Summary: 33 bulls offered; top price $22,000; average price $8462; 87 per cent clearance.
The Wolff family's new arena for their inaugural on-property bull sale at Emerald ricocheted with the sound of bids on Tuesday, being fired in from a knowledgeable audience keen to ensure the sires on offer had their name in the purchasing column.
While none of the first eight lots on offer were sold below $10,000, it was Canowindra Shot Gun S23 (PS) that commanded the highest price, $22,000 paid by the Walker family, Gillespie Grazing at Blackall.
Alec Walker said the memory of the Canowindra bull his father had bought around 15 years ago was in his mind when they came to this year's sale in search of some new genetics to put with their Gillespie stud cows.
"The bull's daily weight gain, his length and his height, and his beautiful temperament, really impressed us," he said.
Shot Gun's sire Diamond H Real Force R117 (P) also sired Canowindra Reality, named senior champion Santa Gertrudis bull at the Ekka this year so buyers can be assured he had the runs on the board.
His daily weight gain of 1.39kg was particularly commented on by vendor Jason Wolff.
At 23 months Shot Gun weighed 1025kg, had an eye muscle area of 143 square centimetres, P8 and rib fat measurements of 14mm and 9mm, and a scrotal circumference of 43cm.
The Walkers also purchased Canowindra Soldier S12 (P) (AI) for $4500 but were pushed all the way with their main purchase by regular Santa Gertrudis customers Jan Clark and John Robbins.
The Enniskillen Pastoral Co bought three bulls for Mt Enniskillen at Blackall and one bull for Mantuan Downs at Springsure, outlaying an average $11,750.
They included Canowindra Rockafeller R108 (PS), a big volume bull noted for being active in the paddock, bought for $13,000.
An older bull at 28 months, he weighed 1040kg, had P8 and rib fat measurements of 14mm and 12mm, and an EMA of 145sq cm.
The sire destined for Mantuan Downs, also purchased for $13,000, Canowindra Signature (PS) was younger at 19 months and weighed in at 915kg.
By Yarrawonga Actor F446 (P), he had the biggest daily weight gain of the catalogue, of 1.48kg.
Ms Clark said past Canowindra purchases had suited their country, showing great breed characteristics plus excellent temperaments and weight for age properties.
"It's business as usual for us - we can't operate the properties without bulls," she said of the purchases made as the Clark and Tait property divestment process was underway.
Doug and Sharon Carruthers, Wendouree, Alpha paid the second top price of the sale, $14,000 for Canowindra Starcraft S131 (P), sired by Canowindra Magnum M5 (P).
At 23 months he weighed 940kg, had a daily weight gain of 1.27kg and an EMA of 144sq cm.
The Kersh family from Bora Station, Richmond were the sale's volume buyers with five bulls, paying an average $3700.
They included Canowindra S4, a herd bull whose dam's mother was Droughtmaster Jembrae Sweetie (P).
The Raymond Cattle Co, Springsure, Mindi Grazing at Cloncurry, and Tony Harrold, Emerald, each bought three bulls.
Derek and Carlene Baker, Tally-Ho, Springsure, offered five herd bulls at the sale and sold two under the hammer.
Mr Baker said the result was as expected, given it was the first time they'd had bulls in a sale ring for 15 years and hadn't much public exposure.
"We've been a Canowindra client for a long time - Canowindra Orbiter was one of our early sires," he said.
The Wolff family also offered semen packages for Ekka 2019 senior champion Canowindra Reality and Canowindra Magnum, the son of World Congress 2012 grand champion, Canowindra Jag, who the stud used in their own AI programs.
Magnum died of a stifle injury last year and his semen package, 50 straws were bought by Nioa Pastoral, Allora, for $2500.
Santa Gertrudis general manager Chris Todd was in attendance at the sale and described the outcome as another outstanding result for the breed considering seasonal conditions.
Counting only the 25 classified bulls in the sale, the Wolffs had a 96pc clearance for an average of $8860.
This was greater than last year's average of $6402 but the 2018 top price of $25,000 eclipsed this year's high.
Read more: Canowindra bull sale cracks $25,000
Brielle Wolff said they had benefited from rain in areas where their bulls are sold to, describing the sale as very consistent bidding.
Mr Todd, who has another six sales to attend in the 31-sale northern Santa Gertrudis circuit, said sales had been made to areas ranging from Alice Springs and Geraldton to north west Queensland and down to Jundah in the lower central west.
- Agents - Elders, Landmark