A top price of $17,500, reached twice, and an average that was a full $2240 higher than last year were the highlights of the 2021 Black Stump bull sale at Blackall on Tuesday.
Ten vendors offered 87 bulls covering 10 different breeds on a day when storms were in the air, resulting in a 64 per cent clearance, and it was Meldon Park Simmentals and Mountview Charolais that shared the top honours between them.
First-time Simmental buyers BJ and Alison Woods, Dalmar, Aramac outlaid $17,500 for Meldon Park Q33 (P) to put across their Brahman heifers.
The 23-month-old bull, the son of Woonallee Lampoon (P) (ET) (AI) and Meldon Park Livin' It Up (P), tipped the scales at 842kg.
As well as an eye muscle area of 145 square centimetres and intramuscular fat of 4.2 per cent, his scrotal circumference was 40cm and semen motility was 75pc.
It's the first time the Woods have ventured into Simmental genetics and they said they liked the length their new sire offered as they experimented with something different.
Meldon Park stud principal Lis Skene said Q33's sire had been bought to breed heifer bulls and would suit the Woods well.
"We've been selling at this sale since it started and this year is all about heifers as people restock," she said. "We've welcomed back some repeat buyers plus some new ones."
Selling seven of eight bulls, the stud averaged $13,357 on the day.
Further along in the sale, Ian and Katrina Bebbington of Mountview Charolais cemented their second year in the catalogue with the sale of Ascot Primetime P552E (P) (R/F) to Maurie and Judy O'Dell at Colorado, Jericho for $17,500.
The two-tooth bull out of Palgrove Kudos K735E (P) (R/F) and Ascot JAJG0106 (ET) (P) had been used in the Mountview stud program.
He weighed 925kg at 31 months and had an EMA of 138sq cm plus P8 and rib fat measurements of 8mm and 7mm.
His scrotal circumference was 38cm and semen motility was 80pc.
The O'Dell's Charolais and Charbray weaners regularly feature among the top prices at Blackall sales and spokesman Paton Fitzsimons, Ray White Blackall, said the new sire would be used in their Charbray cow herd.
"The O'Dells are first-time Mountview buyers - they couldn't go past the bull's poll genetics, his red factor attributes, and his overall confirmation," Mr Fitzsimons said.
The Bebbingtons finished the sale with a 100pc clearance and $11,400 average, compared to last year's result of $6333, and they said they would be back next year on the strength of that result.
"We like to get our bulls to where the buyers are and they're liked here as a terminal sire," Ian Bebbington said.
Also returning for their second year were Mountain Valley Angus and poll Herefords from Coolatai, NSW, opening the sale with a top price of $9500 for the Angus offering, selling Mountain Valley Executive Q926 to the Clews Cattle Co, Alpha.
All six of their Angus sires were sold for a $6000 average.
While three of the five Hereford bulls they put up sold, they finished with a $12,666 average and a top price of $14,000, paid by the Appleton Cattle Co of Alpha.
They selected Mountain Valley Quill Q152 (AI) (ET) (P), 24 months, weighing 832kg and P8 and rib fat measurements of 12mm and 9mm.
Also read: Buyer's market at 2019 Black Stump bull sale
A Braford bull offered by the McNamara family's Strathgyle stud at Bell achieved the sale's second top price of $16,500, 100pc clearance of their catalogue and an average price of 410,583.
Sunny Lawns Braford stud principal Neil Pacholke, based at Clifton, made his sole purchase of the day with a 25-month-old poll bull out of Rarcamba Gamble and a Strathgyle registered female.
The bull weighed 826kg, had P8 and rib fat measurements of 12mm and 9mm, an EMA of 133sq cm, a scrotal circumference of 41cm, and semen motility of 85pc.
Noanga Simmentals, Curlewis, NSW sold their two Simmental bulls for a top price of $12,000.
At the rear of the catalogue, Kangarin red Brahmans had the next highest top price, $8000, and each of their three bulls snapped up.
They sold one of three Simbrah bulls for $6000, and one Charbray bull for $4000.
Of the Angus, Brangus, Charbray, Simbrah and Droughtmaster bulls offered by GM and LJ Bartolo from Nebo, it was a Simbrah bull, BCC Fletcher, that brought the highest price, $7500, to PW and DC Heinemann.
Tungamah Farming, Hereward, Morella, took home four bulls on the day, three Simmentals and one Brahman.
GR and SJ Marshall, Lissoy, Blackall also purchased four bulls, one Charbray and three Droughtmaster.
Cameron Crozier and Tara Rule, Tyrone, Charleville, and Bob and Kathy Crozier, Charleville, bought six bulls between them.
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