Commercial producers made the trip to Roma on Wednesday for the LVH Fairfield Charolais bull sale, where bulls sold to a top of $9000 twice.
A breakdown of the sale saw 42 of 58 Charolais bulls sell for an average of $5083, and eight of 10 Charolais Composite bulls sell for a $5250 average, achieving a total clearance rate of 73.5 per cent.
Tom Hartley, Coopermurra, Mitchell, paid top money for 27-month-old Charolais bull Fairfield Nemo.
A son of Palgrove Celtic C632 (P), the bull tipped the scales at 998kg and had a scrotal measurement of 40cm, with an eye muscle area of 137sq cm, intramuscular fat of 5pc, and rump and rib fat depths of 10mm and 7mm, respectively.
Mr Hartley was also the top volume buyer, taking home 10 bulls for an average of $5500.
A repeat buyer at Fairfield, Mr Hartley said his draft of bulls would go over Brahman crossbred cows.
"Length and confirmation are the main things I'm looking for," Mr Hartley said.
"We've been buying for a few years here now, the bulls stand up well and they're good, dependable bulls; they don't break down and they don't do things wrong."
Mr Hartley said like many people he was short on grass, but his cattle were still looking good.
"Normally you'd expect a bit more of a break by this time of the season and it's been a pretty poor season for the whole district," he said.
The $9000 top was reached a second time at the end of the catalogue, when the Murray family, Toalki, Surat, purchased 29-month-old Fairfield Nobleman.
Sired by Fernvale Flip F4 (P), the polled composite weighed 862kg and measured 37.5cm in scrotal circumference, with an EMA of 135sq cm, IMF of 5.3pc, and rump and rib fat depths of 13mm and 11mm, respectively.
A second-top price of $8000 was paid by the Smith family, Iona, Wallumbilla, for Fairfield Nomad.
Sired by Fernvale Embassy E46, the 24-month-old Charolais bull weighed 901kg and had a scrotal circumference of 40cm, with an EMA of 136sq cm and IMF of 5pc.
Other volume buyers included George and Jenny Bambling, Glenavon, Aramac, who took home eight bulls for an average of $4125, Radel & Sons, Yebna, Injune, purchased four bulls for a $5125 average, and Murray and Zita Bonisch, Lau Mar, Injune, who also put together a draft of four bulls for an average of $4750.
Stud principal Lindsay Hindle said they were thankful for the support of repeat clients given the tough climate.
"We're just lucky to sell what we did really; we could have been taking half of them home, so we're really happy," Mr Hindle said.
"We're fairly proud of this year's lineup, particularly the number of polls.
"We've been trying for so long to breed that broad-headed poll sire that still has a bit of grunt and a bit of frame and can deliver that bit extra."
Mr Hindle said it had been a tough year to grow out bulls to achieve the frame they'd like, but he felt the offering had presented itself well.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Watkins and Company.
