noted it was pleasing to welcome so many return clients who were being rewarded across a range of markets by using Karoo bloodlines.
The sale marked the first without renowned cattleman John Reen, with a period of silence observed before the auction began.
Elders Emms Mooney conducted the sale with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, the guest auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
