IT was a challenging start to bull sales in the South East yesterday morning, with the clearance and average back at the 4th annual Lakeside Simmental sale at Robe.
There were 18 bulls sold out of 27 offered, for an average of $3805, which was $1375 back on the previous year.
The top was also back on last year, at $8500 compared to $11,000.
Making the highest price was Lakeside Nolin-N045, a 22-month-old sire that weighed 880 kilograms.
It had 5 millimetres of rump fat, 5mm of rib fat and an eye muscle area of 128 square centimetres.
Nolin was sired by Woonallee King Pin and out of Callendale Elon.
It was bought by Olinda Grazing Co, Baralaba, Qld.
Lakeside’s ‘Heart of the Herd” female production sale produced mixed results.
The sale was particularly tough on the pregnancy-tested in-calf heifers, with only four out of 16 selling, for an average of $3125 and top of $3500.
But the clearance was much better on stud cows, which had 2018-drop calves at their side and had been rejoined.
There were 25 units sold from 31 offered, for an average of $3940 and $6250 top.
The top price was paid for Waterfront Fran-F49, which was sired by Woonallee Choice C27 and out of Waterfront Cristiana-C135.
Fran’s daughters have been retained in the Lakeside herd and its son featured as lot two in the sale.
Lakeside principal Lily Xu said all of the older females offered had excellent breeding records.
“The breeding cows all had lovely calves alongside them, and were all PTIC,” she said.
“The sale was an opportunity to showcase our top genetics.”
The sale was conducted by Elders, with southern livestock manager Laryn Gogel auctioneering.
“We assumed it would be tough enough to get everything sold,” he said.
“The clearance on the bulls was OK but at very affordable rates.
“The heifer results were very sticky, compared to the quality on offer.
“The mature matrons with calves at-foot sold pretty well, but were definitely good value buying.”
