STRONG bidding from repeat clients pushed prices to a high of $10,000, twice, at the seventh annual Tookey Creek and Jarrah Park Santa Gertrudis bull sale at “Wilga”, Bellata, on Monday.
Twenty six of the 34 bulls offered by the MacCue family sold, averaging $6000.
Most buyers were repeat clients, many of whom sell their weaners back to the MacCue family’s feedlot each year.
Inverell client Tim Moses, “Tralee”, took home both sale toppers, paying $10,000 each for Tookey Creek Lindt L46 and Tookey Creek Lukus L92.
Lindt was a 22-month-old son of Moongana Hilux H2230 and Tookey Creek B45 who weighed 894 kilograms, had an eye muscle area (EMA) of 132 square centimetres, a scrotal circumference of 43 centimetres and rump and rib fat of 14 millimetres and 9mm respectively.
Lukus, a 22-month-old bull also by Hilux and from Tookey Creek H67, weighed 778kg, measured 42cm in the scrotum and 15mm and 9mm on the rump and rub, and had a 120cm2 EMA.
Mr Moses also purchased one of two $9000 bulls, Jarrah Park Limitless L3, a 24-month-old son of Jarrah Park Grazier G1 and Cardone Elenor M174.
He weighed 830kg, had an EMA of 122cm2, rib and rump fat of 11mm and 18mm, and a scrotal circumference of 39cm.
Mr Moses said he was looking for strong growth characteristics for his commercial herd, which is focused on the weaner market.
He’s been selling his pure Santa Gertrudis weaners back to the MacCue family to go through the Wilga feedlot, with the MacCues taking all his weaners in the past few years.
The bulls he purchased had daily weight gains of 1.32, 1.118, 1.2 and 1.21 kilograms.
“One bull had a terrific EMA, but I was looking for good daily weight gains,” Mr Moses said.
The other $9000 bull, Tookey Creek Larrikin, went to S Kidman and Company, Rocky Bank Station, Roma, Queensland.
The 23-month-old bull was another Hilux son, and from Tookey Creek C15. He weighed 828kg, had an EMA of 120cm2, and measured 14mm and 10mm on the rump and rib, and 43cm in scrotal size.
Mr Moses was also the sale’s volume buyer, taking home four bulls for an average of $9000.
John Smith, Woodenbong, bought three bulls averaging $6000, and the Dewitt family, Casino, and Lowther Partnership, Ashford, each purchased three bulls for $4000 each.
Jarrah Park stud principal Mike MacCue said he was pleased to see so many repeat clients at the sale.
The sale was conducted by Bob Jamieson Agencies, Inverell, with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, at the rostrum.