BUYERS from three states bid up for their top picks at the 14th annual Green Triangle Murray Grey Sale at Western Flat on Wednesday producing a higher average than 2023.
But unfortunately there were not enough of them in the stands or online to avoid a disappointing clearance rate with only 40 per cent of the bulls selling.
Ten of the 26 bulls catalogued by Geoff and Kate Buick, Arki stud and Denise and Anthony Fabris, Beeamma stud, averaged $7100- up $300 on 2023's result when 20 bulls sold.
In the final SA bull sale for the season, Arki stud secured the $9500 top price honours with lot 7, Arki Three Musketeers T82 - a September 2022 drop which had been the winner of the 10-14 month old class at the 2023 Royal Adelaide Show.
The 816 kilogram bull which exhibited a lot of softness had the Breedplan figures to match with positive rib and rump fat. It ranked in the top 1pc for milk at +12.
Jason and Tanya Henty-Anderson, Henty, Vic, put in the winning bid through AuctionsPlus, to secure the son of Ayr Park Nugget N34- a bull which Arki have used extensively since buying him in 2018 and which also sired their 2023 sale topper.
Arki sold seven of their 17 bulls for a $7143 average, while Beeamma sold three of their nine bulls for a $7000 average.
The Fabris family's top price of $8000 came at lot 12, Beeamma Trademark T2, for a versatile bull which could be used over both cows and heifers. It had a low birth weight of +3.1.
The 25 month old which weighed 784kg sold to LW&WJ Willis, Wagga Wagga, NSW.
The Willises also bought the $7500 second highest price bull from Arki stud, lot 5, T-Rex T29.
Bidding was also hit and miss on any impressive draft of commercial heifers which had calved in the past few weeks.
DB&AM Slattery, Mount Gambier, paid $1800 for the first pen of five from the Buicks which had calves on the ground sired by Wattyvale Nitro Circus N4. The Slatterys also took the second pen at $1700 from the Fabris family.
For the same money, Elders Lucindale's Ronnie Dix also made the most of the good buying snapping up three pens of five commercial heifers from Arki. Seven other pens were passed in, including two pens still to calve.
Arki stud principal Geoff Buick said it had been a "tough day but put the result down to the lacklustre cattle market.
"I thought the bulls presented really well across both studs but the industry is at an eight or nine year low, we are hopefully only one or two rains away from a lift but we need it to cover not just here but the whole of NSW and Vic," he said.
Elders SA stud stock manager and the sale's auctioneer Tony Wetherall said it was a "terrific line-up" and opportunity for anyone looking for a herd improver or wanting to start a stud with some top females.
"They had good growth, softness and easy doing ability and were great genetic packages," he said.
"Anyone looking for a Murray Grey bull whether they wanted a vealer type or one to improve a cow herd, they were there.
"Unfortunately Murray Greys are not black which makes it a bit harder but the quality on offer was really good."
Elders Naracoorte conducted the sale.
