Mates join forces to secure bull with 'great structure' at Kenny's Creek Angus

Two mates chasing the best bull for their Northern Tablelands operation went all-in at the Kenny's Creek Angus bull sale, combining their bids to secure top price on Wednesday, September 2.

Steve Carter, Rangari, Gunnedah, and Ben Monie, Northtor Angus, Inverell, meticulously planned their bidding strategy, but after travelling to Hillview, Boorowa, for the sale, it was one bull that stole the show for them.

"We came to look at another bull, but we fell in love with the bull we got," Mr Monie said.

"He's a really well put together bull, he walks out beautifully, has great structure and a lot of meat on him, his pedigree is top notch, there's a lot to like about him.

Kenny's Creek New Ground V185 sold for $22,000, and weighed 854 kilograms with a scrotal circumference of 42 centimetres.

By Landfall New Ground N90 and from Kenny's Creek T409, the bull was in the top 6 per cent of the breed with an estimated breeding value (EBV) of +0.9, and an eye muscle area in the top 17pc at +10.2.

Mr Monie and Mr Carter both praised the structure and mobility of the bull, giving them confidence he could get to work on their herds further north.

"Usually we'll share half one year and the other year, we have a few other bulls we've shared," Mr Carter said.

"We'll work around to get a bit of the better end of the bulls all the time too ... I don't think we're the first to think of it, but it works really well," Mr Monie said.

"He'll go over stud cows, probably second-calf cows, but he could also go over heifers, he has a wide range of applications because he's quite low birthweight and has plenty of scope for growth."

At the fall of the hammer, 80 of 85 bulls sold, and averaged $10,975.

Second-top-priced bull, Kenny's Creek Recharge V25, sold to South Australian buyers Roseleigh Angus, Pinnaroo, for $20,000.

A Dunoon Recharge R102 son by Kenny's Creek Saturn P510, the 1005kg bull recorded EBVs in the top 13pc of the breed for gestation length at -7.5, followed by growth rates in the top percentiles for 400-day and 600-day growth at +109 and +145, respectively.

Fellow SA buyers Heath and Amanda Nicholls, Bull Oak Well, Pinnaroo, purchased Kenny's Creek Recharge V187 for $18,000.

Volume buyers Laurie and Cochrane, Ballalaba, secured six bulls, which averaged $13,500, while Churchill Pastoral Co, Wyangle, bought five bulls for an average $11,800.

Repeat buyer Brad Meuleman, Yarrawa Native Forest, Robertson, purchased Kenny's Creek Prime Minister V94 and Kenny's Creek V233 for $16,000 and $12,000.

Fellow repeat buyers, Amy and Andrew Kelly, Lugano Pastoral, also secured Kenny's Creek Prime Minister V176 for $8000.

Stud co-principal Sam Burton Taylor said the bulls were buoyed by an extremely favourable season, with grass on the ground right through a mild winter showcasing their commercial capability.

"People have seen those numbers, that moderate birthweight, growth and carcase, and want to see the bulls behind it," he said.

"There was a good, tight, price range, which is what we want in our sale, and all the people that came for a bull today got one."

With mild seasonal conditions, Mr Burton Taylor said he remained confident in the herd's ability to deliver commercial outcomes no matter what may lie ahead.

"We're happy to have moderate cattle we can carry through if we need to, that's the biggest thing," he said.

"The genetics really put us in a good position for that."

Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon and Co., Forbes, conducted the sale with auctioneer Luke Whitty. The sale was interfaced online with AuctionsPlus.