THE Central Reds Droughtmaster Sale was a popular affair in Emerald yesterday, with plenty of people packing into the stands for the annual sale.
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![Top priced bull Wolfang Victory with Elders' Brian Wedemeyer, purchaser Rick Ford, Fossil Downs, Western Australia, and vendor Greg Edwards, Wolfang. Top priced bull Wolfang Victory with Elders' Brian Wedemeyer, purchaser Rick Ford, Fossil Downs, Western Australia, and vendor Greg Edwards, Wolfang.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/t9XpvtrbmUPC3ifsrzE7bx/d5e770cc-d0bb-4d48-a40e-2ebe6508244b.jpg/r0_0_4928_3280_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The sale saw 55 bulls offered to sell 50 for a gross of $288,000, an average of $5760, and a clearance of 90 per cent.
Also included was a small heifer sale from the Fernleigh stud, which saw one of the six heifers offered sell, for a gross of $3000 and a clearance of 17 per cent.
![Top priced bull Wolfang Victory sold for $12,000 at the Central Reds Droughtmaster Sale. Top priced bull Wolfang Victory sold for $12,000 at the Central Reds Droughtmaster Sale.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/t9XpvtrbmUPC3ifsrzE7bx/5018f586-3a3e-4b4c-bd16-cd1f2d47c732.jpg/r0_0_4928_3280_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
It was Wolfang Victory who stole the show in the bulls, selling for the top price of $12,000 to Rick Ford, Fossil Downs Station, Western Australia.
Victory, a 24 month old bull sired by Wajatryn Eruption and out of Wolfang 11351, was a polled bull weighing 800kg.
He boasted an EMA of 134sq cm, a 3.7 per cent in the IMF, and a scrotal circumference of 39cm.
Victory was one of 11 bulls sold to Mr Ford, making him the volume buyer of the sale with a gross of $76,000 for an average of $6954.
Also buying up big were John and Kate McLoughlin, Springsure, who went home with eight new bulls grossing $40,500 for an average of $5062.
It was a three way tie for the second top priced bull, with two of Mr Ford’s purchases and one of Mr and Mrs McLoughlin’s all selling for $11,000.
Mr Ford went home with Mostyndale 669, an 830kg bull with an EMA of 136sq cm, and a scrotal circumference of 41cm, and also on the truck was Mostyndale 666, who despite his ominous name proved to be an impressive bull at 18 months of age weighing 660kg with a scrotal circumference of 40cm and a 90 per cent vet checked active semen count.
Mr and Mrs McLoughlin paid $11,000 for Wolfang Viral, a 25-month-old bull weighing 775kg with an EMA of 134sq cm and a scrotal circumference of 46cm.
Coming in after the three way tie was Mostyndale 692 who sold for $10,000 to Tom and Betty Christmas, Glenrobin, Jericho.
The 23 month old bull weighed 780kg, had a scrotal circumference of 40cm, and an EMA of 135sq cm.
Mr and Mrs Christmas went home with five bulls grossing $27,550 for an average of $5510.
Top priced bull buyer Rick Ford, Fossil Downs Station, Western Australia, said this was the first year he had come to the sale.
He said with three WA-eligible Droughtmaster sales on in a row in the region, it made the trip worthwhile before heading into the national sale next week.
Mr Ford, who manages the 404,685 hectare (one million acre) station, said he was chasing polled cattle with good morphology results.
He said keeping up the high standard of fertility in the herd of between 15,000 and 20,000 was vital, and polled cattle were important for good “animal welfare”.
He said Victory was an easy pick from the sale.
”He was just a solid bull, a good top line, had a bit bigger hump than I'd usually chase but he had good numbers and stacked up,” he said.
Top priced vendor Greg Edwards, Cooeeall, Wowan, said he was one of the founders of the sale and was thrilled to see the new September date taking off.
He said Victory was a great bull who he expected to top his line, and was happy to see him top the sale.
“He was our better bull and we could see that,” Mr Edwards said.
“His temperament is impeccable, he's structurally sound and he's the type of bull that we need to start bringing here because people will pay the money.”
Selling agents: Elders and Landmark.