It was a buyers market at the Tropical Invitational Senepol Sale in Gracemere on Monday with a top of $11,000. The sale saw 37 of 67 offered bulls sell for an average of $4216, a gross of $156,000 and a clearance of 57 per cent.
Top priced bull was lot 43 GODM60074 Namoona M74, offered by vendors Col and Blair Godfrey, Namoona Trig Senepols,Casino, NSW and purchased by Gavin and Diane Arneil, The Wee Hirsel,Thangool who paid $11,000 for the 22-month-old bull.
Namoona M74 sired by GODH20036 Namoona Charles Barkley and out of CBNB181 Caribbean B181 is a 710kg bull with an 85pc semen motility and 126sq cm EMA, boasting a 36.5cm scrotal circumference.
Mr and Mrs Arneil are now retired Charolais/Charbray bull breeders and have down downsized from a large number of cattle to just 50 breeders at the Thangool property where the new bull will taken.
Mr Arniel said Namoona M74 qualified for all the things one would look for in a early maturing bull with good length, topline and hind quarter, plus also good volume from his sheath right through to his shoulder.
Returning bulk buyers to the sale were the Perrett family, Bingawarra, Rolleston who purchased seven bulls for a gross of $29,000 and an average of $4142. Another bulk buyer was the Atkinson family, Coorumburra Pastoral Company adding six bulls to the Marlborough home for a gross of $25,000 and an average of $4166.
Col Godfrey said he was very pleased for the buyers as the sale produced good value stock and the prices were a reflection of the conditions that exist in the cattle world at present. He said he had expected good dollars for Namoona M74 as the 22 month-old bull boasted best weight for age in the lots offered by the Namoona Trig stud. Mr Godfrey stated he is looking forward to making the journey from Casino, NSW to return to the sale in 2019. A small selection of heifers were offered at the sale with 0 of the 11 head being sold. Selling agent: SSB, Rockhampton.