Strong support from repeat clients and the addition of new faces saw the Narromine Invitational Santa Gertrudis sale push to a top of $17,000 at Hannaford on Tuesday.
Of the 54 bulls on offer from the five vendors, 48 sold under auction conditions for a 89 percent clearance rate and average of $5416, with the remainder of the bulls selling at the conclusion of the sale.
Commercial producers Darryl and Carmel Waugh, Doogalook, Meandarra, paid the top price of $17,000 for Narromine T580, a full brother to Narromine T356 which they purchased last year for $15,000.
Offered by Boyd and Susan Rohde, Narromine Stud, Goondiwindi, the 2016 August-drop bull tipped the scales at 882 kilograms and measured 39 centimetres for scrotal circumference.
Sired by Bullamakinka H10, out of Allendale H385, the bull had an eye muscle area (EMA) of 134cm, P8 and rib fat depth of 15mm and 14mm respectively, and an intramuscular fat (IMF) of 4.7.
Mr Waugh said he would be running the pair of bulls over 100 Santa Gertrudis cows.
“I liked his the growth, the scale, eye muscle area and softness,” he said.
“He had a good scrotal size and great morphology.”
A second-top price of $12,000 was paid for Red Mile 46M from vendors Alan and Jocelyn Nock, Red Mile Santas, Mundubbera, by Jack McDonald, Balmoral Farm, Goondiwindi.
The 2016 spring-drop bull weighed in at 817kg and had a scrotal circumference of 39cm, with an EMA of 135cm, P8 and rib fat depth of 13mm and 13mm respectively, and IMF of 5.5.
Several volume buyers dominated the sale with the Freeman family, Meeleebee Downs, Wallumbilla, taking home seven bulls for a top of $7500 and average of $6000, while Garth Christiansen, Campo Santas, Taroom, purchased six bulls for a top of $6500 and average of $5250, and BRF Southern, Breemar Plains, St George, purchased five to a top of $5000 and $4000 average.
Commenting on behalf of the five vendors of the invitational sale, Mr Rohde said the result of the sale was fantastic considering the way the season has been.
“Good draft of bulls, lovely people to work with, a lot of regular buyers back, which we’re really happy about,” he said.
“We’re happy with the clearance and happy with the average, so really overall with the way the weather conditions have been, I’m wrapped.”
The sale was conducted by Landmark Wandoan and TopX Roma, with Colby Ede, Landmark, and Cyril Close, TopX Roma, taking the bids.
