Angus and Brangus on equal terms at Kempsey's annual bull and female sale

Local producers snapped up the top-priced lots at the annual Angus and Brangus bull and female sale at Kempsey saleyards on July 11.

In total, 29 Angus and five Brangus bulls were on offer, and two Angus and six Brangus heifers were for sale, as well as six commercial cows and calves and some promising pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifers.

All females - stud and commercial - were sold, and 28 of the 34 bulls were cleared.

The bulls averaged $6596, selling twice to a top of $10,000, the females topped at $5500, averaging $5200, and PTIC heifers topped at $3500.

Sale vendors were Kogo Angus, Henshaw Angus, Kingaroy Pastoral, Four O Eight Angus, Promised Land Angus, 3Pines Angus, Maxwellton Angus, Bonny Brooke, Oakland Park Angus, Rivergum Angus, Inavale Brangus and Phoenix Park Brangus.

Lot 13, Four O Eight Umpire U37 PV, a rising three-year-old Angus, sold to Marie Brett, of the lower Macleay Valley, for $10,000.

He was sired by KB Angus Sid S5PV, out of Four O Eight Lady Durham Q60PV.

The catalogue described him as a "mid-maturing, true mass-of-meat and muscle expression bull. U37 exhibits an impressive maturing pattern and offers real substance and performance combined with structural assurance and overall balance. (He) moves freely and tracks true, standing square on a strong, correct foundation. Long-bodied, carrying a strong sires' head, tight sheath, clean skin and excellent overall presence expressing real sire-appeal."

He was drenched, with 7 in 1, Vibrio, Multimin, Pesti-Virus Neg, DNA Tested, Reproductive Evaluation, Semen and Morphology Tested.

He has estimated breeding value of +60 for 200-day, +108 for 400- and +142 for 600-day growth, and an eye muscle area of 10.8.

Vendor Megan Hughes, Four O Eight Angus, Macksville, said: "As a family run farm, we are incredibly proud of the results from the bull sale.

"Receiving a top-priced bull for another year attending the sale gives us confidence for our future breeding. We are very humbled by the support of our repeat buyers and by new buyers instilling their trust in our program.

"After a trying year with the 2025 floods, the bulls presented themselves well and our confidence in their docility was evident, which is always a key element in our breeding program. It's a great feeling to breed local and sell local and we really hope the bulls perform well for the breeding seasons ahead."

Repeat Inavale buyer Ray Sellings, Macksville, also paid $10,000, for lot 30, the top-priced Inavale 1412 Brangus bull sired by Inavale 1155 out of Inavale 1140.

The catalogue described the bull as "bred in coastal ticky country. DNA-tested, non-pestivirus PI, verified to sire, homozygous polled, homoxygous black, vaccinated 7 in 1, vibrio, 3 day sickness, 3 germ blood".

Mr Sellings also bought lots 37, 38 and 39, three Inavale heifers for between $3000 and $3500 each.

The Dunlop Family Partnership at Gloucester bought three Angus bulls, and lower Macleay producer Cliff Knauer bought three Angus bulls, according to sale agent Ian McGoldrick, from Kempsey Stock and Land.

"It was a good sale. Everyone was quite happy," he said.

The agency's director Ian Argue said ahead of the sale: "This year's offering is the culmination of a program built on maternal focus, detailed structural assessment, and the commercial realities of the Australian beef industry.

"We were proud to present a line of bulls designed for longevity, structural soundness and market suitability.

"Whether you are targeting feedlot specifications or retaining replacements, we are confident this draft provides herd improving options to enhance both productivity and profitability."

The sale was facilitated by Kempsey Stock and Land agents.