Equal top achieved for Angus, Hereford as milestone reached at Curracabark

For the third year running, the Curracabark Angus and Hereford bull sale achieved a 100 per cent clearance for its principals, brothers James and Sandy Higgins.

The 46 Angus offered sold to a top price of $28,000 and averaged $15,652, while 14 Hereford bulls also sold to $28,000, averaging $16,857.

The top-price Angus, Curracabark Variant V70, was sired by Baldridge 38 Special from Curracabark Jedda 22, and bought by Smith Bros, Callaghans Creek, on behalf of J and E Spence's Tigrah, Bretti.

The bull was a 23-month-old at 846 kilograms, with estimated breeding value (EBV) traits that featured an Angus Breeding Low Feeding Index ($A-L) within the top two per cent at $467, and an Angus Index ($A) within the top 1pc at $298.

Other figures included +61 for 200 days, +107 for 400 days and +143 for 600 days growth, all within the breed's top 20pc.

His carcase weight figure was within the top 4pc at +95, with milk figures at +23, also within the breed's top 20pc.

Erica Smith, who carried out the bidding for John and Elizabeth Spence, said the bull was a standout.

"We've taken a liking to the Baldridge 38 Specials, and on the day this bull was a standout for my husband," Ms Smith said.

"His figures were excellent for the 200-day and 400-day weights, which looked good overall for getting a bit of growth on them in time for weaner sales."

Ms Smith said Variant V70 was the fourth bull Smith Bros had bought for John and Elizabeth Spence, whose Tigrah operation is run in absentia.

"We manage that property as the owners live in America," she said.

"Since they purchased the place a few years ago, we've pretty much bought all their bulls, so it's been a very trusting arrangement but they are very easy-going and they will really like this bull."

Smith Bros bought two additional bulls for their own Hillcrest property - Curracabark Veteran V128 for $18,000 and Curracabark Weston W304 for $16,000.

"We had a lot marked on the book and, for us, it comes down to a bit of variety," Ms Smith said.

"We look for size, depth and a bit of length on the bull, and Veteran V128 had really good growth for the 400 and 600 days and good muscle. We were very happy with that."

Chrissie Rasmussen, Brangus Park, Nevertire, and a very familiar face at Curracabark, proved both the top Hereford buyer and volume buyer.

A moment's silence occurred before the sale in tribute to her father, the late Peter Swatridge, who died earlier this year and whose absence ringside was acknowledged.

Brangus Park bought four bulls, two Angus and two Hereford, for an average $21,000.

The top-price Hereford, Curracabark Villawood V662, was by Curracabark Riversider 240 from Curracabark Empress S396.

The bull had a 400-day weight of +75 and a 600-day weight of +109, both in the top 10pc, as was the carcase weight at +77 and retail beef yield of +2.2.

Their lots also included Angus Curracabark Vernon V88 at $26,000.

"I bought the bulls that I came for and that's a rule Dad always stood by," Ms Rasmussen said.

"When you buy the bull you want, you don't feel any anxiety about what you paid.

"I already have a run of heifer bulls so I was looking for some more growth to come through with the bulls I'm buying this year. With the Herefords, they're harder to find and the ones I know and trust, they come from Curracabark."

Ms Rasmussen said Villawood V662, the top-priced Hereford, was an outstanding type.

She said his size, coupled with his birthweight and calving ease, were what she was chasing.

"They're all the traits that I try to stick to, and to be able to pile your growth in the way he does, I'm really excited about what a heifer's calf will look like," she said.

During the Hereford auction, buyer Ellerston Pastoral hit a milestone buying Curracabark Vesuvius V622 for $12,000.

It was Ellerston's 100th bull bought from Curracabark across 18 years.

"The longevity of the bulls here gives them a pretty good reputation," Ellerston Station's cattle manager Darren Shorten said.

He said Ellerston's bulls needed to work, and the Curracabark stock met that requirement year after year.

"We keep coming back because these guys (the Higgins family) have been good to us," Mr Shorten said.

"The bull we bought had a lot of meat in the back and he walked around nice. When we get him home, he'll be able to get up and around the hills, do the work. That's what we look for."

Co-principal James Higgins said it was humbling to see the support that showed up to Curracabark on Monday.

He said he and his family spent a lot of time breeding cattle with a background network, and the repeat business meant it was working.

He said the point of note from the sale was the averages across both Angus and Hereford sat almost equal, despite Angus numbers being much higher.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien with Paul Dooley the guest auctioneer and AuctionsPlus providing the online interface.