The decision to hold a new sale in the South East paid off for Goolagong last Friday, with the Angus auction at Reedy Creek reaching a top of $20,000 for a young bull destined for stud duties at Nampara, Kingston SE.
Warnertown-based Brian, Diane, Heath and Jenna Tiller, Goolagong, offered 40 bulls at the inaugural sale, with full clearance of the 17-20 month old bulls achieved for a sale average of $11,400.
The top price Lot 6, Goolagong L519 S157, was sired by Rennylea L519 and out of an Ayrvale Bartel E7 cow, Coorong Skye H223.
Among its estimated breeding values were an eye muscle area of +15.4 - in the top 1 per cent, intramuscular far of +5.2 (top 3pc) and milk at +25 (top 5pc).
Also within the top 20pc were calving ease at +6.6, 400-day weight at +104, rib fat at +1.5 and rump fat at +2.1.
Nampara principal Natalie Hann, who nabbed the sire, said it had a "lovely spread of figures" for calving ease, EMA and IMF.
"He offers outcross genetics and is a new sire line for our breeding program as we have not used the Rennylea L519 sire," she said.
"He was nice to look at and will be used on heifers."
Testament to the quality offering was a second bull also selling for stud duties.
Lot 13, Goolagong Quantum Leap S301, sold for $15,000 to the Merribrook stud, Milloo, Vic.
S301 was just 17-months old, sired by Texas Quantum Leap Q029 and out of a Pathfinder Genesis G357 daughter.
The 706 kilogram bull had an average daily gain of 1.31kg.
S301 was an extremely low birth weight bull +0.9 (top 4pc) with an EMA of +11.4 (top 7pc), rib fat +1.9 (top 11pc) and rump fat +1.7 (top 16pc).
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The sale was strongly supported by repeat northern clients with Saltbush Ag securing four bulls to average $10,250; Williams Cattle Company bought six bulls to average $8167 and Muloorina Pty Ltd, Marree, bought three for a $9000 average.
Nutrien Port Augusta agent Cameron Paul said the Goolagong bulls performed well in the pastoral country.
"They hold their condition really well, come out of the cows in the same condition they go in," he said.
"They get plenty of calves with moderate birth calving ease cattle with positive fats for do ability."
There was plenty of SE support and many new people having a look at what Goolagong had to offer at its first SE sale.
Wheal farms, Beachport, bought three bulls to a top of $15,000 for a $14,000 average while Oakley Family Trust, Fox, bought four bulls to $13,000 to average $10,000.
David Oakley from Oakley Family Trust said they selected bulls visually and also take note of breedplan figures.
They were after lower birth weights for heifer joinings and also bulls suited for mature cows.
They have Shorthorn and Simmental-cross cows but had been including more Angus in their breeding.
They calve in February/March and sell into the Naracoorte weaner markets.
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Nutrien auctioneer Richard Miller said it was a "wonderful result" for the first sale.
"There was a very large buying gallery that had traveled to see what Goolagong had to offer both today and large visitor numbers at its recent field day," he said.
"It was great to see repeat northern buyers that know how these bulls perform as well as repeat and new buyers from the SE.
"With 39 registered bidders Goolagong can certainly build on this sale."
Mr Miller said the draft of bulls had great data, with low birth weights, high growth and positive fats producing cattle that would stand up in all commercial conditions from station to SE country, and suit all markets.
Mr Tiller said he was "overwhelmed and very happy" with the sale result.
"The support for our first SE sale was amazing, to have a full clearance with support from our northern clients and SE clients and lots of new SE clients," he said.
"It has been a few years in the making, expanding our Angus herd rapidly in recent years.
"It was great to sell two bulls into highly regarded studs Nampara and Merribrook."
The selling agent was Nutrien.
