Sale summary
- 53 bulls av $4649
- Top price $8000 (2)
- 93pc clearance
A full clearance of the Hereford bulls on the catalogue was just one of the highlights of a successful sale for the Bredhauer family at Blackall on Tuesday, when they conducted their annual Charbray and Hereford sale.
The Welsh Cattle Co at Taroom paid the top price of $8000 for Acton Lyn Braydon, an 862kg Charbray bull with Huntington genetics in his female line, while long-time Blackall clients, CA Hauff and Sons paid the sale’s equal top price for Lambert L112, a 24-month-old Hereford bull with an intra-muscular fat percentage of 4.9.
Vendor Pat Bredhauer said they were very pleased with the results, considering the extremely dry season still being experienced.
“We weren’t expecting this, and it’s been great to see a mix of old and new clients,” he said. “Perhaps the Hereford result is down to people doing more cross-breeding and wanting a bit more softness.”
According to Tony Hauff, their purchase was motivated by a number of factors – his weight for age, mobility with length, and above all, his appeal.
Lambert L112 weighed 850kg, had P8 and rib fat measurements of 12 and 10mm respectively, and a scrotal circumference of 39cm.
The Hauffs have been buying Hereford genetics from the Bredhauer family for three generations and Tony said it was the size, weight and longevity that kept them going back.
“Because they’re bred out here, they don’t have half as many breakdowns either,” he said.
He and his brother Bevan have managed to retain the nucleus of a breeding herd, and purchased five bulls on Tuesday.
Matt Welsh was a repeat Charbray buyer, having made the top price purchase at the 2016 sale, $12,000 for Acton Kenilworth.
“We bought a really good bull out there last year. Some of our genetics are in Pat and Scott’s herd and we wanted to back it up again,” he said. “We’re in the fortunate position of knowing the cow this year’s bull was bred from, and he was a poll to boot.”
Matt said the Bredhauers’ bulls were grown in country that their Huntington stud was used to, and reaching their potential there.
“We want to maintain a Charbray that’s sustainable and got overall thickness, and we have confidence in Pat and Scott’s breeding program,” he said.
Twenty-three of the 27 Charbray bulls offered were sold at the fall of hammer, bringing a $5108 average price.
All 30 Hereford bulls were sold in the auction ring, resulting in a $4916 average.
The Bryant Pastoral Company was the volume buyer of the day, taking home six Charbray bulls for an average of $4417.
Harry and Fred Bryant, Wansey Downs, Augathella were in the stands to bid and said they liked the temperament, growth rates and fertility attributes of the breed.
“We have a poll Hereford base that we’ve been putting Charbray and Santa Gertrudis bulls over,” Harry said. “We breed for the feeder market but like everyone, we’re looking for storms.”
SP and LD Paynter, Charleville and Thistlebank Grazing at Aramac each bought three Charbray bulls, averaging $6667 and $6167 respectively.
Don Lloyd’s Cootabynia Pastoral Co at Blackall was one of the sale’s repeat Hereford buyers, selecting five bulls this year for an average of $5500.
CA Hauff and Sons averaged $6500 for their five bulls, while the Hirsch family at Caranna, Charleville, paid an average $4600 for another five in the Hereford draft.
A further five Hereford bulls went to Simmac Pastoral Co at Mt Maria, Morven, for an average of $4300.
- Selling agents: Elders, Landmark, GDL