Spirited bidding: strong local support for XL Beef Angus bulls and heifers

Quality was on display at the XL Beef Angus's successful bull and female sale on August 5 at Dungowan.

Selling to a top of $22,000, with an average of $10,730 and an 87 per cent clearance for the 39 lots, the XL Beef Angus sale attracted competitive local buyers on property and from farther afield online.

The auction was held by the Steinbeck family, involving Geoff and Cass and their sons Nathan and Alex, on their Gowanbrae property.

The sale cleared all 26 bulls, with prices ranging from $6000 to the $22,000 top price for XLBeef H/Network W19 SV, paid by Neil and Colleen Stackman, Bungara, Niangala.

Mrs Steinbeck said the Stackmans had been buyers of XL Beef Angus for quite some years.

The 740-kilogram bull was sired by USA20488998 Hart NetworkPV, out of NVN21S16 XLBeef Miss Traction S16SV.

He presented with high growth estimated breeding value figures of +67, +115 and +143 for 200-, 400- and 600-day growth, which put him in the top 4, 7 and 12 percentiles, respectively.

He also recorded +4.5 birthweight and had an eye muscle area in the top 15 per cent at +15, and had a scrotal circumference of 39cm.

"We liked his breeding and the look of the bull," Mr Stackman said.

"I always study the EBVs and do a visual appraisal on the day. You've got to also look at the bull, but his EBVs were definitely why we bought him."

The Stackmans run a few hundred head of pure Angus.

The second top-priced bull was XLBeef Craftsman W1SV, sired by USA20132505 Connealy CrafstmanPV, out of NVNM66 XLBeef Miss Ten X M66PV, which sold to MBXX Pastoral, Loomberah, for $16,000.

He presented with high growth figures of +56, +107 and +126 for 200-, 400- and 600-day growth, respectively. He also recorded +2.7 for birthweight, and weighed 724kg with a scrotal circumference of 37cm.

Seven of the 12 pregnancy-tested in-calf heifers sold to an average price of $8142.

Spirited bidding for the first female lot had a Wallarobba buyer on AuctionsPlus pipped at the post, pushing the price for Lot 27 - XLBeef Precious V75 - from $6000 to a sale top of $12,000. She was sold to Sarah Park, Herd Duddy, Glen Innes.

Weighing 648kg, she has an EBV for growth figures of +67, +116, +151 for 200-, 400- and 600-day growth, respectively. She has a carcase weight EBV in the top 2pc at +101.

She was AI'd to RC Lucchese L101 and was backed up with Ben Nevis Ventura V477, a natural calf from their star donor Jean S047. Precious's AI due date is August 25.

PTIC females also reached $9000 twice - for Lot 31, XLBeef Jazzy V77SV, and Lot 35, XLBeef Prue V94SV, which sold to Macquarie Stockfeeds at Narromine.

Volume buyers included the Ham family, Niangala, who bought a draft of six bulls, topping at $14,000 to average $11,600.

Long time supporters, Clerkness Pastoral Company, Bundara, bought five bulls.

"Both volume buyers have bought quite a number of bulls off us over the years," Geoff Steinbeck said.

"In tough pastoral times, like now, we are pretty lucky to be supported by our regular clients."

The sale was conducted by McCulloch Agencies, Tamworth, and interfaced on AuctionsPlus.