Return customers bolster bull sale as The Glen Angus looks to a change of pace
Long-time clients showed up from across Victoria, NSW and even the nation's capital with support both financial and fraternal for The Glen Angus' 56th annual sale, and which could be one of their last.
Of the 56 bulls offered in the Helmsman auction, 51 were sold at an average of $8440 and to a top of $15,000 on Friday, September 4, an improvement on last year's average of $7113 and peak of $11,500.
The sale high was achieved by The Glen Goalkeeper W249, by Baldridge SR Goalkeeper out of The Glen Roxanne U274, which sold to Michael Blake, Winslade, Stromlo, ACT.
The 560-kilogram, July 2025-drop bull tested for estimated breeding values of eye muscle area in the top 5 per cent at +12.9 and 400-day weight in the top 8pc at +114.
Mr Blake was also responsible for last year's sale high and has been buying Murray Grey and later Angus sires from The Glen for many years.
He said he had used the elder Goalkeeper in his own AI program to "exceptional" results.
"He would fit well into the program and complement what I'm doing," he said.
"But also, he's got a double cross to what many people regard as one of the better, best cows in the breed, Balridge Isabel Y69."
The Canberra operation sells into the grass-fed market, turning off cattle at about the 600 kilogram mark by 18 to 20 months.
Mr Blake said he had cut back from 200 breeding cows to about 130 during tight conditions in February.
The Glen Goalkeeper would be used as a backup bull until he was mature enough to go over a mob by himself.
"I always like to see the mature cow weight less than the 400-day weight. That's a good algorithm," he said.
"He's got a good carcase, a fair bit of intramuscular fat, good docility and good structure, so it's a pretty balanced offering."
Owen Edge, Phoines Pastoral Company, Casterton, Vic, bought four bulls at an average of $7250 to a top of of $11,000 for The Glen Picasso W59, by Chiltern Park Picasso P9 out of The Glen Angel U62.
The priciest of the team, the February 2025-drop bull weighed in at 778kg, and measured in the top 9pc for scrotal size at +3.8 and retail beef yield percentage at +1.2.
Like many return clients at the sale, Mr Edge said his family had been sourcing sires from The Glen since before the stud made the transition from Murray Greys to Angus.
The grass-fed operation had more than 1000 breeding cows, now largely Angus-influenced, turning off fully-finished cattle to Teys.
The new bulls would be put to work with maiden heifers, and two out of the team with other heifers.
Three of the four bulls were sons of Chiltern Park Picasso P9, Mr Edge said, which while not intentional, reflected how well the sire bred with The Glen's maternal lines.
"Carcase weight is always important, but you're sort of pairing that with the eating quality characteristics as well," he said.
"You're looking for the full package, good feet, good temperament, everything."
Nioka Pastoral Company, Old Clifton, Pulletop, went home with five bulls at an average of $6700 and to a top of $8000.
Four bulls were purchased on behalf of a single client through Ray White Albury and Holbrook at an average of $8500 and to a top of $10,000.
Stud principal Mike Gadd said there had been a "huge turnaround" in April after two difficult seasons, and grazing operations in the district were recovering and feeling confident.
Mr Gadd said he aimed to deliver bulls with a focus on productivity, as well as a well-balanced set of figures.
"In our herd, it's very rare for us to ever assist a birth, even in heifers," he said.
"And I think that's from using generations over a long period of time of cattle that have moderate birth weight and high productive traits."
For the fourth-generation farmer, it was also very possible the sale would be the stud's last, or at least the last in this format and scale.
Mr Gadd said he and his wife had purchased a property near Albury and were preparing to downsize and move to a different business model.
There could be winter-drop bulls to sell next year, he said, but the future focus would be on backgrounding steers and potentially a small breeding herd.
"Perhaps for grass-fattened Angus brands, we'd buy grass-fattened compliant cattle and grow them out," he said.
"The property that we bought is very productive, we're very happy with it. We've put quite a bit of resources into developing it, even though we've only been there for a year."
The sale was conducted by Elders and Corcoran Parker, coordinated by Elders Albury's Brett Shea, and interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
