THE QUALITY was certainly on show at the Charters Towers Santa Gertrudis Bull Sale held on Friday at the Dalrymple Saleyards, but unfortunately continued extenuating circumstances primarily the prolonged dry led to a very limited gallery of buyers attending the sale.
In summary 22 registered bulls sold for $81,000 to average $3681.82/head with a high of $11,000, while seven herd bulls averaged $2857.14 for a gross of $20,000 and a top price of $4000.
In total 29 bulls sold for a total sale gross of $101,000 to average $3483 for a clearance rate of 47 per cent.
Landmark Stud Stock auctioneer Trent McKinlay said the sale result was in-line with his expectations going in due to the tough selling conditions that have prevailed around the North for the past two years.
“The vendors knew prior to the sale that it was going to be hard work getting prices equal to the quality on offer,” Mr McKinlay said.
“But they’re committed to attending the sale through good times and bad, which is admirable,” he said.
“We can only hope they get a good, consistent deluge of rain in the region before December, 2015, to get the sale back on track.”
The high point of the sale came early when Lot 10 Yarrawonga J862 created a lot of interest among potential buyers before the winning bid was made by Lawrence Shadforth, Slogan Downs, Charters Towers for $11,000.
Mr Shadforth told the North Queensland Register he was impressed with 24-month-olds’ length, depth, good bone structure and quiet temperament.
“He ticked every box I was looking for in a bull at the sale; he’ll be going straight to work with the breeders when he gets home.”
The top volume buyer at the sale was Loid Appleton, Appleton Pastoral Company, Bulliwallah Station, Charters Towers, who took home seven bulls for $18,500.
Other volume buyers included Tom Knuth, L D Knuth & Co Trust, St Pauls Station, Charters Towers, who bought six bulls for $15,500; John Toohey, Glen Dhu Station, Mt Garnet, who purchased four head for $11,000; and Graham Curley, Bendigo Grazing Company, Bendigo Park, Cloncurry, snapped up three bulls for $13,500.
David and Andrew Bassingthwaighte, Yarrawonga Waco Santa Gertrudis stud, Yarrawonga, Wallumbilla, were the top volume vendors of the sale, selling 12 bulls for $53,000.
The Muller family from KM Cattle Company sold eight head for $22,500; Peter and Nikki Mahoney, Gyranda Santa Gertrudis Stud, Theodore, sold seven bulls for $20,000 and Maurie Barlow, Yarrabee Santa stud, Dingo, sold two bulls for $5,500.