Hobbs high-performance genetics secure top dollar from repeat buyer
After buying females in bulk last year, this buyer returned for a third year to claim the top price at the Hobbs Livestock sale, Molong, on Wednesday, August 13.
The sale offered up 28 Angus bulls, with 21 sold during bidding to a top price of $32,000 and averaged $11,619. Seven of 12 Black Simmental bulls reached $18,000, to average $8000.
Hobbs Livestock Winning Gold H66 W9 was the gold standard, sold at $32,000 to returning buyers Strugln Enterprises, Tennant Creek, NT.
Katherine Campbell, Narromine, again carried out bidding on behalf of the buyer, which had property at Narromine and Canowindra, as well as in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Last year, Strugln Enterprises picked up four bulls and nine females, and Ms Campbell said the success of their previous lots had them return again.
"We love the look of [Winning Gold]," she said.
The estimated breeding values (EBV) also appealed, including the 200-day growth of +66, 400-day of +81 and the 600-day of +157, which were all in the top 5 per cent for the breed.
A docility score in the top 15pc of +32, carcase weight of +97 (top 3pc) and rib fat of +2.9 (top 6pc) also drew the eyes of bidders.
The bull maintained high indices with a Angus Breeding Index of $288, top 2pc, and an Angus Breeding Low Feed Cost Index of $476, in the top 1pc.
The 680-kilogram, 16-month-old bull had an 11 millimetre rump and 8mm rib fat, a 105 square centimetres eye muscle area and a 7.8 pc intramuscular fat.
Winning Gold was by new sire Prime Pure Gold T29, which had sold for $86,000 to Sprys Angus in 2023.
His dam, Hobbs Livestock Lawsoinia P140 T6 could be traced back to Yamba Lawsoinia P140, a "really good cow" in the Hobbs operation. She was the dam of last year's stud record-setting $40,000, top priced bull.
Hobbs Livestock principal Stuart Hobbs said it was pleasing to see the good maternal genetics coming through.
"It's great to see her daughter coming through and doing what she's doing - it shows consistency," he said.
Strugln Enterprises also bought another bull, Hobbs Livestock Western Legend P140 W32, a yearling, also out of Yamba Lawsoinia P140, sired by Deep Creek Legitimate 203, at $16,000.
The bull ranked in the top 12pc for 400-day weight at +110, with a docility of +29 and a days-to calving of -9.0 and milk figure of +29, both in the top 2pc.
The Angus Breeding Index of $277 and Angus Breeding Low Feed Cost Index of $450, were both in the top 5pc.
Another standout lot was Hobbs Livestock So Right U48 W29, which sold to Kirala Angus, Lewinsbrook, for $28,000.
The 644kg, yearling had a rump of 14mm, rib of 9mm, 170sqcm EMA and 7.4pc IMF.
He was by Knowla So Right S48, which sold for $190,000 to Sprys Angus in 2022, out of Merit Farm Bara L293 U48.
Among his EBVs were a 200-day growth of +63 and 600-day of +141 and docility of +33, all in the top 15pc, as well as a carcase weight of +89, in the top 10pc.
The $18,000 top price Black Simmental was Hobbs Livestock Riddler W9, a 762kg, 16-month-old with 10mm rump fat, 9mm rib fat, 124sqcm EMA and 6.1pc IMF, bought by the Holdens at Braidwood.
From sire LFE The Riddler 323B and dam Woonallee Charo S608, the bull's estimated progeny differences included a 95.1 weaning weight, in the top 10pc for the breed, and yearling weight of 141.2, in the top 15pc.
Buying in bulk was Mt David Agriculture, Mt David, which selected six Angus bulls to a $14,000 top, averaging $11,733.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien with Luke Scicluna the auctioneer and AuctionsPlus providing the online interface.
