Poll genetics are front and centre in the draft for the eighth annual Ascot Spring Bull Sale being held on Friday, September 20 from 1pm at North Toolburra, Warwick.
Stud principals Jim and Jackie Wedge said due to animal welfare and activist activity, poll cattle are becoming an increasing priority throughout the industry.
"Whether it's the fact that buyers of the future may not buy dehorned cattle or the extra cost and time involved in sedating cattle for dehorning there are good reasons to naturally poll," Jim said.
"All purebred Angus are homozygous polled which is a great advantage of the breed, and Ascot's homozygous polled breeding and testing program for its Charolais herd also means nearly every Ascot Charolais bull sold is polled," he said.
"Importantly, we don't pursue polling at the expense of other traits such as weight for age and muscling. Polling is just one facet of our breeding program."
This focus is apparent in the 121 lots selected for the 2019 sale which is comprised of 54 two year old Angus bulls, 12, 16 to 18 month old Angus yearling bulls, along with 43 two year old Charolais bulls and 12, 18 month old yearling bulls.
"In total, 25 of the Charolais bulls in the draft are DNA tested homozygous polled which is the largest number we have put forward.
"We cannot over emphasize the advantage of this."
Jim said Ascot's approach to both breeds is to produce bulls with all aspects of MSA meat quality in mind plus high weight for age.
"Temperament, calving ease, shorter days to calving, quick early growth, fat cover and adequate marbling - these are all covered in our program."
All Ascot sale bulls are independently structurally assessed by industry expert Jim Green, and vet and semen tested by Ced Wise.
A bull breeding soundness certificate is issued with each bull, and all bulls are blooded for tick fever, vaccinated for 3 day sickness, 7 in 1, pestivirus, botulism and Vibrio, and are Pesti negative.
The catalogue is online now at ascotcattle.com.au where pre-sale videos can also be viewed. A supplementary sheet, with weights, scans and scrotal sizes, will be up on the website one week out from the sale.
The sale will be interfaced with AuctionsPlus, and phone bidding is available through your sale agent.
Ascot is also offering free delivery to many major centres in Queensland and New South Wales."
To inspect the sale draft prior to the sale and for further enquiries please contact Jim Wedge on 0419 714 652. The bulls will also be available for inspection from 9am on sale day.
- For other sale enquiries please call sale agents Landmark, Elders, or Colin Say & Co
