Widespread dry conditions is making for a hard season selling bulls, and Waratah Speckle Park felt the impact at their on-property bull sale on Monday.
Support from a strong contingent of Queensland buyers and demand for quality genetics pushed the sale to a top of $20,000 despite the trying season.
Minnamurra Pastoral Company general manager, Dennis Power, took home the top-price bull, Lot 2, Waratah M&M LST M09.
The 2016 winter-drop bull tipped the scales at 760 kilograms and measured 37 centimeters in scrotal circumference, with a rib fat of 8 millimetres, eye muscle area (EMA) of 115 and intramuscular fat (IMF) of 7.6.
Mr Power said he was impressed by the bull’s figures and build considering his age.
“He's a nice, complete little bull with the right type of genetics for our herd,” he said.
“He'll mainly come in as a cover bull in our operation because we get a lot of our genetics brought in from Canada and we do a lot of AI work.
“For us, it’s about finding good bulls we can have as cover bulls and we'll see how he grows out.”
Waratah Speckle Park stud principal, Laiton Turnham, said the results were what they had expected considering the seasonal conditions.
“The good bulls sold well, but the younger bulls didn't sell just due to seasonal conditions, and the young heifers went well,” he said.
“I was really pleased with the draft of bulls this year over last year – their scan data was a whole lot better and they definitely presented well.
“Unfortunately, it's just too dry across New South Wales and a lot of Queensland, but we're always very thankful for our Queensland buyers and I think there is getting to be more interest in these cattle up there.”
Of the 44 bulls offered on the day, 20 sold for a 45 per cent clearance rate, averaging $8300.
The heifer portion of the sale also drew strong interest from Queensland as well as southern parts of NSW and into Victoria, topping at $8000.
Of the 18 females offered, 14 sold for a 78 per cent clearance rate, averaging $5964.
The sale was conducted by Ray White Rural Guyra, with Blake O’Reilly as the auctioneer.
