The Rock Angus marks 10 years with top price bull selling to prominent NSW stud
The Rock Angus marked its 10 year anniversary bull sale on Wednesday, September 2, with an offering that combined physical functionality with performance data generating high demand.
Buyers showed strong interest in James and Karen Masson's largest bull offering and its first run of females at the sale at The Rock.
Of the 40 bulls offered, 34 sold under the hammer to a top of $20,000 to average $7647 while 11 of 19 females sold to a top of $16,000 to average $7272.
Overall, the stud sold 45 of 59 lots to average $7555.
The top price bull was The Rock Teleporter W70, purchased by James and Sandy Higgins, Curracabark Angus, Gloucester, NSW.
Nutrien Studstock agent Tim Woodham purhcased the bull on their behalf and said he caught the Higgins' eyes for his physical attributes and performance data.
"He was a bull that intrigued us because of his muscle expression and carcase ability," Mr Woodham said.
"He is a super-footed bull that will get around the hills at Gloucester, but it was really his muscle expression that stood out.
"He was a bull with moderate birth weight and super growth, with some intriguing carcase figures behind him. He will fit nicely into the mold in their operation."
By KO Teleporter T243, and out of The Rock Blackbird, the 668-kilogram bull had a spread of estimated breeding values (EBVs) all within the top 5 per cent for the breed, including 200-day, 400-day and 600-day growth of +77, +128 and +161 and carcase weight of +110.
His Angus Breeding Low Feed Cost Index ($A-L) of $523 also sat in the top 5pc with the Angus Breeding Index ($A) of $333 also sitting in the top 5pc.
The top price female of the day was the first lot of the day, The Rock Blackbird W207, and was purchased by the Hill family of Tolivar Angus, Tasmania.
Also representing the stud with their purchase, Mr Woodham said the Hill family were particularly attracted to the heifer sired by Landfall Summit, for her combination of capacity, breeding type and data.
"She really interested them for her overall capacity and volume, and she had real rib shape and breeding capacity," Mr Woodham said.
"Not only did she work from a phenotypical point of view, but she also had an amazing data set."
Landfall Summit's popularity as a sire also interested them, he said.
"To have the birth, growth and carcase figures she has through Breedplan gives them a head start and will help them move our breeding program along nicely," Mr Woodham said.
The Rock Blackbird W207 was 13-months and ranked in the top 5pc for IMF at +6.1.
The heifer also ranked in the top 10pc for 400-day weight with a figure of +113 and 600-day weight at +148.
Local commercial buyers operated throughout the catalogue with J,V and G Yensch, Holbrook putting together a draft of four bulls and two heifers to average $8500.
Shaw Agri, Gundagai purchased five bulls for an average of $8200.
Local buyers were active across the catalogue, with several volume buyers securing multiple lots with bulls going to Jugiong, Tumbarumba, Humula and Galore.
Selling agents were Nutrien Wagga Wagga and AWN Wilks McKean with Tim Woodham and Joe Wilks as the auctioneers.
