Strong support from repeat buyers in full clearance for Choice Angus

Repeat buyers were strong during the Choice Angus annual online yearling bull sale held on August 29.

The Pallal stud sold all 53 bulls on offer to a top of $17,000 and for an average of $10,943.

The top-priced bull was Choice V233, which sold for $17,000 to Scott Smith, Combalonga, Tooraweenah.

By Knowla Quantum Q41 and from Choice P37, the 15-month-old bull weighed 648 kilograms and had fat measurements of 10 millimetres on the rib and 13mm on the rump, along with an eye muscle area of 102 square centimetres and intramuscular fat of 6.5 per cent.

He ranked in the top 15pc for 200-day growth with a figure of +61.

Mr Smith said the bull was deep-bodied and thick-set.

"He had good numbers to suit," he said.

Mr Smith also purchased a second bull, Choice V226, for $10,000.

A long-term repeat buyer, he said it was the Choice bulls' longevity which kept him going back.

Tim Brazier, Choice Angus, said the top-priced bull was long-bodied with clean shoulders and a very soft, clean skin.

"He was structurally very sound - good feet and good legs," he said.

Two bulls reached the second top price of $14,000, including Choice V181, which sold to the Turner family, Cowra.

The 15-month-old bull, 642kg, measured 9mm on the rib and rump, along with an EMA of 101sq cm and an IMF of 6.7pc.

By Sterling Pacific 904 and from Choice S36, he had high growth figures, ranking in the top 1pc for 200-day, top 4pc for 400-day and top 6pc for 600-day growth with figures of +72, +119 and +150, respectively.

The bull also ranked in the top 8pc for mature cow weight (MCW) with a figure of +140 and top 12pc for carcase weight (CWT) with a figure of +85.

"He was a very thick muscled bull with a lot of shape, a lot of depth and very structurally sound," Mr Brazier said.

The other bull to sell for $14,000 was Choice V257 which was purchased by Andrew Austin, Wambianna, Trangie.

By Knowla So Right S48 and from Choice S7, the 15-month-old bull, 640kg, measured 10mm and 12mm on the rib and rump respectively and had an EMA of 104sq cm and an IMF of 7.5pc.

He ranked in the top 10pc for calving ease daughters with a figure of +7.6 and the top 20pc for 200-day growth with a figure of +59.

Mr Brazier said he was very thick, deep-bodied bull that displayed a lot of muscle pattern and a lot of depth.

"He was structurally very sound," he said.

"A good-skinned, beautiful fronted bull."

A volume buyer was Duncan Taylor, Bobingah Farms, Cooma, who purchased six bulls for an average of $10,833.

Manager Chris Cross said six bulls was their aim going into the sale.

"We chase a high 400-day weight, positive fats and as low of a mature cow weight as we can get," he said.

"As well as calving ease. All the carcase traits are already coming through so we don't have to chase those as much."

Mr Cross said they run 920 spring calvers, Angus and black baldies, and another 150 autumn calvers but were tailing out of those, with the progeny targeting the feeder steer market.

He said they had been buying bulls from Choice since the N bulls, but exclusively from them for the last couple of years.

"Their performance - they're working for us and they seem to be very good value for the genetics we get," he said.

The top-priced bull purchased by Bobingah was Choice V236 for $13,000, but Mr Cross said they were very happy with all the bulls they took home.

The 15-month-old bull, by Millah Murrah Nectar N334 and from Choice R5, was 620kg, measured 10mm and 12mm on the rib and rump respectively, and had an EMA of 99sq cm and an IMF of 6pc.

"We needed our numbers and it was quite a hot sale," he said.

Other volume buyers included Bruce Marriott, Dilga Station, Cumnock, who took home five bulls for an average of $9609.

Andrew Austin, Trangie, purchased four bulls to average of $12,250 and the Turner family, Cowra, took home four bulls to average $12,000.

Kaliam and Jessica Mackander, Narranvale Homestead, Coolah, purchased four bulls for an average of $9750.

In their ninth annual sale, Mr Brazier said the line of bulls, featuring sons of Knowla So Right S48, Knowla Quantum Q41, Sterling Pacific 904 and Millah Murrah Nectar N334, was the most even the stud had offered.

"That really showed across the board with the average," he said.

Mr Brazier said it was a really strong sale with long-term repeat clients buying the bulk of the draft. The sale was settled by Elders and conducted via AuctionsPlus.