22/06/2026
The East Coast sales are in full swing and once again this year the power of Thor 660 is on full display with a Cricklewood bull doubly bred to him selling for $55,000, to Stern Angus, and another bull out of a Thor derived dam selling today at Tangihau Angus today for $100,000 to Kenhardt and Orere
Mt Mable Thor 660 was sold to Rangatira Angus in 2012. They used the bull very lightly the first year as both our, and their stud, and breeding decisions were being questioned and criticised within our Association. Of the 7 bull calves born in 2013 - 5 sold at their 2015 sale, with Rangatira 13-38 sold for a then on farm record price of $100,000 to Cricklewood Angus. Sadly this barely warranted a reaction by our Association as neither the bull or their breeder, were breeding the "right kind of cattle" and an ex President was heard to say "this is a very sad day for Angus NZ" - accordingly not much more was said about the bull at that time despite his going on to be used in multiple other studs and 15 sons sold to a variety of studs, or used within semen purchasers own herds.
Another 2013 bull was sold to Taimate Angus and named Icebreaker. This bull sired 195 calves over Taimate and Ratanui studs including three stud bulls. One retained by Taimate as Taimate Maori and the other two selling to Brackenfield and The Grampians respectively.
It was the 2015 born sons of Thor 660 which really made an impression at Rangatira Angus's 2017 sale with Ta**us 15-1 selling to Brookwood Angus, and 15-21 selling to Cricklewood - this bull went onto sire Pandemic P056 who we bought in conjunction with Kenhardt Angus for $92,000 in 2020. The Dowding's also retained Maximus 15-47 and Magnus 15-16 with both these bulls well represented in their dispersal sale catalogue some time later.
Two more 2018 born sons of Thor 660 sold to stud with 173 progeny registered between them.
We will be bringing some Fatboy x Eagle 473 embryos out of storage this mating that may or may not result in cattle very like Thor 660 - we'll see how we get on. Of course there is still Fatboy 373 on ice too. We have a very nice daughter calving this year.
