FRIDAY'S Diamond Poll Hereford bull sale sparkled as widespread competition from stud and commercial whiteface breeders produced one of the highest averages for the long-running sale.
The state's final Poll Hereford bull sale for the season, at Yoho, Frances, posted a very healthy 91 per cent clearance, 40 bulls selling at a $4687 average - a jump of more than $1000 on last year.
The 28 registered bidders from SA, NT, Vic and NSW were impressed by the depth of quality in the catalogue offered by the four vendors - rich red-coated bulls with good muscle pattern, softness and well-balanced Breedplan figures.
The Lower South East and western Vic beef industry turned out in force, accounting for 15 bulls, and a couple of pastoral orders from Centralia really underpinned the sale's success.
The Weir family, Todd River Pastoral, Alice Springs, NT, bought 30 per cent of the catalogue - 13 bulls averaging $3846, and bid on many more.
NT station Lilla Creek paid the $9500 top for Yambro Conrad J34 offered by sale hosts David and Sue Bennett, with Elders Naracoorte livestock manager Tom Dennis bidding on behalf of the Costello family, Crown Point Pastoral Co, who bought through Elders Alice Springs.
The son of homebred sire Conrad E64 was one of the youngest in the catalogue - a late-July 2013-drop.
He had a great phenotype and a Breedplan figure of +4.0 for eye muscle - in the top 15 per cent of the breed.
"He is one of the best bulls I have bred and will be good for the industry," Mr Bennett said.
"He has tremendous meat and quality, is structurally sound and is as square as any calf."
Crown Point secured two other Yambro bulls at $4000 and $5000.
KC&SD Higgs paid the $9000 equal second-top for another terrific carcase bull Yambro Fed through P&L Livestock, Mount Gambier.
At the same money fellow vendors Rod, Gayle and Brad Davies, Wrattenbullie stud, Wrattonbully, sold Wrattenbullie Jolly for stud duties. The 23-month-old AI-bred son of Yavenvale Einstein E344 was bought by Rex, Trish and Narelle Forrest, Rosstulla stud, Beechworth, Vic, who have been breeding Hereford cattle for 51 years.
The Pearce family, YavenVale stud, Adelong, NSW, made the other stud purchase at $6000 for another Yambro Conrad E64 son.
EJ&SK McGrath, Mount Gambier, bought the $5500 highest-price bull in the Bendulla draft for a 22-month-old son of Nova Peru.
Long-time sale supporters P&S Byrnes, Wentworth, NSW, put three bulls on their buying card at a $3333 average.
Mr Bennett said it as a "good solid sale - there was widespread competition and the bulls presented well".
Landmark stud stock manager Gordon Wood said it was a pleasure to see the vendors achieve such a good clearance and the top-end bulls deservedly sold above some years' prices.
"The top-end bulls were modern Poll Hereford bulls that the industry needs - soft, easy fleshing, structurally correct and mid maturity pattern," he said.
"It also goes to show what a difference pastoral interest makes to some of these sales."
Elders and Landmark were joint selling agents with Ronnie Dix and Gordon Wood auctioneers.
Catherine Miller
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
Stock Journal's livestock editor and South East correspondent.
