Killain Angus genetics inspire fierce bidding from five states, strong clearance

Buyers from five states bid up strongly to secure access to world-class Angus genetics at the Duddy family's Killain Angus female and genetics sale on the evening of Thursday, March 12.

The catalogue featured genetic material from some of the leading bloodlines in the United States and represented sires like Baldridge Badger, SAV Courage 3003, SAV Rise N Shine 2709, and SAV America 8018.

Nine of 10 heifers were sold under auction conditions with a top price of $26,000, averaging $15,333, while four of four pregnancy-tested in-calf recipients sold to $15,000, averaging $11,500. Killain also sold all 49 embryos, which topped at $2800, averaging $1744 and all 22 semen lots sold to $1350, averaging $304.

Killain also sold all 147 commercial Angus heifers, from its King Island herd, which were PTIC to yearling Killain bulls, topping at $2350, averaging $2175.

The 10 or so registered buyers bid online and from the Tamworth property, with New Turee Pty Ltd, Cassilis, buying the top-priced female, Killain Emblynette 104 V51 - a late August 2024-drop daughter of Baldridge Badger out of Killain Emblynette 31 Q14, sired by SAV Sensation 5615.

V51 is PTIC to Killain America 8018 and its pedigree is littered with the genes of great Angus breed icons, including Baldridge Isobel Y69 and SAV Blackcap 4136.

Her dataset from the Trans-Tasman Angus Cattle Evaluation (TACE), recorded in mid-January 2025, revealed an estimated breeding value (EBV) for birthweight of +2.7, within the top 30pc of the breed, while the gestation length (GL) at -9.4 is in the top 5pc.

Growth EBVs of +61 for 200-day weight, +107 for 400-day, and +136 for 600-day, put it in the top 15pc to 20pc sector.

New Turee also bought Killain Emblynette 110 V76 for $22,000, again involving Baldridge Badger's genes as the sire with Killain Emblynette 4 R12 as the dam. V76 is PTIC to SAV Courage 3003, and is described as a female with enormous breeding potential.

New Turee also paid $8000 for Killain Emblynette 94 V27, sired by Killain America T48, out of a SAV Scale House 0845 daughter, Killain Emblynette 75 T79. It is PTIC to Killain Prolific U62.

New Turee was also an investor in the embryo section of the catalogue buying three from the joining of SAV Anthem 0042 and Killain Emblynette 2 K12at $2800 each and six embryos from the joining of SAV Rise N Shine 2709 and Killain Blackcap May N6 at $1800 each.

New Turee also bought two packages of semen straws from SAV Courage 3003, paying $275 each for five and $325 for five.

New Turee's manager, Trevor Nash, created headlines in 2025 at the Millah Murrah annual sale, buying the top-priced bull at $200,000 for the Stradbroke Angus stud.

Manimi Farming, Quinalow, Queensland, also paid the equal second top price of $22,000 for Killain Emblynette 111 V78, which is PTIC to SAV Courage 3003. Sired by SAV Bloodline 9578, she was out of SAV 707 Rito 9969 daughter, Killain Emblynette 2 K12.

Manimi also paid $12,000 for a Baldridge Badger daughter, out of a SAV America 8018 daughter and $10,000 for a granddaughter of SAV Scale House T91 out of an SAV America 8018 daughter, Killain Emblynette 68 T50.

Another feature of the Killain sale was the offering of 147 commercial females from the Duddy family's high-rainfall property on King Island.

Damian Lucak, Ellem Country Pastoral Company, Denman, and his manager, Terry Lambert, bought three pens of 10 females, all PTIC to Killain yearling bulls. They paid $2300 each for 10, then $2100 and $2075.

Mr Lucak said, despite the extensive dry in the Upper Hunter, he and Mr Lambert saw the opportunity to select some quality genetics to boost their herd of about 220, which are used to breed feeder steers and heifers to sell into the PTIC market.

He said in recent years they had been using 3R and Scotts' Angus bulls in the herd, but keenly anticipated the genetic potential offered by the new heifers.

Mr Lambert said EC Pastoral had about 400 hectares of dry pasture country and about 320ha of irrigated country, which potentially would be a great asset during the dry.

Jack White, Alcatraz, Texas, Queensland, bought five pens of 10 commercial heifers at the sale. Mr White is also in the grip of drought, while other parts of the sunshine state are experiencing huge floods.

He was also using the opportunity of quality genetics to rebuild his commercial herd, and selling his older cows to make room. He bought a pen of 10 for $2300 each, then 10 at $2250, 20 at $2200 and 10 at $2100.

"I could be making a great mistake but these are quality PTIC heifers, with a lot going for them," he said.

"I was planning to come to the Killain bull sale, but had another commitment, but this sale is a great chance to replace some of my older cows."

The top-priced pen of commercial heifers went to Manimi Farming, Qld, which paid $2350 for 10 heifers.

The selling agents were Elders with the auctioneers Scott Cooper and Scott Simshauser. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.