ONGOING confidence in the cattle job was evident at the Alice Springs Show bull sale on Saturday, with the average and clearance rate up on last year.
The $5014 average was $226 up on last year’s $4788.
There were 35 bulls sold from 37 offered, equating to a clearance rate of 94 per cent – up on last year’s 82pc clearance.
The two bulls unsold in the ring were snapped up straight after the sale.
The auction was run by Territory Rural McPherson and livestock manager David Eagleson said it was pleasing that all bulls were sold.
He said the quality line-up offered a great opportunity to local NT buyers.
Lachy and Lou Day, Days Whiteface, Bordertown, South Australia, made the top-price of $8000 with a Poll Hereford, Days Guardian L175.
The 21-month-old bull was knocked down to Ben and Nicole Hayes, who are regular buyers of Days Whiteface cattle. They also bought a further two bulls from Days Whiteface at $6000 each.
Days Whiteface also sold another bull at $4000 to Todd River Pastoral Co, Alice Springs.
Todd River were the major buyers of Poll Hereford bulls, snapping up a further three bulls from the Bennett family’s Bendulla stud, Mundulla, SA, to $5500, and two bulls at $5000 from the Honner family’s Minlacowie stud, Minlaton, SA.
In the breakdown for the different breeds, there were six Angus offered and sold to $6000, averaging $5166.
Eleven Poll Herefords were offered and sold to $8000, averaging $5181, while five Droughtmasters were sold to $6000, averaging $5100.
In the Santa Gertrudis section, six bulls were offered and sold to $7000, averaging $5166.
Two Red Angus bulls were sold in the ring to $6500 and a $4500 av and five Charolais bulls all made $4000 each.
The Fogden family’s Nangaringa Santa Gertrudis stud made the second highest price of $7000, for Nangaringa L432, which was knocked down to Patrick Brown, White Gums Station, via Alice Springs.
Mr Brown also bought a further two bulls from Nangaringa to $6000, while Sandover Pastoral, via Alice Springs, bought three to $5000.
White Gums also bought the supreme champion bull of the show – Jillangolo Keeper – for $6500.
