Summary: 51 bulls offered; top price $16,000; average price $6837; 84pc clearance.
The Comiskey family at Port Wine, east of Alpha, have had a long association with the Santa Gertrudis breed and cemented that with some strong and selective bull purchases at Clermont on Tuesday.
Matt and Ann Comiskey secured seven bulls at the fifth annual Clermont Santa Gertrudis bull sale for an average price of $7857, while Jason and Laura Comiskey outlaid $11,000 for one bull, and PR Black and LL Comiskey, based at Cloyne, Alpha, secured one bull for $5500.
Of the seven bulls, the Comiskeys paid the sale top price of $16,000 for Waco Partner P746 (PS), offered by David and Suzanne Bassingthwaighte of Waco Santa Gertrudis, Mungallala.
Weighing in as one of the heavier bulls in the sale at 985kg, he had an impressive eye muscle area measurement of 150 square centimetres and P8 and rib fat measurements of 12mm and 7mm respectively.
Mr Comiskey said he also liked the temperament of Yarrawonga-Waco bulls, having bought a number since he started with the breed in 1959.
Mr Bassingthwaighte said it was clear that muscle and softness were the main characteristics sought by buyers on the day and Waco Partner was the complete package.
"All vendors felt it was a really pleasing sale today," he said.
"The local support was a standout, especially the way the seasons have been against them for the past few years.
"A lot of good cattlemen were buying here today, so these bulls have gone into some good cow herds."
The Comiskeys also paid the second top price of the sale, $12,000 for Wilamba Hanker 200 (P), offered by Yarrabee Grazing, Dingo.
He tipped the scales at 975kg at 27 months, had P8 and rib fat statistics of 17 and 11mm, and an EMA of 147sq cm.
"The Comiskeys know their cattle," stud principal Will Barlow said, describing the bull as a beautiful beef animal with a great body structure.
It was Jason and Laura Comiskey who gave Yarrawonga its top price for the sale, outlaying $11,000 for one of the last of the 51 bulls sold, Yarrawonga P652 (ET) (AI).
One of the younger bulls in the sale, 22 months old, he weighed 895kg and had an EMA of 147sq cm.
Greg and Jenny New from Nebo set the pace early in the sale, paying $10,000 for the third bull offered, Dunlop P762 (PS).
Described by stud principal Scott Dunlop as a deep bodied bull that was easy doing with good fat cover, he weighed 890kg at 26 months, had P8 and rib fat measurements of 12mm and 8mm, and a scrotal circumference of 43cm.
"Last year was our first here and it's a solid sale for us," he said. "Buyers here appreciate cattle that have seen a few ticks."
Among the sale's volume buyers were the Dennis family of Urella Pastoral, Clermont, who bought four bulls for a top of $10,000 for Yarrawonga Imperial (ET) (PP) and an average of $8250.
Clermont's TJ and HL Jones paid an average $5375 for four bulls while Dale Jones bought three bulls for an average of $5166.
Brett and Kirsty Hayman travelled from Carlow at Blackall to buy three bulls for an average $9333 for Ryan Bros.
Mr Hayman said good temperament, bone and softness had been key in their purchase of Waco P608 (P) for $11,000, as well as his weight for age and poll characteristics.
The bulls will be going over Santa-Hereford cross cows.
Jay and Sue Walker made one $11,000 purchase for the Cumberland Cattle Co when they travelled east from Barcaldine, buying Waco P764 (P).
At the conclusion of the sale, the Dunlop Cattle Co had an 86pc clearance and an average of $5769, Yarrabee Grazing Co had an 83pc clearance and an average of $6100, Waco Santa Gertrudis had a 75pc clearance and an average of $8611, and D and AD Bassingthwaighte had a 91pc clearance and an average of $7318.
- Agent - Landmark