Summary
- Top price: $22,000 av: $5018
- Sold 81: 91pc clearance
THE drought-enforced gap in Droughtmaster bull supplies in western Queensland this year brought a lot of new buyers to the Artesian Droughtmaster sale at Blackall on Monday, where they helped lift the average price paid to $5018.
Sale committee representative Dean Allen said the early rain falling in central parts of the state had helped the final result, with many buyers coming from Alpha, Dysart and Blackwater regions, but said in the end the result reflected the quality of the yarding.
The Childs family, Glenlands confirmed their interest in Medway genetics, outlasting the competition for the superb young bull in Medway Utopia and paying the sale’s top price of $22,000 to secure him.
At just 21 months of age, the bull sired by Yaralla Hector weighed in at 765kg, and had an eye muscle area measurement of 136, plus a scrotal circumference of 42cm.
Speaking on behalf of the Bogantungan stud vendors, Hamilton Donaldson said it was his good weight for age and length which had sold him.
Darren Childs agreed, adding that he was genetically a very good bull.
“We were very pleased to see vendors bringing along bulls of such good quality to the sale,” he said.
Medway also sold a bull for $10,000, Medway Up to Date, sired by Medway Oakley, to Clonlara stud, helping bring their sale average to $5913, the highest of the six vendors on the grounds.
The McCormack family at Clonlara recorded a $10,000 sale early in the proceedings when their 24-month-old bull weighing 865kg and sired by Aldinga 07/80 was bought by Peter Greenhalgh, Sedgeford, Alpha.
Andrew Donaldson and family, Surbiton South, Alpha, took home the most bulls, selecting 10 for their operation.
Brother Ian Donaldson, based at Trebarney, Alpha, was happy with nine bulls.
Much of the interest from the Blackall district came from the Scholes family, whose Braemar Investments purchased seven bulls.
Also taking seven bulls home were Alex and Kristy Sparrow, Malden, Alpha.
The Sibson family at Jellinbah Pastoral Co, Dysart, supported the sale with six purchases, all from the Medway stable.
Six bulls were sold at the conclusion of the sale.
Stud averages once all sales were added include Western Reds: $3857, Glenlands: $5500, Fairhaven: $3366, Clonara: $5500, Yaralla: $4423, Medway: $5913.
