A soaring average and a full clearance of the catalogue marked a very successful sale for the Lethbridge family in their 85th year of breeding poll Herefords at Warren Point near Mitchell.
Even a brisk south westerly whipping up dust couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of new and repeat buyers at Friday's sale, resulting in an average of $8760 and all 50 bulls offered sold.
The average was a big jump on the $5370 realised last year, thanks to solid competition in the stands, and the top price of $16,000 was on a par with the 2020 result.
Not only did Warrick and Kell Freeman, Meeleebee Downs at Wallumbilla pay the top price, they paid the top five prices on their way to being the sale's volume buyers.
TopX's Carl Warren successfully purchased a dozen bulls for the Freemans, one for $16,000, two for $15,000 and two for $14,000, and an average of $11,833.
The top bull was Warren Point Lenard Q151 (P), a 25-month-old son of Sevenbardot Aberdeen J362 (AI) (P) and Warren Point Lenora K150 (P).
His average daily weight gains were consistently above Breedplan averages, while his crush side motility statistic was 90 per cent, morphology was 82pc, and his scrotal circumference was 40cm.
The Freemans are repeat buyers, with morphology, scrotal size and eye muscle area high on their priority list, according to Mr Warren, as well as bone and a deep body.
"The top bull was very soft and deep barreled, with exceptional bone and carcase," he said.
The Freemans run three herds, the first a straight Hereford breeder herd that the new sire prospects will be going into, along with an F1 Hereford/Brahman herd, and another where they put Santa Gertrudis sires over the F1 progeny to get an F2 cross.
They were also volume buyers at the inaugural Waco Santa Gertrudis bull sale, selecting 11 bulls there.
Lenard's sire was bought into the stud by Rob Lethbridge from the Gunns at Sevenbardot, and Chris Lethbridge said they had a lot of their sires through their herd as they bred very similar cattle.
"This one is a good, thick bull, just what we aim to breed for commercial buyers - they've got to have length and thickness," he said.
Two bulls were sold for $13,000, to the Struss family's JJ7 Partnership at Mitchell, and to Andrew and Gabby Wilkinson, Barford, Augathella.
Other volume buyers included R and K Thorne, Homeleigh, Mitchell, buying seven bulls for an average $7714, and Wansey Downs P/L No 2, who also bought seven bulls, for an average $6285.
Although no sales were made through AuctionsPlus, the platform had 1500 catalogue viewers, which was described as very much above average.
- Selling agent - TopX, simulcast by AuctionsPlus
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