Murray Grey bull and female both hit $10,500

Held in lieu of the Murray Grey National Show and Sale which was cancelled due to planning issues, the auction conducted by Elders stud stock had 37 purchasers from six states fueled the buying, resulting in a sale clearance of 73 per cent.

The $10,500 top-priced female was five-year-old Monterey Annabelle M213 offered by Monterey Murray Greys, Karridale, WA, purchased by Bennooka Park, Bega.

Sired by Monterey Hudson H296, she was in the top five per cent for 200- and 400-day weight and the top 10 pc for milk.

She sold with a 10-month-old heifer calf-at-foot sired by Melaleuca Pharaoh P111 and was pregnancy-tested-in-calf (PTIC) to Monterey Monarch M278.

Purchased sight-unseen, Bennooka Park's Stephen Robertson said he had a lot of confidence in the Monterey cattle and that she was "the pick of the bunch".

"I have had plenty of time to look at what is in that cow and I am hoping she has a bull calf because I really like the breeding of the bull she is bred to and what that grand dam has been producing," he said.

Equaling the $10,500 price was Maefair Raphael R27, offered by Maefair Murray Greys, Marrar, and purchased by Nangara Murray Greys, Manjimup, WA.

The 19-month-old son of Monterey Mighty Man M79 weighed 752 kilograms at the end of March.

Maefair said they only keep five bulls each year from its 75 registered females so it offers the best it has.

Nangara stud principal, Cameron Harris, said he was chasing the breeding of the bull, in particular his sires line.

"His sire is breeding really well," he said. "I had someone have a look at him [Maefair Raphael R27] for me and they liked his style and said he was the pick of the mob there".

"He is the type of bull that will suit my breeding program and will go straight in to the stud operation".

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Semen packages topped at $105 per straw, twice, firstly for a package of 12 straws of Tintara Pedro, who was the second top-priced bull at the Top of The Range Murray Grey sale in 2020. It was offered by Tintara Murray Greys, Armidale, and purchased by Ashvell Murray Greys, Maitland, SA.

The second top-priced package was a replacement lot of 10 straws of Monterey Reflection R27 offered by Jomal Glen Murray Greys, Harden, and purchased by K and N Weismantel, Aldavillla, SA.

One embryo package was offered in the sale, and included four embryos of Monterey Cora X78 by Willalooka Pharaoh P47. These were offered by Elburn Murray Greys, Stanley, Tas, and purchased by Southend Murray Greys, Katanning, WA, for $450 per embryo.

Southend stud also paid $5600 for the flush package of Prairie Falls Bettina N6 who was the 2022 Sydney Royal Show grand champion Murray Grey female. This was offered by Prairie Falls Livestock.

Commercial cattle were also offered with a 93 pc clearance rate. Cows and calves reached $4200 a head twice, firstly for a pen of four, offered by CL Harris, Yornup, SA and purchased by Mark Pinantoni, Collie, WA, and also for a single cow and calf to offered by Wattledene Murray Greys, Myers Flat, Vic and bought by Fiona Pearse, Cambrain Hill, Vic.

Pens of heifers reached $3060/hd and a pen of steers sold to $1710/hd. Both of these pens were purchased though Jim Hindmarsh and Son, Moss Vale, and were offered by Dajory Murray Greys, Shepparton, Vic, and WE and VH Alexander, Lewis Ponds,

A run of flood-affected cattle were also offered in the sale with Aurora Palathine N26 reaching $3500 to S Backo Pty Ltd, Bendalong.

These flood affected cattle had endured two floods in the past three months and were grazing on sodden pastures which resulted in loss of condition.

S Backo was the volume buyer in the sale purchasing an additional four females for an average of $2800.

Jenni O'Sullivan, from selling agents Elders, said "results wise, it went really well".

"We did sell to all states so naming it an all states sale proved to be frugal," she said.

Sale breakdown:

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