Carcase traits and US sires a winning mix for buyers at Waitara 20th sale
First-time buyers paid the top price, seeking lower birth weights and good growth, at the Waitara Angus 20th on-property sale at Trangie on Friday, August 14.
Waitara sold 36 of 43 bulls for an 84 per cent clearance with a top of $26,000 and an average of $9500.
The top price was paid for Waitara Step Up V031, a son of United State's sire Ezar Step Up 9178 PV, out of Waitara P90 Mittagong S037, by Ross and Ruth Friedrich, Rossrich Angus, Gerogery, near Albury.
It was the Friedrichs' first time buying at Waitara but followed a long association with the Chase family, including a recent trip to inspect the Waitara cow herd.
It was V031's structure and carcase traits that appealed.
"We're particularly after lower birth weight, good carcase. He's got enough growth, he's not super big growth, but he's got enough growth," Mr Friedrich said.
"Structurally, very sound with good feet, good legs."
His estimated breeding values (EBV) included a birth weight figure of +1.1 and calving ease-direct of +9.5 - both in the top 10 per cent for the breed, as well as an eye muscle area of +9.9 and 200-day and 400-day weight of +58 and +104 in the top 25pc.
V031 also carried an Angus Breeding index ($A) of $278 and an Angus Breeding Low Feed Cost Index ($A-L) index of $440 - both in the top 5pc.
Mr Friedrich said the Gerogery district had turned around after about 50mm fell the previous week, but a dry summer had already forced destocking in the region.
The second top-price of $22,000 was paid by MG, AL and SG O'Hara, Dunrovin, Tottenham, through Forbes Livestock, for Waitara Network V083.
The son of US sire Hart Network and Waitara TP Regatta S042 had EBV figures including +89 for carcase weight and +4.9 for intramuscular fat as well as $A of $266 and $A-L of $439 - all in the top 10pc for the breed.
Other strong results included $16,000 twice, for Waitara Step Up V037, to WA Brewis and SA Woodhouse, Weetaliba, through Elders Cooma, and Waitara Step Up V088, to AE and CJ Davies, Burroway.
Long-term buyers Damon and Will Horsburgh, Cajildry, Tottenham, who run about 450 cows, bought five bulls to a top of $10,000 and average of $7200.
Cajildry principal Damon Horsburgh said they had bought at Waitara for about 20 years and valued the relationship with the Chase family.
"We're always very happy with the bulls," Mr Horsburgh said.
Waitara principal Stephen Chase said he was pleased with the result given the difficult start to the season.
"Overall, very happy considering how the season began. We had a good balance of new people and repeat buyers in attendance," Mr Chase said.
Mr Chase said the 2026 sale group had been run on crop as weaners before being hand-fed from February until rain returned at the end of May.
The auction was conducted by Nutrien with Tim Woodham the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.
