Weight and depth drive bull to top price for first-time buyers at Kidman Angus
At the Kidman Angus bull sale, long-time Moree cattle breeders Alan and Coralie Gillogly made their first purchase count, paying the top price at the stud's Dulcidene complex, Dubbo, on Friday, August 21.
Kidman Angus sold 46 of 48 bulls at the fall of the hammer to a top of $46,000 and an average of $15,348 - both up on last year. A pen of six unjoined heifers also sold at $12,000.
The $46,000 top price was paid for Kidman Aldrin V86, a 1000-kilogram son of Kidman RM, out of Kidman Abigail T72. The bull ranked in the top 4 per cent of the breed for carcase weight, with an estimated breeding value (EBV) of +95, as well as 600-day weight, at +155.
Mr Gillogly said he liked the bull's length, depth, doing-ability and weight.
The couple also secured Kidman Unique W22 for $20,000, taking their two-bull average to $33,000.
Running 2200 Angus breeders at Moree, Mr Gillogly said he had wanted to buy at Kidman for some time.
"I've always been wanting to come here, so I decided to come," he said.
Radford Farming Pty Ltd, Albert, made the sale's second-highest average buy, paying $26,000 for Kidman Raudonikis V36 and $24,000 for Kidman Bounty V23, to average $25,000 for the pair.
Raudonikis, a Millah Murrah Trigger T308 son, ranked in the top 7pc of the breed for feed efficiency, while a maternal brother sold for $18,000 at last year's sale.
Wall and Neindorf, Cumborah, and Merri Merri, Gulargambone, were the sale's volume buyers, each securing five bulls.
Wall and Neindorf topped at $18,000 to average $14,800, while Merri Merri topped at $14,000 to average $12,400.
Stud principal Randall Carlow said the bulls had come through a tough season on conserved fodder.
"We were lucky enough to have a lot of silage and hay that kept them going, and we got a break about three months ago where we could put in some cereal crops," he said.
"I think the bulls reflect the 30 years we've been trying to breed some good quality Angus bulls. It's been a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck."
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Livestock, with Matt Campion the auctioneer and AuctionsPlus providing the online interface.
