Commercial Santa Gertrudis first calf heifers with stud quality phenotype caught the eye of two keen bidders at the Yulgilbar special female sale on Thursday pushing the top price to $4540.
The long-winded tussle volleyed between under bidder and repeat Yulgilbar buyer Norm Black, Ayrdale Santa Gertrudis Stud at Federal, and the successful bidders, Gabby and Jay Boxhall, Pappinbarra on the Hastings.
Mr Black eventually secured Santa heifers to Yulgilbar bulls for $3120.
The under-cover sale in Casino, at the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange, kept out torrential rain, a lot of it drumming down the night before, but the 715 head of Santa and Santa cross - by Angus, Hereford and Red Angus - were comfortably dry and quiet.
Cows with calves averaged $3496.
Sangus cows with calves by Dulverton, Texas, Booroomooka, Prime Time and Glen Isa bulls reached $3620 going to Dyraaba Station, Kyogle while others went to Thora through Elders Dorrigo, to a top of $3500.
Sangus heifers tested in calf to Yulgilbar bulls and wearing red tail tags sold to a top of $3300 going to Col Kyte Glen Innes, who expects the extra indicus will forage better on the rougher country. He plans to put them to Angus bulls and will sell calves into the feeder market.
Repeat Yulgilbar bull buyer Patrick Kunsch from Gum Scrub, on the north arm of the Hastings, bought Sangus red taggers for $2700, through Kempsey Stock and Land, which also purchased Sangus put to Santa bulls for $2640 going to Kevin and Earl Ball, Bellbrook, who bred the heifers in the first place but had to part with them at 300kg after the fires.
"For the price they are getting for selling old cows they are able to buy their breeders back," said agent Ben Tyson.
Most of the heifers were Hereford/Santa, many bred locally and all using Yulgilbar bulls, with the top pen selling to $3000, going back to sale hosts George and Fuhrmann.
Scott Easterbrook, Clovass, keen to replace his breeding herd after de-stocking completely last year, came away with 54 Hereford/Santa heifers, in calf to average $2400 and top at $2700.
Repeat Yugilbar client Alan Griffin, Kempsey, bought 36 Hereford/Santa heifers, in calf, to stock Glen Rock, after a decision to move away from fattening bullocks into breeders, paying to $2560.
"I might make $400 a year from a bullock or this way with weaners maybe $1000 a year," he said. "I'm happy with the price on the day."
Undetectable Hereford/Santa heifers, wearing green tags, European accredited, went to Mike Benn, East Lynne via Warwick, for $2000.
Red Angus heifers in calf to Yulgilbar bulls made from $1940 to $2320 with most going to Alan Love, Round Mountain on the Tweed.
Auctioneer on the day was Darren Perkins, George and Fuhrmann, Casino.
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