Gandy Angus moves sale forward

A South West Angus stud has made a bold decision to move its annual sale forward by almost three months to capitalise on growing demand for grass-fed bulls.

Gandy Angus Stud is set to offer a quality line-up of 60 bulls at the Boyanup saleyards from 1pm next Thursday.

Taking a substantial leap in front of the season, the Manjimup-based stud, which traditionally hosts its annual bull sale each February, took into consideration its clients’ desire for grass-fed bulls.

Gandy Angus principal Kim Gandy said the centralised Boyanup venue would also open up the sale to a wider base of commercial producers.

“Offering 18 to 22-month-old bulls in November, 100 per cent grass-fed only, will allow bull buyers to find better value,” he said.

“We haven’t backed off our commitment to offer performance-bred and fully measured stock, bred by some of the top AI Angus sires available and out of our renowned Diamond Tree genetics.

“We understand this year’s offering of bulls may have to be held longer by some buyers before breeding periods, but we feel we have bred exceptional grass-fed animals that will perform when required.

“They have very quiet temperament and have all been semen-tested and had all the required injections and have been ear-notched and tested not persistently infected with pestivirus.”

The Gandy family are expanding the stud herd to ensure their clients’ continued success in their future selections.

All Gandy Angus bulls on offer are HBR-registered, have been star program-certified and have been injected with a B12 plus selenium booster.

New genetics will be on offer at the sale from leading AI sires including MAR Innovation, Baldridge Bronc, Gaffney Competitor, HA Cowboy Up, LD Capitalist and LT Drifter.

Also on offer will be sons of home-bred sires including Weigh Up M424, Tour of Duty M426 and Prosperity M407. Mr Gandy said the Baldridge Bronc sons were excellent.

“Baldridge Bronc is a proven calving ease and spread sire,” he said.

“Bronc was mated to a vast majority of the stud’s heifers and achieved his best result, with all calves being born easily.”

Mr Gandy said Bronc exceeded its genetic heritage in frame size, muscle and masculinity, which was prevalent in its progeny.

“Bronc offers good doing ability and is in the top one per cent of the breed for calving ease and birth weight while in the top 3, 4 and 10 per cent for 200, 400 and 600-day weights respectively,” he said.

“He is in the top 2 per cent for docility with excellent indexes, complemented by his top 2 per cent for eye muscle depth and top 4 and 3 per cent for rib and rump fat.”

Mr Gandy said Gaffney Competitor sons on offer had been used as yearlings in the stud herd.

“His sons have exceptional length and butt profile, with eye muscle depth in the top one per cent of the breed,” he said.

“A stand-out Gaffney Competitor son is on offer as lot four, Diamond One Competitor P94 and is out of an outstanding Bartel dam,” he said.

Mr Gandy said sons of LD Capitalists 316 were showing heavy muscling and Cowboy Up sons were moderate framed with excellent temperament and good structure.

“MAR Innovation sons on offer excel in temperament, scrotal measurements and sound feet while having a full complement of estimated breeding values to support,” he said.

“MAR Innovation was selected as a maternal sire with sound movement and its thick and deep-bodied frame.”