It was smiles all around at the LVH Fairfield Charolais bull sale on Wednesday with all pieces falling into place for the Hindle family’s inaugural on property event.
At the final fall of the hammer 71 Charolais and Charolais composite bulls sold to average $5267 with a clearance rate of 90 per cent.
Top priced bull Fairfield Karamel sold to Bill and Margaret Roberts, Ridgelands, Injune, for $12,000.
The 1009kg red factor sire boasted a scrotal circumference of 41.5cm with clean polled genetics to boot.
Purchaser Mr Roberts said the bull’s length and thickness stood out for him and were key attributes of his breeding operation.
“We run a herd of about 450 crossbred Charolais cows aiming to produce feeder steers for the Roma store market every year,” he said.
“We like to see progeny between 450kg and 480kg at 18-months-old and this bull’s development and scale will hopefully assist us in that direction.”
As far as market suitability as a finished product goes, Mr Roberts said he felt confident the bull’s rump and rib fat scans of eight and six millimetres respectively combined with an EMA of 136sq.cm would hold future calves in good stead come slaughter time.
The Roberts family bought a further two bulls at the sale for a total purchase price of $23,500.
The heaviest bull in the sale, Fairfield Komplete, weighed in at 1055kg and sold for a second top price of $11,000.
Bought by Toalki Pastoral Company, Surat, the bull also offered an impressive scrotal circumference of 44cm with a huge EMA of 140 but did not possess the popular red factor rating of his higher priced brother.
Volume buyers counted for the notable majority of bidders with Bangor Cattle Company, Mungallala, taking home 10 sires after the sale for an average purchase price of $4100.
Hartley Grazing, Coopermurra, Mitchell, also picked up 10 bulls for a total price of $59,000.
Seven bulls were bought by Albury Pastoral Company, Mungallala, for $33,500 while AT and BM Hair, Eidsvold, picked up four on the day.
LVH Fairfield stud principle Lindsay Hindle said he was relieved the sale was run successfully.
“A week ago we were looking at postponing due to floodwaters and persistent wet conditions but when we moved past that the nerves set in over having our first sale on property,” he said.
“Our bull pens, selling ring and auctioneers box are all new and you can have all the plans and practice runs in the world but you still can’t know until the day how it will play out but thankfully everything flowed smoothly.”
The LVH Fairfield sale was previously held at Blackall, Roma and Nindigully but Mr Hindle said it was convenient having the sale at home.
“We can now pull the bulls straight in off the oats in the morning and have them penned up plus we can avoid transport fees,” he said.
“I also believe buyers like the more personal feel of an on property sale. I was slightly nervous they wouldn’t like the 25 minute drive out from Roma but we had a really good gathering of people, both return buyers and a few new faces.”
Mr Hindle said the good times began at the start of the week when his and wife Belinda’s daughter Alexandra returned from married life in Mexico to surprise her family before the sale.
“It was a good omen for the week and sale ahead,” he said.
Selling agent: Elders.
