THE grey bulls stole the show at the Gold City Brahman Sale last week when the Hammer family’s Annavale N 809 sold for $15,000.
Down from an advertised 135 bulls, the sale saw 64 bulls sold of 69 offered for a 92 per cent clearance.
The sale grossed $322,000 for an average of $5031.
Of the five bulls not sold, one bull, Annavale N 816, was passed in for $11,000 to V Bryans, Tolga, after failing to meet the $15,000 reserve.
The top priced sire was late in the catalogue and until then, the dual top price was $9000 for two red bulls, Palm Creek 6/41 who sold to Jeff and Karen Johnson, Glendale Station, Giru, and Wallton Downs Red Hot who sold to Windosrvale Grazing, Charters Towers.
Mr and Mrs Johnson were the bulk buyers of the sale, and went home with nine red bulls grossing $53,500 for an average of $5944.
Annavale N809, a 25 month old bull, had a scrotal circumference of 37cm and a sperm motility of 70 per cent.
The two dual second-top priced bulls, Palm Creek 6/41, and Wallton Downs Red Hot, were both impressive in the books.
The Palm Creek bull, 24 months old, recorded a scrotal circumference of 35.5cm, and a motility semen test of 85 per cent.
Wallton Downs Red Hot boasted an EMA of 144cm sq, and a scrotal circumference of 41.5cm at 39 months old age.
Ms Hammer said Annavale N 809 was the best bull the small Charters Towers stud had ever bred.
“He’s just a very nice bull,” she said.
“He’s got a great polled head, a great temperament – everything is just there.”
Annavale N 809 was by the Laguna Zephyr’s Jewel side, and was the first bull of his line to be offered.
Purchaser Rob Waugh said the sire would be headed straight to Yungaburra to go in with his Brahman heifers.
Mr Waugh runs a commercial herd with 60 breeders.
He said Annavale N809 was the most expensive bull he had ever purchased.
“I just like the bull, he’s a nice bull, and we always wanted another good polley bull because we’re breeding polleys, so we just wanted that bull,” he said.
The top sire was Annavale’s vendor choice bull, of the three they offered.
The third bull sold for $8500 to the Gilmore family, Cranford, Torrens Creek.
The Hammers run a stud herd of 120 cows and a commercial breeding herd of 180.
They have been selling at the Gold City sale since about 2005, and this was the first time they have topped the sale.
Ms Hammer said it was very exciting, and a great reward for hard work.
Also buying up at the sale was Swans Lagoon, Millaroo, (via Ayr), who went home with five bulls, one red and four greys.
Their purchases grossed $29,000 for an average of $5800.
Going home with four bulls was WH Carter and Co, Wyangaria Station, Richmond, who took home four red bulls.
The bulls grossed $15,000 for an average of $3750.
Also with four bulls was Burge Grazing, Lamonds Lagoon Station, Mt Garnet.
Their four bulls, three reds and a grey, grossed $13,000 for an average of $3250.
The Moody family, Square Post Station, Mingela, purchased four grey bulls in the sale. Grossing $15,500, they averaged $3875.
Also leaving with four grey bulls in tow was Ken Atkinson, Glen Harding, Mt Garnet, grossing $17,000 to average $4250.
Selling agents: Landmark and Elders.