Repeat buyers chase carcase traits at Glenwarrah, Brooskby annual bull sale

A repeat buyer has snapped up both the equal top-priced bulls, along with another five bulls to add to their 15-year tally at the Brooksby Angus sale, Bundarra, on Wednesday, July 22.

In the two-year-old section of the sale, the Collins family offered and sold 22 of 23 Angus bulls to $18,000, twice for an average of $12,318.

In the Glenwarrah Herefords catalogue, the top price was $16,000 with 11 of 13 bulls averaging $9200.

There were also 19 yearling Angus bulls offered, with 17 sold to $12,000, average $7230.

It was the Liddle family, Wandoan, Queensland, who continued their 15-year association with the Brooksby Angus genetics, paying the top price.

Their first top price purchase was Angus bull Brooksby Stick to Black V280, an August 2024-drop weighing 1004 kilograms, sired by Clunie Range Stick ot Black S33 from Brooksby Drucilla R062.

Its estimated breeding values (EBVs) included a +5.2 for birthweight, +19 for milk, +3.7 for eye muscle area (EMA) and +1.0 for intramuscular fat (IMF).

It also displayed positive growth data, with +58 for 200-day growth, +99 for 400-day and +130 for 600-day.

The second equal top priced bull was Brooksby Leading Edge V213, another August 2024-drop, 962kg bull, sired by Merridale Paris P24 and out of Brooksby Margaret Q10.

Its EBVs included a +5.9 for birthweight, +11 for milk, +4.6 for EMA and +0.9 IMF.

It also displayed +55 for 200-day growth, +89 for 400-day and +115 for 600-day.

Jeff Liddle said he targeted the Angus heavy feeder market with his steer portion, while he supplied Woolworths with excess grassfed heifers.

"The bulls have balanced fat and eye muscle figures with a bit of added IMF," he said.

"They meet what we're looking for in terms of carcase traits."

Liddles also bought two-year-old bulls Brooksby Right Time V300, Brooksby Stick to Black V100 and Brooksby Stick To Black V203 for $14,000, $6000 and $16,000 respectively as well as two yearling bulls for $5000 and $6000. Overall, their buys averaged $11,857.

Auctioneer Tom Piddington said the draft of two-year-old Angus bulls and yearlings was "terrific" given recent seasonal conditions.

"They're terrific carcase cattle," he said.

"We lacked some local competition due to the lack of cow numbers due to autumn conditions but despite that there was still strong demand."

In the Glenwarrah Hereford catalogue, the top price of $16,000 went to repeat buyers, the Freeman family of Ebor.

The July 2024-drop, 894kg, Glenwarrah Maximus V008 was sired by Battalion Maximus R084 and out Glenwarrah Satisfaction K11.

Among its figures was +5.7 for birthweight, +15 for milk, +5.0 for EMA and +0.8 for IMF as well as +37 for 200-day growth, +59 for 400-day and +83 for 600-day.

Jim Freeman said the bull was exactly what he looked for.

"He's the type of bull we wanted with length and frame that carried through on the top line," he said.

"He's also got very good eye pigment.

"Over the years all of the bulls we've bought have had good constitution, good temperament cattle and are easy doing cattle."

Glenwarrah and Brooksby co-principal David Collins said he was pleased with the support from local and repeat buyers.

"There were also a few new buyers amongst our repeat buyers, which was really pleasing," he said.

'They're a good line of bulls, proper carcase bulls and, as mainly commercial breeders, we strive to breed carcase bulls that will go into any herd and do the job."

Notable volume buyers on the day included the Lockyer family of Bulimba Downs, Walcha, who paid $14,000 and $10,000 for two, two-year-old Angus bulls as well as two Hereford bulls for $12,000 and $10,000.

Chandler Creek Pastoral Company for Armidale, NSW, secured a two-year-old Angus bull and three Angus yearlings to a top of $10,000 and average of $7666.

Armitage and Buckley, Armidale and Nutrien Ag Solutions, Armidale were selling agents.

The auctioneers were Tom Piddington and Harry Phillips, while AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.