Low birth weight winning trait for two top-priced buyers at 2026 Landfall Angus sale

A low-birth-weight estimated breeding value was what the top-price buyers were chasing at the Landfall Angus 2026 Queensland Bull Sale, held at the Roma Saleyards on Wednesday, July 29.

The Tasmanian stud offered 101 lots at this year's sale, all of which sold for a 100 per cent clearance, an $8752 average, and a sale gross of $884,000.

Last year's sale, which was the first time Landfall Angus had sold in Queensland since 2013, saw a 100 per cent clearance for 97 lots offered, a sale average of $9412, a sale gross of $913,000, and a top price of $34,000.

Two bulls hit the top price of $19,000 at this year's sale, Lot 3, Landfall Paratrooper V666, and Lot 74, Landfall Signature V3053.

Landfall Paratrooper V666, sired by Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15 and out of Landfall S1265, was purchased by Kristy and Col Cornford, Authoringa, Charleville.

The 23-month-old, 882kg bull caught the Cornfords' eye for his low birth weight EBV, landing in the top 34pc of the breed.

The second of the top priced bull, Landfall Signature V3053, was purchased by Peter Elmes, trading under Allied Beef, Plevna Downs, Augathella.

The 23-month-old, 796kg bull was sired by Landfall Moe T2239 and out of Landfall Joyle T5441, and was in the top 41pc of the breed for his birth weight EBV.

Based in Charleville, the Cornfords run a 1800 to 2000 head Angus herd over 52,609 hectares (130,000 acres).

"We run a breeding and backgrounding operation," Mr Cornford said.

Repeat buyers at the Landfall sale, the Cornfords said they liked the look of the stud's bulls, and their top-price purchase was a standout.

"They're just a bit different, and just a different type of beast to some of the others," Mr Cornford said.

"He was just the standout bull there today, we thought. He was very balanced and well rounded, and had good figures."

Once he heads out west, the Cornfords said they planned to use the bull in their AI program.

Like the Cornfords, Mr Elmes said his top price bull stood out to him because of his growth and figures, as did the additional two bulls he purchased at the sale.

"These fellas, they were low birth weight bulls and had good figures, and good birth weight and growth," he said. "They'll go over Angus Simmental Santa-cross heifers to breed for the heavy feeder market."

Mr Elmes runs a crossbred breeding and backgrounding operation over three properties, Plevna Downs, Akaray, and Dewarra, at Charleville and Augathella.

"I haven't purchased from Landfall for a long time - years ago when they used to have the Queensland sale," he said. "They were a good sort of good, growth bulls with good figures. Hopefully this year, the same applies."

A bulk buyer at the sale, Donohue Grazing Co purchased seven head for an average of $4857, while FR and ML Miller purchased six head for an average of $12,833.

Landfall Angus stud principal Frank Archer said he was pleased to achieve 100pc clearance the sale.

"I thought it was a solid sale. I'd say there was a discerning group of cattle breeders here; they picked through the bulls, and the bulls that had the breeding values they were chasing and the phenotype to go with it, they attracted the most attention" he said.

"Post-sale, it's always a satisfying feeling to have a sale behind us, but to have a sale behind us with the result like today's is very rewarding."

• Selling agents: MAA interfaced with AuctionsPlus.