This article was written by Simon Chamberlain at The Land.

Bulls with weight, bone and carcase traits were in strong demand at the 26th Booragul Angus annual on-property sale, which sold to good demand and an increased average on last year’s sale.

Agents were positive in the leadup to the northern sales and Booragul got off to a solid start, with lots one to five averaging $23,600.

In the two-year-old bulls, all 57 sold to $32,000, averaging $14,929, while 19 of 21 yearling bulls sold to a top of $26,000, averaging $14,263.

Overall, 76 bulls averaged $14,763, a rise on last year’s average of $12,750, also for a draft of 76.

The top-priced bull, Booragul Reebok U237, was bought by the Higgins family’s Curracabark Angus stud, Gloucester.

The 934-kilogram, July-2023 drop was by Mandayen Reebok R442.

James and Melinda Higgins made the trip over the Barrington Tops to attend the sale.

Mr Higgins said the bull was of outstanding shape, moderate birthweight, very strong over the back and plenty of longetivity characteristics.

“He’s going to be a pretty good package for our cow herd,” he said.

“We’re definitely after that muscle up the back, and he’s got plenty of depth and muscle. We’ll see how he goes.”

U237 was out of a Booragul Glaze R192 female, sired by Dulverton Nothin Leica Dane N3.

Its birthweight estimated breeding value (EBV) was +3.6, milk of +18, maternal cow weight of +107 and a scrotal circumference of 44.5 centimetres.

The bull rated well in growth trait figures, with +56 for 200-day, +111 for 400-day and +134 for 600-day growth.

It had an estimated eye muscle area (EMA) of +8.4, intramuscular fat (IMF) of +2.7 and retail beef yield (RBY) of +0.5.

The bull also had an Angus Breeding Index ($A) of $223 and an Angus Breeding Low Feed Cost Index ($A-L) of $382.

Terry Hie Hie feedlot owners, Allan and Coral Gillogly, Montrose, got the ball rolling right from the outset, paying $24,000 for the first lot of the day, Booragul Prime Minister U31, a 1004kg son of Dunoon Prime Minister P758.

They also paid $26,000 for Booragul New Trix V16, a March-2023 son of Landfall New Ground R1365. They bought three bulls averaging $22,666.

Three bulls sold for the equal second top price of $28,000.

Booragul Realist, U196, sired by Booragul Realist S80, out of a Yon Full Force female, was bought by Alto Rural, Corumbene, Dunedoo.

U196, an August-2023 calf, weighed 870kg and had an $A index of $220 and $A-L index of $372.

It recorded +3.9 for birthweight, +51 for 200-day growth, +95 for 400-day and +105 for 600-day. It also recorded +8.6 EMA and +3.1 IMF.

Glenisa Angus, Glen Alpin, Queensland, bought Booragul Leading Edge, paying $28,000 for the 892kg July 2023 calf, which had an $A of $233 and a $A-L of $424.

It was +1.9 for birthweight, +48 for 200-day growth, +95 for 400-day and +116 for 600-day. It also recorded +5 EMA and +5.1 IMF, which put it in the top five per cent of the breed.

The third bull was Booragul Prime Minister U134, a 974kg, July-2023 calf, which had an $A of $214 and a $A-L of $355. ANC Grazing Jesselton, Scone, bought four bulls, including U134, averaging $17,500.

It recorded +53 for 200-day growth, +97 for 400-day and +131 for 600-day. It also recorded +9.3 EMA and +1.4 IMF.

A milk EBV of +26 put it within the top 5pc of the breed.

Vicky and Phillip Dempsey, Koobah, Nundle, bought three bulls to a top of $26,000, averaging $20,666.

Kibah Pastoral Co, Carroll bought four bulls for a top of $24,000, averaging $19,500, while Funny Hill Pastoral Company, Binda, bought four bulls, averaging $12,250.

Stud principal, Tim Vincent, said the top end of the bulls received solid demand in the first 20 to 30 lots, with prices also meeting the needs of the ‘budget hunters’.

He said the sale highlights included the sale of the first sons of Mandayan Reebok offered by Booragul, which averaged $15,333.

The selling agents were Elders, and Paul Dooley was the auctioneer. Auctions Plus provided the online interface.