'Outstanding' phenotype has keen buyers push Crawford Angus bull bids up

The offspring of a homegrown bull was among the top sellers at Wednesday's annual Crawford Angus autumn bull sale.

Luke and Alison Graham offered 36 registered bulls for auction at the on-property sale at Tumorrama, hitting a top of $26,000 twice, on Wednesday, April 15.

The sale grossed $412,000 and averaged $12,118 for 34 of 36 bulls.

AWN Wilks McKean's Shane Piper, Wagga Wagga, said the front of the catalogue was "pretty hot".

He said both of the top-priced bulls were "really nice, soft, balanced bulls" with the figures to back them up.

The first to hit $26,000 was 21-month-old Crawford V552, a son of Paringa Statesman S115 out of Crawford Q424, bought by Masterton Pastoral, Goulburn.

Mr Piper said he was in the top 20 per cent for growth traits, rated +145 for 600-day weight.

"His phenotype was outstanding," he said.

"He was a really nice style of bull. He's got a good balance, as he's +4.5 at birth, and he's got huge growth."

Other EBVs were eye muscle area of +10.5, rib fat depth of -0.9 and rump fat depth of -0.5.

Masterton Pastoral manager Kim Dyson said the bull would be joined to the top end of his commercial Angus cows for producing steers.

"I'm trying to get my calves away at 400 plus kilos to the feedlots," he said.

"Last year, we sold them all into the weaner market and did very well out of that. This year, the way the game is, it might be a bit tougher.

"It would be good if we could get a good run of seasons. We're just hanging on - we need rain here."

Mr Dyson had bought Crawford bulls before and would be looking for another at the spring sale.

The second bull to achieve $26,000 was 19-month-old Crawford V644, bought by Jeremiah Creek Cattle Co, which is run by Luke's brother Adam Graham.

The young bull was a son of Pathfinder Lea S523 out of Crawford Dream S403.

Mr Piper said he was eminently suited to heifers, rated +2.5 for birth weight and +23 for milk.

"He's a heifer-type bull, with a low birth weight, but with good growth, huge milk and positive fats, and again, he's a phenotype bull," he said.

Repeat buyer Sascha Mason, Julong Partnership, Tumorrama, left empty-handed after she was outbid on both of the top-priced bulls, but said she would be back for the spring sale in September.

"I have no need for a bull at this time of year," she said.

"It was just that I picked those two on the figures and went there and when I saw them ... if I got them, I would have been happy.

"Type was exceptional, and both of them were really lovely phenotype bulls, like they were just so classy."

Another bull sold for $24,000 to Jim and James Graham, Eulonga Pastoral, Coolac.

Sired by homegrown bull Crawford S18 out of BGraham M376, the 21-month-old Crawford V527 was rated +144 for 600-day weight, +4.3 for eye muscle area, -2.4 for rib fat depth, -1.7 for rump fat depth and +1.4 for intramuscular fat.

Another bull from a homegrown sire, Crawford V507, is bound for Tasmania after a client of Nutrien Stud Stock Tasmania paid $12,000 for the 21-month-old son of Crawford T158 out of Crawford Lotus T350.

Volume buyers included the Maslin family of Gunningrah, Bombala, who bought six bulls at an average price of $8000, and Braeburn Pastoral, Brungle, which bought three bulls for an average price of $12,500.

More than 60 bidders were registered.

At last year's spring sale, the stud sold all 33 bulls on offer, averaging $8909 and hitting a top price of $15,000.

All 26 bulls offered at last year's autumn sale sold, averaging $8420 and achieving a top of $13,000.

The sale was conducted by Elders Emms Mooney, Oberon, and AWN Wilks McKean, Wagga Wagga, with Joe Wilks taking bids. It was interfaced online by AuctionsPlus.