'Simply the best': Tasmanians snap up top bull at Killain Angus sale

A bull described as the "best they've ever bred" topped Killain Angus' first on-property bull sale on Tuesday, September 8, at Tamworth.

At the fall of the hammer, 26 of 29 bulls sold, where 12 yearling bulls reached a top of $30,000, and averaged $10,857.

Of the 14 two-year-old bulls offered, numbers reached a top $18,000 and averaged $10,285. The three passed in lots were also sold after the sale.

The top price of $30,000 went to Killain Turning Point W11, described by the vendor as "simply the best."

Richard Duddy, Killain Angus, praised the bull during the auction, touting his use within his breeding herd.

"He's the best footed Angus bull I have ever seen and is extremely special and we are going to use him heavily by [artificial insemination] in our thousand-cow herd on King Island," he said.

Killain Angus Bull sale 2026 gallery

Photos by Lara Webster

Those words were enough to convince buyer Quarter Way Angus, Scottsdale, Tasmania, to bring the bull home with him, outbidding the competition to secure the June 2025-drop, 788-kilogram bull.

Sired by Baldridge Badger and out of Killain Blackcap May 2 N6, he recorded a scrotal circumference of 39 centimetres, and 10 traits in the top 10 per cent of the Angus breed.

His estimated breeding values included ranking in the top 1pc for foot and claw, 2pc of the breed for carcase weight (CWT) with a score of +99, top 3pc for 200-day growth with +68 and top 5pc for 400-day growth at +117.

Crighton Horton, Elders Launceston, represented Quarter Way Angus at the sale, and said the bull "caught the eye" of the buyer with its structure and data.

"His type, his figures and his breeding were what the buyers were chasing," he said.

"What has struck me most is the docility of the bulls, yesterday in the yards you could just push them out of the way."

Mr Horton said he had seen what the Killain Angus bulls had achieved on King Island and he believed it was worth the trip to secure some bulls for his clients.

The Duddy family turn off 500 steers annually to Greenham's Tasmania from their King Island operation.

The second highest price of $18,000 went to two-year-old bull Killain Grand Canyon V54, secured by Appledore Pastoral Co, Barraba.

Sired by SAV Grand Canyon 0969 and out of Killain Blackcap May 15 S49, the 964 kilogram bull had a scrotal circumference of 42cm and featured in the top 1pc for three EBVs.

They included 400-day growth and 600-day growth with scores of +128 and +167 respectively and a CWT of +106.

Appledore Pastoral Co also bought Killain Power Play V3 and Killain Prolific U62 W34, both for $12,000.

The last lot of the day, Killain Anthem W35 saw a price of $16,000, sold to Middlebrook Station, Goonoo Goonoo. From the daughter of the herd matriarch, Killain Emblynette 2 K12, he was described as a docile bull.

Middlebrook Station also secured another two bulls for $10,000 and $6,000, to average $10,666.

Among the volume buyers of the day was Paraweena, Willow Tree, who secured three bulls to a top of $16,000 and averaged $12,000.

Nick Cobcroft, Paraweena, said he had been a long time client of the Duddy family.

"I like the article they're producing," he said.

"They're good, functional cattle, and we're selling their progeny to repeat clients."

Other volume buyers included the Talbot family, Tasmania, who secured four bulls to a top of $8,000 and averaged $6,500.

Return client, the Landenberger Family, Ben Lomond, secured three bulls to a top of $10,000 and averaged $8,666

Thomas Duddy, stud co-principal, said he was very happy with the results of the first on property sale.

"We had a lot of repeat buyers and new clients locally and Tasmania too," he said.

"We wanted to give people access to compete on the bulls and secure outcrosses into more Australian cow herds."

Richard Duddy, Killain, shared his son's sentiments.

"We were delighted with all the return and new clients and are privileged to work with so many good operations who appreciate our outcross genetics and strong performance," he said.

The auction was managed by Elders, with Scott Cooper as the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus ran the online interface.