WATTLETOP WONDER ENDS SIRE SEARCH
Carla Wiese-Smith - The Land | Thursday, August 13, 2009

An 18-month search for an Angus stud sire resulted in the $38,000 knockdown of Wattletop Andy C109 (AI) (ET) to John and Joan Woodruff, Witherspoon Angus stud, Glenrowan, Victoria.
The two-year-old, 916-kilogram son of Bando 9074, from a B/R New Design 036 cow, was secured by the Wooddruffs to follow on from the $41,000 Millah Murrah Woody W100, which they purchased in 2003.

Mr Woodruff said they were pleased to find a bull such as Andy C109, with lower birth weight, good growth and the same structural correctness.
"He's good footed, has lovely soft skin and a very good frame," Mr Woodruff said.
"His overall thickness, length and capacity are impressive, and he just ticked all the right boxes for use in our herd."

Wattletop Andy's estimated breeding values (EBVs) put him in the top five per cent of the breed for milk, 400 and 600-day weights, and in the top 10pc for 200-day weight, carcase weight and the heavy grass-fed and terminal indexes.

Andy was also in the top 15pc for the long feed and short fed domestic indexes.
"Another big plus was the breeding strength on the dam's side - his dam and grand dam's families have been excellent breeders in the Wattletop herd," Mr Woodruff said.
Wattletop principal, Lock Rogers, was quick to agree.

"C109's mother is just awesome," Mr Rogers said of the bull's dam, Wattletop Ann V58 (AI).
"Her fertility is fantastic, she's sound, solid and has incredible capacity.
"We've got two magnificent full sisters that have just calved, and with V58 due to be joined again, we know who we'll be joining her to (Bando 9074)."

In a sale which sold 71 Angus bulls for a 97pc clearance, the 67 two-year-old sires averaged $6515, while six yearlings averaged $4000.
The sale grossed $460,500 and averaged $6308.

The second top priced bull C263 was by Wattletop Axon A42 (by Ardrossan Connection X15) which had been used over stud heifers and sold for $14,000.
Secured by Upton Pastoral Company, "Alpha", Niangla, the 868kg two-year-old was from a daughter of Ironwood New Level.

The Maloney family, "The Glen", Hernani, purchased on 878kg son of Bando 9074 from donor cow, Wattletop Usual U86 (AI) (ET), at $13,000.
Wattletop C305, by a home grown son of Prairiedge Marbull Design 931, was secured by the Coulton family, "Morella", Goondiwindi, Queensland, for $12,000.
Rounding out the double figures was a son of B/R Ambush 28 at $10,000, which was also bought by the Coulter family.

The Coulters took four Wattletop bulls for an average of $8500.
Volume buyers were Clyde Agriculture's Oxley Station, Warren, which took 13 bulls to a top of $7000 four times, and averaged $5539 for the draft.
Fernside Pastoral Company, "Fernside", Rylstone, secured seven bulls to a top of $7500 and averaged $5714.

Paraway Pastoral Company, "Burindi", Barraba, took five bulls to a top of $7000, three times, and average of $5750, while Tulach Ard Pastoral Company, Glen Innes, took four to a top of $6500, twice, and average of $5750.

Vendor, Mr Rogers, was extremely pleased with what he called a "wonderful sale".
Elders Guyra conducted the sale, and Paul Dooley, Elders Tamworth, and Andy McGeoch, Elders Dubbo, shared the rostrum.