Queensland Country Life Article:

SEPTEMBER 16 will mark the 52nd Yarrawonga Waco on-property annual bull sale at Wallumbilla when 180 bulls oozing power and performance will be offered from 12 noon to eager buyers by the Bassingthwaighte family.Assembled throughout the high quality draft will be 147 classified bulls (62 polls) and 51 commercial bulls (21 polls), all backed by solid data and Yarrawonga Waco’s 50-year-plus reputation for producing commercially focused bulls.

Leading the line-up will be lot 1, Yarrawonga Yemen, who won the 20-22 months class at the 2010 Royal Queensland Show and was the senior and grand champion bull.

Stud principal Alistair Bassingthwaighte said Yemen’s entrance was keenly anticipated.

This year’s catalogue also bears the hallmark of Yarrawonga Waco’s sire depth, with several of their longstanding herd improvers and others making their first impression, heavily imprinting the draft.

Among those sires with sons in the catalogue for the first time include: Canowindra Fine Form (PS), who was purchased from the Cardona Canowindra sale in 2008 for the top price of $40,000, based on his muscling and correct structure.

Rosevale Chancellor C34, purchased at the 2008 Rosevale sale for $21,000 for his constitution and correct structure will also have his first sons in this year’s draft.

Another sire making his first impression with sons this year will be Yarrawonga Versatile (PS), “close to the perfect bull” according to Mr Bassingthwaighte.

“He had good weight for age in his growing period, has a great constitution, excellent soft muscling with the ability to lay down fat and a pleasant disposition,” he said.

“The bulls in this sale are from his first calf crop and his recent weaners also look very promising.”

The new players in the Yarrawonga Waco sire battery are complemented by some of the stud’s ‘veteran’ but still leading performers, such as Waco Samson, described as a “beef machine”.

Samson was junior champion at the 2006 Sydney Royal and followed up in 2007 being grand champion bull and supreme exhibit. He is one of the few bulls that completed the double by achieving the grand champion ribbon at the 2007 Royal Queensland Show as well.

“Samson is fast becoming our most dominant sire, improving the sheath and temperament on every animal,” Mr Bassingthwaighte said.

“Samson has had 17 sons sold to average $8544, the top price being $24,000 for Yale, purchased by the Hatton family at Wandoan and one son retained in the stud.”

While attention on sale day promises to be on the bulls, the limelight will also be directed towards the now retired stud stock auctioneer and long time supporter of the Bassingthwaighte family, Garth Hughes. Mr Hughes has auctioned at 40 consecutive Yarrawonga Waco bull sales and several female sales.

“We are honoured to have him back for the 41st time and happy to donate 2 percent of the value of the bulls that Garth auctions to the charity of his choice ? Angel Flight,” Mr Bassingthwaighte said.

Angel Flight Australia is a charity that coordinates non emergency flights for financially and medically needy people.