TWO bulls hit the top price of $10,000 and a 93 per cent clearance was achieved at the annual Merawah Poll Herefords on-property bull sale at Boggabilla on July 16.
In total 38 bulls of the 41 offered sold to a buying panel that stretched from Wagga Wagga to Wandoan, Qld, and averaged $5450.
The first bull to hit the $10,000 mark was Merawah Highlight N029, an 820 kilogram son of Merawah Highlight E62, which sold to Glentown Grazing, Toobeah, Qld.
Merawah Equator N114 by Sevenbardot Equator J228, sold for $10,000 to Bogong Pastoral Co, Condoblin, who averaged $6000 for four bulls.
Okeview Pastoral, Wantabadgery, purchased 12 bulls to a top of $6000, several times for its expanding Hereford operation.
Other volume buyers included Cam Flower, Garrabarra, Surat, who picked up three bulls, paying to a top of $9000 for Merawah Outlander N030, while Ben Groat, Rocky Creek Grazing, St George, Qld, bought three bulls to average $5000.
Also amongst the action was Peter Hill, Gooraman Pastoral Co, Nindigully, Qld, who picked up two bulls to average $7000, and Rob Harri, Coonamble, secured Merawah Blackjack N049 for $7000
With most breeders in southern Queensland and northern NSW in the grip of the worst drought on record, Merawah principal Andrew Mackay said he was pleased with the result, particularly with so many regular clients unable to attend due to vastly reduced cow numbers, while some have completely destocked.
"It was the first time in 40 years the western Queensland and Northern Territory buyers weren't there," he said.
"There was interest in heifer bulls, and thick, easy-doing types that would handle tough conditions."
Elders and GDL conducted the sale, with Paul Dooley as auctioneer.
