Standout new sire lines and a new sale complex will be on show at the Quarterway Angus Autumn bull sale next month.
With 63 Angus bulls ranging from 17 to 24 months to be offered on-property as well as via AuctionsPlus, there’s sure to be a sire for all operations at the March 18 auction.
Quarterway principal Trevor Hall is excited to offer bulls from quite a few new sire lines at his annual sale, including the first progeny of Texas Horsepower to sell in Tasmania.
“It is total outcross genetics for Quarterway, he’s a well figured bull, structurally correct and a well-proportioned sire who will add value to ours and our clients’ programs,” he said.
“Horsepowers’ sons are going to be good bulls, with growth for age, good thickness and good structure.”
Also up for offer will be Quarterway’s first sons of New Zealand AI sire Taimate Lazarus L12, a bull which Mr Hall selected for its ability off grass and structural correctness.
“We will also have a good run of Nampara N244 sons whose sire is Millah Murrah Loch. These bulls have correctness and structure”.
“Progeny of our most reliable sires including Peakes Gabba, Wattletop Moonshine and several high performing Quarterway sires will also be selling,” Trevor added.
Quarterway runs a herd of 1000 commercial females which allows them to trial their homebred genetics in a similar environment as their clients.
“We want good structure, we want to breed plenty of meat with good feet, a good spread of data but not extreme in any case and we like cattle with positive fat so they will do well off grass,” Mr Hall said.
“The genetics need to work in our herd as well as our clients, such as thickness in the hindquarter, which will benefit replacement females and steers going to the feedlot.
“And we aim to breed for longevity. We’ve got cows 10-12 years old in both the stud and commercial herd – and we like those old cows because they are winners, they have good feet and temperament, have a calf every year and are structurally sound.
“We aim to breed quality, not just popular.”
Quarterway held their first spring sale on their property “Lyndhurst” at Waterhouse last year, and their March sale will now follow suit.
“The autumn sale will be at the new sale complex and venue, which we used for the first time in the spring, but we have since developed it further with new bull pens,” Mr Hall said.
“The weather prompted the move in the spring – it was just too wet at our North Scottsdale property – and now we will hold the sales at Waterhouse permanently, it is just a more user-friendly site both for the buyers and for us.”
The inaugural spring sale of Quarterway bulls received great demand, with 30 of 31 two-year-old sires selling to a top of $16,000, averaging $9700.
“We used to sell quite a few bulls out of the paddock and decided to give everyone the same opportunity via a spring sale and it was quite successful – it will definitely be happening in the future,” Mr Hall said.
They also offered 13 yearling bulls, selling 12 to a top of $9000 and averaging $6167, while all 64 commercial heifers up for grabs at the sale sold for an average of $1725.
The spring top price of $16,000 matched that of the annual autumn sale in 2021, where a total clearance of 55 bulls averaged $8009.
Mr Hall said that confidence in the sector was just as strong in Tasmania as it was on the mainland, and he was excited to see what the year would bring.
“The beef industry has never been better, we’ve had two really good seasons, and it is in a good place at the moment, especially for the cow/calf producer,” he said.
“And with cull bulls selling for $3500 to $4500 depending on quality, there’s never been a better time to upgrade your genetics and get your bull team a bit younger in age.
“Quality cattle always sell well and that’s our aim for our clients, so they can achieve the top prices.”
And with plenty of great attractions and holiday activities in the area, you can “come buy a bull and have a great weekend away”, Mr Hall said.
Quarterway’s autumn Angus bull sale will kick off at 1pm on Friday 18 March 2022 at the Lyndhurst property, with viewing from 10am & the auction live from 1pm both in the sale barn and online via Auctions Plus.
