Herefords to $6500

The five-star Breedplan Completeness rated stud averaged $3166 for their bull sale, which stud principal David Jenkin described as "tough enough".

The Jenkin family elite offering of bulls boasted figures that supported the stud's aim to produce easy calving and high yielding bulls but was met with conservative bidding.

Andrew Bell of Millicent, SA, pushed the sale limit to $6500 for the son of Wirruna Echuca E99 - Banemore Echuca H16. The bull is in the top 20 per cent for the breed's $Index for supermarket at +$108, grass-fed +$111, grain-fed +$118 and EU +$118.

Mr Bell has been a Banemore client for more than 10 years and said Echuca E99 was great value for money considering his balanced figures, good fat cover and easy doing ability.

"We haven't experienced too much (financial) downturn (in the operation) because our EU feeders are still getting good money," he said.

"Because of this, we took advantage of today's value for money bulls and opportune buying conditions."

The second highest price paid was $5000 for Lot 1 Banemore Daffy H32, sired by Wirruna Daffy, who recorded a Breedplan estimated breeding value birth weight of +1.1kg and was in the top 20pc of the breed for his $Index.

He was one of the three bulls that av $3333, purchased by Wally Jenkin of Nayook South, Mount Gambier, SA.

Four of the eight Wirruna Daffy sons sold to $5000 and av $3500.

Despite the prospect of improved beef market conditions on the horizon, stud principal David Jenkin said it was "tough enough" sale that was impacted by challenging 2013 market and seasonal conditions.

During the sale, Mr Jenkins said one of Banemore's key breeding aims was the selection for low birthweight, with the aim of producing a line of Herefords not prone to the calving problems that are common in the breed.

He said the stud presented elite bulls that support these aims as well as high yielding progeny.

"We're doing something unique addressing two factors we can do better in the Herefords breed, which is calving ease and the yield factor," he said.

Kevin, Alan and Ronald McDonald, Digby, bought two bulls at $3000 and $2500, while Old Nayook, Mt Gambier, bought two to $4000.

Banemore Virginian H3, a son by the $40,000 Mawarra Virginian - 2010 Wodonga Whiteface junior and grand champion - was bought by Carolyn and Paul Malseed, Orana, Hamilton, for $3500.