The Farrer Angus bull sale was held on a much quieter high school campus due to COVID-19 restrictions but it far from impacted the final result and average price up by $2465 on last year.
Wednesday's online-only helmsman auction saw 25 of 28 bulls sell under the hammer for a $5680 average ($3215 in 2019) and a top of $10,500.
It was Farrer P85, a son of Topbos Leading Edge L292 and out of a Tuwharetoa Regent D145 female, who topped the sale to an undisclosed buyer.
The larger framed bull had estimated breeding values in the top 10 per cent for birthweight and top 20 per cent for intramuscular fat. He weighed 820 kilograms just before sale day with a 38 centimetre scrotal circumference.
Topbos Leading Edge L292 progeny along with sons of VAR Discovery were in high demand and both averaged $6875 for their sale representatives.
Despite the changed conditions the agricultural students kept their own live tally of the bids and were able to visualise the results.
Farrer teacher Niaomi Evans said the bulls were one of the heaviest drafts they had offered in some time and drew strong interest and individual inspections.
"It was a really good solid sale especially considering we weren't able to have people on site for the day," she said.
"It was a different experience for the boys.
"Like everyone else we have had to reduce numbers due to the drought so they were a really even line of bulls."
The sale was well supported by repeat buyers. Bulk purchasers included SJ and AM Mitchell, Ellerston, with three bulls averaging $4000, PM and FG Morse, Coolah, with two bulls averaging $4750 and R and P D'Hudson, Loomberah, securing two bulls to average $6500.
The sale was conducted by Elders Tamworth through AuctionsPlus.
Read the full report in The Land next week.
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
