LAUCKE-Merrina Poll Hereford stud's commitment to holding an annual sale in Western NSW was again rewarded at the eighth Darling River bull sale on Wednesday last week at Viewmont Station, via Menindee.
In the breakdown, Nick and Paul Laucke and families, Eudunda and Bangham, sold 24 of their 30 bulls for a $3000 average.
The sale was postponed by five days because of rain, but none of the 11 registered bidders were complaining.
The Broken Hill area has been receiving patchy storms for the past two months but in the past four weeks the improvement in the season has been more widespread.
Three bulls made the $4250 high, selling to three different buyers: Peter Sullivan, Yoe Lake, Wilcannia; Condor Laucke, Eudunda, and the Gall family, Langawirra Station via Broken Hill.
Langawirra made a welcome return after a three-year absence, buying three bulls, and Yoe Lake bought the same number.
For the second successive year, GT Trading, Millicent, was the volume buyer, taking home five bulls.
Landmark stud stock manager Malcolm Scroop said it was a good solid sale, considering the season had just kicked into gear.
"Everyone has downsized their herds because cattle have been hard to shift and are moving to sheep. Many people have half their cattle herds but still all their bulls," he said.
* Full report in Stock Journal, April 24, 2014 issue.
Catherine Miller
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
