'All-rounder' bulls capture bidding attention at Witton Angus on-property sale
A young producer looking to upgrade the operation's beef genetics was among those buying up at the Witton Angus bull sale at Borenore, on Friday, September 18.
While Izaak Golding, Dairy Park Partnership, Mandurama, had only intended to select two bulls, he went home with double that number as well as five pregnancy-tested in-calf heifers.
Mr Golding paid the equal top price of $6000 for Witton Excellence V64, a son of United States sire Sterling Pacific 904, out of Yamba Q87.
The two-year-old, 750-kilogram had strong growth figures with the 200-day weight of +66 in the top 5 per cent for the breed, while the mature cow weight of +136 was in the top 10pc.
The 400-day and 600-day weights of +110 and +144, along with docility of +31 and carcase weight of +81 all sat within the top 20pc.
Mr Golding said he was looking for "all-rounder" bulls with good growth and good structure in their feet and legs to ensure longevity.
His operation has a core breeding herd of Angus, as well as trade cattle, targeting the feedlot market.
"We try to get a good weaner to feedlot size as quickly as we can, without any losses in calving" he said.
He said the bulls he selected, as well as having a good balance of data, were also visually appealing.
Alongside his four bulls, for an average $5375, he also picked up a pen of heifers, PTIC to Gilmandyke Prime Minister T243, at $2500 each.
Mr Golding said they were looking to upgrade some of their breeding herd, with the fact the heifers were in calf a good selling point.
Also paying the equal top-price was RL and DE Packham, for Witton Chief V54.
The two-year-old, 679kg bull was by Lawsons Rocky R4010, by Witton Penguin T61.
His figures included a low birthweight of +1.7, in the top 15pc, as was the the calving ease - direct and calving ease - daughter, at +7.1 and +7.5, while the eye muscle area figure was in the top 20pc at +10.0.
All up, 12 of 29 bulls sold to $6000, which averaged $5208. All 19 PTIC heifers sold to $2700, and averaged $2579.
The sale was conducted by Kevin Miller, Whitty, Lennon and Company with Ryan Browne auctioneering and AuctionsPlus providing the online interface.
