Buyers from four states are set to receive a slice of the cattle sold at Saturday's Murray Grey Premier Sale, despite a low clearance rate which reflected the "tough market conditions".
The Albury Showgrounds sale recorded a clearance of four of 15 bulls to a top price of $7000 to average $5500, nine of 13 heifers to $3500 to average $2527 and seven of 21 cow and calf units to $7000 to average $4713 at the 34th multi-vendor sale.
The sale attracted 16 buyers and 15 vendors, with the top-priced bull bought and sold by graziers in South Australia.
Katrina and Steven Sanders, Ballyvaughan Murray Grey stud, Clare Valley, SA, sold the $7000 bull to a buyer just 200 kilometres away at Jervois, SA, despite the bull travelling a round trip of 1800km to Albury for the auction.
"We are excited to sell two of the three animals we sent over because it was a pretty tough sale overall," Ms Sanders said.
"It was a great opportunity for us from South Australia to send our genetics over to those on the east coast so those at the sale could access the genetics more easily."
The Sanders family established the stud in 2001 and said it was their second year in the multi-vendor sale and first time topping such an auction.
"We thought really highly of the grey top-priced bull because his paternal sister was the supreme Murray Grey exhibit at the Royal Adelaide Show this year," Ms Sanders said.
"His sire, Wallawong Yippee, was an AI sire that we've used extensively in the stud with great results.
"We also sold a pregnancy-tested-in-calf heifer and she was one of the best from her drop, so we were willing to give someone else an opportunity."
Greg Samuel, Glenellen Cattle Co, Jervois, SA, bought the top-priced bull because of his dataset which stood out from the moment he inspected the line-up of cattle.
"We focus on the breeder replacement index and supermarket index and both of these were in the top one per cent of breed or marginally outside top 1pc," he said.
"He has excellent growth traits and moderate birthweight and calving ease traits.
"We are taking a long-term view of the market and expect it to bounce back in the next 12 to 18 months, so we're happy to continue to invest in quality genetics while prices are down."
Murray Grey Sale chair Geoff Buick, Western Flat, SA, said two thirds of the cattle were on display at the Albury Showgrounds and the event was run in conjunction with an educational youth weekend.
"It was a very positive thing for the breed because there were really good numbers across the weekend," he said.
Elders Victoria and Riverina stud stock agent Jenni O'Sullivan said the buying gallery was spread from WA through southern Australia and up to Orange.
Monterey Murray Greys, Karridale, WA, sold the two top-priced cow and calf units for $7000 to buyers at Lake Muir, WA, and Bega.
Bryce Eishold
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
Bryce is a senior journalist with Australian Community Media's Stock & Land where he reports on all aspects of agriculture. Bryce is also the president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Email Bryce at bryce.eishold@stockandland.com.au.
