The 6th annual Benelkay Poll Santa Gertrudis bull sale hit a sale high of $12,000 and averaged $5965 for vendors, the Orman family, at Mullaley.
Andrew and Jules Orman offered a draft of 46 polled Santa bulls, of which 28 sold at auction to return clients from across the state’s North West, Central West, New England, Hunter Valley and into Queensland.
Mr Orman said the widespread dry conditions where a contributing factor in a lower clearance and average compared to last year.
Benelkay Lonewolf L032 (P) attracted the $12,000 sale-topping bid, selling to the Walker family, Strathmore Santa Gertrudis, Blackall, Queensland.
The 29-month-old Bullamakinka H82 son from a Wave Hill Dapto daughter weighed 892 kilograms with a daily weight gain (DWG) of 1.03kg and a scrotal of 42 centimeters.
Lonewolf measured in the top 10 per cent of the breed for rib and rump fat estimated breeding values (EBVs) and scanned seven millimetres for rump and rib fat, a 134 square centimetre eye muscle area (EMA) and 3.9pc intramuscular fat (IMF).
The Walkers have a commercial herd of 1600 Santa Gertrudis breeders, which are run alongside the stud herd of 700 breeders.
L032 was described as bull will a lot of scale, strong muscling and possessing strong breed character.
Benelkay Legacy L122 (PS) and Benelkay Lone Star L050 (P) sold for $10,000 each to Tony Stanford, Widden stud, Denman.
Benelkay Lone Star L050, a Benelkay Hot Shot H074 son, was “the best bull in the yard” measuring in the top 10pc for mature cow weight, top 10pc for 400- and 600-day growth, milk, EMA and top 15pc for retail beef yield.
The 29-month-old bull weighed 832kg with a 39cm scrotal circumference, 9mm and 6mm of rump and rib fat, a 128cm2 EMA and 3.6pc IMF.
The 25-month-old Bullamakinka H82 son, Benelkay Legacy L122, weighed 828kg with a 41cm scrotal circumference, 16mm and 12mm of rump and rib fat, a 124pc EMA and a 4.9pc IMF.
“I was chasing growth and shape in the bulls and dark skins” said Mr Stanford, who runs a 1000 breeder commercial operation in the Hunter Valley.
“I have Santa/Hereford cross cattle and these bulls will go over whiteface second calvers with an aim of adding more muscle.”
His calve are targeted at hitting 450kg by 400 days for feedlot entry.
A Macaire Hallmark H37 son, Benelkay Leader L186 (PS), also sold for $10,000 to G. and G. Farming, “Uralla East”, Gunnedah.
The sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus and settled by Elders Gunnedah, with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, as guest auctioneer.